Friday, July 10, 2009

highs and lows

This past week has been very blash-ish. In fact, I've waited for 5:00 to arrive since Tuesday.  Needless to say I am looking forward to this weekend very much. I plan to rectify the blah-ish week by first going out with The Boy tonight (apparently he needs a break), then hitting the pool as much as possible, putting my wheat berries to (hopefully) good use, and forcing myself to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic while doing laundry.  Speaking of movies based on books, I need to read I Love You Beth Cooper (which I have owned for a good year and a half) so I can go see that movie.

I'm not looking forward to watching Shopaholic, but I feel that I owe it to Sophie Kinsella.

My relationship with Sophie started about 4 years ago when I was heading to the beach for 2 weeks and needed something to read. Being an avid reader (only reading in the summer much like the "regular" church goers who only attend on Christmas on Easter), I needed several books to keep me entertained why catching the rays during Prime Sun Time. Somehow I stumbled across Sophie's first book at the library and we have been going strong ever since. Her Shopaholic books (as well as the others) introduced me to the wonderful world of British Chick Lit. Because of Sophie I now also have relationships with Hester Browne, Madeleine Wickham (Sophie's other and not as entertaining pen name) and most recently Sophie's sister, Gemma Townley.

Side Note: I think my love for British Chick Lit comes from my desire to have studied abroad during college.  Instead I interned in DC for a semester which then led to me having a job.  Don't get me wrong, I also am a fan of American Chick Lit (if that is what it's called).  I would be even more of a fan if Plum Sykes would write another book.  But then again, maybe her literary career was meant to end after book #2.

While I love Sophie, I'm afraid she let the screen writers (or whoever has the power to drastically change the story when a book is being made into a movie) have their way with Shopaholic. At first when I learned that Isla Fisher would be playing Rebecca Bloomwood, I was thrilled. I thought Isla could probably do a great English accent being from Australia and all. Then I found out it wasn't taking place in London, but New York City (which is the location for book #2, goodbye sequel!). I'm also betting the boyfriend is not American, but English. Why can't we have a movie set in London? If I recall, Notting Hill did pretty well.

I just amazoned the Shopaholic series and found this book. If you have to write a book and it's the "movie tie-in addition" you didn't do too well in keeping with the original story line. Great, now my expectations are even lower.

Despite my reservations, I will see this movie through. After all, Sophie and I have been through a lot together, and I know with the many highs there is inevitably a low (or two, have you tried to read The Gatecrasher ?).  And I'm sure after seeing Public Enemies with The Boy tonight, I'll need to watch a good chick flick.

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