Judith Krantz, best-selling author, who has created some of the most fascinating women in romantic fiction, has previously declined to reveal the most fascinating character of them all, herself. She now shamelessly unveils her madcap adventures in her autobiography. In Sex and Shopping: Confessions of a Nice Jewish Girl, mega-author Judith Krantz openly and humorously discusses her transformation from virginal Wellesley graduate Judy Tarcher to sophisticated world-travelled Judith Krantz. It is, in her own words, "the story of how I had some amazing fun and went interestingly askew and became one of the most widely-read novelists ever." The whole world knows Judith Krantz, author, but only in Sex and Shopping, her first-ever autobiography, does she reveal all the juicy details of her life -- a life every bit as glamorous and exciting as one of her heroine's. She used to detest being labeled a "sex-and-shopping novelist," but now Judith Krantz accepts that it "will unquestionably be the first line in my obituary."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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She used to detest being labeled a "sex-and-shopping novelist," but now Judith Krantz accepts that it "will unquestionably be the first line in my obituary," so she's preempted the pundits by using it as the title of her breezy, earthy memoir. "On balance," Krantz concludes, "sex and shopping are both excellent things"--and she's had plenty of both. In her opening chapter, on the night train to Paris in 1949, about-to-be-21-year-old Judy Tarcher realizes, "Now that I was old enough to vote, I was old enough to lose my virginity." Thirty-three years later, when her husband wants to reach her in a hurry, he knows her habits well enough to find her in Beverly Hills, "dallying at the Saint Laurent boutique." In between, Krantz offers a frank account of her affluent childhood in New York City; college years at Wellesley; premarital affairs that led to a 1953 abortion (about which she is matter-of-fact and guilt-free); marriage to television executive Steve Krantz; and, of course, the string of bestsellers that began with Scruples, published when she was 50. Although Krantz settles a few scores (mostly with carping critics) in her blunt narrative, by and large it describes with infectious gusto a glamorous life enjoyed to the hilt. --Wendy Smith
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
That demure, well-behaved and virginal Judy Tarcher, a Wellesley graduate from a wealthy and proper Jewish family who ultimately became Judith Krantz, author of such steamy, sex-drenched bestsellers as Scruples, Princess Daisy and Mistral's Daughter, seems to surprise even Krantz herself. Nevertheless, here Krantz gleefully charts her transformation from one of the most studious and least popular girls at Manhattan's exclusive Birch Wathen School to one of the publishing industry's most f?ted stars. The story of the intervening years is both entertaining and instructive. Nearly 50 when she embarked on her authorial career, Krantz (now 70) maintains that her early life--particularly a post-college year in Paris, during which she briefly lived in an abandoned brothel, and her connections, via her socially prominent parents and her TV-producer husband, to many real-life equivalents of her glamorous jet-set characters--provided rich material for her fiction, and she proves this point by providing blow-by-blow accounts of how various personal experiences and encounters worked their way into her novels. She also notes that, for her, autobiography is a kind of therapy, allowing her to analyze and come to terms with her often-fraught relationship with her emotionally distant parents and to get to the roots of various personal neuroses and anxieties. Like her novels, then, this is a story of a life of wealth and privilege also laced with heartache. But, narrated in a chatty, down-to-earth voice, it's also a stylish, fun read with an appealing blend of entertaining froth and savvy insight. 24 pages of photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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I PUSHED, DRAGGED, AND BUMPED MY HEAVY SUITCASE along the narrow corridor of the night train to Paris. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I PUSHED, DRAGGED, AND BUMPED MY HEAVY SUITCASE along the narrow corridor of the night train to Paris. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Heard the taped version of SEX AND SHOPPING: CONFESSIONS
OF A NICE JEWISH GIRL by Judith Krantz . . . I must admit to
having never read any of her novels, though I did see SCRUPLES
when it was on TV . . . so I did not know too much about her, but I now feel that she is almost a friend after listening to this interesting autobiography . . . from what I've since discovered, many of the tales contained herein have since appeared in her various novels . . . if you're a Krantz fan or interested in the life of a novelist, then get hold of this book . . . an added "plus" for me was the fact that she also served as the narrator.
OF A NICE JEWISH GIRL by Judith Krantz . . . I must admit to
having never read any of her novels, though I did see SCRUPLES
when it was on TV . . . so I did not know too much about her, but I now feel that she is almost a friend after listening to this interesting autobiography . . . from what I've since discovered, many of the tales contained herein have since appeared in her various novels . . . if you're a Krantz fan or interested in the life of a novelist, then get hold of this book . . . an added "plus" for me was the fact that she also served as the narrator.
By Michele
Format:Hardcover
I've loved Judith's work over the years. Her last two novels haven't been the greatest and one wonders what's she's doing now. Because I was mildy disappointed in her last two novels, The Jewels of Tessa Kent and Models (?...really the worst one, but much better than any other fiction I try to read), I wasn't as hopeful. But, it really was Judith at her best! I couldn't put it down and I had to read it until 5 a.m. (Just like the old days:-) I hope we have more coming.
... I didn't find Judith being self-serving. If you write about yourself, which must be very difficult for anyone; what are you going to say? Hopefully you will try to be objective and say some positives and negatives. I found that she dicussed both the good and not-so-good in this book.
By Venita
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I wasn't going to write this review, but this book was so bad I just had to.
I couldn't wait to get this book home and dig into it -- I love adventurous women! But what a disappointment -- it was horrible; I couldn't even finish the last third of it.
Let me sum up Ms. Krantz's opinion of herself in three words: "I am AMAZING." She takes narcisissm to an all-time high. Yes, it is an autobiography, but her constant sounding off about how great she is at everything she does made me nauseous. By the way, she actually had that "amazing" quote above in the book, as an excerpt from her journal (actually, her word was SUBLIME, all caps, but you get the picture). Her books set all kinds of records, she landscapes better than professionals, she handles herself wonderfully on television, she's run just about every department at Good Housekeeping magazine, and she's a damn fine friend. Oh yeah -- did I mention she was so wonderful at gymnastics, including the trapeze, that her instructor told her to take it easy when new students attended class because she was so good the instructor didn't want the new students "discouraged"? Yep, it's all there in the book.
I won't even go into her popularity with men -- of course every man she dated asked her to marry him. That's because she's so cute. I know because she told me. In the book.
She also fails to realize what an American princess she is. Her lamenting of having to go out to the deli on a dark, stormy night to get chicken soup for her sick husband because it was the housekeeper's night off will really make your heart bleed. To this day, she is still traumatized by that night (yes, she actually said this). And once she had to endure being on her feet for THREE HOURS without food or a bathroom break at a book-signing party. Can you believe the suffering she had to endure?
She has always had servants in the form of housekeepers, laundresses, nannies for her children, etc. She has lived a privileged life from the very beginning, which isn't bad in itself, but somehow I think she's never realized it. She thinks her problems are, well, real problems.
The paper-thin depth of character exhibited by this woman is truly astonishing.
And oh yes -- the book certainly needs editing. Krantz tells about a long-time friend of hers who becomes ill. Out of the blue, she says, "The CIA took over his illness." Now what the hell does that *mean*?? Turns out her friend had been an operative for the CIA all along, but I'm not sure how an organization can "take over" a person's illness. Does this mean the CIA made him even sicker? Actually, I *think* what she meant was the CIA paid for his medical expenses -- but I'm still not sure.
The book is replete with sentences in this vein -- it really got annoying to try to figure out what she meant.
Don't buy it -- it's a waste of money and time.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
100% Entertainment!
When I checked out this book, I was not quite sure what to expect. However, after reading the first few pages, I knew this was going to be a very good read. Read more
Published on Feb 26 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
Confessions of a Fascinating Woman
Anyone who ever read one of Judith Krantz's novels and wondered exactly where she finds her fascinating ideas will have that mystery resolved by SEX AND SHOPPING. Read more
Published on Feb 9 2001 by HeyJudy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad actually
This autobiography was actually more enjoyable than Judith Krantz's latest book "The Jewels of Tessa Kent." I had no idea she was brought up in such a wealth family. Read more
Published on July 11 2000 by Cheer Mom
2.0 out of 5 stars
I can't even say I read it........
"Sex and Shopping......" leaves a lot to be desired! I love Judith Krantz fiction but....this one was too down-to-earth and real for me. Read more
Published on July 3 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now I Know How She Wrote Those Steamy Scenes!
Judith Krantz has written a terrifically entertaining memoir... fresh, funny and real. She doesn't take her life, her affairs (pre-marital, I might add), or her work too seriously,... Read more
Published on Jun 7 2000
4.0 out of 5 stars
well-written, weak plot
Judith Krantz writes well. She knows how to make a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter a joy to read, just for the way she puts words on paper. Read more
Published on May 14 2000 by florkow
4.0 out of 5 stars
Princess Judith
Fans of Judith Krantz won't be disappointed by her autobiography. The story of her life reads very much like one of her heroines. Read more
Published on May 13 2000 by W. G. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sex and Shopping
As a jewish girl I have lived with many of the same experiences as Judith. I enjoy shopping as well as sex, and these are just some of the things I as well as other readers can... Read more
Published on April 21 2000
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