Product Description

Some people, the author included, love shopping so much that even the weekly trawl round Waitrose is a treat. In this essential guide/memoir, India Knight dissects the singular pleasures afforded by everyone's favourite pastime: from dragging your mother around TopShop aged 14 to feeling your entire life would somehow be perfect if only you bought that battered leather sofa. Part series of essays, part lists of essential information, you will never wonder about where to get the perfect 2-inches-off-the-waist pants again. The Shops is a book for everyone who's ever had to part with cash, which is to say, a book for everyone.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17385 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Synopsis
Some people, the author included, love shopping so much that even the weekly trawl round Waitrose is a treat. In this essential guide/memoir, India Knight dissects the singular pleasures afforded by everyone's favourite pastime: from dragging your mother around TopShop aged 14 to feeling your entire life would somehow be perfect if only you bought that battered leather sofa. Part series of essays, part lists of essential information, you will never wonder about where to get the perfect 2-inches-off-the-waist pants again. The Shops is a book for everyone who's ever had to part with cash, which is to say, a book for everyone.

About the Author
India Knight's first novel, My Life On A Plate, was published in 2000 to huge critical acclaim. Her second novel, Don't You Want Me, was published in 2002 and received similar rave reviews. She writes a column for The Sunday Times, alongside other newspapers and magazines. India Knight lives in London E8 with her two sons.

Customer Reviews

Funny and fabulous.....
I love India Knight, and bought this book because I enjoy her columns for The Times.

Like her columns, the style is chatty, friendly and funny, as India explores her love of "the shops" and delves into her colourful past for hilarious anecdotes and unique shopping tips.

Books rarely make me laugh out loud, but this did.

great fun, really useful, a great read
I bought this book a couple of years ago, but am writing this review now because it still rocks! Despite India Knight's own glowing review of the recent Goddess Guide, I've found The Shops to be far more helpful, and FAR more entertaining a read. In between hilarious snippets of her own life, she advises where to get what, and over the years I've found her advice to be truly useful. Thanks to her, I know check out reviews on Makeup Alley before purchasing anything; discovered the glorious Persephone Books; got into organic/natural skincare thanks to her recommendation of Stacey/Fairley's 21st Centure Beauty Bible, and so much more. I find myself referring to it again and again, and even now keep finding new things to discover. Plus it's just a really fun read. She rocks.

What a fabulous book!
I wasn't too sure what I was getting with this book - a psychoanalysis of shopping, lists of places to go, or a novel about someone who shops a lot? - so went in with an open mind.

The great thing was, this book has all three and lots more. India Knight weaves her own story of falling in love with shopping through childhood and beyond through the fabric of the book, stopping off along the way to focus on certain topics such as how to deal with stroppy shop assistants, where to get your best organic veg and lots of tips for online stores. She doesn't limit you to fancy, high end London shops either - Argos pops up now and then, alongside the likes of Abercrombie & Kent for luxury hols and a sex shop called Good Vibrations in LA. Very funny.

I didn't discover too many hidden gems but this wasn't a problem. The snippets and asides that litter this book are hilarious and I found it made me feel reassuringly normal. If shopping is really a true joy in life for you, you'll feel like you have been welcomed into a lovely little tribe of similarly retail focussed individuals....invaluable.

I hope you enjoy it too.