Shopaholic Takes Manhattan: A Review

 

Short Background:

Just to share how I started with Sophie Kinsella’s series…   Being a shopaholic myself, I wanted to get myself  the Confessions of a Shopaholic about 4 or 5 years ago.  Besides, I hadn’t read any book for a while so I thought it was about time to start reading again.   I can’t remember what happened but I wasn’t able to buy the book until about 3 or 4 months ago.   I first purchased the Shopaholic Ties the Knot, the third book in the series but after reading a few pages, I thought I need to read the first book to be introduced to the characters.  My other reason was I read that the film version is  going to be released in February 2009.  After I read Confessions and was again starting  Shopaholic Ties the Knot, I realized the need to read the second book but when I checked the National Bookstore nearest to my residence, it was out-of-stock so I decided to include it in my wishlist for our office kris kringle last month.  But I wanted to start the book soonest… I wanted to buy it myself… I can check the other branches or Powerbooks anytime but what if my secret Santa chose to get the book for me, instead of the branded tea and umbrella?  Be patient…  Yeah, it was worth the wait… my boss gave me the book plus a teabag (haha) and an umbrella.

I started the book right away… finished it a few minutes ago….

Review:

I enjoyed reading Shopaholic Takes Manhattan more for Sophie Kinsella was able to touch her readers’ emotions  in this 17 chapter-book.   There are a lot of surprises – unpredictable events and lines,  humor (I really heard myself  chuckle a couple of times), sadness (I felt a lump in my throat and was almost in tears), lots of highs and lows.  And anyone will be surprised with Becky Bloomwood’s  uncontrollable spending habits despite her rising debt problem.  I think no one can equal her.   I wonder how one can really afford to just ignore all those dismal follow-up letters, calls, etc.   On the brighter side, any lady would envy her for having that dashing Luke as her boyfriend and it must be really true love.   She also got very supportive parents and not to forget to mention friends, real friends indeed who in times of troubles  comforted and uplifted her spirit.  The last 6 chapters were the saddest of all that you’ll find yourself empathizing with Becky, however, like most stories, this series concluded with a happy scene.

 

Too good to pass up.  You would really want to finish it in one sitting.  A light and easy read, not sort of a thought-provoking book. 

Quite excited to know what Kinsella has in store for Becky’s  followers in Shopaholic Ties the Knot, so I’m starting after writing this post.   Was planning to postpone it until I finish another author but… 

And I can’t wait to see Touchstone Pictures’ Confessions of a Shopaholic in widescreen that’s coming out next month although it will be surely quite different from the book.  The movie trailer starring Isla Fisher as Becky Bloomwood can be previewed at Sophie Kinsella’s official site or at YouTube.

No! Not another Becky Bloomwood…

I have several books in queue and last night I decided to start Sophie Kinsella‘s Confessions of a Shopaholic.  All I knew was Becky is a shopaholic, that’s all.  After reading the back cover, I realized I made a gross mistake in my About page.  I wanted to jump out of my bed to immediately make the necessary corrections (but it was already past midnight, I didn’t have that energy anymore).

Nooooooooooo!!!  That isn’t me.  No way!!! I’m sure that my site’s visitors had read it.  I wrote that I’m working to be a renewed Becky Bloomwood.  That statement is not applicable at all.  First, I’m not comparable with Becky in terms of shopaholism.   I shy away from very expensive and trendy boutiques.  I’m quite practical when it comes to shopping, although, of course, I try to treat myself with branded stuff at times.  Next , I never borrowed an amount to get myself one ever-desired item.  Third, I never got any invitation letter from my bank to discuss an overdraft issue coz I never had such problem.

… Becky’s been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank – letters with large red sums she can’t bear to read…   And so on and so forth.  That will never happen to me.  I’ve never reached that point where I have uncontrollable spendings. 

I hope I made myself understood for the change in that particular page.  The list of differences is quite long…  but I don’t need to discuss further.

As for Becky, I still believe her story will have a positive ending.   Am I right?