Shopaholic & Sister - Fun book about frugality

[hermione]

Has anyone here read the Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella? The 4th one was called "Shopaholic & Sister", in which Becky, the protagonist who is an incorrigible spendthrift, meets her very prudent and frugal half-sister and they clash due to their spending habits.

Of course, it's fiction but there are some good things to be learned from it. For example, for working out you can use water bottles filled with sand or water instead of hand-weights. Or you can save onion bags (the netted ones you get bulk onions in) to use as a scourer (sp?)/scouring pad. And the potato is an inexpensive and wholesome food that provides you all the nutrients you need...

But for the most part, it's just a fun read. My sister and I enjoyed this book and had a lot of good laughs because we could sort of see ourselves in Jessica. I thought some of you here might enjoy this book too.

P.S. Get it from the library instead of buying. If you're anxious about the cleanliness of a library book as we sometimes are, wipe it over with a little rubbing alcohol before reading it. You'd be amazed at the amount of black stuff that sometimes comes off a library book - especially children's and young adults'.

[Megan]

I can't explain why, but I love this series. Becky is absolutely ridiculous, and I have no pity for the predicaments she finds herself in when she spends like a fiend, and yet they're incredibly fun reads. But I loved when Becky met her super frugal sister. It goes to show that perhaps it's possible to go too far in either direction.

[Ronni]

One of my favorite books is Confessions of a Shopaholic even though I want to throttle Becky with all the lying and being irresponsible. But I've been where she is, which makes her so endearing to me.

[hermione]

My sister and I both feel the same about Becky and we are always horrified at the way she spends money and justifies it (at least at the time that she's spending it). But the books are just so funny and she does learn her lesson at the end of each book ... only to fall off the shopping wagon and have to redeem herself again in the next.

The most recent one Shopaholic & Baby was hilarious.

[Rebecca]

I have all of the books (except the most recent one).

I am sad to say.

I. AM. BECKY.

In the first book where she gets the credit card and starts to convince herself that it was sent to the wrong person or someone mistakenly made a huge payment on her account?

Yup. That's me.

Ugh.

[khorrell]

Thanks for the recommendations for some light reading! They sound like fun.

[khorrell]

I've just tried to read Confessions... and I got so frustrated by her behavior that I stopped reading. Only to discover that it is the selection for my book club next month, so I'll have to slog through it somehow. Will it get better?

[Megan]

Originally Posted by khorrell

I've just tried to read Confessions... and I got so frustrated by her behavior that I stopped reading. Only to discover that it is the selection for my book club next month, so I'll have to slog through it somehow. Will it get better?

I think it does - but I have to be honest with you. Some of my friends have said the same thing about this book. They just can't get into it because of Becky's behavior. Personally, I just read it and laughed at how ridiculous she is.

[Lynnae]

I've never heard of that series. I'm definitely going to look for it at the library, though! Sounds like a fun read!

[hermione]

Originally Posted by khorrell

I've just tried to read Confessions... and I got so frustrated by her behavior that I stopped reading. Only to discover that it is the selection for my book club next month, so I'll have to slog through it somehow. Will it get better?

Yes, she can be really annoying because she's so out-of-control, but once you get past that, these books are lots of fun - at least I think so. I've actually read most of this series 3 times in the last 3 years because I enjoy them so much. They're one of few books that actually make me laugh out loud.

But I think they do get better after the beginning. The first time I tried to read Confessions, I sort of lost interest - around the 2nd page - but then came back to it a few months later and gobbled it up, as well as the next 2 (there were only 3 of them back then).

Or maybe I'm too easily entertained. I'm the kind of person who can re-read books and re-watch movies over and over. When I like a book or movie, I sort of want to stay in that particular world. Now I sound pathetic ... or downright nuts.