Peace In The Margins

I picked up Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella only after reading Surprise Me. I loved Surprise Me, but can’t say the same for the character of Becky Bloomwood. I thought she was a shallow and self-centered twit. Maybe that’s what Kinsella wanted – a character that the reader would roll his or her eyes at who finally grows up, takes her life by the horns, and adjusts. While the happy ending is achieved, it is done so through a lack of deep character development.

The story felt choppy, jumping – not flowing – from self-centered to career-minded shift to taking responsibility for her lack of self-control. I am drawn to character development that flows much like the growth and change experienced by Frodo Baggins – a change that you know is happening, but it seems to occur seamlessly.

It is frustrating to see Becky spend money she doesn’t have on things she doesn’t need. I know life imitates art, imitates life – and Becky embodies the extreme results when consumerism controls the society we live. It is the “keeping up with the Jones’s” motto to the fullest. Becky has no depth, she’s a two-dimensional character who refuses to see the reality of her circumstances, yet I’m not so heartless to think that she won’t be relatable for someone.

I admit it – I love new clothes as well, but I don’t like shopping. Amazon was an amazing innovation and some of the subscription boxes have changed the way I buy clothes. I can also see how even online shopping can get out of control just as Becky’s need to physically be in a store overwhelms her.

“Oh God, the relief. The warmth, the light. This is where I belong. This is my natural habitat” (210).

I won’t deny, this was a fun read, especially after the first 150 pages, and I do intend to pick up the next book in the series, just to see where Kinsella is planning to take Becky on this next career path. Hopefully, Becky will become more three-dimensional in the next book.

So, was it worth the read? Yes, even though it isn’t one of my all-time favorites – probably a 2 or 3-star read. I still think Kinsella is a writer worth reading, but Confessions is no high literary achievement.

Until next time,

Alicia