Confessions of a Shopaholic discussion

I really felt depressed when reading the first 7/8th of the book by not able to cope with how a human being can act in such a dumb way as she did. But overall the book got full credit solely because there's a deep message conveyed by the author.

LOL it isn't meant to be serious but a fun read on a silly girl addicted to shopping, which more common than you might realize. I did have a certain uneasiness during the reading of the book, just like I have through every single book in this series, but that uneasiness is the same as when I read a myster or thriller.

Chanaka, I know what you mean. It isn't that I didn't understand how easy it is to get into a financial mess from overshopping, it was how she felt she couldn't confide in anyone close to her!

She did have her BFF but Suze could only do so much for her considering she refused to let go of anything she owned until she lost everything. One par that did irritate me in the book and the movie is when she goes to her Shopaholics Anonymous meeting and they take her bridesmaid dress and her tv show dress and give it to charity - I thought the entire time "Really, you couldn't get aggressive and say BACK OFF my stuff" or something of that nature!

Ninian wrote: "Chanaka, I know what you mean. It isn't that I didn't understand how easy it is to get into a financial mess from overshopping, it was how she felt she couldn't confide in anyone close to her!"

What you`re telling is all right, yes, that`s uneasy. But I have a doubt whether people can`t control themselves to this extend.

Son Casey wrote: "LOL it isn't meant to be serious but a fun read on a silly girl addicted to shopping, which more common than you might realize. I did have a certain uneasiness during the reading of the book, just..."

Yes, we can just neglect it as a "Fun Read". But don`t feel so. Well you know that we get in to the character when reading any book. So her behavior just annoying me!

This book made me very uneasy ... b/c it struck very close to home. I am someone who couldn't control myself, pretty much to this extent. Whenever I'm sad, if I just shop, I'll feel better. Even if I buy stuff for other people, I feel better. & honestly, I am too embarrassed to tell anyone about the debt/financial messes I get myself into because I'm a grownup & I should be able to control myself. So it's this secret little shame spiral.

I once had a meeting at my bank to figure out how to pay for school. The agent explained about monitoring cash flow. He suggested carrying a notebook to keep track of where the money goes. So I left the bank, feeling totally empowered, went into this chic little stationary store & bought a little notebook for $12. Never mind that you can get one at the dollar store for ... $1 (I know, right?).

Anyway, I'm moderately recovered -- mostly I don't go into shops. It's a little upsetting that this series is taken so lightly when it's a real problem -- very real, in fact -- that people can be afflicted with.

Chanaka wrote: What you`re telling is all right, yes, that`s uneasy. But I have a doubt whether people can`t control themselves to this extend.

Chanaka:

People DO get this out of control with money/credit. It's an epidemic. It's sad and the desire for having something right now and not saving and waiting and anticipating. So many "rent to own" and financing companies that allow people to purchase things on credit at ridiculous interest rates that they can never pay off.

There's an entire industry devoted to ways to help people get out of debt.

Bevin wrote: "This book made me very uneasy ... b/c it struck very close to home. I am someone who couldn't control myself, pretty much to this extent. Whenever I'm sad, if I just shop, I'll feel better. Even if..."

Bevin, I know what you mean. I'm someone who can't control spending when I have a credit card so I just don't have one. It used to be really difficult, say if I wanted to order something online I'd have to get a friend to do it and pay them the cash, but I found it's the only way I can live debt free.

I don't know what it is, I think that it is the feeling that you've paid already when you've used the card, or the sense that you forget how much you've charged.

Writing down your spending is definitely the way to go, and living totally on cash is the smartest. That way, if you don't have the money you can't spend the money. There's a really good television program here called "Til Debt Do Us Part" - it's in reruns now, but the advice on it is spectactular. The woman who does it also has a website and books, the one that I recommend most often is Debt Free Forever.

It is a pratfall book. I understand what is meant by the uneasiness because her circumstances are a bit over the top stressful. However, as far as a higher meaning, kindly though I enjoy Kinsela as an author I don't think she is that deep nor does she intend to be. Becky reminds me of Lucille Ball in all of the old "I Love Lucy" shows. She is constantly finding herself in extraordinary circumstances all the while hoping to hide the giant elephant in the room from those closest to her.

Bevin wrote: "This book made me very uneasy ... b/c it struck very close to home. I am someone who couldn't control myself, pretty much to this extent. Whenever I'm sad, if I just shop, I'll feel better. Even if..."

Thanks for your reply! Really speaking. It`s good to know about that behavior from someone who are facing it. I hope you`ll get over it well. Hope no uneasiness will creep in to your life again like when I read this book! Good Luck!

Ninian wrote: "Chanaka wrote: What you`re telling is all right, yes, that`s uneasy. But I have a doubt whether people can`t control themselves to this extend.

Chanaka:

People DO get this out of control with mo..."

Exactly! No business is devoted to make any customers life colorful, but to prompt them to buy more. I can believe it. But I`m sorry about all of them. They should be more careful on whose in control over their life; that should be themselves, not any businessman who have intelligent promoting skills! It is difficult to deviate but they must deviate from the current unhealthy lifestyle!

Gretchen wrote: "It is a pratfall book. I understand what is meant by the uneasiness because her circumstances are a bit over the top stressful. However, as far as a higher meaning, kindly though I enjoy Kinsela as..."

What a good assessment!

I don't think that Kinsella is going for the deeper meaning either, but I do know, as someone who has been in dire financial circumstances, that the book can make one feel uneasy about things! :)

It made me think that someone so out of control with their spending is not good fodder for a book but it brought to reality the way people use shopping to fill an inner void, of which I can attest I do, but not to any financial ruin of running into debt. It is a very real and commonplace for women especially, I don't know why women are seen as true shopaholics. Men shop also, just in hardware stores.

Bevin wrote: "This book made me very uneasy ... b/c it struck very close to home. I am someone who couldn't control myself, pretty much to this extent. Whenever I'm sad, if I just shop, I'll feel better. Even if..."

OMG I know the feeling! I avoid all shops because I know I have a spending limit in the back of my brain and never ever follow it. It can easily get out of hand and it is almost as easy to ignore the bills as well. And although we're taught and told how to be responsible, actually doing it is a completely different thing.

I still love these books absolutely through and through and the uneasiness adds to the suspense, at least for me it does!

Couldn't read the book. Her childishness drove me insane.

She did have quite a money management problem!

Yeah, i actually felt a bit bored , even with the movie for some reason !

Yes. I did. I don't really like this book. I want to slap the heroine all over. It was well written but I just don't like the heroine.

I agree! I really felt uneasy while reading the book! I really hate the way the heroine think, honestly, I regard her as kinda shallow and dumb!

I agree! I can't stand the heroine. I scanned through most of the pages because of that. I don't know why it's Kinsella's most famous book. I read her other books like Twenties Girl and The Undomestic Goddess and I love them! This one, not so much.

YaL wrote: "I agree! I really felt uneasy while reading the book! I really hate the way the heroine think, honestly, I regard her as kinda shallow and dumb!"

What`s you comment about me giving 5 stars to the book? [Read my review]

Hannah wrote: "I agree! I can't stand the heroine. I scanned through most of the pages because of that. I don't know why it's Kinsella's most famous book. I read her other books like Twenties Girl and The Undomes..."

What`s you comment about me giving 5 stars to the book? [Read my review]

My only experience with uneasiness with regard to this book was when the movie came out. I sooooo wish Kinsella had made Hollyweird stay true to the book like J.K. Rowling did with Harry Potter (mind you, I haven't read HP, but that's what I've heard from friends of mine who are avid fans).

I loved Becky Bloomwood. At the time, I really could relate to her shopping addiction. Plus, her predicaments made me literally LOL! After a while, I sought online help, lol, and took some advice that I'd gotten from some website or other. Keep track of my purchases, review at the end of the day or week or whatever and see what I really didn't need. I don't do that anymore. Now, when I see something that I just (believe that I) must have, I give myself a week or so to think about it. Depending on the cost, maybe I'll give myself a month. If I still want it and/or can't stop thinking about it, I'll treat myself. I've saved a bit of money like that and it's totally nipped the impulse purchasing in the bud.

Back to Becky, when Shopaholic and Baby came out, I couldn't even finish it. Maybe my love for Becks had run its course. :-/

I don't know cuz I like kinsella a other books but her shopaholic books are so awkward and not realistic I mean I think there is a limit to the amount of free will your spending instincts get I can't see a real person acting like that...the decisions she makes are so not smart!

Love the Twenties Girl - thats what made this book so disappointing..