Reviewed by Chun Yin Wah
In Remember Me? (2008, Bantam Press, 346 pages), author Sophie Kinsella, who did a phenomenal job with her Shopaholic novels, delivers mostly disappointment.
Despite a good plot, the new story fails to take flight like the previous books did. After a car accident, Lexi, the protagonist, awakens in a hospital. It's May 2007, but her latest memories involve leaving a pub with friends after being stood-up by her boyfriend back in 2004. She recalls hailing a taxi to go home and then nothing more.
Mysteriously, the Lexi of 2004 had crooked teeth, frizzy hair and worked as an associate junior sales manager (flooring) at Deller Carpets. But by 2007, she directs a department and has perfect teeth, perfect hair and, best of all, a handsome, multi-millionaire husband.
Lexi leaves the hospital trying to adjust to her disability. To prod her mind, her husband produces a “handbook to their marriage” full of tidbits like what she'd eat for breakfast and what she needs to do for foreplay.
Everything about the new Lexi clashes with the earlier one. She learns that her friends and colleagues hate her. In 2004, she lacked a driver's license, but in 2007 she proudly owns a silver Mercedes convertible. When she tries to drive, the necessary knowledge eludes her. Except for an appearance by Jon, an architect working for her husband, who shows up and stops the car, she'd have had another accident.
For page-after-page, Lexi struggles to revive her memories. Along the way, she recognizes the new Lexi as an aggressive, ambitious business person. Apparently, she earned a big promotion by going on reality TV and winning so much that she impressed the carpet-company boss.
While trying to win back her friends, she must fend off Jon, who claims she'd planned to leave her husband for him. Although she tries to love her husband, she falters, lacking the appropriate feelings. A lot of turmoil ensues.
This book's vastly different from Kinsella's previous ones. She tries to be humorous, but with indifferent results. While remaining popular among her fans, I hope she'll regain a masterful touch next time.
Approval rating: 50 per cent
Earlier reviews of Sophie Kinsella books:
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
Shopaholic Ties the Knot
For more information: www.sophiekinsellabooks.co.uk
(August 22, 2008)
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Did the author, Sophie
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