HAT’S MOSTLY WHAT attracted me to Marian Keyes’ writing - witty and Tsimple while drawing attention to moral values that are fast disappearing within families. Marian Keyes is a fabulous storyteller, who engulfs the reader in her plot from the first page itself. Her books offer a simple read, one that you would pick up to go on a good, long vacation or when you feel the
need for some stress-free time. The use of some typical Irish lingo makes the reading more interesting and contributes to its authenticity.
Maggie Walsh is a woman seen by everyone as the ‘perfect girl’, who had a perfect childhood and adolescence, and later went on to marry her first boyfriend. It’s when things start to go horribly wrong in her marriage that skeletons start tumbling out of the closet. She flees to Los Angeles to recuperate at her best friend Emily’s home and so the adventures roll out. The plot incorporates a lot of humor where the protagonist is shown to be as, far from perfect. Her hilarious escapades leave any reader laughing out loud and sometimes nodding at the familiarity of the situation. The story also travels back and forth from past to present where the reader is made to understand that nothing is actually black or white. Even though one initially starts off by harboring some resentment towards certain poignant characters in the novel, Keyes very slowly steers the plot in a way that the reader feels pity for the characters.

Angels is also a window into the Irish society and gives the reader a glimpse of the typical suburban Irish family. The togetherness of the family, no matter how ridiculous they appear under the bright LA sun, one can only appreciate the warmth that extends and outpours from the book itself.

Marian Keyes is an exceptional author. All her books probe the lives of ordinary people who go through so many funny yet complicated matters to arrive at a very heart warming conclusion. One thing for sure, Keyes never lets her readers down.

The subtle message that underlies in any novel makes you ponder long after you have completed the last chapter. Marian’s plots are very simple to understand and are ideal when one wants to unwind or longs for just a good laugh.