Confessions of a Shopaholic

[Christina]

This book caused physical pain when I read it. It lived up to every bad stereotype for chic-lit. I wanted to like it, the premise was promising, but her level of irresponsibility and stupidity was unbearable.

[Teresa]

ok...I blame sister for me having to read this one. (Sister btw is Christina ;) )

I didn't get the physical pain but I really had to force myself to read it. It was complete homage to the person who does everything wrong and still wins the day so to speak. The characters really lacked any depth...of anything include personality....

~le sigh~

[Courtney]

I can barely defend myself because I read the first three books...but they were truly awful. This was a "heroine" that I could not get behind. She deserved every mess she got herself into....

[Maryam]

I love these books...I don't know why as I usually HATE chic-lit genre books...but for some reason, I really liked the main character, even though she is the epitime (sp?) of everything the feminist movement is against! maybe b/c I myself am a shopping addict (except that instead of clothes, I buy books) and could kind of relate? and i'm guilty of hiding bills so i don't have to look at them (ok...so that was early college years...no longer do that as a real adult). And the books made me laugh. But then again, I loved Bridget Jones too (first book, not 2nd....i think she might have been on crack when she wrote the 2nd one).

[nina]

I really enjoy these books!! Ok, so are complete chick-lit, but whatever! They are fun to read and think Sophie Kinsella is a fairly good writer! :)
A lot of moment where I actually laugh out loud :D

[Jennie]

I never read these because I just felt like I would be so nervous and annoyed that she was running herself into debt the whole time and that I would be expected to feel bad or sympathize or something, when really I would just be thinking that she either needed to a) grow up or b) get professional help.

[Mathura]

I think Becky really grows through out the books. Sometimes I want to shake her, but I still like her! It's supposed to be humorous, after all. Sometimes it can be annoying but I love the plot, characters and it can get pretty serious sometimes. The morals are good and if you hate Becky, make sure you read Luke's speech in Shopaholic and Baby. It's an eye-opener. You still may not like her, but you might be able to understand that she isn't a dimwit. I love these series. I love the writing and Sophie Kinsella! If your main prob. was the extreme shopping and Becky, don't let that stop you from reading her other books, namely Can You Keep A Secret?, (unless you hate chic-lit).

[Jodie]

Reading Confessions of a Shopaholic really spoiled Sophie Kinsella as a writer to me. I won't read any of her other books because I hated this one so badly. My sister-in-law loves these books & is always telling me to read more, give them a try....but I just can't.

[Ruth]

The Shopaholic books really made me angry while I was reading them -- what an insipid, self-centered heroine -- but they redeemed themselves in the end. Mixed emotions, but must not have hated them too much 'cause I have read them all! Found Kinsella by reading Can You Keep a Secret? which was by far the best of the lot.

[nogaboga]

I lasted 15 pages. I have never read a chick-flick before, and it looks like I never will. Oh the boredom, the shallowness, the predictability, the frivolity. I'm surprised that I even lasted the 15 pages that I did.

[Susan]

Nogaboga---totally in agreement with you about the Kinsella book...not a huge fan of the shopping/materialism-and label-heavy subgenre, but not all "chick lit" is created equal, so I hope you won't let that especially frivolous one color your opinion on the lot. I recommend Caren Lissner (particularly her book Carrie Pilby) and Melissa Banks (Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing). The fact that they're both slightly older titles, says something I think...this whole shopping thing is the trend, so I'm afraid there's quite a few of those books glutting the market right now.

[nogaboga]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have to say though, I just read the back covers of some Banks books online and wasn't excited at all. Nevertheless, I'll keep it in mind, and if one of her books comes my way, I'll definitely give it the benefit of 15 pages.

[Nicole]

Courtney wrote: "I can barely defend myself because I read the first three books...but they were truly awful. This was a "heroine" that I could not get behind. She deserved every mess she got herself into...."

I did this too, I was sorta liking the first one and I was in one of those reading ruts so off I went to Borders and bought the boxset of the first three. TRIPLE CRINGE!! I found myself stressed out by Becky and when the movie came out I refused to go watch it. I lent them to a friend who to this day reminds me the piece of crap I gave her to read.

[Melinda]

I also read about 15 pages of the first one and couldn't get any further. I hated hated hated it and never tried any more of Kinsella's books. I do like a few chick lit books, but I think I'm a bit picky. This one, with the shallowness and the shopping was just too much for me. I really disliked the character from the get go. Needless to say I did not see the movie either.

[Nicole]

Melinda wrote: "I also read about 15 pages of the first one and couldn't get any further. I hated hated hated it and never tried any more of Kinsella's books. I do like a few chick lit books, but I think I'm a b..."

Chick lit to me is like a guilty pleasure, it's the type of genre I gravitate to when I just want to forget about everything and jump quickly into a story. Still, I'm not a huge fan of the genre.

[Melinda]

Nicole wrote: "Melinda wrote: "I also read about 15 pages of the first one and couldn't get any further. I hated hated hated it and never tried any more of Kinsella's books. I do like a few chick lit books, but..."

I totally agree. And I do read some chick lit. However, some are less shallow and more appealing to me than others. I just could not get into this one. I think the unlikeability of the character for me was the deciding factor. I tried to read it and lose myself in it but I just couldn't do it.

[Anna]

I tried to read this book before I watched the movie but I couldn't get past the third chapter and there I stopped and skipped ahead to see whether I should go on reading or forget it altogether. Well, folks...I stopped altogether and watched the movie instead..the movie was even worst than the book had been and strangely enough I loved it the first time I watched by myself and then when I watched it again with my sister and mom. Never again!!!!! She never learns her lesson about shopping!!