The Handmaids Tale - Jezebel's

My reaction to places like this still existing in Gilead is that they no matter how much you try to get away from how things were before you try to change things, you can never stop certain people wanting to go back to the way things were. Offred has always been surrounded by people who are rebellious and by going to this hotel with the Commander she is being shown how things were before for her. She is surrounded by the things she used to be accustomed to; make-up, hotels and alcohol. She is being shown that there is a way out. Perhaps this is why places like this exist. To show that there is still a little hope that things may go back to the way things were before if enough people change things. The quote: "You might even prefer it yourself, to what you've got" simply shows that although they are back to being leered at and treated more as objects by men, this has become better than what they have to deal with by being Handmaid's. This links back to the quote: "Freedom to and freedom from". This shows that although whilst they are a Handmaid they have freedom from they are not allowed to do what they wish. However, where Offred and the Commander are in this section, although she has freedom to do more than she usually can - drink, smoke and wear make-up - she is not free from the constant looks and leering from men. I feel that this suggests that places like this still exist in Gilead so that they can show what choice they have on how they act in Gilead.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I really enjoyed reading this novel by Sophie Kinsella as it was a fun, entertaining and enjoyable read from start to finish. I read it whilst I was on holiday and was definitely an excellent by-the-pool read. With some books I have read in the past it has taken me a while to connect with the characters and believe the story however this happened very quickly in Confessions of a Shopaholic. I had previously seen the film and had wondered whether the novel would differ from the film which it really did. Although the characters are the same, you see the main character Becky Bloomwood achieve a lot more than you do in the film. The main plot of the story is that Becky is in debt and has to try to get more work so that she can pay off her debt. Throughout this time she meets lots of new people who try to help her along the way but to also help her debt collector Derek Smeath stay off her back.

This book is written in first person which gives it a very chatty feel as she often has conversations with herself which are comical and descriptive of what is going on. I found the language very simple to understand and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a lighthearted read which makes you laugh. I recently bought the next book in the series - Shopaholic Abroad -  as I enjoyed the first one so much, which I hope to start reading soon.