1. Cor Jesu College
Teacher Education Division
Developmental Reading
Home Reading Report
Name: Quiliano G. Oracion Jr. Course & Year: BSED – M – 2nd Year
Class Schedule: MWF-(12:30 pm – 1:30pm) Date Submitted: Dec. 19, 2014
I. Title – Confessions of a Shopaholic
II. Author – Sophia Kinsella
III. Classification of Fiction - Novel
IV. Point of View – First Person
V. General Setting
Place – London
Time – From July 1997 to April 2000
Weather Conditions –
Social Conditions – Rebecca Bloomwood is a Shopaholic woman.
VI. Characters
Main Characters: Rebecca Bloomwood, Luke Brandon, Alicia Billington, Suze
Minor/Supporting Characters: Derek Smeath, Bikini Babe, Jane Bloomwood, Graham
Bloomwood, Edgar West, Alette Naylor, Ryan Koenig, Hayley, Tarquin, Miss
Korch, Miss Ptaszinski, Allon, Jani Virtanen, Ryuichi, Talking Mannequin and
etc.
VII. Brief Summary
Introduction:
Becky Bloomwood is a writer for Successful Saving, a financial magazine in London.
Becky has her job well enough, exerting as little effort as possible along the way but there is a
problem. Becky spends money on anything that catches her eye even is so expensive and has
created substantial debt for herself in the process. Becky finds solace in spending, creating more
problems for herself in the process.
Rising Action/Incident/Motivating Force:
Becky Bloomwood has what most young women only dream of: A flat in London’s
trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends and a closet brimming with the
season’s must-haves. The only trouble is, she can’t actually afford it – not any of it. How can she
resist that perfect pair of shoes? Or the divine silk blouse in the window of that ultra-trendy
boutique? Rebecca moves forward with her plans of saving money, refusing to be discouraged
by her spending of the day before, but she can’t do it.
Complications/Conflicts:
Rebecca has a constant battle with her addiction to shop. She has been chase by dismissal
letter from VISA and the Endwich Bank- letters with large red sums that she can’t bear to read –
and they’re harder to ignore. She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money.
2. Climax/Turning Point:
She comes up a sample sale and auction of her entire wardrobe, so that she can pay all of
her debt.
Falling Action:
Rebecca returns to her support group, asking for help, and sets up a sample sale and
auction of her entire wardrobe. She sends a notice to the original receptionist at Alette, who
forwards it to all assistants, including Luke's assistant Hayley. He says that she will need to make
room for all the free samples from Alette. Everything sells, with the last item on the block being
the original green scarf. In the audience, Hayley has ended up sitting next to Rebecca's mother,
who reveals that she turned down the Alette offer. The grand total from the auction is over
$16,000, allowing Becky to pay off her debt. She takes $9,000 to Smeath's office in pennies,
giving him what he deserves in the most annoying and inconvenient fashion, as he did to her.
Conclusion:
Rebecca shows up at Suze's wedding wearing the bridesmaid dress, which she has traded
back from the homeless woman for other clothes. They reconcile, and Suze and Tarq are
married. As the newlyweds drive off, Rebecca wanders down the street. The mannequins beckon
to her again, but as she resists they start applauding her. Exhilarated by her growth, she finds
Luke in front of her. He presents her with the green scarf, having sent both of the bidders. They
kiss on the street, and she talks about how giving up shopping has allowed her time for other
things, including a relationship with Luke. By the end of her journey, Rebecca now has healed.
She is no longer afraid and hiding in stores when she should be living life. She is no longer using
shopping and using “things” as paltry substitutions for the deeper relationships in life—with her
parents, her friends, and the love interest. She now has perspective and the attachment to the
green scarf has changed. It is a symbol of love and good fortune and holds genuine sentimental
attachment.
VIII. Lesson/Message
Becky does not seem to be able to stop herself from spending, something she does in
order to make herself feel better. Though Becky cannot seem to find direction in her life, finding
a great buy at a sale, or the perfect gift for a friend seems to bring her the happiness she craves.
Becky is aware that her spending is a problem, but she is unable to stop. That is why, not all
things we love doing can help us. Learn how to manage your money appropriately.
IX. Theme
Downfall of Materialism