spent MEMOIRS OF A SHOPPING ADDICT by AVIS CARDELLA

While reading Avis Cardella's spent: MEMOIRS of a SHOPPING ADDICT, I had  many different feelings. When she  talked about buying high heeled boots,  putting one coat in a bag, and wearing another more expensive coat out of a boutique, I wanted to go shopping too. She did seem to be describing bliss. I thought, this is the life. When she plunged to the place where help was definitely needed, the place where she was totally out of control, I backed away. Even if my journey along with Avis Cardella was imaginary, I wanted to go no further. Finally, I could see that these confessions of a shopaholic were no different than the confessions of any abuser of a substance. Soon the story became one about  riches to rags. 

Avis Cardella is a woman who experiences the black emptiness at the bottom of a well. "So much about me was small, removed from myself, afraid, and alone. I was completely frightened of facing myself...." This is understandable. The death of Avis Cardella's mother was not easy. She was heartbroken. She did not know how to deal with the endless grief. Shopping seemed to be the answer. She knew the names of designers like I know how to say my alphabets. At times she spent hours just walking through stores. The glamor and beauty seemed to be soothing for a little while.

There is a Christmas story in the memoir. When Christmas comes, Avis has no money to buy Christmas presents. It seemed too shameful to go home without gifts. She did not  want to talk about being broke during  Christmas. She wanted to at least appear happy and independent. Who wants to be the spoiler of Christmas magic?  The author decides to give magazine subscriptions to her father and brother. She gave each one a magazine. With the promise that the rest of the subscriptions would come through the mail. Those magazines never arrived because daughter and sister did not have the funds to pay for those subscriptions. I felt so sad for her.

The book is marvelously revealing. W hile readingI could feel Avis Cardella's honesty. She did not sugar coat the truth. I also liked the book because it made me realize a shopping addiction is not cute or funny. It is as painful as any other addiction. The book is more than poignant. It is worth the time of a woman reader or a man reader. It is an important look at the other side of loving to shop. Avis Cardella, facebook.com/pages/Avis-Cardella/