Personally, I don’t think there is anything wrong per se for a dude like me to read books like “Twenties Girl”, though many friends often get a little shock when they learn that I am a fan of Sophie Kinsella. Her books are fun read. And I have read them all. The only complain I have … erm … if I could put it that way, would be the book cover. I mean, yes these are chick-lits. But must the covers look so, girlie? One time, I was carrying a complete stack of the Shopaholic series to the Times Bookstore counter, and there were people l-o-o-k-i-n-g. Or at least that was how I imagined so. The moment “Twenties Girl” was out, I was hitting our National Library’s website everyday trying to be amongst the first to place a reservation. Bad news was, I was at queue number seventy-something. Good news was, our library in Singapore has stocked up sixty over “Twenties Girl” in anticipation of the demand. Well done NLB!
I remember vividly the day I collected the book from the library. We had a Spanish examination in the afternoon. During our late lunch celebration with some of the classmates, I have received an email on my N97 (the text message reminder came much later, while we were watching a movie at night). Yes, the book was ready for collection. Hooray! The library was just opposite to where we had our lunch. When I reached the counter, it was empty. I secretly let out a sigh of relief. But you know what life is like. Just when you think everything is going OK, I saw a queue starting to form, as the librarian was trying to locate the book. With a crisp clear, relatively loud voice given the fact that we were inside a library, she showed me the book cover and asked, “Is this the book you are looking for?”. I swear I saw the queue of library visitors looked at me, then the book, then at me again. Gosh!
The legendary Shopaholic series aside, I enjoy reading Sophie Kinsella’s standalone novels a lot. Like “The Undomestic Goddess”, “Can You Keep A Secret”, and “Remember Me?”. As for “Twenties Girl”, it is still a fun read. I laughed-out-loud while reading the book in Starbucks, and at home. The formula is similar: lots of dramas, centered to a girl. And the lack of character development for the male species is still prevalence. Maybe this is how girls see the world; maybe such is the genre of chick-lit. What is different though is that the center character, Lara, is not as flawed as the rest of Sophie Kinsella’s heroines. Also, the concept of the constant interaction with Lara’s great aunt’s ghost adds a new dimension to the story development. “Twenties Girl” touches at the emotional level too. It is less so on the triumph at the personal level, but rather a shift in a focus onto the linkage and importance of the family heritage. It is also less as a predictable happy ending, but one that leaves a melancholy kind of after taste.
Certainly an entertaining book to read. Could the storyline be tighter and tidier? Perhaps. But if you are already a fan, what are you waiting for?
Categories: Book Reviews · Fiction
Tags: Sophie Kinsella19 Comments
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I actually stumbled across ur website. i like ur posts. I actually LOVE Sophie Kinsella! I’ve read The Undomestic Godess, Can You Keep a Secret..I find her books are entertaining and I’m not the kind of girl into chic lit…I usually read self improvement books lol….and I want to read the shopaholic series (without watching the movie…becoz i think it will change what i’ve imagined while I’ve read it…) I realli cant wait to go to the bookshop n see this book and see what this new book is all about
Luisa – Hi, and thanks for dropping by! I also don’t usually read chic lit and Sophie Kinsella is the only author I Iread for this genre.
The Shopoholic series is a fun read. Especially the first one. I read that the book is much better than the movie version and I haven’t watched the movie yet. Probably would, one day from the cable.
Yes, yes, do check out “Twenties Girl”.
Hey , yeah Kinokuniya is 20% off right now, til Sept 5th 2009! So i’m gonna go to Kinokuniya and see if there is any books i LIKE
I tend to like reading more than watching movies, esp if the movies are made from the novels, e.g. Da Vinci Code, it was such a good read that I havent seen the movie b4…i couldnt put the book down!
Luisa – Thanks for the heads up! I will certainly drop by Kino to stock up a few books. I wonder if my Kino card gives me further discount, hehehe.
If you like Dan Brown’s Da Vinci, you may wanna check out the upcoming The Lost Symbol by the same author.
Hmmm…I’ve never read (heard of) the Twenties Girl and Sophie Kinsella’s other novels. But I can definitely imagine myself reading them!
It’s interesting to know that a big guy like you likes chic reads. Do take this comment from me as a compliment and I mean it!
)
Heyzanie – Hi there. You ought to check out The Undomestic Goddess. It was a real fun read. And thanks for your … erm … complement
Hahahaha……..
Hey I forgot to you, i reside in Sydney.
Where r u living? is it singapore atm?
And is there a kinokuniya there?
I would love to see the kinokuniya there
Luisa – Ah! Yes, living in Singapore and there is also a Kinokuniya here … ha ha ha. It is very big. Sort of. Biggest bookstore in Singapore although I have seen bigger ones in UK.
I have yet to visit Sydney. Maybe one day. I enjoy my visit to Melbourne though. The Koalas!
Reali, i’ll be visiting Singapore for a few days late January 2010! So i cant wait to b there. Any tips for where I shouldnt be staying in Singapore? Or Which areas to stay away from? I’ll be travelling alone! So i’m kind of scared but excited at the same time!
If u and ur partner ever come to Sydney, I’ll be happy to take both of you around and show you around
I think u’ll enjoy it tho i personally like Melbourne more becoz its a more “new” city i guess, and buildings, etc are much modern compared to Sydney. Sydney has lot more historical buildings. etc.
Luisa – Hey, drop me an email for your requirement and I will try my best to recommend
I’ll try to recommend a few places for you to visit too. My email address is at the About Me page. You could also add me onto Facebook using that address too, if you are on that network.
And sure thing. I will count on you for some local recommendation when we drop by Sydney next
Haha even I find it weird to be carrying her books around sometimes, so I can understand how u imagine what others’ reactions would be like!
my sis had read this book but i hadnt. i was more keen recently on reading this book: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall, but so far i hadnt gotten hold of the book yet haha maybe i should drop by the library or bookstore soon (cos my office-NLB joint library services doesnt carry this book yet).
oh by the way, the website and online magazine that i did for the company that my dad works at is ready! finally!
Si Ying – I have just got onto the library website via my phone. I think some branches still have that book not on loan. Or you could make a reservation and have it delivered to a branch of your choice.
Good to hear that your personal project for your dad has finally taken off. I am eager to see it
so, you also find the chick-lit book cover a bit … girlie?
Oh it does delivery to other branch, i didnt know that
a bit that it wouldnt be able to deliver it to my office haha I am alittle spoilt because i can borrow from a range of books and have them delivered to my office
Yeah! Me too. Yday I jus purchased the domain name and its up and running
Haha yes definitely! I feel that when I had the book in front of me the rest of the passengers are all giggling at it? hahaha
Si Ying – Oh, I thought of the exact same thing: How nice if our library delivers the books to our doorsteps! And ya, you can specify where to collect the book, which I find it handy.
You are fast! Wow, 66 pages of online magazine! Must have taken you a long time to do eh? OK, I have have this bizarre dream that I custom make the CD Rack at home like those in HMV. Now I know who to call!
Yeah home delivery is good =) there isnt a library in Clementi
and the nearest to Suntec would be national library haha
Oh I took around 4, 5 weeks of doing them up. It was alright after I sort of decided on the layout.
Haha yeah any time in the future if u /ur friends need something, call my dad and “quote” my name haha! I do know you have alot of CDs at home!
I am still waiting! cos it’s still so ex and i still have my current book to finish! i ought to hurry up! and Borders please give me a book coupon soon!
G – Or you could borrow my Kino Card for 10% off
[...] I can’t say that I am a fan of the thriller genre but I do enjoy Dan Brown’s style of puzzles mixing facts and fictions with a healthy or unhealthy – depends on how you see it – dose of spiritual reflection. Besides, once in a while, it is good to read a page-turner for a change and get entertained. When I learned from Amazon.com that Dan Brown has kept “The Lost Symbol” under wraps by allowing only a handful of people to have access to the manuscript, I was intrigued. I hit our national library website 3 times a day to see when this book was open for reservation. Singapore’s National Library Board has brought in 70 copies of “The Lost Symbol” and I was queue number 3. Not bad at all compares to how I did for that Kinsella Book. [...]