“After I had declared my
independence from corporate America, I was confident I would never again have
to take another trivial, soul-crushing position. No more incompetent bosses, nonsensical
office politics, bothersome co-workers, or dedication to pointless projects
that I cared nothing about. I was finally free… Free to create my own path,
live my passions, to feel like I exist, that I’m not merely dream walking
through life.
“Now, two years later, with the reality of going broke only weeks
away, I’m forced to accept a position at a marketing agency where I make only a
fraction of what I did at my last job. After all of my efforts to exit the rat
race I’m back at the beginning. And I’m aptly reminded of the wise words from
Sinatra: that’s life. Sometimes life’s not about passion or dreams, but rather
having a roof over your head and food on the table. It’s about staying in the
race long enough to eventually get ahead. And surviving the race long enough to
reach the finish line. But then, who really wants to reach the finish line?
That’s a depressing thought.” (13)
Right of the bat, Bridget becomes a relatable and endearing character
that tells it like it is.
“If all the world is a stage, then I’ve been typecast to play the same
role for every performance: quiet, diffident girl with a sunny disposition.”
(13)
“What’s this about Photoshop? Now I’m a graphic designer? I really
should have read the job description better. That’s what I hate about these
lower level jobs. There’s never a clear definition of my duties. I’m expected
to do whatever they throw at me even if I’m wholly unqualified. Five o’clock
can’t come soon enough.” (13)
Well-written, frank, and witty!
“I can’t help but distrust a person who always appears upbeat and
happy — it just seems unnatural. In the back of my mind, I wonder what ugly
muck is hidden behind all that glaring sunshine. What kind of person am I
really talking to?” (22)
The reader will stand by Bridget as she trudges through the mundane
office life, trying to get by while trumping those who wish to ruin her. On the
outside, she plays the confident, self-assured business woman; but, on the
inside, she’s fragile and unsure. She likes to keep things simple, especially
with her long-distance boyfriend. Fearful of commitment and intimacy, she has
no desire for marriage or family, and has virtually no idea what this
relationship is, especially when she and Blake are so different. I found it so
hilarious how their impromptu romp in the sack lasted only three minutes,
leaving Bridget disappointed and unfulfilled. Classic!
She definitely can’t stand the fakeness of society, but she presents
it with such eloquent finesse. Yes, she has her issues and her own dark
skeletons from her past (who doesn’t?), but you can’t help but admire her
boldness and tenacity.
“The very idea that passion and love should go hand in hand is a plot
sold by Harlequin romance novels. It’s a fantasy ideal, a fiction notion. I
live my life in reality, not bound between the pages of a book. In real life,
you take love where you can get it because it is a rare thing indeed.” (29)
The best thing about Bridget is that she’s honest with herself—about
her flaws, her fears, her inhibitions. Written in a diary-format, this story
relays the candid thoughts of a hopeless, misanthropic woman, who wonders if
there’s more to life than meets the eye. She has more than she can take with
office banalities, a co-worker’s wedding, and “Christmas Spirit Week” filled
with “inane chit chat and exaggerated friendliness.” Yep, Bridget definitely
has the philistine heart, and you’ll love her for it. But it would seem she has a soft spot for an
alluring man, who makes her feel that she doesn’t have to be perfect all the
time. Then she realizes that he’s not perfect either. The past comes back to
haunt us all.
Smart, savvy, and entertaining! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll say,
“Yep, life happens.”
My rating: 5 stars
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