Publication
Black Swan, c2005.
Collection
Status
Available
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She�s made a mistake so huge, it�ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she�s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they�ve hired a lawyer�and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can�t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope�and finds love�is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does�will she want it back?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella is, much like her other books, brain-candy. I find a great similarity between her main female characters and Samantha Sweeting is no exception. Supposedly a brainy lawyer with a photogenic memory, she runs away after a mistake is blamed on her and becomes a
Unbelievably within a couple of months she can cook like a dream, clean anything with one hand tied behind her back and run a large household effortlessly. Of course there is yummy man in the picture, a hunky gardener, who has a bright future what with owning three pubs and planning on a landscaping business.
Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book. It’s like a modern day fairy tale, the girl gets Prince Charming and a rosy future, exactly the kind of story I was looking for. So if you are looking for a feel good, brain-candy kind of book, I would recommend The Undomestic Goddess for your reading pleasure.
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housekeeper. Of course she can’t cook, she can’t clean, and she has no idea what being a domestic helper is all about.Unbelievably within a couple of months she can cook like a dream, clean anything with one hand tied behind her back and run a large household effortlessly. Of course there is yummy man in the picture, a hunky gardener, who has a bright future what with owning three pubs and planning on a landscaping business.
Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book. It’s like a modern day fairy tale, the girl gets Prince Charming and a rosy future, exactly the kind of story I was looking for. So if you are looking for a feel good, brain-candy kind of book, I would recommend The Undomestic Goddess for your reading pleasure.
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LibraryThing member scoutlee
Samantha Sweeting is a Type-A, workaholic lawyer for the most prestigious law firm in London, Carter Spink. For seven years, she has put in long hours, worked through the night and basically gave up her life for the firm. Samantha thinks it has been worth it because she's about to become a partner.
On the morning her partnership is to be announced, she discovers a memo that was buried on her desk. The deadline was weeks ago and she is frantic. Samantha never misses a deadline nor does she make a mistake. In just a matter of minutes, the life that she knows is over. Feeling out of control for the first time, Samantha escapes her office and finds herself on a train to the country. She has no idea where she's headed; all she knows is that anywhere has to be better than facing the other partners at her law firm.
She stops at the first house she comes to, only to rest and ask for a drink of water, when she is mistaken for an applicant for the housekeeper position. Soon Samantha finds herself working as a housekeeper. Only problem is Samantha doesn't know anything about cooking, vacuuming, chores, etc. Little does Samantha know, this will put her on the path she's been striving for.
When Samantha accidently learns information regarding the day she was to become partner, she has a choice to make: return to her old life or stay with the one she is just starting to make.
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On the morning her partnership is to be announced, she discovers a memo that was buried on her desk. The deadline was weeks ago and she is frantic. Samantha never misses a deadline nor does she make a mistake. In just a matter of minutes, the life that she knows is over. Feeling out of control for the first time, Samantha escapes her office and finds herself on a train to the country. She has no idea where she's headed; all she knows is that anywhere has to be better than facing the other partners at her law firm.
She stops at the first house she comes to, only to rest and ask for a drink of water, when she is mistaken for an applicant for the housekeeper position. Soon Samantha finds herself working as a housekeeper. Only problem is Samantha doesn't know anything about cooking, vacuuming, chores, etc. Little does Samantha know, this will put her on the path she's been striving for.
When Samantha accidently learns information regarding the day she was to become partner, she has a choice to make: return to her old life or stay with the one she is just starting to make.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
This is the story of Samantha Sweeting arriving in life. She has been a high-power attorney, and thought it was the only life for her, but when life throws her a curve ball, she suddenly sees that there is a lot she has been missing. I didn't expect to like this, but it was just the fluff I needed
I like the way this story plays off the images of feminism and domesticity, when all Samantha really wants is to relax and enjoy her life. That is exactly what I wanted from this book, to relax, and it met that goal admirably.
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to get me out of a bad reading mood. The author has a way of not glorifying Samantha. We see her with all of her short-comings and bad behaviours, yet she is still likable. We root for her. We want her to find out that she is a marvelous woman on her own. The characters around her are very lifelike, in fact, I think I have met them all. The only thing I couldn't get a handle on was the house she worked in. It seemed to have no set shape and rooms and garden spaces seemed to pop up randomly as needed. There is strong language in the story, and of course an afternoon of sex, although it is mercifully discreet in description.I like the way this story plays off the images of feminism and domesticity, when all Samantha really wants is to relax and enjoy her life. That is exactly what I wanted from this book, to relax, and it met that goal admirably.
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LibraryThing member Deesirings
This is chick lit at it's best. Kinsella scores on every front: a heroine you want to root for; a varied cast of supporting characters, each with a distinct personality, a plot that twists as it spurts ahead and, mostly, a vivid writing style that makes it easy for the reader to visualize all this
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taking place. Show Less
LibraryThing member labelleaurore
The Undomestic Goddes is a marvelous book, very entertaining and well written. An ideal book to read while on the road or on a Sundy afternoon, while it is raining outside. Bravo!
LibraryThing member bugeyzz23
This book was a delight from beginning to end. I found myself laughing out loud and wasn't able to put the book down.
LibraryThing member PinkLadies
It's interesting how a top lawyer eventually gave up her high-profile career just to be able to lead a normal life. Her struggle between pursuing her career(which includes the salary and fame that comes along with it) or to give it up. Food for thought: I wonder which would I choose if it was me in
The fact is, when one is too keen on pursuing one's career, he/she will miss out on everything else. No time to catch up with family and friends. No time to find out what it's like to have a life. No time to stop and smell the roses.
But life is ironic. Ordinary folks would want to experience what it's like to thrive on pressure and datelines, while the high-powered career people would do anything to be able to slow down their life just a little bit, to be able to catch their breathe.
But at the end of the day, it is all about distinguishing between what you think you want from life and what you actually, in your heart, want from life.
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her shoes..The fact is, when one is too keen on pursuing one's career, he/she will miss out on everything else. No time to catch up with family and friends. No time to find out what it's like to have a life. No time to stop and smell the roses.
But life is ironic. Ordinary folks would want to experience what it's like to thrive on pressure and datelines, while the high-powered career people would do anything to be able to slow down their life just a little bit, to be able to catch their breathe.
But at the end of the day, it is all about distinguishing between what you think you want from life and what you actually, in your heart, want from life.
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LibraryThing member Bonni208
Whether or not you should read this book greatly depends on how much you are willing to suspend your disbelief and also if you are open to a "brain-less book" (meaning one that doesn't require you to think much). We're supposed to believe that after she loses her job as a high-powered attorney, she
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ends up being mistaken as a housekeeper applicant. She is so disheveled, she decides to stay and take the job as housekeeper - and she doesn't even know how to cook... And so it goes. I found it a great summer-type read, but it is probably not going to be up for any literary awards. It is funny, however, and I found the main character endearing. Show Less
LibraryThing member MountainsofBooks
I didn’t love Confessions of a Shopaholic, but I wasn’t turned off of Kinsella as a author. The Undomestic Goddess sounded like a fun read and it was.
I enjoyed Samantha Sweeting so much more than Becky Bloomwood, but that’s just me.
It’s the same basic chick lit plot, but I think where I was
She grows from being so concerned with success as a lawyer and pleases everyone to enjoying life, making real friends, and having a moment to herself. She begins to appreciate life and living. Plus, I loved the romance aspect.
It was a fun, quick (just a few hours), and entertaining read. After this I think I’m going to give Becky Bloomwood another try…maybe the rest of the Shopaholic series will grow on me. Maybe.
I enjoyed Samantha Sweeting so much more than Becky Bloomwood, but that’s just me.
It’s the same basic chick lit plot, but I think where I was
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pulled in is when Samantha runs away and starts living. I know when things seem to be melting down all around me that’s what I want to do. Of course, there’s the classic “Am I going to get caught?” and the silliness of Sam not knowing how to use a washing machine (does she get her underwear dry cleaned too?), but where the realism is for me is her growth.She grows from being so concerned with success as a lawyer and pleases everyone to enjoying life, making real friends, and having a moment to herself. She begins to appreciate life and living. Plus, I loved the romance aspect.
It was a fun, quick (just a few hours), and entertaining read. After this I think I’m going to give Becky Bloomwood another try…maybe the rest of the Shopaholic series will grow on me. Maybe.
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LibraryThing member bleached
A perfect chick-lit book. Simply, brain-candy. Funny and cute with not a lot of surprises it was a fun read. There was a lot of flip-flopping when it came to Samantha (Will I? Won't I? Should I? No....but maybe I should..") that started getting a tad old by the end...especially when you know what
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she's going to end up doing and just want her to do it instead of wasting time. Even still, it was fun to read and a story where you feel a little sad when you reach the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathy89
High powered lawyer is fired from her prestigious firm and takes a job as a housekeeper and learns how to cook, clean, relax, and enjoy herself. It's a stretch that someone doesn't know how to do anything at all but she learns and in a couple of weeks she's a gourmet cook. Quit, fun read to listen
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to while walking. Show Less
LibraryThing member sunnydaze97
The Undomestinc Goddess is about a young layer working in a posh law firm until she realizes ahe has made a mistake and lawyers at Carter Spink don't make mistakes. When Samantha realizes her mistake, she chickens out and runs away leaving behind her job. When she gets of a train into a village she
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has never even heard of, she is mistaken for a housekeeper and is made to stay. Meanwhile, after Carter Spink has fired Samantha, she meets a handsome gardener who finds out that she in not a domestic. She decides to stay since she doesn't have a job and he offers cooking lessons from his mom. A while later when she calls back to her office to talk to a dear friend of hers, she finds out that she didn'e make the mistake at all. Her so- called friend put the document on her desk yo get fired. When the office uncovers the truth they give her a huge offer to be a partner. Samantha has to choose between her domestic love life, or, her new job offer that she has wanted for 7 years... Show Less
LibraryThing member wineisme
I thoroughly enjoyed this Kinsella novel. The heroine is brainwashed by her life in corporate law. As someone who wakes up to jot down notes for the upcoming workday, I appreciate the back-to-basics sentiments that characterize this story. If this sounds like you, it's definitely worth a read!
LibraryThing member mullgirl
I read nearly this entire book while flying over the Atlantic Ocean, and it was a pretty good read. It has the same style and good writing/characterizations that I have come to expect from Sophie Kinsella.
I was perhaps more interested in the protagonist’s day to day goings-on at work than others
The Undomestic Goddess is a kind of fun jaunt through a fantasy land. However, Samantha (the protagonist) becomes less and less real as time passes in the book. I like the play on the fantasy that we have all had about what it would belike if we could just pick up and leave it all… leave our life as it stands with nothing but a bus ticket and some cell-phone battery life left. No more possessions that we’re tied to, no job we are committed to, and no dealing with the complications that we’ve made for ourselves. In this aspect, I loved this book. And I loved how when she first arrives at the country house and is taken for a maid applying for work, she rolls with it. I have that same type of “fake it until you make it” personality. Her first disasters in the kitchen, in the laundry, even cleaning. I completely sympathize with that because I feel like am the dictionary definition of undomestic.
While it wouldn’t be chick lit without the hot gardener guy, who of course is onto her ruse, I was a little disappointed with how little effort it took for her to become a domestic goddess. I’ve tried cooking, again and again, and I’m here to tell you that what Samantha accomplished in one weekend’s training cannot be done in real life. And I know, I know, this is NOT about the real world, but the fantasy that it could be was going along so swimmingly until that point. And I was a little disappointed.
The point of chick lit is to help you escape, and I’ve found that it generally comes in three varieties. First, it’s utterly fantastical and it could never ever happen to a real person, but it’s well-written and the characters themselves have traits that you recognize in yourself or your girl friends. Second, it’s shockingly realistic, and then it pulls in some fantasy that many women have had and artfully weaves it into a story that almost makes you believe–my life could have been this way. And third, it’s fantastical, the characters are unrealistic, and there’s not a shred of anything in it that rings true to you. Obvioulsy, I like categories one and two. And I felt disappointed a little more than half-way through this book when I realized that it was a derailed category two, turned into a category three. Sad because I really liked Samantha.
My final beef with this story was the back and forth work thing and the whole “pseudo mystery” of how she really screwed up refiling the financing statement. I hated that it wasn’t her fault after all. Faults are what make us human. But then, she did learn how to be a gourmet cook in a weekend, so maybe she’s just not human. I detested her unrealism regarding the gardener hunk and her future, and I really really was let down that he threw over everything that his life meant to him to go to her. Sigh. There was a fabulous story of renewal, acceptance of self and others, and courage to grow that got lost inside this book. And I feel like it got lost because somewhere in the middle, the author started applying the “chick lit” formula to this story. Which is really too bad, because I would love to see this plot line done right. So I’ll have to throw this in the same rejected barrel as I threw The Country Life into a few months ago. Boo.
I was perhaps more interested in the protagonist’s day to day goings-on at work than others
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might be since I am in that industry. Sadly, the ridiculousness of her work life was only mildly exaggerated. And I actually took a page from her book and applied it to my own life. I had a messy desk before this book. A messy desk where I always thought that I knew exactly where everything was, and I did–all except for the handful of things that I had forgotten about buried under the current work’s rubble.The Undomestic Goddess is a kind of fun jaunt through a fantasy land. However, Samantha (the protagonist) becomes less and less real as time passes in the book. I like the play on the fantasy that we have all had about what it would belike if we could just pick up and leave it all… leave our life as it stands with nothing but a bus ticket and some cell-phone battery life left. No more possessions that we’re tied to, no job we are committed to, and no dealing with the complications that we’ve made for ourselves. In this aspect, I loved this book. And I loved how when she first arrives at the country house and is taken for a maid applying for work, she rolls with it. I have that same type of “fake it until you make it” personality. Her first disasters in the kitchen, in the laundry, even cleaning. I completely sympathize with that because I feel like am the dictionary definition of undomestic.
While it wouldn’t be chick lit without the hot gardener guy, who of course is onto her ruse, I was a little disappointed with how little effort it took for her to become a domestic goddess. I’ve tried cooking, again and again, and I’m here to tell you that what Samantha accomplished in one weekend’s training cannot be done in real life. And I know, I know, this is NOT about the real world, but the fantasy that it could be was going along so swimmingly until that point. And I was a little disappointed.
The point of chick lit is to help you escape, and I’ve found that it generally comes in three varieties. First, it’s utterly fantastical and it could never ever happen to a real person, but it’s well-written and the characters themselves have traits that you recognize in yourself or your girl friends. Second, it’s shockingly realistic, and then it pulls in some fantasy that many women have had and artfully weaves it into a story that almost makes you believe–my life could have been this way. And third, it’s fantastical, the characters are unrealistic, and there’s not a shred of anything in it that rings true to you. Obvioulsy, I like categories one and two. And I felt disappointed a little more than half-way through this book when I realized that it was a derailed category two, turned into a category three. Sad because I really liked Samantha.
My final beef with this story was the back and forth work thing and the whole “pseudo mystery” of how she really screwed up refiling the financing statement. I hated that it wasn’t her fault after all. Faults are what make us human. But then, she did learn how to be a gourmet cook in a weekend, so maybe she’s just not human. I detested her unrealism regarding the gardener hunk and her future, and I really really was let down that he threw over everything that his life meant to him to go to her. Sigh. There was a fabulous story of renewal, acceptance of self and others, and courage to grow that got lost inside this book. And I feel like it got lost because somewhere in the middle, the author started applying the “chick lit” formula to this story. Which is really too bad, because I would love to see this plot line done right. So I’ll have to throw this in the same rejected barrel as I threw The Country Life into a few months ago. Boo.
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LibraryThing member suzanne5002
This book is too funny. Unlike her shopaholic reads, Samantha is not very domestically inclined. Not at all. She is a lawyer and about to make partner in the firm. When does she have time to clean? Or cook for that matter? She works 60 hours a week.
The day has arrived. She will find if she will be
She is furiously cleaning off her messy desk only to find a contract that should have been mailed in weeks ago. Due to her negligence, the bank is losing thousands of dollars by the day. Samantha never make mistakes. She has hoped for this day since she was 12. Partner in a lawyer firm. Sweet!
She rushes out of the building and takes a bus into the suburbs. Once there, she starts walking and getting tired and thirsty. A house on her walk looks very inviting so Samantha walks up to the door. When the owners open the door, she asks them for a drink of water. They think that this is another applicant from the agency. While drinking the water, the owners ask her for references, her recipe ideas. This is where the comedy begins.
This is very light reading and can be read in a day or two. If one is looking for a funny and hilarious read, this is it!!
The day has arrived. She will find if she will be
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made partner.She is furiously cleaning off her messy desk only to find a contract that should have been mailed in weeks ago. Due to her negligence, the bank is losing thousands of dollars by the day. Samantha never make mistakes. She has hoped for this day since she was 12. Partner in a lawyer firm. Sweet!
She rushes out of the building and takes a bus into the suburbs. Once there, she starts walking and getting tired and thirsty. A house on her walk looks very inviting so Samantha walks up to the door. When the owners open the door, she asks them for a drink of water. They think that this is another applicant from the agency. While drinking the water, the owners ask her for references, her recipe ideas. This is where the comedy begins.
This is very light reading and can be read in a day or two. If one is looking for a funny and hilarious read, this is it!!
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LibraryThing member lchav
A quick read that reminded me that:
1. It is NOT the end of the world if you make a mistake at work.
2. There is MORE to life than work.
1. It is NOT the end of the world if you make a mistake at work.
2. There is MORE to life than work.
LibraryThing member mthom07
This book was hard to read at the beginning. The main character, Samantha, was just too stressed out in the beginning which made me feel stressed reading about it. Once I got past the first couple chapters, I couldn't stop reading. Everything just ended up for the best. It was so unpredictible
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which made it so much better to read! Show Less
LibraryThing member kikianika
My favourite one by her so far. The more I think about it, the less I like it, which is strange, so I try not to think (not that hard...). The story idea is something close to home. Career driven woman (messy) suddenly becomes a cleaning lady to the rich and clueless. In typical Kinsella manier,
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the whole thing jumps merrily up and down the slapstick line, which makes for a fast, fun and predictable read. But you have to love her voice. Definitely a lough-out-loud book. Show Less
LibraryThing member stacyinthecity
This was a really fun book! I've always like Sophie Kinsella books and seem to devour them quite rapidly once I start! It is a fun, lighthearded take on what is actually a topic near and dear to my heart - the high pressures of modern life. That and feminist topics such as working women and
While I can't really say that I was surprized by the ending (and guessed the turn of events that would bring about that ending early on in the book), there were a suffencient number of twists in the last pages to keep me happy and I wasn't entirely sure how it would end up.
I also found myself laughing, giggling, and smiling throughout the book as Samantha had various misadventures. At one point, I nearly missed my subway stop, I was so engrossed!
I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves chicklit, has trouble with cooking and housework and needs to laugh about it, or is worried their life my be too stressful. While this book doesn't have all the answers, it definately is fun and will take your mind off the troubles for a little while!
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domestic women were also subtly addressed, though without any answers.While I can't really say that I was surprized by the ending (and guessed the turn of events that would bring about that ending early on in the book), there were a suffencient number of twists in the last pages to keep me happy and I wasn't entirely sure how it would end up.
I also found myself laughing, giggling, and smiling throughout the book as Samantha had various misadventures. At one point, I nearly missed my subway stop, I was so engrossed!
I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves chicklit, has trouble with cooking and housework and needs to laugh about it, or is worried their life my be too stressful. While this book doesn't have all the answers, it definately is fun and will take your mind off the troubles for a little while!
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LibraryThing member kimbee
I just finished this book and I love. I actually laughed out loud many times. It's a quick, light read and a great piece of chick-lit.
LibraryThing member phillyexpat
ve never read any of the Shopaholic books, but as far as chick lit goes, this was pretty amusing. There's a great scene where our fair heroine attends her birthday dinner and her mother and brother join her unconventionally (that's all I'll share, lest I ruin the fun). I'd actually rank it pretty
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high in the genre, predictable or no. Again, it would be a cute movie. Show Less
LibraryThing member Brandie160
It was a cute book. I admit I got wrapped up in it and wanted that "happily ever after" ending for the book about half way through ...
I read it just at the time I needed some light reading and this was just the key!
I read it just at the time I needed some light reading and this was just the key!
LibraryThing member hklibrarian
This was a lovely story that has a fairy tale equivalent to it--young woman quits her high powered job, becomes a domestic, meets fantabulous guy, turms down high powered multi-million dollar job for guy and such, and they live happily ever after. Still, you can't help loving it, especially in a
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world that too often has harsh realities. Show Less
LibraryThing member WittyreaderLI
This book was pure fluff but of the most enjoyable kind. Samantha Sweeting, top notch lawyer becomes a housekeeper in one of the most over the top manners possible (You have to read it to believe it, and even then, you won't). She becomes a housekeeper yet she has no idea how to cook, or clean! The
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book's plot was extremely unbelievable, but on the other hand, it was extremely entertaining. I enjoyed this book, despite its lack of literary finess because sometimes you just need something light! Show Less
LibraryThing member kellyoliva
This is a phenomenal book that features a strong, young woman who is mistaken for a housekeeper after being fired from her almost-partner position at a swanky law firm in London. The protagonist learns much about herself as she cooks, cleans, and grocery shops for the first time in her life. She
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realizes the importance of spoiling herself, too, and that love is in the least likely of places. This is a feel-good novel. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0552153141 / 9780552153140
Original publication date
2005-07-19