The Undomestic Goddess is the latest offering from Sophie Kinsella bringing with it lots of humour, wittiness and more chick lit than ever before.
*** The Story ***
Samantha Sweeting is a top lawyer in a huge law firm called Carter Spink. She works all day and all night, sometimes not ... Read review
My name is Samantha. I am twenty-nine years old. I have never baked a loaf of bread in my ... more
life. I don’t know how to unfold an ironing board. What I do know is how to construct a contract exploiting European corporate tax harmonisation and save my clien...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: in stock
My name is Samantha. I am twenty-nine years old. I have never baked a loaf of bread in my ... more
life. I don’t know how to unfold an ironing board. What I do know is how to construct a contract exploiting European corporate tax harmonisation and save my client £3 million.
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:in stock
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1-5 of 33 reviews of The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
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From Law to Loos and the gardener in between
Advantages: Really funny, easy to read, addictive! Disadvantages: chick lit which may bother some people
The Undomestic Goddess is the latest offering from Sophie Kinsella bringing with it lots of humour, wittiness and more chick lit than ever before.
*** The Story ***
Samantha Sweeting is a top lawyer in a huge law firm called Carter Spink. She works all day and all night, sometimes not leaving the office until 11pm because she's so determined to become a partner in the company, she'll literally work herself into the ... ...daze she walks out of the office and gets on a train. She ends up in the middle of nowhere in front a big house and the owner mistakenly takes her in as the new housekeeper. Samantha has never cleaned or cooked, in fact using a toaster is quite a big ordeal for her so just how long will it be before she gets caught out, or could she possibly somehow keep up appearances?
The Undomestic Goddess is the latest offering from Sophie Kinsella bringing with it lots of humour, wittiness and more chick lit than ever before.
*** The Story ***
Samantha Sweeting is a top lawyer in a huge law firm called Carter Spink. She works all day and all night, sometimes not leaving the office until 11pm because she's so determined to become a partner in the company, she'll literally work herself into the ground if she has to. That is until she makes a mistake, a mistake so big that it ruins her whole career.
In a daze she walks out of the office and gets on a train. She ends up in the middle of nowhere in front a big house and the owner mistakenly takes her in as the new housekeeper. Samantha has never cleaned or cooked, in fact using a toaster is quite a big ordeal for her so just how long will it be before she gets caught out, or could she possibly somehow keep up appearances?
*** My Opinion on… ***
Here you will find my opinion on everything from how funny the book was to how it compares to others by the same author. I will also be talking about how addictive I found it and who I think this would appeal to. Hopefully this section will give you the best idea of whether or not this book is for you.
1) The Story
I've read a couple of Sophie Kinsella's books and I have to say I've been impressed by what I've read. So when I heard about this new one coming out I knew it was only a matter of when to get the book rather than if I would get it. The story itself sounded quite original if a little extreme, I mean how many top class lawyers would find themselves working as a housekeeper through pure chance? However it actually works and all comes together really well.
Right from the start the humour gripped me and I found myself laughing out loud and actually trying to explain the book to my boyfriend (who actually listened really well bless him!). The story just seemed to go from one hilarious situation to another and Kinsella really made the dialogue flow which made it easy to get into Samantha's mind.
I could actually imagine this being made into a film and it's definitely something I would pay to see. It is a first class chick lit novel and to me I think it is quite an original story. It also wasn't predictable. In some parts I thought I could guess what was going to happen but actually I turned out to be wrong.
There is a love story involved (as with most chick lits) but again that isn't as predictable as it could have been.
All in all I really would recommend this based on its story as it is fairly original and it isn't predictable like a lot of chick lit novels seem to be.
2) The Characters
The characters are what make the story, you could have the best story idea in the world but without the right characters it just couldn't survive. Luckily the characters in this are totally believable and easy to relate to.
Samantha is obviously the strongest character within the book as she is the main character. She comes across as witty, she makes mistakes just like all of us and she shows us that it doesn't matter what job you are doing as long as you are happy. She is a character a lot of people will relate to because they will recognise her in either themselves or in someone they know.
As well as the main character there are also quite a few other characters in the book (after all it would be pretty boring with just one character!), and it doesn't matter how small their part is, each one of them comes across really strongly.
Nathaniel, the love interest in the book is the only character I can pick a fault with and that's only because I feel that perhaps he could have been put across a little stronger than he was. He came across a bit weak to me and it went against the picture I had in my mind of him as a strong, powerful man. I wouldn't exactly say I thought about that when I read the book but it's just as afterthought.
All in all the characters all interacted well together, they were built up brilliantly throughout the book and their personalities were revealed little by little through each chapter. By the end of the book I felt I knew each character personally and I felt everything I thought they must be feeling.
There aren't many books that really grab you and make you connect with the characters as much as this one did. I'd definitely say Kinsella has a talent for creating compelling, humorous characters!
3) How it compares to other books by Kinsella
I have read one of the 'shopaholic' series books and am currently reading a second one. I have also read 'Can You Keep a Secret' by Kinsella too and I really enjoyed that one. All her books seem to be original and out of them all her shopaholic series has definitely been the most successful. However I would say that this book is better than the shopaholic series in the fact that I think the humour is better and I can see how much her writing has improved. Don't get me wrong the shopaholic series is definitely funny (well what I've read of it anyway), and they are really addictive but this new book just tops it for me.
As I said her writing has matured and somehow gotten better over time. She is an extremely talented writer and it's great to see that she has improved something which was already near perfect.
The character of Becky Bloomwood in the shopaholic series is very similar to that of Samantha Sweeting in this book. The stories are told in the same kind of way in all of her books and that is why some of the characters are so similar to each other. However there are little differences that distinguish them all from each other so it really doesn't make much difference to me. To be honest with Kinsella's books I think I go in wanting to read more of the same kind of character, after all one of her books wouldn't be the same without a character like Becky Bloomwood or Samantha Sweeting.
Overall I'd say if you liked any of Kinsella's other books you'll definitely love this one! It's funnier, it's addictive and a really light, easy read.
4) Exactly how addictive is it?
I finished this book within a couple of weeks but could easily have finished it in one simple setting if I had the time! I only read at work usually so that is why it took me so long to read it.
I have read quite a few books now and this is one of few that has really gripped me right from the start. Its humour made it really compelling for me and I loved reading it just to forget about my troubles and to lose myself in the story.
I really can't stress enough how addictive I found this book so you cannot say that you haven't been warned!
5) Is there any chance that I won't like it?
Only if you don't like chick lit and even then I'd say give it a try! I always swore to myself that I would never read chick lit. 'How Pathetic' I'd think. However there are some chick lit books out there (like this one) that are just too damn good to pass up. Ones that make you laugh no matter how hard you try not to and this is definitely one of those books! So go on, give it a try… you know you want to!
*** My overall opinion ***
This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. It was perfect for relaxing with and it was really gripping from start to finish. It had some good twists in it and the writing style was really good and believable. The characters are memorable and lovable and I'd be surprised if anyone went through this book without laughing out loud in places!
It definitely overshadows the shopaholic series for me and it is the best of Kinsella's books to date. I'm thoroughly looking forward to her next instalment and would recommend this book to anybody.
*** Where can I buy it? ***
You can find this book at any good bookstores including Borders and Waterstones. You will also find it in places such as WHSmiths and Woolworths and some supermarkets. It is widely available and retails at roughly £6.99. I actually bought the hardback version for £16.99 when it first came out but you can find it a lot cheaper if you shop around!
Aimee xxx
PS- Something you might not have known. Sophie Kinsella also has some of her books published under a different name. That name is 'Madeleine Wickham' so keep an eye out for her other books.
Advantages: Easy read Disadvantages: It is chick lit
~~ The Plot ~~
Samantha Sweeting, the main character in this book, is a top lawyer for a firm called Carter Spink, in The City. The story begins with her visiting a beauty therapist and filling in a health questionnaire. It is amusing and immediately allows you to relate to the main character. Samantha is stressed at work and is desperately trying to make partner at the firm. Being a top lawyer Samantha has no time for cooking or cleaning and you ... ...the mod cons in her home, but with no time to educate herself in the use of them. Fairly quickly in the story on the day that the partners are due to be announced, it becomes apparent that Samantha has made a huge and very costly mistake and rather than stay and face the music, she does the only sensible thing and runs away.
Samantha ends up asking for directions at a big house, where (as luck would have it) the owners are looking for a new housekeeper. ...
ciaomeister1 07.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
Advantages: Really funny, easy to read Disadvantages: none
This is the first Sophie Kinsella book I've read and certainly won't be the last! My husband officially thinks I'm barmy as there are a number of scenes within this book that I just couldn't help laughing out loud whilst reading (not something I do regularly!). Sophie Kinsella's style of writing is such that it is a very easy read yet gripping and I just couldn't put the book down. It is written in modern day and it is clear that she researched certain ... ...the life-style of lawyers as well as housekeeping. *** MAIN STORY ***
So the main story is based around Samantha. She is a very successful lawyer and working herself into the ground in the hope that she gets a partnership in Carter Spink, the most successful firm in the business. If she succeeds in this, she will become their youngest ever partner. Her life is one of organised chaos. She works all hours day and night. Her lifestyle is such that ...
RClure 03.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
Advantages: Upbeat chick-flick with a few original twists Disadvantages: As said above, it's a chickflick and quite feminine
...name Madeliene Wickham) is the brain behind the hugely popular Shopaholic series. She started off as a journalist but later turned to chicklit. Since then she has become well-known for her humourous storylines. The Undomestic Goddess is one of her more recent publications and it is the first book of Kinsella's I have read. ---Plot Overview---
Meet Samantha Sweeting. She is a respected employee of Carter Spink - a huge law company. At the start of ... ...after arriving, Samantha meets Nathanial, the gardener employed at the house she runs. He immediately starts to help her create a new life for herself - believing that she has fleed a relationship-gone-wrong. His mother teaches Samantha how to cook and clean and pretty soon, she has settled into her new role as housekeeper. Furthermore, romance blossoms between her and Nathanial.
However, as the old cliche goes, the course of true love never runs ...
Danielle89 07.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
Advantages: Easy to read and really likeable characters Disadvantages: The story is implausible but that doesn't really matter
...of my favourite authors at the moment is Sophie Kinsella. She lives in London and before she became a celebrated writer she worked as a financial journalist. Her background came in very handy when she wrote her shopaholic novels in which the main character is in fact a financial journalist. However she could also to some extent make use of her background when she wrote “The Undomestic Goddess”. Plot
**************
The main character in “The Undomestic ... ...of incidents take her to the home of Eddie and Trish Geiger, a rich couple living in a huge mansion in the English countryside. Due to some misunderstandings she ends up being hired to work as their housekeeper. The only problem is that Samantha has never cooked a meal in her life, never done any washing, never cleaned a house… well; she has never done anything that is expected of a housekeeper, and she has accidentally told her employers that she ...
Sandra24 29.04.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
Advantages: An easy, funny and witty read Disadvantages: It will have you hooked
...Kinsella's books and after reading the Shopaholic series I had to another one of her other books and I was not disappointed. This book is about Samantha Sweeting who is a top lawyer based in London and employed by a large law firm called Carter Spink. Samantha is determined to become Partner and works over 66 hours a week, pulls all nighters and even works weekends. Her life revolves around the stresses of work and finds she has no time for herself. ... ...of people can relate to the character Samantha because we all go through pockets of stress at work, find we have no time for ourselves and think it would be nice to leave real life and become someone else for a while.
Samantha finds out she has made a big mistake at work and is in such a blind panic she walks out of the office and onto the next train out of London. When getting off the train she goes to manor house to ask for directions (and an ...
bagpuss1980 17.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
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Advantages: Great feel good factor Disadvantages: none
to look for it. I have to say I loved it so much I read it twice.
ISBN 0-552-77110-4
RRP: £6.99
If you enjoy reading this, you might like:
The UndomesticGoddess - SophieKinsella
PS I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
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Advantages: Characters, Interesting Disadvantages: Not for everyone, better books out there.
a reliable and loyal friend.
I enjoyed how the book is written, the letters from the bank really helped add a bit of realism to the book, it was something that you might expect to receive. The plot seemed like something that could happen in real life, and the characters were also great. Parts of the book were also quite funny and made me laugh, there were very different sections of the book.
The book was obviously quite well received since there was a film made, and also after it followed another four shopaholic books.
The author, SophieKinsella is really good and has written many other books in the chick lit genre, such as Remember Me and The UndomesticGoddess, both of which are very good.
The film was really different to the book, while still keeping the essence and the main themes of it. The most notable difference is that ...
Advantages: Easy to read, funny. Disadvantages: Part of series, best to read other 4 first.
to get it for a good price, alternatively, have a look in your local library. You may not want to buy the whole shopaholic set as there are 5 books so far.
ISBN 978-0-593-05387-4
BOOKS PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN
In the Shopaholic series:
The secret dreamworld of a shopaholic
Shopaholic abroad
Shopaholic ties the knot
Shopaholic and sister
Other books By SophieKinsella:
Can you keep a secret?
The undomesticgoddess ...
The story of a girl who needs to slow down. To find herself. To fall in love. And to discover what an iron is for...Samantha is a high-powered lawyer in London. She works all hours, has no home life, and cares only about getting a partnership. She thrives on the pressure and adrenalin. Until one day...she makes a mistake. A mistake so huge, it'll wreck her career. She walks right out of the office, gets on the first train she sees, and finds herself in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she is mistaken for the interviewee housekeeper and finds herself being offered the job. They have no idea they've hired a Cambridge-educated lawyer with an IQ of 158 - Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. Disaster ensues. It's chaos as Samantha battles with the washing machine...the ironing board...and attempts to cook a cordon bleu dinner. But gradually, she falls in love with her new life in a wholly unexpected way. Will her employers ever discover the truth? Will Samantha's old life ever catch up with her? And if it does...will she want it back? See all Product Description
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