Mum's Monday: Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

When writing a book, essay or indeed anything, it is commonly known the first line is generally known as the hardest to write. This book is genius as it starts with emails exchanged. Although we only see the answers from the store to Mrs Becky Brandon you don’t the questions she asks as the responses say it all. Although what she has asked is not normally asked out loud, I for one and I expect a few others have thought along the same lines.

After a wardrobe malfunction the idea to solve it is very clever. This is a fast paced book, Becky is hosting Christmas and her parents are moving. To me hosting Christmas is great fun, I love Christmas, hence I am reading this book. I do appreciate though that the thought of hosting a family Christmas can be daunting but to Becky who was in the title of this book in a series, as she loves to shop, I would have thought she would be more than up for the challenge. I can see Christmas being an ethical money saving adventure over all.

When organising Christmas, lists are good, I have lists when doing Christmas. I hope the ‘Being Organised’ keeps up but sadly, feel from agreeing to fit church for Suze, Becky is going to try and please everyone and get in a complete muddle. Oh and by the way you can get a Vegan turkey as in Quorn turkey, certainly a Quorn version of a roast or chicken.it is extraordinary the lengths Geoff, sorry Becky goes to, to purchase the perfect Christmas present for Luke. Personally I would just have looked online. There must be more than one out there. I do hope Becky does manage to get it. I also, along with her, think it is perfect. Well better than a costly, you could say nearly stolen dressing gown. 

I am glad Becky has now found a vegan turkey, but I don’t like the pressure the family and friends are putting on her. And it is without the pressure Becky is putting on herself, as I have said before running the risk of trying to please everyone. Keep it simple.

Going off the topic of Christmas for a bit, I don’t agree with all the craft activities the teacher Miss Lucas is setting the children. Not all children’s families are either craft minded or they have very much bigger issues to deal with. I know you should put children first and you still can but maybe not through craft activities at the weekends. Luckily the children are not old enough to compare their work with others. Sadly, parents are though. 

Well going for a drink with Craig didn’t go how I thought it would. This book certainly keeps you on your toes.

I don’t want to really say that anything in this book is annoying but Jess can be, let’s just say, she is/can be ‘Problematic’. Also one thing you really should never do is ‘Ask’ for ideas. Christmas time or any time. Things should be done/worked out by the person/people/family that are hosting it. Again trying to please everyone but not yourself, don’t forget/lose yourself and your own close family at home. A life lesson and I am glad it is acknowledged that asking for ideas was a bad idea. I kind of thought it wouldn’t go well but had no idea how bad it would get in the end.

This book quickly jumps from subject to subject this time it is from a hot tub ‘Party’ on to re-gifting practicalities. Whether you agree or not on both of these topics it gives this story depth. I agree with how Becky is going to solve the re-gifting dilemma but not with what she has in mind for food, if she carries it through. However, it is funny to read. The idea is there if a little over the top maybe. And you can’t have too many Christmas trees can you? With five may be.

I cannot believe that Becky emailed the Norwegian National Dictionary, this made me laugh out loud in total shock, if that is even possible, oh it is, unbelievably funny in other words. Becky is certainly persistent but with so much going on with Jess, there may be a story there but this book is going to keep me guessing for now. Also Janice and Flo are a whole new issue as well, again the storylines give this book depth, as it is good that this is not all about shopping, although if Becky or anyone is shopping she/you really should have taken something to put it in, what a disaster. 

A part I cannot understand is how could the vegan turkey be unavailable as Becky ordered it in good time. This part has gone too far to stress the pressure of hosting Christmas on Becky. Well at least she has some fish as in ‘Pounds’ that can mean either money or weight, Becky also knows now also.

They say ‘Never work with animals or children’. I would have to agree at this point but however, there is some good advice ‘Not to use the minibar in the hotel’ although it is not normally part of the Nativity at Christmas, then again nor is ‘Gucci’ either. This all made me laugh out loud again. It is sad however, that Minnie didn’t get to wear her costume sadly, doing a kind/good deed can have consequences, as they say ‘Act in haste repent at leisure’, is what very much took place so far.

This story is getting a bit silly now, again the turkey was ordered in good time but now is unavailable and to add insult to injury the company is offering ‘Turkey slices’. I am not necessarily going to say that these unbelievable cancelled orders are ruining the story, but it does seem a bit ridiculous. Well how to turn a disaster into something hilarious. Becky’s survey at the supermarket is written extremely well, I love it. And yes it was a shame Steph didn’t witness it. It is lovely to see Steph so cheerful after everything.

What a shock, this story has suddenly taken a very dark turn, I want to say that people can be so ungrateful with the exception of being unwell. All I will say is people should commit.

Two things I am glad Steph really appreciates what Becky did for her and especially for Harvey and as Becky makes one new friend, Luke has made an enemy of Nadine. I am glad it is all out in the open and Christmas can be saved.

Jess’s story is solved, it turns out it was a little special present just before Christmas, the news however, would be special anytime of the year.

So to recap, it is Christmas eve, Becky, so far has a homemade doughnut vegan turkey called ‘Peppa Pig’. She didn’t get the present she wanted for Luke and she also won’t be getting a present from Craig, Nadine or the Norwegian Ambassador, don’t ask you just have to read this book. On the plus side Becky finds out what was on Jess’s mind and it looks like a family and friends Christmas is back on. Becky is just waiting for a last minute food shopping order, let’s see how that pans out shall we?

Wow! Yes, Becky and Luke should really work on Minnie’s speech otherwise Becky wouldn’t have found herself in a terrible predicament on Christmas eve. This part made me feel terrible for her and I was on the edge of my seat. I know that sounds strange when reading a book, as normally that only happens whilst watching a television program or a film, but it just goes to show how well this story has been written and also there is a life lesson to, as just when you think you have everything organised, you can still be thrown a ‘Curve ball’ as they say.

Wow! Again, Steph showing her appreciation saves the shop order and also makes Minnie very happy. It is lovely to see Luke loves his present from Becky and it is no lie ‘she did see it in a window’ and it is genius how they all outwitted Janice. Oh and motherhood, it seems can mellow/change a person it is all heart-warming to read. It is lovely to read Christmas all falls into place.

Well now the story, well part of it is out, of how Becky acquires Luke’s present. The idea of giving a ‘Word’ as a present to each and every one is an amazing genius of an idea and extremely well thought out and written. The one Becky gave Luke starts a whole new chapter in their lives. 

The notifications at the end of this book are both hilarious and heart-warming, in a strange way to me at the same time.

A lovely and interesting book to read, I will miss reading about Luke, Becky and her antics.