Sushi for Beginners

By: Marian Keyes

Narrated by: Juanita McMahon

Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Lisa Edwards, top London magazine editor, has been fantasizing about promotion to New York. Instead, she's asked to launch a new women's magazine in Dublin. She thinks nothing could be worse - until she meets her new staff. They're friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic - in other words, they wouldn't last two minutes in London!

As Lisa struggles to find her feet in this alien world of no back-stabbing or bitchiness, her neurotic assistant, Ashling, is also in trouble. She's just too nice for journalism, and it shows. Who better to help them both than their handsome-but-hassled boss, Jack Devine? Always allowing for the fact that his moodiness could give Heathcliff a run for his money, of course.

©2000 Marian Keyes (P)2001 W F Howes Ltd

Impressed!!!

Where does Sushi for Beginners rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Sushi for Beginners was at first a chance. A chance to see if I could pull out of some of my mainstays audible material. After the first few chapters I was desperately attempting to find the primary character in the story when as you will find out it turns out to be an amazing intertwining of beloved characters that are funny, human, loving, sad, and yes even depressed. It's a story that follows these characters through getting to know each other, falling for each other, divorce and marriage with the final cherry on top of the broody, handsome and deep character falling for the woman least likely you'd imagine.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ashling is the obvious favorite in the story. But I would have to say as the story fills out and the characters learn about their selves and identities, Lisa becomes a quite amazing treat. She is just horrid in the beginning, and I loved it. Enter Jack and the circle is complete.

What does Juanita McMahon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Juanita's narration truly reflected the feelings of the characters. She gave them a vibrancy and moved easily through the varying accents. Again a treat to listen to.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes indeed! But simply impossible. I started out listening during my workouts and found that I worked out LONGER just to continue listening.

Any additional comments?

The story starts open and touches on a lot of characters. I was worried I would not remember each of them but the author amazingly pulls in the key items that allows you to remember and really get to know them.

Not Up to Par for this Author

I am a huge fane of Sophie Kinsella/Marian Keyes/Madeline Wickham and this just didn't do it for me. Out of the 18 hours of audio, I think only 4 or 5 were enjoyable. At the end it came together and there were some moments of humor and memorable quotes, but this was really disappointing. I gave it three stars because of the last few hours that were what I am accustome to with this author. Skip this and listen to Remember me or any Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Susn Mallery book.

Just Okay

This book was recommended as something to read after the Outlander series. Whoever recommended that was way off base in my opinion. The story itself was okay, but I did not enjoy the narrator. I really wanted to like it more, but it just didn't do it for me.

Great little get away

This is a good book, the characters and story line keep you entertained. It throws some twists in, but it is quite predictable. I knew what was going to happen to everyone by the end of the book long before I was through. But it's a fun listen and has some good laughs as well as some good life lessons. Brings attention to some serious issues by the end that I didn't expect.

Maybe not for everybody

This was the very first Marian Keyes novel that crossed my path and I enjoyed it. It was a story I really identified with and still do. The 4 main girls are maybe sort of stereotypical but I still found them interesting enough to want to know more. Perhaps the ending feels a bit rushed but still wrapped up the story nicely.I cannot say which part I liked best because I would spoil it but it was satisfying.

The story is well written and not overly complicated. Something that is easy to get into. I can only recommend. I guess it is chick-lit even though I find that category somewhat lackluster - it's about modern women in their 30s about love, life and work.

Great story, annoying voice

The narration of Jack is just…not…good. I’m American and I’m not talking about the American accent they use.
I mean the actual voice they gave Jack.
It annoys me so much, that I’ve only listened to this book once. Generally I listen to Marian Keyes books multiple times. So if you can get past the horrible narration of Jack, you will 100% enjoy the story.

Fantastic book!

I enjoyed every minute of listening to this book. Another masterpiece by Marian Keys. Funny, witty, makes you think and makes you feel. Completely draws you in, by making you relate and understand every character in the book. Absolute must if you are Marian Keys' fan.

Pretty Slow

I agree with the preview review somethimes "you want to listen for just 5 more minutes to see what happens next".... But I found the first part of the audiobook too slow, maybe because after this book I read Sophie Kinsella's books that are more fluid and short.

Feel Good Story

I was in need of a good story, nothing sad, historical or suspenseful. I just wanted something to help me relax, and this did it.

The ending was a bit too far into fairytale land for my liking, but overall it was sweet and somewhat funny.

A good 'Chill Out" listen

A great chickflit novel. Nothing to serious and mindbogling, but a good listen to chill out for awhile. Everyone can identify with at least one of the characters in this. It does twist and turn a bit and you think it's going to turn out one way, and then the author takes you in another direction. I found the book on a whole entertaining, and at times just had to listen for just 5 more minutes to see what happens next.