Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes

From the acclaimed bestselling author of "Sushi for Beginners" and "Angels" comes a collection of personal essays on shopping, writing, moviemaking, motherhood and all the assorted calamities involved in being a savvy woman in the new millennium.
Her novels are read and adored by millions around the world, and with "Under the Duvet," Marian Keyes tackles the world of nonfiction. These are her collected pieces: regular bulletins from the woman writing under the covers. Marian loves shoes and her LTFs (Long-Term Friends), hates realtors and lost luggage, and she once had a Christmas office party that involved roasting two sheep on a spit, Moroccan-style. She's just like you and me ...
Featuring a wide compilation of Marian's journalism from magazines and newspapers, plus some exclusive, previously unpublished material, "Under the Duvet" is bursting with funny stories: observations on life, in-laws, weight loss, parties and driving lessons that will keep you utterly gripped -- either wincing with recognition or roaring with laughter

I have never read any of Keyes books before but have had her recommended to me many times. The other week at the library things were very slow and while cleaning discs (they have an amazing machine the size of a cd player that polishes away the worst scratches; you basically just have to sit there and change the discs every 2-4 minute) I gave her biography a go. Well, I say biography; it's a collection of essays, where of most have been published before in various magazines and the like.

Much to my co-worker's amusement I giggled my way through the book. I really enjoyed her style and her honesty. She reminded me a fair bit of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones character - but Irish. I loved reading about her tours, her parties, her family and her house. But maybe most of all I appreciated her very honest depiction of her alcoholism. For someone who's been fortunate enough to never experience such a thing even by proxy it gave me a far better insight into how it effects people.

All in all I don't think this was a bad start to Keyes, I'm definitely very much tempted to read something else by her now and more like to do so sooner than later.

	Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes ISBN13: 9788777148262 240 pages / published in 2007
	(read in Danish)
	Review by Iben Jakobsen, BoB, 2013