Rating: 
Summary: Interesting But So Shallow
Review: Maybe I'm just in the wrong age group to read and appreciate these young-single-aimless-girl novels like BJ's DIARY and now RACHEL'S HOLIDAY. The books themselves are well written and interesting, but the lives they portray are sometimes irresponsible and often irritating as well as descriptive of lost souls. When Marian Keyes writes about Rachel's childhood events, it's like I'm right there with her. I can feel the heart pounding and suspense over whether Rachel will pull off her candy caper. Keyes also writes Rachel as a middle child very well. There are traits that go with that position inside a family, and I think Keyes knows that position well enough to be right on target with her description of it. But that kind of insight doesn't answer, for me anyway, how Rachel ends up botching a suicide attempt, and why she approaches her "holiday" recuperation the way she does. I also question Rachel's perception of her mother. Rachel and her siblings all lived together from the birth of each one, so it seems farfetched for me to believe that Rachel could have missed her mother's treatment of her other siblings so completely that she blocked out all but her own experience. All this means is that this book needs some clarification here and there. It's still a good book, and I would read Keyes' work again based on the writing she displayed in RH.
Rating: 
Summary: Rachel's cocaine hell
Review: I found that this book took a while to get going. Neither is it laugh out loud funny as the reviews claim. But it is one of the most moving books you will read this year (or any other year). At first I thought it was going to be one of those completely unrealistic books about 'how my life completely changed after rehab' but it's pretty realistic and you feel Rachel's pain as she wakes up and smells the coffee. This really touched me and I'm not usually affected by books. The emotions conveyed in this are definately real.
Rating: 
Summary: How can drugs and brown cardigans be so comical?!
Review: Rachel's Holiday is Marian Keyes second vist to the Walsh family in Ireland. This book centres around the middle sister Rachel, who has been living the fast life in New York and accidently overdoses one night. Whilst in her drug hazed state, she decides to practice her poetry, which is mistaken for a suicide note (such is her talent.) She then awakes in hospital and is promtly whisked home to her mammy who takes her straight to Cloisters, the local 'mentallers' dry out clinic.There begins an extremely funny, insightful, and often touching story of Rachel and her road to recovery. She is convinced that she doesn't belong in Cloisters (her near suicide wasn't INTENTIONAL) and that she will leave the second that she is free to go. As long as she has never beat a family member about the head with a broken bottle or shot up heroin (smoking it is an entirely different matter) she believes that she is world's apart from her fellow in-mates. However, many revelations are in store for Rachel, and her life could change in way she has never imagined. That is, if she allows herself to admit that musical chairs with a few brown cardigan wearers CAN be fun (ish), even without the use of a narcotic of two. Rachel's Holiday is a fantastic read, that is both highly entertaining and extremely thought-provoking. Get it if you can..
Rating:
Summary: great characters, plot fun & serious
Review: Very enjoyable tale of a woman in denial about drug use. There's some very funny moments in the book, and some very serious ones as well. Location goes between NYC and Dublin.
Characters are well written, and M Keyes did a good job having the point of view be Rachel's - so the denial can be seen through her own eyes.
This book is good to read whether you have an addiction or not, 'cuz chances are you know SOMEONE who might have an addiction that might some extra understanding.
Rating:
Summary: outrageously good read
Review: Desperately searching the airport bookstore for something other than a murder mystery or a depressing Oprah pick, I found this book. Thank goodness. Although my flights were seriously delayed, I didn't mind because I was caught up in Rachel's story. What a great read! Funny, poignant, sad and joyful. I found it to be well-written and thoroughly entertaining. I am a pretty picky reader and don't recommend most novels I've read lately, but I can say I truly loved this book and will buy more by Marian Keyes. (And unlike another reviewer, I did laugh out loud!)
Rating:
Summary: Must read......didn't want it to end!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This is a fantastic book. I could not put it down. I was emotionally involved during the entire book. My heart is still in spasms over Rachel and Luke. I have never been in rehab, but I felt like I was right there with her.
Must read this one. I am going to read it again......and maybe again.......
Rating:
Summary: Hail to Marion Keyes
Review: This was a wonderful read ! A book I'm giving to all my friends for Christmas, including Watermelon ( a must read , too!). Marion is a top notch writer . Very ( I would say 100 very's) entertaining!
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected.
Review: I was looking forward to a long weekend and a good laugh when I opened this book. I was disappointed. I certainly didn't "laugh-out-loud" which is what several of the reviews promised. I can't say that it didn't keep my interest, because it did, and there were a couple of amusing situations, but funny is the last word I would use describe it.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical predictable british girl book
Review: I've been in a spree of buying "entertainment" books - books to make me laugh and just enjoy a good (but predictable) girl story. I've come to expect such predictability and a "lightness" that means that I'll finish the book in an afternoon. Rachel's Holiday was not what I expected and I loved it. It has much more serious tones, actual character development and I really couldn't figure out how it was going to finish until I read the last page. It was still a pretty quick read, but more like 3 days than an afternoon. I'm really looking forward to reading other work by Keyes.
Rating:
Summary: I WAS TOUCHED!
Review: This is one of the absolutely best books I have ever read, and I have read a lot of books! Growing up around alcoholics, I totally related to this book. It helped me better understand recovery and remision. You went from being disgusted with the main character to realting to her. Although this book is geared towards a female audience, men would enjoy and relate to this book also. I rate this book 10 stars. This is a book that I was sorry to see end!
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