Sophie Kinsella, the author du jour

Who hasn't read the Shopaholic series written by Sophie Kinsella? Well, at least if you are female and over eighteen, it is more than likely that you have. This series propelled Sophie Kinsella into the worldwide spotlight; whether she succeeded in creating a sub-genre of literature or kindled a passion for reading in a younger generation is up for debate. I've read each of the books in this series, and, honestly, I can't stand them.



Sophie Kinsella is proficient at writing good novels. If you have ever read a book about how to get your own book published, there are certain things that editors look for in a manuscript. And it is not nearly as easy as Kinsella makes it look. A critical element in any novel is building suspense. If the reader doesn't care what happens next, they won't turn the next page, continue on to the next chapter, or read the next book in a series. It may go without saying, but I had never thought about this until I read it: suspense is not always characterized by a dark and stormy night. It is anything that introduces uncertainty. Kinsella's Shopaholic novels contain plenty of suspense.



The main character, Becky, is not only a "shopaholic" but a pathological liar. Between her crazy spending and her even crazier lies, the reader never knows how things will work out for Becky. Reflected in the light of Candace Bushnell's novels Sex in the City and Trading Up, shopping and fibbing seem harmless. (Note: If you recognize the title of the HBO series, you will know what these two Bushnell books are about.) This is where I dump out the Kinsella Kool-Aid.



Since when have such reckless dishonesty and outrageous materialism become endearing character traits? The last time I looked, dishonesty and covetousness were in the same set of "thou shalt nots" as adultery. For the skill Kinsella possesses as an author, is it not possible to create suspense without calling to mind the Ten Commandments? I guess not. Having said this, I feel that redemption and tolerance are lessons worth learning as well. Unfortunately, Kinsella's character, Becky, never changes. Isn't this series of bad choices the easy way to create suspense? Wouldn't it be more difficult for an author to create suspense without scandalous behavior to create the problems? How many people in this world live the life of Becky Bloomwood? Not very many, and yet we don't all live bland, boring lives.



And yet most authors who write books for the Christian market follow such a predictable pattern that, not unlike Dan Brown, we know what's going to happen before we are half-way through the book. Davis Bunn, as an example, is a tremendous faith-based author who creates well-developed characters and suspense without filling my mind with filth. Fortunately, Kinsella's most recent novel may have saved her.



I read Twenties Girl today, and it was a well-written book with an inspiring message. The main character does her share of lying (what is with this obsession of Kinsella's?), but overall, Kinsella did a good job of creating endearing characters and a great deal of uncertainty without stooping to anything blatantly immoral. Or relatively immoral? Anyway, if you can get over the authentic British language, it's a beautiful story.



Here is my favorite passage from the book and my thoughts on it:



"A scratch 1920s recording of a jaunty, jazzy tune...On the other side of the room, an old man sitting under a tartan blanket with a tank of oxygen next to him turns his head. I can see the light of recognition coming on in faces around the room...They're all Sadie inside, aren't they? They're all in their twenties inside. All that white hair and wrinkled skin is just cladding. The old man with the oxygen tank was probably once a dashing heartthrob. That woman with distant rheumy eyes was once a mischievous young girl who played pranks on her friends. They were all young, with love affairs and friends and parties and an endless life ahead of them...I can see their young, vibrant selves, starting to dance with each other to the music. They're all dancing the Charleston, kicking up their heels skittishly, their hair dark and strong, their limbs lithe again, and they're laughing, clutching each other's hands, throwing back their heads, reveling in it-"



Sophie Kinsella, Twenties Girl, pg 512-13. (Large print edition-that was all the library had.)



Now read James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction."

For writing something that inspires me to do better, to consider things I hadn't, to love more fully, thanks Sophie Kinsella. That is what makes good literature.