Who’s to blame my love
You play a dangerous game
Who’s to blame my love
All you want is money and fame
I think this Scorpions’ 1990 song would have been the theme song for Candace Bushnell’s book “Trading Up” if it were a television series, like her previous two books – Lipstick Jungle or Sex and the City.
But unlike the other two books that are fun, light and women-empowering, Trading Up is not your typical chic-lit. Yes there is a drop dead gorgeous Victoria’s Secrets model, a sexy Argentine polo player, a rock star and his wife, a ruthless businessman, a rich socialite among others and the book does have the heroine falling into a gigantic mess and come out victorious in the end. But this book different, especially the way in which the issue of morality is handled by the leads. It is a story of the need and the means of climbing the New York status circle for today’s women; the extent of the things they are capable of doing and how!
Janey Wilcox is a 32 year old Victoria’s Secrets’ model, who has found fame only recently. From an outsider who was desperate to be part of New York’s elite circle she is now best friends with New York’s queen socialite and being courted by a top movie executive. But what makes Janey a strange heroine is she is so conceited. She is someone who has potential to be a smart, successful person who can achieve success. But she is not satisfied with this situation. Neither is she ready to do the basic hard work. She is obsessed with her good looks and tries to get what she wants by either lying or by being promiscuous. This gets her in to a lot of trouble and public humiliation. Can she change her ways and get out of trouble?
This is where the book is different. Bushnell’s heroine is desperate. She is a liar and a cheat. She is cheap and she cannot be trusted. All she cares for is money and fame. And she gets it in the end… by being herself.
Makes you think if this is the changing face of the society we are living in – being honest and truthful is hardly a requirement to succeed today. Personally it is a thought that is hard to digest. Is it worth living a vain life? Don’t think so! At least Bushnell does not glorify her heroine. She comes across as a moral police without pointing fingers and judging. Or was that me?!
-Bella
3 of Spades 