Shopaholic Abroad - Sophie Kinsella

Date of Reading : 30/05/2012

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Title: Shopaholic Abroad (aka Shopaholic Takes Manhattan)

          European or American, white men are attributed with some notions in the East (at least in my place!). They are:

1) They all speak fluent English irrespective of their nationalities

2) They don't stock for future

3) No stable marriages - divorces are common and the kids are OK with it as they are with seasons

4) They drink too much ( a horrible mishap if u r religious)

5) No crimes there - there would have been no police if it is not for the terrorists

           We all are not financially supported to have a round about tour to check these, so books are the only way. As all jokes are not really jokes, there is no fiction that is completely fiction. They are much like history books with an individual perspective. Kinsella books might belong to chick lit (not a negative word for me), but they have their place as everything else. True about this second book in the Shopaholic series.

           Becky's rich boyfriend Luke is planning to open a branch of his PR company in New York and they are moving abroad to the land of Tiffany's, Barneys and Saks Fifth Avenue. Luke has arranged interviews for her with TV producers and he himself is busy to get backers for the company. Not a matter for her. . . shopping here is nothing like London. New York is great except for Elinor, Luke's mother.

           Luke's family is a little complicated, nothing like hers. His parents split up when he was little and mother never cares or visits him - for which he blindly blames her new husband. Annabel, his stepmother brought him up and he calls her too 'Mum'. She is a loving lady but Luke still earns for his mother and literally worships Elinor Sherman. To be noticed by her, that is actually the drive force behind this New York venture.

          In their first meeting itself Becky has understood her cold, ruthless nature, but she can't open up with Luke. Meanwhile her debts are piling up and Luke is also in trouble as a rumour has spread, declaring that Bank of London his main client is withdrawing.

           Their world topples down when The Daily World features Becky in "Are They What They Seem?" as a spendthrift knee deep in debt - much in contradiction to her job as financial adviser. Luke flares up as this ruins his New York plan and Rebecca returns home alone; she has lost her job. But there is Suze and her parents with support.

           She finds Luke's London office in turmoil and discovers that Alicia, her rival who is in charge is the root cause in spreading the rumour and appearance of the article. Becky discloses everything to Michael, their friend; Luke flies home and the company is saved; she auctions her stuff, pays off the debts and takes a job in New York. Luke comes in the airport with her Denny and George scarf which he has secretly collected from the auction and begs to return, but she is determined to go.

           Two months later they meet again. Luke has opened up his branch in New York at a small scale and Becky is doing fine as a personal shopper in Barneys; she helps others in finding the right dress - the job he loves. They start afresh.

           Apart from Becky and Luke relationship, the interesting part is the cultural differences between New York and London; Kinsella succeeds in mocking the misconceptions. This novel is a little bit serious in line but as charming as others.