Confessions of a Shopaholic

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Copyright 2001
312 pages
Reason for reading: I read this book for the 1st in a Series Challenge.
Days to finish: 1

I had low expectations going into this book. I had heard people say that they liked it, it was funny, etc., but that they didn't love it. I also figured it would make for nice, light, undemanding reading. I was correct on all accounts.

It was an extremely easy read to get through. Becky, our shopaholic, was funny and likeable although I didn't really feel all that sorry for her situation. If Kinsela said how old she was in the book, I must've skimmed over that part but I'm assuming that Becky is in her early twenties and very much in debt. Why? Because she can't control her shopping habits. Not only does she shop like there's no tomorrow, but she can't resist designer labels either. Her shopping, which increases her debts, which increases the amounts of letters she receives from her creditors only serves to increase her guilt which she assuages by buying herself a "little" something. Can you see the pattern? I honestly hope that it wasn't the author's intention to make the reader feel sorry for Becky because I didn't have an ounce of pity for her. She made her bed with her 2000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, now she has to lie in it.

Hmm. I don't really sound like I liked the book at all at this point, do I? Well, I will be honest and say that it could be tedious at times to read. Becky's problems seem so shallow and the way she handled them, extremely childish. But the holes she dug herself into and the way she contrived to get out of them were funny to read about and I laughed out loud several times. The ending, I wish I could give it away and say why, was...disappointing but not enough to kill my interest. I'm intrigued enough by the series' start that I plan on reading the rest. I love British literature, comedies, television, music, etc. and this book certainly fit that bill. I don't plan on reading the rest of the series to find existential meanings in life by any means. They would make excellent beach reads and the beach season, at least in my part of the world, isn't that far away.

The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
Copyright 1980
535 Pages
Reason for reading: I read this book for the 1st in a Series Challenge.
Days to finish: 11 days

Synopsis:
Jason Bourne. He has no past. And he may have no future.
His memory is blank. He only knows that he was flushed out of the Mediterranean Sea, his body riddled with bullets. There are a few clues. A frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the flesh of his hip. Evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face. Strange things that he says in his delirium -- maybe code words. Initial: "J.B." And a number on the film negative that leads to a Swiss bank account, a fortune of four million dollars, and, at last, a name: Jason Bourne.
But now he is marked for death, caught in a maddening puzzle, racing for survival through the deep layers of his buried past into a bizarre world of murderous conspirators -- led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin. And no one can help Jason Bourne but the woman who once wanted to escape him.

This book was okay. There were parts that were full of excitement, drama, and action that were totally enjoyable to read. Then you get to the parts where...I guess you would call it background information. It was scenes that explained the motivations of the different factions that were after Bourne. I found these chapters and sections to be extremely boring. It didn't help that Ludlum uses names like the Russians do. You would have one man that would be referred to in four different ways and I often found myself trying to figure out who everybody was and what part they were playing in the drama.

If I were to rate it, I'd give it a three out of five because it wasn't horrible by any means but it also hasn't earned a "favorite" spot on my book shelf. I can't believe I'm saying this and I will deny it to the bitter end if ever accused of saying this but...I think the movie was better than the book. SHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! And to conclude, I plan on reading the rest of the series just to see how it turns out. The book and the movie, thus far, were totally different.

The Color of Magic

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Copyright 1983
210 Pages
Reason for reading: I read this book for the 1st in a Series Challenge
Days to finish: 7

As mentioned above, it took me seven days to finish this book and it was only 210 pages long. That fact, in and of itself, should be an easy indicator of whether or not I enjoyed this book.
Don’t get me wrong. It was a very well written book. Pratchett invented an entire world with unique cities, landscapes, and people. He also used elements of mythology to round out his universe. My problem with the book was that I just didn’t care about the characters. Rincewind, Twoflower, Hrun, Luggage, and the others didn’t hold my interest. It was easy to put down the book and find other things to do with my time. Surprisingly enough, I plan on reading the next book or two of the series. I was recently told that the series gets better and I really wanted to like it so I’m giving it another chance.

My favorite character was the Luggage. Pratchett displays his talent by being able to give a piece of luggage personality. It was funny and the Luggage was tenacious. You had to love it.

I also found similar elements in The Color of Magic and the Harry Potter series. Whether or not Pratchett and Rowling used the same references or Rowling was a fan of the Disc World series and incorporated parts of it into her own series, I don’t know. I’d be interested to find out though and plan on doing some research to assuage my curiosity.

In conclusion, if I were to rate this book (I don’t currently have my own rating system) I’d give it 2 ½ stars out of 5. The series has potential but so far, it isn’t interesting to me.

1st in a Series Challenge

Here is my list of books for the 1st in a Series challenge which is being hosted by Joy.

• Terry Pratchett – Disc World Series – The Color of Magic
• Neil Gaiman – Sandman – Absolute Sandman
• Nora Roberts – Sign of Seven Series – Blood Brothers
• Tess Gerritsen – Jane Rizzoli Series – The Surgeon
• Lisa Scottoline - Rosato & Associates Series – Everywhere That Mary Went
• Janet Evanovich – Metro Girl Series – Metro Girl
• Christopher Paolini – Inheritance Cycle Series – Eragon
• Debbie Macomber – Cedar Cove Series – 16 Lighthouse Road
• Sophie Kinsella – Shopaholic Series – Confessions of a Shopaholic
• Isaac Asimov – Foundation Series – Foundation
• Robert Ludlam – Jason Bourne Series – The Bourne Identity
• L.M. Montgomery – Anne of Green Gables Series – Anne of Green Gables.

Alternates:

• Jonathan Kellerman – Alex Delaware Series – When the Bough Breaks
• Stephanie Barron – Jane Austen Series – Jane and the Unpleasantness at
Margrave Manor
• Isaac Asimov – Robot Series – The Caves of Steel
• Kristin Britain – Green Rider Series – Green Rider
• L. Frank Baum – Oz Series – The Wizard of Oz
• Stephen King – Dark Tower Series – The Gunslinger
• Dean Koontz – Frankenstein Series – Prodigal Son
• Steven Erikson – Malazan Book of the Fallen – Gardens of the Moon
• Lemony Snicket – A Series of Unfortunate Events – The Bad Beginning: Book
the First
• Janet Evanonvich – Full Series – Full House
• Shirley Rousseau Murphy – Joe Grey Mystery Series – Cat on the Edge
• Arnaldur Indridason – A Reykjavik Thriller – Jar City