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Scruples (1978)

Scruples (1978)

Book Info

Author
Genre
Series
Rating
2.89 of 5 Votes: 2
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ISBN
0297775340 (ISBN13: 9780297775348)
Language
English
Publisher
littlehampton book services ltd

About book Scruples (1978)

Billy doesn't have the greatest childhood. Raised by her widowed father who was more involved with his medical research than her upbringing, Billy is closer to the housekeeper than her own father. She turns to food for comfort and ends up overweight and seriously introverted. A kind aunt helps her to find a household in France for her to spend a year abroad. When Billy returns she is a brand new person. We are given some very detailed character studies for the different players involved in this story. Even some of the more minor characters are well developed and described to us in-depth. I have to admit thought, by the end of the book, Billy was starting to get on my nerves. While she exudes confidence, she never really got over the shyness and loneliness of her childhood, and finds it difficult to strike up a conversation with complete strangers, making it difficult to make friends. Others incorrectly interpret her shyness as haughtiness and when combined with her wealth and status, they fear approaching her. Billy becomes bored with her life. She has more money than she can comprehend, so does not need to work. She doesn't want to be Miss Susie Homemaker, nor does she wish to delve into the world of charity work. She is on top of the world and still unhappy. While on one hand this situation shows that money can't buy happiness. But with great wealth, you CAN choose your own misery and it is hard to have much sympathy for Billy while she is wallowing in self pity. This selection for Serial Sunday was a fairly enjoyable book for the most part. Be prepared for a crash course into the world of high fashion and haute coutre. I had read another book recently that dove into this world as well so I managed to flounder through the assorted terms without too much difficulty. I'm not entirely sure where the next book will lead as this volume was well wrapped up and didn't leave too many unanswered questions.

As long as it took me to read this, I have to say it was generally a fun story. It's filled with all the glamor, excess, and camp you'd expect (and hope for), but human emotion is at the center of it all, as it should be for any good soap opera. The characters are mostly likable people, though our lead heroine could have used a few slaps across her snobbish face, and the plots have movement.The hardest parts of the novel to get through would be the pages and pages spent on Billy's backstory in France and other places. Judith Krantz has such an unmistakable obsession with French culture that makes the inevitable mentions of all things France tiresome. On the other hand, our half-French/half-Irish supporting heroine Valentine is clearly the most riveting character in the whole book, closely followed by carefree actress Dolly and tough journalist Maggie. In fact, as the novel moves into its second wind, the positive traits of most characters are highlighted and make for a good read.The ending, sadly, doesn't keep up that momentum and resorts to some rather rushed and half-baked plot devices that all but kill any suspense or interest in the plot over the last 20 pages. Still, however, it's a fabulous tale.

Do You like book Scruples (1978)?

Although Judith Krantz displays very limited knowledge about South America by committing mistakes such as saying Buenos Aires is in Brazil, and that people speak Spanish in Rio, I have to admit she was able to create a very involving and interesting story about the world of fashion and cinema in Beverly Hills. She is indeed a writer of "sex and shopping" as it was said before, but also a writer who really knows the meaning of reading for fun... Her book is highly entertaining and addictive, her characters are poignant and real. I can't wait to read another book by her.
—Shamsh

This is an oldie but goodie! I felt like it was a dirty pleasure, thumbing through pages of sex, profanity, power, socialites...I'm going to have to get a trenchcoat and sunglasses and hit the bookstore to get more Judith Krantz perhaps.I loved the characters. I loved the use of the "C" word in a positive, lusty light as well as a derogatory way that women today are dramatically horrified to hear.My only dislike was Billy's true path to happiness. She forgets her birth control pills for 3 months
—Reanne

i read this when I was a teen and over twenty years later the story still resonates with me. Unfortunately the book could never be used to reflect any image of me that I saw for myself other than being a strong and resourceful women. That model however I had already had in my mother although like the character she as well as people in general are flawed and the glamour of fictional money, power and gorgeous men to me placates a life of a story currently removed from the integrity of life today. The lives in this book present a trite and very idealistic existence although some of the struggles are relative to today.As entertainment this is a good book. For women it is a reasonable source of countenance but is a bit outdated for this time and decade. Hey but thats just my opinion.
—Kijoda

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