The Undomestic Goddess-Sophie Kinsella


How bitter and unwelcome could truth be at times? All of us at some point of time would have felt like just waving a magic wand and undoing some mistakes that we had committed... Be it professional life or personal life.

Samantha, 29, a lawyer associated with a top level firm in London, leads the life of a typical workaholic. Her private life is almost non-existent. Living alone, she gets back home daily to find either a note from her maid querying why she had kept cartons of food well past the use-by date or to be mocked by her nosy neighbour of her inability to attend to any of her domestic work. But Samantha has her goals set clear, her dream is to become a partner in the firm that she works, and nothing else matters for her. That her mother is also a leading lawyer, only adds to her resolve.

The day her dream is about to be realised, she's struck by a sudden catastrophe. Much to her dismay, she comes to know that there's a file unnoticed in her clumsy desk, which had cost a client a whopping £50 million. Faced with the "fight or flight" syndrome, she decides to flee from the first ever mistake that she had ever committed.

She could only possibly run away from facing the reality.. Her fame and 7 years of hard work just goes down th drain, and her reputation gets tainted, moreso because of her unprofeesional behaviour of running away.

Samantha lands in the countryside of Britain, in an opulent couples' house, who mistaker her to be a housekeeper. Not having a shoulder to cry on, she decides to stay on under the guise of a housekeeper. For a person who knows nothing more than switching on the kettle when it comes to housework, cooking, hoovering and washing is just about impossible. But Samantha has the fortune of learning chores from Iris, mother of the gardener Nathaniel. And amid hilarious turn of events, she is transformed into a full fledged housekeeper. And there is this love blossoming between Nathaniel and Samantha as well.

She doesn't just learn to cook and clean, but also learns what "living" actually is. Just when she gradually starts loving this no-pressure environment, her original high flying career beckons her. To know how, why and what she does subsequently, you've got to read the book.

However, there are certain parts in the book which looks like forcefully included :-
=> Nathaniel is an owner of 3 pubs in the village and gardening is his passion and hence he's working for the rich couple. Now, this is not quite believable. Though his mom insists that he looks after the family business (running the pub) she ain't against him running a nursery of plants to give shape to his ambition. It almost looks like Nathaniel was fitted into the scene as gardener just to make Samantha fall for him and confuse her decision making (career or love).
=> The rich couple who mistake Samantha for a housekeeper are literally sketched as DUMB IDIOTS. I mean how difficult is it for a woman to differentiate between a brand new set of clothes (say 20 tops) from her own washed laundry?? Samantha spoils and stains her employer's clothing while washing, and hurriedly throws them off and replaces all of them with new ones. And the lady of the house pats her back for washing them so well that they look like new!! hello, excuseme?? I was only reminded of how many shops I had to ransack to find JUST ONE TOP, which was supposed to be trendy at some point of time.
There are some more, but they're spoilers.

Irrespective of some such obviously unbelievable parts, the book makes for a quick and funny read. I found myself nodding in agreement in some places and felt a sense of deja vu when Samantha is just not able to forget her work. The witty humour would make you laugh out loud quite a few times. A must read for workaholics AND for people (esply women) who'd have to make tough choices at some point of time. If for nothing else, one could read it for the humour. Though about stress and pressure, the book would serve as a stress buster!

I would give 3/5.

I'm now gonna try reading one of the author's shopaholic series :D

22 comments:

Smita said...

Bubs :)

I remember mbf recommending this book and now u too.....hmm need to lay my hands on this...

The shopa series is of the same author...hmmm last week only I was browsing through books and had almost decided to pick on of the series but dropped it wondering ki kaisi hogi...Now I'll try picking it...

And yes those brand new clothes thing is actually a glaring loop hole....hehehe...

Lovely review :)

Bouncing-Bubble said...

S:)

I just want to have a peek on one of those shopa series, guess it would be fun and light read.Guess mbf had liked this one bit more than me. I was reading one fatty book and read this one for a change. :D

Smita said...

I understand re, a light read is a welcome break between heavy readings...I have been reading some heavy books lately, one to went over my head, I still don't know what was the story and whether it was story hehehehe...

BTW Wts the date 2moro ;-)

Bouncing-Bubble said...

S.. I'm reading war and peace (over 100 pgs) and am in pg 300.. :D

day after tomrw Olympics start date, what's tomrw? :p

Varun said...

Happy Birthday!! S told me that it's your birthday today... Have a wonderful day!! May god give you all that you dream...

Bouncing-Bubble said...

Varun!

Thanks a ton for your wishes and thank you so much for being here!

WhatsInAName said...

Brillianto is the word I would use for your reviews :)
Looks like a typical script for a Bollywood movie hehehe. I can only think of Yash chopra spoiling it with Rani as Samantha and Saif as the Gardener lol
I Mollywood, I think Aseem and Vijay would be good, what do you say ;)
BTW, MANY MANY MANY MORE HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY! May God bless you with all that you wish for and more! I have already sung a lot of praise in your honour on S's page ;) let me paste it here
"Bubs is one of the sweetest friends I met online. Very down to earth and with no pretences. She is one of the few that I wish to meet and be friends with in real life too.
May God bless her with all that wishes for and more :)"

Bouncing-Bubble said...

WIAN :)

Praises to that extent from u! Am bowled over.. Thanks for the wishes and I SO much hope to meet u all one day, the big Q is WHEN!.. But am sure I will, some day!

lol, Saif and Rani, Yash will put in 8 songs as duets.. and there will be GANA songs for Vijay, with KUTHU dance spl appearance by Namitha...
Try reading this bk WIAN, its quick and kinda funny to read..

Anonymous said...

adding you to my blog role :) hopr you dont mind

Bouncing-Bubble said...

@Sakhi.. not at all..my pleasure.. Thanks

Angel's Flight said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Angel's Flight said...

Hey Happy Birthday (again)....How did the day go
ur on my roll now :)

Bouncing-Bubble said...

Angelia :) all of us unite here! Thanks!

Vee said...

Lol... I guess I can never read few books which you and S recommend. I tried though, but no dint happen.. :(

couchpapaya said...

bubbles - what i wldnt do for a conveniently placed gardener, and i do mean someone to tend to my garden lol sounds like a fun read!! i do see the shopaholic series all over the place and wonder abt them. do review one when done.

i seem to have missed the bday! belated wishes anyway!! hope it was fun :)

Bouncing-Bubble said...

Oxy.. I know of some guys who've liked this book li'l more than even me.. But yea, the category chick-lit is repulsive for many :) I like the fun factor in these books.

Bouncing-Bubble said...

C Papaya ...Thanks for the wishes.. Just wanna try one of those, will let u know once am done.. I love to hv a garden, but yea wld be nice if someone maintains hehe.

mystiquedew said...

Oye......

lovely review :)

total chickiee type...definitely pickin it ..
:)
Belated Bday wishes

Bouncing-Bubble said...

Miss Dew!

Tks for the wishes! so u too like cchik lits? grrreaat!

Smita said...

where r u lost these days???

All ok???

Bouncing-Bubble said...

girl am wondering why am not able to catch u! from fullon u hv become neveron :(

Tazeen said...

oh the shopoholic series is much better, esp "Shopoholic takes Manhattan"