Book Review: The Undomestic Goddess

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: The Dial Press
ISBN: 0-385-33868-6
Copyright: 2005
Length: 371 pages

Samantha Sweeting is working as a high-powered attorney in the city who has no time for a social life. For seven years she has been working night and day to get partnership in the firm. When she makes a mistake at work, she's devastated and everything in her life changes. She leaves town while in a state of shock and takes up residence in a country village working as a housekeeper.

The Geiger's, her new employers, have mistaken her as the new housekeeper; they are so nice and she is so tired that she keeps putting off telling them the truth. The gardener, Nathaniel, who sees her domestically challenged, offers to have Iris, his mother, give Samantha domestic lessons.

Samantha learns how to cook, sew, iron, relax, and have fun. While she is living as a housekeeper she also finds herself in love.

Guy, Ketterman, and Arnold are attorneys at the law firm who she keeps in touch with. They ask her to attend a meeting at the firm; during the meeting she is offered her job back and she refuses.

When she is leaving the media gets wind of her comment and realizes the truth; they run the story. Now that the truth has been revealed, she is forced to make a decision - housekeeper and happiness or lawyer.

My Opinion:

While it's wonderful to be successful at your career, it's even more important to have a balanced life. Obviously Samantha was completely unbalanced in her life as a lawyer. She relaxed, learned a new lifestyle, and found happiness in her job as a housekeeper.

The Author:

Sophie Kinsella lives in England, was a financial journalist, and has written five books.