Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic Series)
by Sophie Kinsella
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Book Reviews of Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic Series)
Book Review: Walter Mitty minus the charm
Summary: 2 Stars
I really should have known from the title that this wasn't the book for me. In the immortal words of Eve Dallas, "I don't shop; I buy. There's a difference." But I enjoy chick lit, and I've liked other characters who aren't like me, and everybody loves these books (4.5 stars with over 800 reviews), so I decided to give them a shot.
Rebecca Bloomwood is, as the title states, a shopaholic. She's also a financial writer, though she mostly fakes her way through her job. She's deeply in debt. Mostly, she's a pathological liar. She hides her bills and apparently believes that if she never opens them, she's not liable for them. She convinces herself that she's actually saving money by buying an expensive scarf that's on sale. She stiffs her best friend and roommate on the rent and her share of expenses, but goes out and buys frivolous things on credit anyway. She buys a lottery ticket and is absolutely certain that she's now a millionaire--to the point where she's devastated when it doesn't win, and is sure it must be a mistake.
She decides that the way to get out of debt isn't to spend less; it's to earn more. So she goes about trying to accomplish that by even more lying. And in the end, she succeeds--gets a great job and gets the guy. This isn't a spoiler--you knew it would have a happy ending.
What is a spoiler, but a worthwhile one, if it keeps others from being as disillusioned as I was, is that Becky never learns a darn thing in the book. I'm not at all trying to convince anyone not to read this--obviously it doesn't bother the vast majority of readers--but since expectations have so much to do with one's enjoyment of a book, you should know not to expect Becky to grow or change.
So there are two reasons I didn't like this book:
1. I couldn't sympathize with the main character at all, or even understand her. I've been in debt before--who hasn't? And I've bought things I couldn't afford. But the incessant lying and complete disregard for anyone besides herself made her utterly unlikeable from my perspective. She didn't have any redeeming qualities that I could see. You know, I like stories with characters who start out as unlikeable, then grow and change and develop into someone I can like. But she doesn't. Which leads me to:
2. The structure of the story. It's about a static character. Things happen to her, and she reacts to them. More things happen. She reacts some more. Her problems get solved, but not by her own efforts, rather in spite of them. There's no conflict, no value change, no antagonist. A maxed-out Visa card is not an antagonist.
Periodically, while I was reading, I could appreciate the humor in certain situations, and I enjoyed that while it lasted. It's not the worst book I've ever read, but I'm not going to be in any hurry to get the other Shopaholic books out of my TBR pile.
Book Review: A Delightful Cautionary Tale of Seduction and Redemption
Summary: 5 Stars
Sophie Kinsella has created that rarest of confections, a light and fluffy treat which is good for you. In the best tradition of chick lit, she gives us a heroine who is bright, beautiful, charming and decent, who carries with her a terrible secret. She is helpless in when confronted with a bargain, the perfect scarf, or a pair of zebra striped jeans, on sale. And her compulsion to buy send sher life out of control like tumbling dominos.
Becky Bellwood's has gotten herself on a good, if boring career track, writing for a financial publication. And her boredom with her job is off set by the seduction of power shopping. The author captures perfectly the rush of endorphins a trip to shops bring those who armed with too much credit, and not enough will power will recognize from the first chapter. And Becky succumbs to temptation like a barfly would to promise of just one drink.
Vaguely aware of the bills piling up, suddenly the reality of her situation becomes unavoidable, and she makes gestures of getting her finances under control. After a hilarious series of failed efforts to curb her spending habits...which ironically makes her situation worse, her desperation mingled with denial, finally corners her. Transparent lies and flimsy excuses litter her messy life. In Betsy's favor, her inherent honesty stops her actually stealing, and hurting those who care about her. With her back to the wall, her redemption comes when she stops self-obsessing and does something on concern for
others. In seeking justice for old family friends, new opportunities (and true love) become possibilities, replacing the emptiness which is often the aftermath of the thrill of the hunt.
In creating a story which many young professionals can relate to in our consumer society, Kinsella's heroine is easy to identify with. With so many falling to the trap of easy credit and instant gratification, the nightmare Becky faces is all too common. And her response to her situation isn't all that exaggerated. How she turns it all around rewards the reader who has stayed with her through the worst.
Book Review: Why is this so popular???? Waste of time.
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this book and the sequel in audio in French to listen to while cleaning/exercising/cooking. I had zero expectation going in--I didn't expect it to be deep or the writing to be inspired-- yet I was still enormously disappointed.
Becky, the main character, is shallow and completely one-dimensional. She lies to everyone and not just the credit card companies and bill collectors but to her friends and family. Serious lies with consequences like 'Can I borrow 20 pounds to buy a gift for my aunt in the hospital' and later 'Oh, my aunt died.' By the way, there is no aunt.
And why is she always off-guard when someone has a normal and predictable response to one of her lies? (for example, Luc Brandon "How is your poor aunt? Becky: "Huh?" Luc: "The one who is in the hospital." Becky: "Huh? What? Huh? Oh, um, she died.")
As you can see, she's stupid. Not just 'slow' but really, really, really dumb. She doesn't know anything about her job and seems proud that she's a moron. And her get rich quick schemes! She plays the lotto and really BELIEVES she's going to win (all the while lying to her father). She orders work-at-home kits that promise to pay hundreds of thousands for little effort, she tries a part-time job but is shocked when she is expected to WORK.
She's selfish. She doesn't care about anyone, not her friends, not her family. Anytime someone else is talking all she's thinking about is shopping. She has no tolerance for other people and she constantly complains about how annoying/dumb/uncool other people are.
This book makes shopaholics look like bad people. I'm not a shopaholic at all and I'M offended. Don't make the mistake of thinking you will, or should, identify with Becky even if you are a big shopper. She isn't just someone who loves to shop, she has a mental illness and basically acts the way you would expect a crackhead to act--except we're supposed to find her behavior funny or cute.
I'm strugglig to finish it. The worst part is that I bought the sequel (Shopping à Manhattan) on audio at the same time.
Book Review: Becky Is Not So Different
Summary: 5 Stars
As demonstrated by my rating, I adored this book. I was on a plane home from Iraq, wanted some tasty brain candy, and that is exactly what I got. The hours flew by as I laughed, gasped, and thought to myself, "Wow, this girl is a hot mess; what is she going to do next?"
On a deeper note, I have read several reviews in which people rant about how despicably horrid Becky is and what they would do if they met someone like her in real life. I think we should keep some perspective. Becky is a FICTIONAL character, and, as such, she is an over-the-top caricature of a real life consumerism addict. While journeying through her mind, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the massive quantities of lavish excess, but if people are truly honest with themselves, they will see that there is a lot of Becky in many people throughout our society. Becky has good intentions, and there is never any malice in her erratic actions. She is simply the quintessence of poor impulse control; she can never see beyond the moment and her fantasies of who she can be if she has that Denny and George scarf/Vera Wang dress/Angel bag RIGHT NOW. Think about it; who among us doesn't know someone who has a Harley Davidson that they never ride? Who bought a brand new GM Hummer that costs nearly half their paycheck instead of a certified secondhand Mitsubishi Montero? Who pays the minimum monthly payment with super high interest on the $3000 surround sound system instead of saving for it? Who has a dress that they have never fit into because it was such a great sale? Many of us have done this after somehow convincing ourselves that these things were "necessities." And we didn't think too hard about whether we were staying within our means; we were thinking "OMG, everyone will call me the girl/guy with the [insert your luxury item here]."
Bottom line, if you want a fluffy, delightful morsel of enjoyment, read this book. When you are done, take a few minutes to see what you can learn from Becky's mistakes (I know I did). Confessions of s Shopaholic satisfies on many levels.
Book Review: This book turned me into a Sophieholic
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is fun..I mean great fun and not just the girlish giggle type of fun but the LAUGH OUT LOUD fun. Its THAT good! It got me hooked on Sophie Kinsella.I have now all her books in my shelf and can't wait for her to write more!
This book, first of all, is the same book known as "The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic".(just a different title) I dont know why it has two different titles but anyway...
I have started reading humourous chick-lit after I read the two Bridget Jones Diaries. To be honest I was sure I wouldnt find a funnier book than those two but, happily, i found i was wrong :)
Kinsella has the touch. I've read "Can You keep a Secret?" and the first two of the Shopaholic books and I'm still craving for more. (thankfully i still got "Shopaholic ties the knot" and "shopaholic & sister" to keep me going)
This is a book for those people who want to have a good, healthy laugh, who want to forget for a while the worries and troubles of everyday life. Yes Rebecca Bloomwood has no sense as regards to her personal finance . Yes she becomes totally and irrevocably irresponsible as soon as enters into a shopping mall. But heck, this is what makes the book such fun. We can actually feel good about ourselves because we can never be as bad as her....(some of us at least ;)
Her replies to the letters she recieves from her exasperated Bank are hilarious and equally so her reasonings that actually when she is spending she is in fact investing. Her attempts to control her spending are so funny I couldn't stop laughing. The Curry recipe part is really incredibly funny....
I think that most females will find themselves in Rebecca. I bet most of us have thought once or twice on the same lines as Rebecca does when she tries to excuse one of her mad urges for an expensive but not so practical item.
All i can say more is go on an read it a perfect light book with humour and also a dash of romance which will warm your heart like whiskey ;)