Obscanity: You'll know it when you see it

[Cross-posted at my epinions account.]

As a self-proclaimed shopaholic, I have to praise Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series for its realistic portrayal of the inner clockworks that make up the brain of a born shopper.

The tone of the books is very Bridget-Jones-eque, but Becky Bloomwood is far more entertaining a character than Bridget Jones, and while I won’t spoil anything for you, I will point out that there are certain storyline elements in the Shopaholic series that make it more enjoyable than many books, especially for fans of the “chick-flick” genre. I guess it’s no surprise that people have started calling books in this genre “chick-lit.”

In the first book, Confessions of a Shopaholic, we meet Becky and her debt. Becky is a shopaholic. Becky can find a great bargain, thrives on sales, and understands that three for $10 is so much better than $4 each, no matter what item and regardless of whether or not you actually need three of them. It’s a bargain; what more do you need to know?

The best part of these books is that if you’re a spender, as I am, you’ll recognize the lunacy of the credit card system; one company demands that you pay them back, a second company reminds you that credit card debt is dangerous and you should avoid it, and a third offers you a $3000 line of credit at the local department store. While I don’t have a personal relationship with my banker, it’s entertaining to follow Becky’s amusing efforts to explain to her bankers why she needs a higher overdraft limit.

In the second book, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Becky discovers the joys of New York shopping and the wonder that is foreign currency.

Up to now, everything’s been in pounds sterling, but when you’re shopping in America, it’s like everything’s half off!

I have the same experience when I go to Canada; it doesn’t matter that things are more expensive, because after the conversion it’s like a giant sale!

In the third book, Shopaholic Ties the Knot – well, I don’t think it’s spoiling anything for me to tell you that in the third book, Becky gets married. Married! That means… yes! A wedding! Even better: shopping for the wedding! The following book, Shopaholic & Sister, is a fun story, if a little bit melodramatic. (No spoilers here!) The latest book, Shopaholic & Baby, JUST came out, and I’m looking forward to reading it!

If you read one book, you should read all five; they’re fantastic and each book flows into the next. In the time it takes you to read the five books, you might have spent a dangerous amount of money had you chosen to go shopping at the mall instead. You’ll also raid your refrigerator instead of eating out, since you’ll be so engrossed in the novels that you won’t want to leave your house. So in the long run, buying all five books will save you money, won’t it? What a deal!

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