2008 Woodie Awards
Novel follows high society
Kari Soule
Issue date: 10/6/05 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Few authors have accurately captured the essence of a single woman living in New York City. Candace Bushnell (author of "Sex and the City") has mastered that art.
In "Trading Up," Bushnell revisits the character Janey Wilcox from her novel "4 Blondes." Still as sassy and sexy as ever, Janey makes it big as a Victoria's Secret model, providing her with all the glamour and fame she could ever ask for. Except, she doesn't stop asking for it. The modeling contract feeds her ego so much, she becomes even more self-centered, thus creating a downward spiral in her life and career.
The book starts in the summer of 2000, but includes several flashbacks in Janey's life explaining why she moved to New York and how she became so self-obsessed. Growing up in a small town did not suit Janey or her younger sister Patty. They moved to the city separately, holding different ideas on how to achieve success.
One interesting aspect of the novel is the way chapters are told through different characters' perspectives. Most are told through Janey's, but Patty also gets the chance to show the audience how she feels about Janey's cold-hearted demeanor.
Janey's short-lived marriage to Seldon Rose also occupies many chapters from Patty, Janey and Seldon's perspective. Seldon, a top executive at MovieTime, a division of a huge media conglomerate, provides Janey with even more luxury than she gives herself. Instead of spending her money, she uses Seldon's to buy Gucci handbags and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Throughout the story, Janey's love life comes under constant scrutiny and threatens to land her in court for various reasons. Instead of being an honest person about a contract mishap, she blackmails and connives her way out of legal trouble.
About halfway through the 504 pages, I started wondering if Janey would ever get what was coming to her. In a way, she did, but not as much as she deserved. An embarrassing fall from the top of the social ladder merely scratched the surface of what Janey should have suffered. The entire book describes how horrible of a person she is and what evil things she does to innocent people.
At times, I felt sorry for Janey. Other associates were using her in devious ploys, just as much as she was using them. But, then she would prove me wrong and unleash her vengeance on another unsuspecting "friend" of hers.
While this book is superficial, indulgent reading, I found it to be quite interesting. Never having lived in New York, many other readers and I love to feel like we have the inside scoop on the city's high society. The ruthless backstabbing and narcissistic attitudes take us out of our mundane world and give us a little excitement. Bushnell did an amazing job of vividly describing Janey's life and all the turmoil that went with it. The men might not find it as exciting as the women might, but that is exactly the way Bushnell intended it.
In "Trading Up," Bushnell revisits the character Janey Wilcox from her novel "4 Blondes." Still as sassy and sexy as ever, Janey makes it big as a Victoria's Secret model, providing her with all the glamour and fame she could ever ask for. Except, she doesn't stop asking for it. The modeling contract feeds her ego so much, she becomes even more self-centered, thus creating a downward spiral in her life and career.
The book starts in the summer of 2000, but includes several flashbacks in Janey's life explaining why she moved to New York and how she became so self-obsessed. Growing up in a small town did not suit Janey or her younger sister Patty. They moved to the city separately, holding different ideas on how to achieve success.
One interesting aspect of the novel is the way chapters are told through different characters' perspectives. Most are told through Janey's, but Patty also gets the chance to show the audience how she feels about Janey's cold-hearted demeanor.
Janey's short-lived marriage to Seldon Rose also occupies many chapters from Patty, Janey and Seldon's perspective. Seldon, a top executive at MovieTime, a division of a huge media conglomerate, provides Janey with even more luxury than she gives herself. Instead of spending her money, she uses Seldon's to buy Gucci handbags and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Throughout the story, Janey's love life comes under constant scrutiny and threatens to land her in court for various reasons. Instead of being an honest person about a contract mishap, she blackmails and connives her way out of legal trouble.
About halfway through the 504 pages, I started wondering if Janey would ever get what was coming to her. In a way, she did, but not as much as she deserved. An embarrassing fall from the top of the social ladder merely scratched the surface of what Janey should have suffered. The entire book describes how horrible of a person she is and what evil things she does to innocent people.
At times, I felt sorry for Janey. Other associates were using her in devious ploys, just as much as she was using them. But, then she would prove me wrong and unleash her vengeance on another unsuspecting "friend" of hers.
While this book is superficial, indulgent reading, I found it to be quite interesting. Never having lived in New York, many other readers and I love to feel like we have the inside scoop on the city's high society. The ruthless backstabbing and narcissistic attitudes take us out of our mundane world and give us a little excitement. Bushnell did an amazing job of vividly describing Janey's life and all the turmoil that went with it. The men might not find it as exciting as the women might, but that is exactly the way Bushnell intended it.