Sex and the City's Charlotte York and Her Embarrassing Book Buying Experience

Are there certain books or genres you're embarrassed if someone saw you buying them in a store? This question makes me think about the Sex and the City fifth season fourth episode Cover Girl when Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York were at the bookstore.

At the store, Carrie and Samantha were looking over book covers (since Carrie had an upcoming book being published she was trying to figure out how her cover should or shouldn't look), Miranda was looking for a weight loss book while Charlotte was looking for a specific self-help book, "Starting Over Yet Again" by Dr. Jane Raab. After separating from her husband Dr. Trey MacDougal, Charlotte was feeling a little insecure and thought this book might help her.

She was determined to find it in the Self-Help section, that is until she got there. She saw one woman who was distressed and chewing her hair as she read a book and then saw another woman who was sitting on the floor crying while reading a book.

(Sex and the City season 5 episode 4 "Cover Girl")

As depressing as this display was, it didn't stop her from going to look for "Starting Over Yet Again". She changed her mind about buying it after the crying lady said that book really helped her. If the lady was a crying mess at the bookstore, doesn't it makes you wonder how she must have been before reading that book?

After Miranda paid for a book for her son Brady (thanks to the salesperson, she decided not to get the weight loss book instead she was going to try Weight Watchers), she asked Charlotte where her book was. Charlotte was too embarrassed to buy it and I guess she also didn't want to be seen as one of the sad and pitiful people who were in the Self-Help section.

However, since she still wanted the book, she ordered it on Amazon to avoid the perceived shame of buying it in the store. Despite the convenience of buying her book online, the experience came with another issue, books recommended based on her previous order. She was being recommended these books: Lonely Women No Men, Love Hurts. You Don't Have To., I'm Fine, Now; and Reservations for One.

She was embarrassed yet again because the recommendations made her seem like she was some sort of sad and pathetic person. Charlotte was so angry she tossed her book out the window where it surprisingly landed on the ground in front of a woman who was contemplating divorce and considered the book a sign.     

Throughout her entire book buying experience, Charlotte was embarrassed one way or another. This might make for a funny episode but no one should feel embarrassed to buy a book (or receive recommendations) unless it's something that's extremely questionable.