Shopaholicシリーズでは、一作目が一番好きで、それ以降の作品では読み進めるのが
億劫になってしまったりで、(自分の英語力のせい?)
実は今回の作品にもそこまで期待はしていませんでした。
実際途中、ライバルが出てくるまでは、なんとなく単調な感じがしましたが
ライバルが出現してからは、起きたら必ずこの本を読む、といった感じで、
続きが読みたくてしょうがなくなりました。
基本的にはレベッカ出産のお話で、生命にかかるようなシリアスな話はない
のですが、やはりレベッカにも出産にまつわる様々な不安(妄想?)はつきまといます。
思わず、”Lukeしっかりしてよ〜”って言ってしまったり、出てくるライバルが
本当に憎くなったり、そんなことしながら、気づいたら私の休日を独占していました。
個人的には、ライバルとの戦いと関係ない話になると、
展開がスローに思えた所もありました。(やはり、私にとっては
ライバルとの戦いが一番面白かった部分だったので。個人的な好みです。)
でも、相変わらずコミカルで、いらいら、スカッ、っていうストーリラインに満足です。
私にとっては1作目に続くヒットです。またshopaholicシリーズ好きの方に
お勧めの作品だと思います。
プライム無料体験をお試しいただけます
プライム無料体験で、この注文から無料配送特典をご利用いただけます。
非会員 | プライム会員 | |
---|---|---|
通常配送 | ¥410 - ¥450* | 無料 |
お急ぎ便 | ¥510 - ¥550 | |
お届け日時指定便 | ¥510 - ¥650 |
*Amazon.co.jp発送商品の注文額 ¥3,500以上は非会員も無料
無料体験はいつでもキャンセルできます。30日のプライム無料体験をぜひお試しください。
¥3,082¥3,082 税込
発送元: Amazon.co.jp 販売者: Amazon.co.jp
¥3,082¥3,082 税込
発送元: Amazon.co.jp
販売者: Amazon.co.jp
¥1,308¥1,308 税込
ポイント: 13pt
(1%)
配送料 ¥430 6月23日-7月4日にお届け
発送元: worldbooksjapan 販売者: worldbooksjapan
¥1,308¥1,308 税込
ポイント: 13pt
(1%)
配送料 ¥430 6月23日-7月4日にお届け
発送元: worldbooksjapan
販売者: worldbooksjapan
無料のKindleアプリをダウンロードして、スマートフォン、タブレット、またはコンピューターで今すぐKindle本を読むことができます。Kindleデバイスは必要ありません。
ウェブ版Kindleなら、お使いのブラウザですぐにお読みいただけます。
携帯電話のカメラを使用する - 以下のコードをスキャンし、Kindleアプリをダウンロードしてください。
サンプル サンプル
Shopaholic & Baby: A Novel ペーパーバック – 2007/12/26
英語版
Sophie Kinsella
(著)
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"¥3,082","priceAmount":3082.00,"currencySymbol":"¥","integerValue":"3,082","decimalSeparator":null,"fractionalValue":null,"symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"2eIKB6GP%2FhjD6A7iSapPZZlNfnCLgFb5jT7v1JIHuCd5tRATd2vOx4YpZ0kVXY6QsAi44kp3CaDTMREov7GqtTpZit8S5gnl4j0jVxQZDsLiavCNZeiFf20Vrt6mrcy3","locale":"ja-JP","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"¥1,308","priceAmount":1308.00,"currencySymbol":"¥","integerValue":"1,308","decimalSeparator":null,"fractionalValue":null,"symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"2eIKB6GP%2FhjD6A7iSapPZZlNfnCLgFb5sOLx%2FC%2FQrry17CYsUtJZj7mfDZd513XQOiyDKqkvgp8CZyIR9VQS7Q7pF4j0LZMRP3N7zmvYk0YAyz8Y42MdRi007xw1yeFApGSv96YXiyrV1fohQqjiIk7yY3f2WqQh6SE3hq1qkzyitpUEEXOHcg%3D%3D","locale":"ja-JP","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}
購入オプションとあわせ買い
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of The Party Crasher and Love Your Life . . .
“Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter.”—Jojo Moyes, author of The Giver of Stars and The Last Letter from Your Lover
Becky Brandon’s life is blooming. She’s working at London’s newest big store, The Look, house-hunting with husband Luke (her secret wish is a Shoe Room) . . . and she’s pregnant. She couldn’t be more overjoyed—especially after discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery and the latest stroller to top-of-the-line medical care.
But when the must-have celebrity obstetrician Becky’s been so desperate to see turns out to be Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky’s perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?
Praise for Sophie Kinsella and Shopaholic & Baby
“From sonograms to the hottest baby strollers to tricked-out birthing rooms . . . Kinsella’s ode to baby blues is both sly and slapstick.”—Publishers Weekly
“Faster than a swiping Visa, more powerful than a two-for-one coupon, able to buy complete wardrobes in a single sprint through the mall—it’s Shopaholic!”—The Washington Post
“Kinsella’s heroine is blessed with the resilience of ten women, and her damage-limitation brain waves are always good for a giggle.”—Glamour (U.K.)
“As fun as a shopping spree.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter.”—Jojo Moyes, author of The Giver of Stars and The Last Letter from Your Lover
Becky Brandon’s life is blooming. She’s working at London’s newest big store, The Look, house-hunting with husband Luke (her secret wish is a Shoe Room) . . . and she’s pregnant. She couldn’t be more overjoyed—especially after discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery and the latest stroller to top-of-the-line medical care.
But when the must-have celebrity obstetrician Becky’s been so desperate to see turns out to be Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky’s perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?
Praise for Sophie Kinsella and Shopaholic & Baby
“From sonograms to the hottest baby strollers to tricked-out birthing rooms . . . Kinsella’s ode to baby blues is both sly and slapstick.”—Publishers Weekly
“Faster than a swiping Visa, more powerful than a two-for-one coupon, able to buy complete wardrobes in a single sprint through the mall—it’s Shopaholic!”—The Washington Post
“Kinsella’s heroine is blessed with the resilience of ten women, and her damage-limitation brain waves are always good for a giggle.”—Glamour (U.K.)
“As fun as a shopping spree.”—Entertainment Weekly
- 本の長さ368ページ
- 言語英語
- 発売日2007/12/26
- 寸法13.97 x 2.03 x 20.83 cm
- ISBN-100385338716
- ISBN-13978-0385338714
商品の説明
レビュー
Praise for Sophie Kinsella and Shopaholic & Baby
“From sonograms to the hottest baby strollers to tricked-out birthing rooms . . . Kinsella’s ode to baby blues is both sly and slapstick.”—Publishers Weekly
“Faster than a swiping Visa, more powerful than a two-for-one coupon, able to buy complete wardrobes in a single sprint through the mall—it’s Shopaholic!”—The Washington Post
“Kinsella’s heroine is blessed with the resilience of ten women, and her damage-limitation brain waves are always good for a giggle.”—Glamour (U.K.)
“As fun as a shopping spree.”—Entertainment Weekly
“From sonograms to the hottest baby strollers to tricked-out birthing rooms . . . Kinsella’s ode to baby blues is both sly and slapstick.”—Publishers Weekly
“Faster than a swiping Visa, more powerful than a two-for-one coupon, able to buy complete wardrobes in a single sprint through the mall—it’s Shopaholic!”—The Washington Post
“Kinsella’s heroine is blessed with the resilience of ten women, and her damage-limitation brain waves are always good for a giggle.”—Glamour (U.K.)
“As fun as a shopping spree.”—Entertainment Weekly
抜粋
Chapter One
Ok. Don't panic. Everything's going to be fine. Of course it is.
Of course it is.
"If you could lift up your top, Mrs. Brandon?" The sonographer has a pleasant, professional air as she looks down at me. "I need to apply some jelly to your abdomen before we start the scan."
"Absolutely!" I say without moving a muscle. "The thing is, I'm just a teeny bit . . . nervous."
I'm lying on a bed at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, tense with anticipation. Any minute now, Luke and I will see our baby on the screen for the first time since it was just a teeny blob. I still can't quite believe it. In fact, I still haven't quite got over the fact that I'm pregnant. In nineteen weeks' time I, Becky Brandon, née Bloomwood . . . am going to be a mother. A mother!
Luke's my husband, by the way. We've been married for just over a year and this is a one hundred percent genuine honeymoon baby! We traveled loads on our honeymoon, but I've pretty much worked out that we conceived it when we were staying in this gorgeous resort in Sri Lanka, called Unawatuna, all orchids and bamboo trees and beautiful views.
Unawatuna Brandon.
Miss Unawatuna Orchid Bamboo-tree Brandon.
Hmm. I'm not sure what Mum would say.
"My wife had a slight accident in the early stages of pregnancy," Luke explains from his seat beside the bed. "So she's a little anxious."
He squeezes my hand supportively, and I squeeze back. In my pregnancy book, Nine Months of Your Life, it says you should include your partner in all aspects of your pregnancy, otherwise he can feel hurt and alienated. So I'm including Luke as much as I possibly can. Like, last night I included him in watching my new DVD, Toned Arms in Pregnancy. He suddenly remembered in the middle that he had to make a business call, and missed quite a lot--but the point is, he doesn't feel shut out.
"You had an accident?" The sonographer pauses in her tapping at the computer.
"I fell off this mountain when I was looking for my long-lost sister in a storm," I explain. "I didn't know I was pregnant at the time. And I think maybe I bashed the baby."
"I see." The sonographer looks at me kindly. She has graying brown hair tied back in a knot, with a pencil stuck into it. "Well, babies are resilient little things. Let's just have a look, shall we?"
Here it is. The moment I've been obsessing over for weeks. Gingerly I lift up my top and look down at my swelling stomach.
"If you could just push all your necklaces aside?" she adds. "That's quite a collection you have there!"
"They're special pendants." I loop them together with a jangle. "This one is an Aztec maternity symbol, and this is a gestation crystal . . . and this is a chiming ball to soothe the baby . . . and this is a birthing stone."
"A birthing stone?"
"You press it on a special spot on your palm, and it takes away the pain of labor," I explain. "It's been used since ancient Maori times."
"Mm-hmm." The sonographer raises an eyebrow and squeezes some transparent gloop on my stomach. Frowning slightly, she applies the ultrasound probe thing to my skin, and instantly a fuzzy black-and-white image appears on the screen.
I can't breathe.
That's our baby. Inside me. I dart a look at Luke, and he's gazing at the screen, transfixed.
"There are the four chambers of the heart. . . ." The sonographer is moving the probe around. "Now we're looking at the shoulders. . . ." She points to the screen and I squint obediently, even though, to be honest, I can't see any shoulders, only blurry curves.
"There's an arm . . . one hand . . ." Her voice trails off and she frowns.
There's silence in the little room. I feel a sudden grip of fear. That's why she's frowning. The baby's only got one hand. I knew it.
A wave of overpowering love and protectiveness rises up inside me. Tears are welling in my eyes. I don't care if our baby's only got one hand. I'll love it just as much. I'll love it more. Luke and I will take it anywhere in the world for the best treatment, and we'll fund research, and if anyone even dares give my baby a look--
"And the other hand . . ." The sonographer's voice interrupts my thoughts.
"Other hand?" I look up, choked. "It's got two hands?"
"Well . . . yes." The sonographer seems taken aback at my reaction. "Look, you can see them here." She points at the image, and to my amazement I can just about make out the little bony fingers. Ten of them.
"I'm sorry," I gulp, wiping my eyes with a tissue she hands me. "It's just such a relief."
"Everything seems absolutely fine as far as I can tell," she says reassuringly. "And don't worry, it's normal to be emotional in pregnancy. All those hormones swilling about."
Honestly. People keep talking about hormones. Like Luke last night, when I cried over that TV ad with the puppy. I'm not hormonal, I'm perfectly normal. It was just a very sad ad.
"Here you go." The sonographer taps at her keyboard again. A row of black-and-white scan pictures curls out of the printer, which she hands to me. I peer at the first one--and you can see the distinct outline of a head. It's got a little nose and a mouth and everything.
"So. I've done all the checks." She swivels round on her chair. "All I need to know now is whether you want to know the gender of the baby."
"No, thank you," Luke answers with a smile. "We've talked it through at great length, haven't we, Becky? And we both feel it would spoil the magic to find out."
"Very well." The sonographer smiles back. "If that's what you've decided, I won't say anything."
She "won't say anything"? That means she's already seen what the sex is. She could just tell us right now!
"We hadn't actually decided, had we?" I say. "Not for definite."
"Well . . . yes, we had, Becky." Luke seems taken aback. "Don't you remember, we talked about it for a whole evening and agreed we wanted it to be a surprise."
"Oh right, yes." I can't take my eyes off the blurry print of the baby. "But we could have our surprise now! It would be just as magical!"
OK, maybe that's not exactly true. But isn't he desperate to know?
"Is that really what you want?" As I look up I can see a streak of disappointment in Luke's face. "To find out now?"
"Well . . ." I hesitate. "Not if you don't want to."
The last thing I want is to upset Luke. He's been so sweet and loving to me since I've been pregnant. Recently I've had cravings for all sorts of odd combinations--like the other day I had this sudden weird desire for pineapple and a pink cardigan. And Luke drove me to the shops especially to get them.
He's about to say something, when his mobile phone starts ringing. He whips it out of his pocket and the sonographer puts up a hand.
"I'm sorry, but you can't use that in here."
"Right." Luke frowns as he sees the caller display. "It's Iain. I'd better call him back."
I don't need to ask which Iain. It'll be Iain Wheeler, the chief marketing honcho of the Arcodas Group. Luke has his own PR company, Brandon Communications, and Arcodas is Luke's big new client. It was a real coup when he won them and it's given a fantastic boost to the company--he's already hired more staff and is planning to open loads of new European offices on the back of it.
So it's all wonderful for Brandon Communications. But as usual, Luke's working himself into the ground. I've never seen him so at anyone's beck and call before. If Iain Wheeler calls, he always, always calls him back within five minutes, whether he's in another meeting, or he's having supper, or even if it's the middle of the night. He says it's the service industry and Arcodas is his mega-client, and that's what they're paying for.
All I can say is, if Iain Wheeler calls while I'm in labor, then that phone is going straight out the window.
"Is there a land line I can use nearby?" Luke is asking the sonographer. "Becky, you don't mind . . ."
"It's fine." I wave a hand.
"I'll show you," the sonographer says, getting up. "I'll be back in a moment, Mrs. Brandon."
The two of them disappear out the door, which closes with a heavy clunk.
I'm alone. The computer is still on. The ultrasound probe thing is resting next to the monitor.
I could just reach over and--
No. Don't be silly. I don't even know how to use an ultrasound. And besides, it would spoil the magical surprise. If Luke wants us to wait, then we'll wait.
I shift on the couch and examine my nails. I can wait for things. Of course I can. I can easily--
Oh God. No I can't. Not till December. And it's all right there in front of me . . . and nobody's about. . . .
I'll just have a teeny peek. Just really quickly. And I won't tell Luke. We'll still have the magical surprise at the birth--except it won't be quite so much of a surprise for me. Exactly.
Leaning right over, I manage to grab the ultrasound stick. I apply it to the gel on my stomach--and at once the blurry image reappears on the screen.
I did it! Now I just have to shift it slightly to get the crucial bit. . . . Frowning with concentration, I move the probe around on my abdomen, tilting it this way and that, craning my neck to see the screen. This is a lot easier than I thought! Maybe I should become a sonographer. I'm obviously a bit of a natural--
There's the head. Wow, it's huge! And that bit must be--
My hand freezes and I catch my breath. I've just spotted it. I've seen the sex of our baby!
It's a boy!
The image isn't quite as good as the sonographer's--but even so, it's unmistakable. Luke and I are going to have a son!
"Hello," I say aloud to the screen, my voice cracking slightly. "Hello, little boy!"
And now I can't stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. We're having a gorgeous baby boy! I can dress him up in cute overalls, and buy him a pedal car, and Luke can play cricket with him, and we can call him--
Oh my God. What are we going to call him?
I wonder if Luke would go for Birkin. Then I could get a Birkin to be his nappy bag.
Birkin Brandon. That's quite cool.
"Hi, little baby," I croon gently to the big round head on the screen. "Do you want to be called Birkin?"
"What are you doing?" The sonographer's voice makes me jump. She's standing at the door with Luke, looking appalled. "That's hospital equipment! You shouldn't be touching it!"
"I'm sorry," I say, wiping my eyes. "But I just had to have another quick look. Luke, I'm talking to our baby. It's just . . . amazing."
"Let me see!" Luke's eyes light up, and he hurries across the room, followed by the sonographer. "Where?"
I don't care if Luke sees it's a boy and the surprise is ruined. I have to share this precious moment with him.
"Look, there's the head!" I point. "Hello, darling!"
"Where's its face?" Luke sounds a bit perturbed.
"Dunno. Round the other side." I give a little wave. "It's Mummy and Daddy here! And we love you very--"
"Mrs. Brandon." The sonographer cuts me off. "You're talking to your bladder."
Well, how was I supposed to know it was my bladder? It looked just like a baby.
As we walk into the consultant obstetrician's room, I'm still feeling rather hot about the cheeks. The sonographer gave me this huge great lecture about how I could have done damage to myself or broken the machine, and we only managed to get away after Luke promised a big donation to the scanner appeal.
And, she said, since I hadn't been anywhere near the baby, it was very unlikely I'd seen the sex. Hmph.
But as I sit down opposite Dr. Braine, our obstetrician, I feel myself start to cheer up. He's such a reassuring man, Dr. Braine. He's in his sixties, with graying, well-groomed hair and a pinstripe suit and a faint aroma of old-fashioned aftershave. And he's delivered thousands of babies, including Luke! To be honest, I can't really imagine Luke's mother Elinor giving birth, but I guess it must have happened somehow. And as soon as we discovered I was pregnant, Luke said we had to find out if Dr. Braine was still practicing, because he was the best in the country.
"Dear boy." He shakes Luke's hand warmly. "How are you?"
"Very well indeed." Luke sits down beside me. "And how's David?"
Luke went to school with Dr. Braine's son and always asks after him when we meet.
There's silence as Dr. Braine considers the question. This is the only thing I find a tad annoying about him. He mulls over everything you say as though it's of the greatest importance, whereas you were actually just making some random remark to keep the conversation going. At our last appointment I asked where he had bought his tie, and he thought about it for five minutes, then phoned his wife to check, and it was all a total saga. And I didn't even like the stupid tie.
"David's very well," he says at last, nodding. "He sends his regards." There's another pause as he peruses the sheet from the sonographer. "Very good," he says eventually. "Everything's in order. How are you feeling, Rebecca?"
"Oh, I'm fine!" I say. "Happy that the baby's all right."
"You're still working full-time, I see." Dr. Braine glances at my form. "And that's not too demanding for you?"
Beside me, Luke gives a muffled snort. He's so rude.
"It's . . ." I try to think how to put it. "My job's not that demanding."
"Becky works for The Look," explains Luke. "You know, the new department store on Oxford Street?"
"Aah." Dr. Braine's face drops. "I see."
Every time I tell people what I do, they look away in embarrassment or change the subject or pretend they've never heard of The Look. Which is impossible, because all the newspapers have been talking about it for weeks. Yesterday the Daily World called it the "biggest retail disaster in British history."
The only plus about working for a failure of a shop is that it means I can take as much time off as I like for doctors' appointments and prenatal classes. And if I don't hurry back, no one even notices.
“I’m sure things will turn around soon,” he says encouragingly. “Now, did you have any other questions?”
I take a deep breath. “Actually, I did have one question, Dr. Braine.” I hesitate. “Now that the scan results are OK, would you say it’s safe to . . .you know. . .”
“Absolutely,” Dr. Braine nods understandingly. “A lot of couples abstain from intercourse in early pregnancy.”
“I didn’t mean sex!” I say in surprise. “I meant shopping.”
Ok. Don't panic. Everything's going to be fine. Of course it is.
Of course it is.
"If you could lift up your top, Mrs. Brandon?" The sonographer has a pleasant, professional air as she looks down at me. "I need to apply some jelly to your abdomen before we start the scan."
"Absolutely!" I say without moving a muscle. "The thing is, I'm just a teeny bit . . . nervous."
I'm lying on a bed at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, tense with anticipation. Any minute now, Luke and I will see our baby on the screen for the first time since it was just a teeny blob. I still can't quite believe it. In fact, I still haven't quite got over the fact that I'm pregnant. In nineteen weeks' time I, Becky Brandon, née Bloomwood . . . am going to be a mother. A mother!
Luke's my husband, by the way. We've been married for just over a year and this is a one hundred percent genuine honeymoon baby! We traveled loads on our honeymoon, but I've pretty much worked out that we conceived it when we were staying in this gorgeous resort in Sri Lanka, called Unawatuna, all orchids and bamboo trees and beautiful views.
Unawatuna Brandon.
Miss Unawatuna Orchid Bamboo-tree Brandon.
Hmm. I'm not sure what Mum would say.
"My wife had a slight accident in the early stages of pregnancy," Luke explains from his seat beside the bed. "So she's a little anxious."
He squeezes my hand supportively, and I squeeze back. In my pregnancy book, Nine Months of Your Life, it says you should include your partner in all aspects of your pregnancy, otherwise he can feel hurt and alienated. So I'm including Luke as much as I possibly can. Like, last night I included him in watching my new DVD, Toned Arms in Pregnancy. He suddenly remembered in the middle that he had to make a business call, and missed quite a lot--but the point is, he doesn't feel shut out.
"You had an accident?" The sonographer pauses in her tapping at the computer.
"I fell off this mountain when I was looking for my long-lost sister in a storm," I explain. "I didn't know I was pregnant at the time. And I think maybe I bashed the baby."
"I see." The sonographer looks at me kindly. She has graying brown hair tied back in a knot, with a pencil stuck into it. "Well, babies are resilient little things. Let's just have a look, shall we?"
Here it is. The moment I've been obsessing over for weeks. Gingerly I lift up my top and look down at my swelling stomach.
"If you could just push all your necklaces aside?" she adds. "That's quite a collection you have there!"
"They're special pendants." I loop them together with a jangle. "This one is an Aztec maternity symbol, and this is a gestation crystal . . . and this is a chiming ball to soothe the baby . . . and this is a birthing stone."
"A birthing stone?"
"You press it on a special spot on your palm, and it takes away the pain of labor," I explain. "It's been used since ancient Maori times."
"Mm-hmm." The sonographer raises an eyebrow and squeezes some transparent gloop on my stomach. Frowning slightly, she applies the ultrasound probe thing to my skin, and instantly a fuzzy black-and-white image appears on the screen.
I can't breathe.
That's our baby. Inside me. I dart a look at Luke, and he's gazing at the screen, transfixed.
"There are the four chambers of the heart. . . ." The sonographer is moving the probe around. "Now we're looking at the shoulders. . . ." She points to the screen and I squint obediently, even though, to be honest, I can't see any shoulders, only blurry curves.
"There's an arm . . . one hand . . ." Her voice trails off and she frowns.
There's silence in the little room. I feel a sudden grip of fear. That's why she's frowning. The baby's only got one hand. I knew it.
A wave of overpowering love and protectiveness rises up inside me. Tears are welling in my eyes. I don't care if our baby's only got one hand. I'll love it just as much. I'll love it more. Luke and I will take it anywhere in the world for the best treatment, and we'll fund research, and if anyone even dares give my baby a look--
"And the other hand . . ." The sonographer's voice interrupts my thoughts.
"Other hand?" I look up, choked. "It's got two hands?"
"Well . . . yes." The sonographer seems taken aback at my reaction. "Look, you can see them here." She points at the image, and to my amazement I can just about make out the little bony fingers. Ten of them.
"I'm sorry," I gulp, wiping my eyes with a tissue she hands me. "It's just such a relief."
"Everything seems absolutely fine as far as I can tell," she says reassuringly. "And don't worry, it's normal to be emotional in pregnancy. All those hormones swilling about."
Honestly. People keep talking about hormones. Like Luke last night, when I cried over that TV ad with the puppy. I'm not hormonal, I'm perfectly normal. It was just a very sad ad.
"Here you go." The sonographer taps at her keyboard again. A row of black-and-white scan pictures curls out of the printer, which she hands to me. I peer at the first one--and you can see the distinct outline of a head. It's got a little nose and a mouth and everything.
"So. I've done all the checks." She swivels round on her chair. "All I need to know now is whether you want to know the gender of the baby."
"No, thank you," Luke answers with a smile. "We've talked it through at great length, haven't we, Becky? And we both feel it would spoil the magic to find out."
"Very well." The sonographer smiles back. "If that's what you've decided, I won't say anything."
She "won't say anything"? That means she's already seen what the sex is. She could just tell us right now!
"We hadn't actually decided, had we?" I say. "Not for definite."
"Well . . . yes, we had, Becky." Luke seems taken aback. "Don't you remember, we talked about it for a whole evening and agreed we wanted it to be a surprise."
"Oh right, yes." I can't take my eyes off the blurry print of the baby. "But we could have our surprise now! It would be just as magical!"
OK, maybe that's not exactly true. But isn't he desperate to know?
"Is that really what you want?" As I look up I can see a streak of disappointment in Luke's face. "To find out now?"
"Well . . ." I hesitate. "Not if you don't want to."
The last thing I want is to upset Luke. He's been so sweet and loving to me since I've been pregnant. Recently I've had cravings for all sorts of odd combinations--like the other day I had this sudden weird desire for pineapple and a pink cardigan. And Luke drove me to the shops especially to get them.
He's about to say something, when his mobile phone starts ringing. He whips it out of his pocket and the sonographer puts up a hand.
"I'm sorry, but you can't use that in here."
"Right." Luke frowns as he sees the caller display. "It's Iain. I'd better call him back."
I don't need to ask which Iain. It'll be Iain Wheeler, the chief marketing honcho of the Arcodas Group. Luke has his own PR company, Brandon Communications, and Arcodas is Luke's big new client. It was a real coup when he won them and it's given a fantastic boost to the company--he's already hired more staff and is planning to open loads of new European offices on the back of it.
So it's all wonderful for Brandon Communications. But as usual, Luke's working himself into the ground. I've never seen him so at anyone's beck and call before. If Iain Wheeler calls, he always, always calls him back within five minutes, whether he's in another meeting, or he's having supper, or even if it's the middle of the night. He says it's the service industry and Arcodas is his mega-client, and that's what they're paying for.
All I can say is, if Iain Wheeler calls while I'm in labor, then that phone is going straight out the window.
"Is there a land line I can use nearby?" Luke is asking the sonographer. "Becky, you don't mind . . ."
"It's fine." I wave a hand.
"I'll show you," the sonographer says, getting up. "I'll be back in a moment, Mrs. Brandon."
The two of them disappear out the door, which closes with a heavy clunk.
I'm alone. The computer is still on. The ultrasound probe thing is resting next to the monitor.
I could just reach over and--
No. Don't be silly. I don't even know how to use an ultrasound. And besides, it would spoil the magical surprise. If Luke wants us to wait, then we'll wait.
I shift on the couch and examine my nails. I can wait for things. Of course I can. I can easily--
Oh God. No I can't. Not till December. And it's all right there in front of me . . . and nobody's about. . . .
I'll just have a teeny peek. Just really quickly. And I won't tell Luke. We'll still have the magical surprise at the birth--except it won't be quite so much of a surprise for me. Exactly.
Leaning right over, I manage to grab the ultrasound stick. I apply it to the gel on my stomach--and at once the blurry image reappears on the screen.
I did it! Now I just have to shift it slightly to get the crucial bit. . . . Frowning with concentration, I move the probe around on my abdomen, tilting it this way and that, craning my neck to see the screen. This is a lot easier than I thought! Maybe I should become a sonographer. I'm obviously a bit of a natural--
There's the head. Wow, it's huge! And that bit must be--
My hand freezes and I catch my breath. I've just spotted it. I've seen the sex of our baby!
It's a boy!
The image isn't quite as good as the sonographer's--but even so, it's unmistakable. Luke and I are going to have a son!
"Hello," I say aloud to the screen, my voice cracking slightly. "Hello, little boy!"
And now I can't stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. We're having a gorgeous baby boy! I can dress him up in cute overalls, and buy him a pedal car, and Luke can play cricket with him, and we can call him--
Oh my God. What are we going to call him?
I wonder if Luke would go for Birkin. Then I could get a Birkin to be his nappy bag.
Birkin Brandon. That's quite cool.
"Hi, little baby," I croon gently to the big round head on the screen. "Do you want to be called Birkin?"
"What are you doing?" The sonographer's voice makes me jump. She's standing at the door with Luke, looking appalled. "That's hospital equipment! You shouldn't be touching it!"
"I'm sorry," I say, wiping my eyes. "But I just had to have another quick look. Luke, I'm talking to our baby. It's just . . . amazing."
"Let me see!" Luke's eyes light up, and he hurries across the room, followed by the sonographer. "Where?"
I don't care if Luke sees it's a boy and the surprise is ruined. I have to share this precious moment with him.
"Look, there's the head!" I point. "Hello, darling!"
"Where's its face?" Luke sounds a bit perturbed.
"Dunno. Round the other side." I give a little wave. "It's Mummy and Daddy here! And we love you very--"
"Mrs. Brandon." The sonographer cuts me off. "You're talking to your bladder."
Well, how was I supposed to know it was my bladder? It looked just like a baby.
As we walk into the consultant obstetrician's room, I'm still feeling rather hot about the cheeks. The sonographer gave me this huge great lecture about how I could have done damage to myself or broken the machine, and we only managed to get away after Luke promised a big donation to the scanner appeal.
And, she said, since I hadn't been anywhere near the baby, it was very unlikely I'd seen the sex. Hmph.
But as I sit down opposite Dr. Braine, our obstetrician, I feel myself start to cheer up. He's such a reassuring man, Dr. Braine. He's in his sixties, with graying, well-groomed hair and a pinstripe suit and a faint aroma of old-fashioned aftershave. And he's delivered thousands of babies, including Luke! To be honest, I can't really imagine Luke's mother Elinor giving birth, but I guess it must have happened somehow. And as soon as we discovered I was pregnant, Luke said we had to find out if Dr. Braine was still practicing, because he was the best in the country.
"Dear boy." He shakes Luke's hand warmly. "How are you?"
"Very well indeed." Luke sits down beside me. "And how's David?"
Luke went to school with Dr. Braine's son and always asks after him when we meet.
There's silence as Dr. Braine considers the question. This is the only thing I find a tad annoying about him. He mulls over everything you say as though it's of the greatest importance, whereas you were actually just making some random remark to keep the conversation going. At our last appointment I asked where he had bought his tie, and he thought about it for five minutes, then phoned his wife to check, and it was all a total saga. And I didn't even like the stupid tie.
"David's very well," he says at last, nodding. "He sends his regards." There's another pause as he peruses the sheet from the sonographer. "Very good," he says eventually. "Everything's in order. How are you feeling, Rebecca?"
"Oh, I'm fine!" I say. "Happy that the baby's all right."
"You're still working full-time, I see." Dr. Braine glances at my form. "And that's not too demanding for you?"
Beside me, Luke gives a muffled snort. He's so rude.
"It's . . ." I try to think how to put it. "My job's not that demanding."
"Becky works for The Look," explains Luke. "You know, the new department store on Oxford Street?"
"Aah." Dr. Braine's face drops. "I see."
Every time I tell people what I do, they look away in embarrassment or change the subject or pretend they've never heard of The Look. Which is impossible, because all the newspapers have been talking about it for weeks. Yesterday the Daily World called it the "biggest retail disaster in British history."
The only plus about working for a failure of a shop is that it means I can take as much time off as I like for doctors' appointments and prenatal classes. And if I don't hurry back, no one even notices.
“I’m sure things will turn around soon,” he says encouragingly. “Now, did you have any other questions?”
I take a deep breath. “Actually, I did have one question, Dr. Braine.” I hesitate. “Now that the scan results are OK, would you say it’s safe to . . .you know. . .”
“Absolutely,” Dr. Braine nods understandingly. “A lot of couples abstain from intercourse in early pregnancy.”
“I didn’t mean sex!” I say in surprise. “I meant shopping.”
著者について
Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series, as well as the novels Can You Keep A Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, and Wedding Night. She lives in England.
登録情報
- 出版社 : Random House Publishing Group; Reprint版 (2007/12/26)
- 発売日 : 2007/12/26
- 言語 : 英語
- ペーパーバック : 368ページ
- ISBN-10 : 0385338716
- ISBN-13 : 978-0385338714
- 寸法 : 13.97 x 2.03 x 20.83 cm
- カスタマーレビュー:
著者について
著者をフォローして、新作のアップデートや改善されたおすすめを入手してください。
著者の本をもっと発見したり、よく似た著者を見つけたり、著者のブログを読んだりしましょう
カスタマーレビュー
星5つ中4.5つ
5つのうち4.5つ
全体的な星の数と星別のパーセンテージの内訳を計算するにあたり、単純平均は使用されていません。当システムでは、レビューがどの程度新しいか、レビュー担当者がAmazonで購入したかどうかなど、特定の要素をより重視しています。 詳細はこちら
2,180グローバルレーティング
虚偽のレビューは一切容認しません
私たちの目標は、すべてのレビューを信頼性の高い、有益なものにすることです。だからこそ、私たちはテクノロジーと人間の調査員の両方を活用して、お客様が偽のレビューを見る前にブロックしています。 詳細はこちら
コミュニティガイドラインに違反するAmazonアカウントはブロックされます。また、レビューを購入した出品者をブロックし、そのようなレビューを投稿した当事者に対して法的措置を取ります。 報告方法について学ぶ
-
トップレビュー
上位レビュー、対象国: 日本
レビューのフィルタリング中に問題が発生しました。後でもう一度試してください。
2008年5月15日に日本でレビュー済み
相変わらず、わが道を進むレベッカです。
母である人たちがこれを読んだら、「こんなのありえない!」ともちろん思われることでしょう。でもいいんです。これは楽しむための本なのです。
楽しんでください。笑ってください。
母である人たちがこれを読んだら、「こんなのありえない!」ともちろん思われることでしょう。でもいいんです。これは楽しむための本なのです。
楽しんでください。笑ってください。
2010年9月12日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
お買いもの中毒シリーズは読みやすくていいかな。表現も難しくないし、気軽に読めます。
2013年6月25日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
このシリーズは日本語を先に読んで、それから原書を読んでます。
ストーリーを先に頭に入れておけば、とてもスムーズに読めます。
もともと素直な英文(初級〜中級くらいかなぁ?)が、
ベッキーのご陽気な独白で語られるのが、楽しいです。
でも、シリーズの中でこの話は退屈な方かな…
少々中だるみ気味になってしまいました。
ルークと結婚して財力?を増したベッキーのお買いものは桁外れに。
高価とはいえ、スカーフ一枚に必死になっていた独身時代が可愛く思えるほど。
ちょっと庶民としてはついていけない感覚にまでいっちゃいます。
このまま何処へ行ってしまうんだろ?とついてけない感で、
ベネティアの術策にハマっていく様も正直「ちょっといい気味」
意地悪な気持ちになってしまいました。
ちなみに、昨日見たレオ様主演の「華麗なるギャッツビー」に、
「お買いもの中毒なワタシ」の主人公(つまりベッキー)だった女優さんが、
たいしたあばずれ役で出てた!!!(涙)
DVD、やっぱ見ないでおこう。
でも、軽い話と思いきや、ベネティアが医師としての威信を背景に、
ベッキーを陥れていく術策のありようなんかは、なかなかどうしてド迫力ですな。
ストーリーを先に頭に入れておけば、とてもスムーズに読めます。
もともと素直な英文(初級〜中級くらいかなぁ?)が、
ベッキーのご陽気な独白で語られるのが、楽しいです。
でも、シリーズの中でこの話は退屈な方かな…
少々中だるみ気味になってしまいました。
ルークと結婚して財力?を増したベッキーのお買いものは桁外れに。
高価とはいえ、スカーフ一枚に必死になっていた独身時代が可愛く思えるほど。
ちょっと庶民としてはついていけない感覚にまでいっちゃいます。
このまま何処へ行ってしまうんだろ?とついてけない感で、
ベネティアの術策にハマっていく様も正直「ちょっといい気味」
意地悪な気持ちになってしまいました。
ちなみに、昨日見たレオ様主演の「華麗なるギャッツビー」に、
「お買いもの中毒なワタシ」の主人公(つまりベッキー)だった女優さんが、
たいしたあばずれ役で出てた!!!(涙)
DVD、やっぱ見ないでおこう。
でも、軽い話と思いきや、ベネティアが医師としての威信を背景に、
ベッキーを陥れていく術策のありようなんかは、なかなかどうしてド迫力ですな。
2008年8月18日に日本でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
一作目にはまって、全部読んでいますが、久々のどきどきが味わえた。
こんな人、近くにいたら困るな……と思いつつ、女性としてすごく共感できる部分もあり、やめられない。
日本で言ったら中村うさぎ?
びっくり度は似ていますが、小説だけに彼女を徹底的にピュアにした感じ。
うーん、やっぱり魅力的!
こんな人、近くにいたら困るな……と思いつつ、女性としてすごく共感できる部分もあり、やめられない。
日本で言ったら中村うさぎ?
びっくり度は似ていますが、小説だけに彼女を徹底的にピュアにした感じ。
うーん、やっぱり魅力的!
2011年7月29日に日本でレビュー済み
ママになるというのに、今回も、Bex(ベッキー)ははちゃめちゃで、自分のこだわりのために周りを振り回し、騒ぎをおこし、パニックをおこし、、といつものパターンです。
Lukeが「なぜ、この頭がからっぽのとんでもない女がいいの?」と問われるシーンがあり、Lukeはそのとても失礼な質問に真摯に答えます。(Lukeの回答は本を読んでのお楽しみ。)
う〜ん、Lukeって器が大きい。仕事中毒だし、怒るとちょっと怖いけど、かっこいいし、お金持ちだし、器が大きいし、いい男ですよね。ただ完璧な「理想の王子様」じゃなくて、仕事中毒ですぐ怒るところが現実っぽくて、そういう書き方がSophie Kinsellaのうまいところだと思います。
Lukeが「なぜ、この頭がからっぽのとんでもない女がいいの?」と問われるシーンがあり、Lukeはそのとても失礼な質問に真摯に答えます。(Lukeの回答は本を読んでのお楽しみ。)
う〜ん、Lukeって器が大きい。仕事中毒だし、怒るとちょっと怖いけど、かっこいいし、お金持ちだし、器が大きいし、いい男ですよね。ただ完璧な「理想の王子様」じゃなくて、仕事中毒ですぐ怒るところが現実っぽくて、そういう書き方がSophie Kinsellaのうまいところだと思います。
2008年3月15日に日本でレビュー済み
Rebeccaの波乱万丈な人生。今度は赤ちゃんを授かって、お母さんの気持ちいっぱいで色々なことに乗り越えるのかと思いきや、相変わらずの買い物ぐせは治らず。しかも、旦那Brandonがもしかして、浮気!?毎日、毎日、夜更かししてまでも、面白い展開とドキドキの展開に吸い込まれました。今後の展開も気になる!
2007年12月12日に日本でレビュー済み
「赤ちゃんには最高のものを、できるだけのことをしてあげなくちゃ!」
と言う割に、呼吸法から何から、実際的な出産・育児のことはまともに学ばず、妄想に駆り立てられたように買い物しまくっているBecky。相変わらずです。もう少し、ほんとうの意味で赤ちゃんのことが考えられないのかなあ。
おばあちゃんたちを狙ったベビーファッションカタログ、ベビーカー展示会、ベビー用品フェアなど、どこの国でも少子高齢化で、豪華なベビー用品に親やジジババがお金を遣わされているのは一緒なのねー、と思いましたが、当たり前のようにSuzeやBeckyが母乳育児を選んでいるのはアメリカとイギリスの違いなのかな?とも思いつつも感動しました(アメリカの小説で、母乳をあげている女性を「気持ち悪い」と女性たちが批難するシーンがあったので)。
今回の敵役(?)はなかなか手強いですが、相手が手強ければ手強いほど、Beckyを取り巻く家族や友人の素晴らしさが引き立ちます。
今後、BeckyとLuke、そしてBabyの生活がどうなっていくのか、楽しみです。
と言う割に、呼吸法から何から、実際的な出産・育児のことはまともに学ばず、妄想に駆り立てられたように買い物しまくっているBecky。相変わらずです。もう少し、ほんとうの意味で赤ちゃんのことが考えられないのかなあ。
おばあちゃんたちを狙ったベビーファッションカタログ、ベビーカー展示会、ベビー用品フェアなど、どこの国でも少子高齢化で、豪華なベビー用品に親やジジババがお金を遣わされているのは一緒なのねー、と思いましたが、当たり前のようにSuzeやBeckyが母乳育児を選んでいるのはアメリカとイギリスの違いなのかな?とも思いつつも感動しました(アメリカの小説で、母乳をあげている女性を「気持ち悪い」と女性たちが批難するシーンがあったので)。
今回の敵役(?)はなかなか手強いですが、相手が手強ければ手強いほど、Beckyを取り巻く家族や友人の素晴らしさが引き立ちます。
今後、BeckyとLuke、そしてBabyの生活がどうなっていくのか、楽しみです。
他の国からのトップレビュー
Linda
5つ星のうち5.0
Top!
2021年8月31日にイタリアでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Scorrevolissimo per chi vuole esercitare il proprio inglese. Molto godibile, la trama è esilarante e leggera come un soufflé. Consigliato.
Tammy LaPlante
5つ星のうち5.0
Great book
2020年7月8日にカナダでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Great book
Flaherty
5つ星のうち5.0
Such a Great book
2021年1月16日にフランスでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Bex is always full of surprises and this book is great and a laugh out loud novel ! I never get tired of her adventures !
Amazon Customer
5つ星のうち5.0
Love the Comedy!
2017年2月10日にインドでレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Fun chick lit book.. Go for it.
Colleen Ellis
5つ星のうち5.0
Absolutely my favorite out of the entire series!
2008年6月26日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
I could not put the book down! I stayed up until 1:00 am to finish it. I absolutely loved it. I found myself hysterically laughing at so many parts in the book (Becky's mum and Janice talking about what labor was really like & the names Becky told Elinor they were considering.... so funny!). The story brought so many memories back of my own first pregnancy and the fears I felt about labor and being someone's mother. Also, that first time you see that little baby and the feeling that comes over you - Sophie Kinsella hit it on the head! Then there was the serious parts too when Becky thought she had lost Luke (and I don't blame her for feeling that way either). All around, it was just a FABULOUS book! I know Sophie Kinsella has said she will bring Becky & Luke back, I really hope this is true (she just HAS to - too much is left unfinished)and that she does it sooner rather than later (that's for my own selfish reasons - LOL). In fact, I hope she brings them back in several more books (for those who think the story is over, you don't have to buy them - there are plenty of us who will GLADLY keep on reading them).