Customer Reviews
clever title for a book. - By: S. Firth, 19 Aug 2008 
Ok, i wasnt sure about giving this book 3 or 4 stars, but i opted for 4 because the second half of the book was really good. The first half i wasnt sure of because i couldnt stand Lisa or Clodagh. And it was annoying reading their bits, although i loved Ashling all the way through! And Lisa improved greatly towards the end. But Clodagh was a vile pig of a woman. At least with Lisa you could sense a diferent, softer side to her even at her worst, but with Clodagh she was just out for what she could get, & i hated her.
Other brill characters are Joy & Ted, Jack Devine (lush lush!) Kelvin & Trix & Mrs Morley i think her name was, & the new character that camein when Mercedes left the office was hilarious, especially giving Mrs Morley Valium, i was laughing so much at that haha. I didnt like Marcus though. So childish & pathetic, i wanted to punch him, & i felt so sorry for Dylan towards the end of the book. Poor man.
Anyway, others have commented that she dealt with depression too flimsily. But i thought it was ok. You dont have to have something majorly drastic happen to you to be plunged into the black hole. I think Marian herself has dealt with depression so she should know. And the ending was just how i wanted it to be. This book isnt predictable at all, even though i knew who Ashling would end up with, i didnt guess what would happenin most of the other situations. I enjoyed it, not as much as 'Last Chance Saloon' or 'Watermelon' but it was still worth reading. i definately recommend it, just make sure you dont let Lisa & Clodagh get to you too muchin the first half of the book!
Oh and, the title was brilliant once i understood what it meant, it was so fitting & romantic! It's just Sushi For Beginners.
THE FISH WENT OFF! - By: R McG, 08 Jul 2008 
This book was the first I'd read by Marian Keyes.
I had been recommended it but half way through I was ready to give up.
There are too many characters initially, & too many bitty stories.
Each time I picked the book up, I couldn't quite remember if anything significant had happened previously.
I stuck it out purely because I hate to abandon a book midway through. It was bearable, but I couldn't get it finished quick enough to move onto something else.
I didn't like the way she flippantly dealth with issues such as depression, homelessness, adultery & divorce. And there is nothing clever about endless (unnecessary) cuss words from a writer.
I doubt I'll read any more from her.
OK, but... - By: C. Stirling, 08 Apr 2008 Not as good as Watermelon & Rachel's Holiday or Last Chance Saloon as the characters aren't as likeable, that said, it you like her other books you'l enjoy it.
An uneasy read for an easy topic - By: Angela Bulgari, 31 Mar 2008 
'Sushi for begginers' is a story around three women & their interractions with eachother & the outside characters.
I found the book a big push to read, asin it did not captivate me enough until the final chapters. It took too long to build up & some chapters were just to skip.
The characters are not well developed, which is mostly the case for Lisa, which is a mixed-signal character all the way. The main character is ok,though i never got why some things happened & why some didn't for her, asin there are no lessons learnt, or no real human nature tricks. Things happen because they happen, & that is just not good enough for somebody who claims to be an insightfull author.
I find, for example, Candace Bushnell's Lipstik jungle (also centered around three women) a lot better & having more complex characters & interesting story lines.
OK but not great - By: N. Hindmarch, 20 Sep 2007 I did enjoy reading this book, I found it entertaining & easy to read but I didn't warm to any of the characters & felt that a lot of it didn't come across realisticly. Good authors should enable readers to suspend their disbelief & I don't think Keyes truly managed thisin this one. I also felt that the mental illness theme was dealt with terribly, after talking it up through the breakdown of Ashlings mum it seems that actually if you get depression you take prozac for two weeks get a new bloke & youre cured.
Having said that if youre looking for light entertainment ths book is readable & fun.
