Uncomfortable reading as someone who works in the charity sector. Thank goodness the bus loads of celebrities have stopped and we're working hard to balance the issues Fielding writes about because ultimately, we have to be a force for good, and that means maintaining dignity and not dehumanising people who have already battled too much.

As much as I was interested in reading about Eastern Africa, I can't say I was fully into this book. It gets a little slow by the end. And of course, it was hard for me to read about the unsolvable global problems that we still face in xxi century. but I did connect with hopelessness that I experienced being in east africa myself.

Cause Celeb was interesting at the start and at the finish, but in between there was a lot of lag. The meetings and tactical information about the relief camp read more like a non-fiction book than fiction. It seemed that there were two thinly related books merged into one.

However, I did appreciate learning more about relief efforts and relief workers (I understand that Helen Fielding did have actual experience in these areas, as well as investigative journalism, so she is well qualified to speak and write on these subjects.)

I appreciated the discussions of "celebrity" and "celebrity worship". A quote:

".. I think the notion of celebrity is completely absurd. All it proves is how gullible everyone is."

"It's not the celebrities' fault"

"Quite so. It's the whole world that's mad. Everyone wants to imagine it's possible to achieve wealth and power out of proportion to what they do. So they pay to see and read about starts who've managed to do that. But the reason the stars managed it was because people would pay to see them and read about them doing it. It's completely nonsensical."

Ah... so THAT explains the Kardashians....

this book is like recent pixar movies; good, but there's just something missing if ygm. The best parts are definitely the Africa bits at the camp - really good descriptions. Still, overall nothing to write home about here

Sometimes chic lit's all you need to get through your day. Tah-ruly.

With this novel I did not find what Bridget Jones brings to the table, nor what (the poor man's B Jones) Jemima J. experiences in the wacky world of Hollywood. I found something a bit more serious, some sad descriptions of a famished country in Africa (I keep reading about poor, poor Africa!!), a tint of pathos that both aforementioned heroines barely only hinted at. This one's combination comedy and tragedy... very well balanced. Skillfully so, & even if its not Bridget or Jemima, something must be said about the brave Rosie Richardson. She trades in the culminating superficiality of her purely materialistic world for a higher purpose, a very opposite lifestyle out in Africa helping the starving refuges of Safila. If anything, that both worlds collide & that results are both heartbreaking and funny, gives this novel some substantial sheen that Brit Jones & gem Jemima J lack. Still, this one is Helen Fielding's debut novel, & that too is very noticeable.

Decent enough book — pretty funny at times, a bit too much at times, with an important message.

DNF'ed at 60%

"I wish we could call a grown-up." The words slipped out without me wanting them to, but for once they were the right thing to say.
"So do bloody I, I can tell you," said Debbie.
"Me too," said Henry.
"I am a grown-up, and I want my mother," said O'Rourke.

Other than the above line that made me laugh, this wasn't funny? I was very disappointed. Maybe it's just that I read it 20 years after it should have been read.

Härlig blandning av allvar, komiska karaktärer och livets små och stora bekymmer

I enjoyed this book. I may have had it for 20 + years... but worth the wait!

https://bemusicandbooks.wordpress.com...

I was not expecting a compelling novel about African famines to have any humor whatsoever. But, like M.A.S.H., this novel originates in a place of truth. Fielding's own journalistic and producing experiences with Comic Relief in the '80s formed a strong foundation of in-depth, accurate information in this novel. This is a powerful book--Rosey begins her career as director of an aid camp primarily to get away from a lousy boyfriend, but the romantic escapades take a backseat to the character's growth and development. The novel is at its best when the action is in Africa.