Product Description

'When people ask me what I do for a crust and I tell them that I'm a novelist, they immediately assume that my life is a non-stop carousel of limos, television appearances hair-dos, devoted fans, stalkers and all the glitzy paraphernalia of being a public figure. It's time to set the record straight. I write alone, in a darkened bedroom, wearing my PJs, eating bananas, my laptop on a pillow in front of me ...' Her novels are read and adored by millions around the world - now read Marian Keyes's collected pieces: regular bulletins from the woman under the duvet.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13174 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Hello! Magazine
'paints an endearing, hilarious picture of the cosy, crumpled life lived by the reigning queen of contemporary chicklit'

Heat magazine
'Her honesty and humour when dealing with the situations she's faced can have you laughing out loud'

Sunday Tribune
'Keyes manages to verbalise the most mundane of universal experiences and somehow make them funny...'

Customer Reviews

I bow before greatness!
I expected to hate this book. I geared myself up for throwing it aside and swearing at Marian for publishing "a collection of articles" instead of the meaty novels that I love to immerse myself in. So annoyed was I when I heard Under The Duvet was not a novel that I resolutely swore not to buy it in the usual frenzy in the bookshop way I usually buy Ms. Keyes' books and waited for my sister to buy me it for Christmas and even then, still being the huffy so and so I am, I refused to read it until a stomach bug laid me low and I was bored senseless with Christmas TV. I laughed outloud, I cried, I read it too fast, I fell in love with Marian Keyes ability to write all over again. As a journalist and wannabe writer, I am in awe. Marian Keyes is so like me, her obsession with shoes, her longing for a baby, her husband who thinks she is a human radar for his lost property... it all rings so true. The humour was evident, but perhaps the most powerfully written article in this book is the tale of Marian's own struggle with alcoholism, culminating in an attempt on her life. She is proof that everyone can make it. So after reading this book, I emerged from under my duvet (stomach bug gone) and have decided to start writing again.
Do not let the fact that this is not a novel stop you from buying it, buy it now, and buy it for your friends. Its funny, its moving, its for a good cause.
Roll on the next book, whatever form it may take.

Where do I start?
I have read this collection of short works by Marian Keyes so many times that I've lost count now. It's a great little book to keep by the bed so you can read a couple of pieces without wondering what's going to happen next, unlike most Keyes books which I find almost impossible to put down. Her writing is just so funny and observant. A lot of the pieces of journalism had already been published although I hadn't read them before, but some new ones were penned especially for this collection. I particularly liked Fear and Loathing in Los Angeles - a hilarious ancedote of Marian's trip to LA LA land. It had me in fits of laughter. Another winner!

Alright, but not nearly as good as any of her others
I waited with "pre-ordered" bated breathe until this book was available. Unfortunately, it was not up to Marian Keyes normal calibre of writing. Rather than combining articles and short stores, I would recommend sticking to novels where we get to know and enjoy the characters and situations. It still has pride on the bookshelf with all the other Marian Keyes books (which I truly adore), but I would recommend any of her other books first before this one to a friend who wasn't familiar with her work.