Do you have a credit card [debt]?

I was a huge, HUGE fan of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, but the last couple of books left me disappointed. I guess you cannot write sophisticated stories about the art of shopping and keep it fresh and interesting for 6 books in a row.

Then, last Saturday, I picked up this book, “Save Karyn” (just because I read another book by Karyn Bosnak, “Twenty Times A Lady”, and found it easy enough for a lazy summer evening).
I was impressed. Such a trivial subject, yet Ms Bosnak keeps her story (of 400+ pages) fast paced, and interesting and smart and not at all repetitive. Moreover, there is no dream solutions (that Sophie Kinsella thinks out in her Shopaholic books, Karyn Bosnak came with genuine solution in her real life, realised her idea, cleverly administered the whole media frenzy around her web-site and universal plea for help (basically, asking random people to help her to pay her debt).

This is a true story, and because it is true you can relate easily (who have not received a credit card bill and was unpleasantly surprised at the amount owned, because more often than note the mind decides to erase memories of a purchase of another haircut, another scarf, another essential face cream or lip gloss that all of us, girl, charge to the credit card… I remember I charged some of the utility bills to my credit card, too… Not all of the items that accumulate debt are frivolous.) There is also a real life drama about Karyn’s unemployment, which really made me suffer for her.
Another plus, she did not exploit the 9/11 issue, even though the story touches it really slightly, I respect Karyn for not abusing the event, like many writers do, I find, nowadays.

And you know what, this book is also about random acts of kindness. And it is such a sweet reminder. Karyn is never bitchy or bitter, which is also a big plus. Sometimes it only takes you one buck to make a world a better place. And sometimes just a smile.

I could not put this book down and I plead: Karyn, please write some more!

P.S. Original website can be viewed here: http://www.savekaryn-originalsite.com/
I spent some time peeking through different things, it is quite amusing!