Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella Review
Written by Olivia Richardson: 10-June-2009
Confessions of a Shopaholic book by Sophie Kinsella
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The gist
Meet the star of the story - Rebecca Bloomwood. She's a financial journalist and spends her working life telling others how to manage their money. But there's just one teeny problem - she's a total shopaholic and can't actually handle her own money.
Retail therapy is the answer to all her problems; She knows she should stop, but just can't. She tries cutting back, she making more money, but neither seems to work.
The stories, lies and excuses she comes up with to keep her bank managers happy become more and more warped as she tries to untangle her plummeting financial difficulties. Her only comfort is to buy herself something - just a little something.
Can Becky ever escape from this dream world, find true love, and regain the use of her credit card?
Our review
The movie was fantastic but the book was a let-down - until the last 70 odd pages (then I was hooked!). The book actually has a majorly different plot to the movie.
The back of the book says: "Meet Becky Bloomwood, an irresistible heroine with a big heart, big dreams and a teeny tiny little weakness..." This actually describes the cute and loveable Becky as played by Isla Fisher in the movie, but definitely not the one in the book - at least for most of it.
Unlikable character
In the book, Becky Bloomwood isn't a very likeable character at all - she lies pretty much in every scene, tries to be something she's not, manipulates, seems insecure, is always trying to sound good in front of others, and is a bit of a user to get money. It actually gets quite annoying.
Writing style
It's all written in first person - which is quite unique - and there's a bit of random swearing in the first half which just seems unnecessary and doesn't add anything to the story.
The book talks a lot about her inner shopping 'dilemma' ums and ahs, (especially in the first 80 or so pages) but becomes more like a shopping log and is very predictable and often overdone.
The author, however, uses some cute techniques to get the story across (full pages with letters from banks, bills, etc.).
The surprising twist...
The last 70 or so pages drew me in like CRAZY because she became very likable (got her act togther, wasn't lying as much, etc.) and the author's writing seemed more polished, clever, snappy and humourous. Once I'd finished, I just had to get the second book (Shopaholic Abroad) and now I'm hooked and want to read the whole series:
1. Confessions of a Shopaholic
5. Shopaholic and Baby.
The second book, Shopaholic Abroad, is written better from page one and has a better plot so far. She's very likeable in it and it's funny, witty and draws you in. It seems the author, Sophie Kinsella, just needed to kick-start it all with the first book (which was written in 2000) but really found her feet in the last part of the first book and in the second, etc. Can't wait to read the whole series now!
Rating overall
3/5.
