Sohpie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopoholic novel shot to fame after Isla Fisher played the role of Rebecca Bloomwood in the motion picture released in 2009. There is no doubt in my mind that the movie was fantastic. Hilarious. Isla Fisher was the perfect choice for the role, as were the supporting characters. I was excited to race out, buy the book that the movie was based on, and rip into it.

Unluckily for me, it was a waste of my time. In print, the characters were flat, and the scenes were dull. There was no life force in the novel that was bringing it to life in my imagination. I finished the book, as i rarely stop half way through. But i didn't walk away with the buzz that finishing a good book usually gives you (or the sadness that comes with leaving an alternate reality behind). While there was nothing hugely wrong with the book, there were no grammatical errors or serious plot deficiencies, there was nothing outstanding. 

For a long while, i attributed this to the novels' being overshadowed by the movie. Surely, a book that was so well known that it spawned four sequels and was considered hugely popular must be good... Sophie Kinsella is a world-famous author!! 

Last week, i read another of her books, The Undomestic Goddess. From the blurb, i was interested. Sure, it was a typical boy-meets-girl type novel (different setting, different names, different issues... you know how it is)...

Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She's made a mistake so huge, it'll wreck any chance of a partnership.

Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she's mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they've hired a lawyer-and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can't sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope-and finds love-is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake.

But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?

Samantha Sweeting is much more grounded and punchy than the wishy-washy Rebecca Bloomwood. Bonus points there. And i have always had a soft spot for transformation stories - and Sam's metamorphosis from high-strung lawyer to domestic goddess definitely qualifies. More bonus points. However, the story still didn't have the pizazz that i look for in a good chick novel. You see, what chick lit lacks in originality it is supposed to make up for with punch. This novel failed to do so. 

After reading these two books, i'd have to say that Sophie Kinsella is relegated to 'mediocre' novelist in my mind. I won't be re-reading these books anytime soon (although i will be watching the movie again!), which isn't a great sign. 

Please, anyone who has jumped on the Kinsella bandwagon and found it to be the ride of their life, feel free to argue your point!