2 posts tagged “controversial”
Gossip Girl: A Novel
By Cecily von Ziegesar
Audiobook read by Christina Ricci
So, I had heard a lot about these books before I "read" this one (on audiobook) and I was actually pleasantly surprised. I had anticipated shallow, vapid, mean characters doing horrible things - but the main characters were actually quite sympathetic, and there was genuine character growth (at least for the Serena character).
Basically, the story centers on the rivalry between ex-best friends Serena and Blair. Serena was always more beautiful and popular, but when she moved to boarding school, Blair took over as Queen Bee. Then Serena is kicked out of boarding school and Blair, threatened by her appearance, spreads vicious reasons about why Serena was kicked out - while Serena just wants to be friends with Blair again.
Anyway. There are other characters, like the non-rich Dan, who loves Serena in secret; Vanessa, a goth girl who loves Dan in secret; Blair's boyfriend Nate, who loves Serena in secret; and Dan's sweet sophomore sister Jenny who doesn't know what she's getting into by befriending Blair and Serena.
This was an OK audiobook - Christina Ricci's bored, Valley-girl drone suits the characters and storyline. Every few chapters, a different voice actress comes on (with obnoxious techno music in the background) to dish gossip as the anonymous "Gossip Girl" -- either talking about things which we just saw happen, or giving hints as to the events yet to come. I haven't read any of these actual books, but I guess in the books, GG's monologues are in the form of an online blog or something.
Anyway. I can see why girls would like these books - everything is sooo over-the-top with the teen characters drinking martinis in bars; smoking all the time; wearing fabulous outfits; going to art openings and attending chic parties - it is totally escapist and the hint of "badness" probably just lures in the readers. While there is some sexual content, the only actual sexual scenes are handled with awkwardness and humour - reminding you that these characters really are just 16 or thereabouts.
Rating: Obviously girls aged 13 and up are devouring these books; and that is probably the target audience
By JD Salinger
Little, Brown (1991), Mass Market Paperback, 214 pages
So, I guess this book is pretty good. What I liked most about it were some of the specific character moments Salinger wrote - like Holden randomly starting to tap-dance while his friend is shaving - these moments that seem so true to life.
My sister read this in high school, and all she remembers is that Holden is always whining about people being "phonies" which, to be fair, is a lot of what the book is about. I am not sure why this book is "controversial" and so frequently banned - possibly because Holden is anti-authority, and not a good role model? There is some swearing in the book, but Holden reacts negatively to it.
Oh, and I also really liked how people kept telling him to talk more quietly, which is a good "show not tell" detail about his personality.
And he is very strangely attached to his little sister, who is a sweet character, but all the same, that is all really kind of strange. I guess this is the whole "innocence lost" thing, but his frequent preoccupation with small children and their innocence is actually quite creepy. And also the whole thing where he stays at his teacher's apartment and he makes a pass at him - did Holden misinterpret that whole thing? Or is that just also creepy?
Anyway, so many authors were inspired by this book, and it's hard to remember that this is the first real first-person, sarcastic, unreliable narrator YA sort of book. And I read so many other books in this same genre, it is easy to see how other people have been inspired by this book. So, if this book didn't exist, then neither would books like Sloppy Firsts, Joe College, The Cheese Monkeys, Speak, and numerous others.
Bottom line: OK. A pretty good book. Not sure what the big deal is about this one. Good choice for teens, especially boys, ages maybe 14 and up?
