International Chick Lit Month: My Favourite Chick Lit by Wendi Bekoe

Welcome to the My Favourite Chick Lit series where a few of my favourite writers and bloggers tell me about their best loved Chick Lit book is and why it is so important to them. This week I am featuring the lovely Wendi Bekoe, a journalist who run a great blog called Wendi B Writes which covers her musings, political and social issues.

Thus far, my absolute favourite chick-lit books are the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. I was introduced to them by one of my close friends, and slowly each book consumed all of us in our group. The stories centre around Becky Bloomwood and follow her through her life as an uncontrollable spendaholic. There are six books in total called The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Abroad, Shopaholic Ties The Knot, Shopaholic & Sister Shopaholic & Baby and Mini Shopaholic which I am yet to read. The way in which Sophie Kinsella has written the books has had me hooked, because she's simply hilarious and not corny with it. Becky thinks almost exactly the way I do in many parts, to the point that at times it made me say to myself "I thought I was the only one who thought that way!" The stories are like a little bit of a fantasy for me, because Becky is pretty much a normal girl living a normal life, except she manages to accidentally land a dream job in New York (something I'd love for myself), she manages to land the guy unexpectedly (something I'd love for myself), she gets married (something I'd... well you get the gist!). Although things like that are generally considered fantasies, to me they are realistic/possible fantasies, and I think that is why I enjoy Chick Lit. They take you to places that, if you're a girly-girl, you've already been dreaming about.

You can check out Wendi's blog here and you can follow her on Twitter.

Twenties Girl

With the success of her novel turned film, Confessions of a Shopaholic you would think that Sophia Kinsella would decamp to a beach somewhere exotic and live the life of riley. But oh no, this determined Ms is back at work and has a new book out called Twenties Girl. The story is about Lara whose life is in a bit of a mess, what with a floundering business and a business partner/best friend who has gone AWOL. To top that off she has just been dumped by her boyfriend - yes life really sucks for poor Lara. So when she is visited by the ghost of her great aunt, Sadie life seems to take a turn for the better. Sadie is a glamorous all dancing Charleston lady who lives life to the full and adds a lot of fun and delight into her niece’s life. However, Sadie has one request – that Lara will help her to look for her long lost necklace. As a big time Sophie Kinsella fan, I am quite looking forward to this book but what made it stand out to me is the marketing strategy. I think it is so cool that Transworld Publishers have decided to use the book trailer (read my blog post about book trailers here) to promote the title. The quirky little video uses wonderful animation with a voiceover from the protagonist set to Charleston music. I really love the images of the book pages flicking over. Great use of viral marketing.

The Proposal

I have had a drought with films over the last few months; in fact my last time at the cinema was when I went to Confessions of a Shopaholic. Well that little cutie is now out on DVD which tells us what an age it has been. Well good old Sandra Bullock has come to the rescue with her rom com, The Proposal where she plays a kick ass boss who would give Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada a run for her Manolos. Sandra plays Margaret Tate, a hotshot in the book publishing industry who is faced with deportation back to Canada after her visa is not renewed. In order to avoid this she manipulates her downtrodden assistant, Andrew Paxton (played by Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her with the promise of a promotion and that his book will be published. The Proposal is directed by Anne Fletcher who worked on 27 Dresses and Step up 2 which holds it in great stead. Well after a few dreary months at the box office I say this is just the remedy I need.

Review: Confessions of a Shopaholic

So I finally got round to seeing this movie and I was pretty excited. I have read all the books - no I stand correct - I own all the books and I love them to bits. Rebecca Bloomwood is most definitely a girls girl. In fact I would go as far as to say that most ladies out there have a bit of Rebecca Bloomwood in them. She is a journalist who feels unfulfilled in her job on a homes and garden magazine. She is also a shameless shopaholic who is in total denial about her financial situation. She racks up thousands of dollars on her credit card to satisfy her urges and is dodging debt collectors. Rebecca yearns for a job as a journalist on glossy mag Allette but ends up getting a gig on Successful Savings (I know the irony of it all) from the same publishing company. The job does have its perks though and in the shape of super cute boss, Luke Brandon. In many ways Luke is the opposite of Becky; a minimalist, savvy about life and passionate about the financial industry. The article he commissions Becky to write about seductive marketing is so on point that you would have thought that director, PJ Hogan might have had an inclination about the credit crunch.

There has been a lot of outcry from Shopaholic fans about the decision to make Rebecca (or Becky as she is referred to in the books) American as opposed to British. I admit I was pretty annoyed when Isla Fisher was cast in the role because she is completely different from how I imagined Rebecca. I was puzzled about this choice but I guess the big Hollywood machine played it's hand here. I do feel that the quintessential Becky has been eradicated and what we have in its place is a quirky American lady with next door appeal. Kind of like a much younger Carrie Bradshaw who is now so famous that she has her own wikipedia page. Isla is brilliant in this film and brings a sweetness to a character who some might have found grating; also her comic timing is excellent. She demonstrates a lot of chemistry with Hugh Dancy who turns out to be very good as Luke.

The cinematography is amazing and reminiscent to that of The Devil Wears Prada. Now onto the outfits which were styled by Patricia Fields who made the clothes pop in Sex and the City. Rebecca's outfits consists of designer and vintage and they are full of colour and flavour. There are lots of pretty dresses, skirts, blouses topped with some cool coats. Yes it is a bit Sex and the City(ish) but Isla manages to pull it off and make it her own.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I read this book from start to end without coming up for air during a flight from Sydney to Tokyo back in 2000. It was captivating, hilarious, and highly topical. I am sure with today's credit crunch it will be even more so. Confessions of a Shopaholic is written by Sophie Kinsella and is the tale of Becky Bloomwood, a working girl who spends her money as soon as she gets it. After accumulating thousands of pounds in debt, Becky refuses to face her dire situation and carries on spending and spending. You can read more about the Shopaholic books in blog that I worte here. A few years and several sequels later I was thrilled to hear that Confessions of a Shopaholic was being turned into a movie. I was less thrilled in hearing that Aussie actress, Isla Fisher was playing Becky Bloomwood and to add insult to injury she would be American and not English as in the book. So, so annoying and my enthusiasm for the film waned. However after seeing the trailer for the film I have softened a bit because it looks like we have the signs of a very good chick flick. Mind you it is directed by PJ Hogan who gave us My Best Friend's Wedding and Muriel's Wedding and he knows a thing or two about chick flicks. We also have the great Jerry Bruckheimer on board as producer and a certain Patricia Fields working on the wardrobe.

This is what Sophie Kinsella had to say about the film on her website.

"The movie isn't a scene-by-scene recreation of the book. It has similar plotlines and many scenes straight from the book - but it also has differences. Of course, there's a part of me that would have loved to see my own creation put up onto the screen word-for-word with not one syllable changed... but the truth is, films are very different from books. They are interpretations. I've had to realise that this isn't my baby any more, it is something different. So this movie will be an interpretation of Becky and her stories - with what I hope and strongly believe is exactly the same spirit and comedy and fun."

Check out the trailer above.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is released on 27th February 2009.

Person Patricia Fields

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Chick Flicks

Glam.com have published their list of the best chick flicks of all time. 25 films have been listed with Clueless heading the list. With the news that Hollywood studio bosses are planning an output of Chick Flick titles for this year, it looks like the genre is finally getting its dues. According to this article in The New York Times, filmmakers are even going as far as to aiming the titles at men as well as women. This is great news for me as I am an avid fan of chick flicks and along with many Sophie Kinsella fans, I am awaiting the release of the film Confessions of a Shopaholic later this year. Till that date arrives I have the Rough Guide to Chick Flicks to keep me instead. The book is an entertaining guide to the films millions of women round the globe love; from rom coms, bio pics, melodramas and thrillers - it is all here to savour. Divided into sections such as the history of chick flicks, the must sees - the lowdown on 50 essential women's films, the faces - a profile on the sheroes and heroes of chick flicks, chick lits and chick flicks - looking at the fascinating relationship between books and films, women of the world - featuring fantastic material from across the world.

The Rough Guide to Chick Flicks is written by Samantha Cook who uses these words to describe the genre, "The chick flick. Most of us recognise one when we see one but as a genre it is difficult to define. Regarded more of a guilty pleasure than as an art form, it is a breed of movie that's given little attention in comparison to other more recognised genres. Mention chick flicks and people come over all condescending, bandying words around like light, frothy formulaic. This book dosen't knock froth. In fact it thrives in it. What, afterall would a cappuccino be without froth, or a bubble bath" This title is a really fun read as it teaches you the ins and outs of the genre and also points out a few titles that make essential viewing. Check out the website here.