As I mentioned in my previous post, I haven't posted for a while. This means, either fortunately or unfortunately, I won't be posting about all of the many books I've read, but just about the ones that stick out to me.
One of the two authors that has really stuck out to me in a good way is Gayle Friesen. The first book of hers that I ever picked up was Men of Stone. Initially, I bought it not because I'd heard of her, but because I wanted to support a relatively new Canadian author, especially one from Abbotsford/Chilliwack who knew David Giesbrecht! (David Giesbrecht was like my second father when I was in elementary school, I was over at their house every day as their daughter was my best friend. He's an amazing person, and an amazing librarian.)
I thought Men of Stone was a good book - eminently readable, and a microcosm of real life. A good mix of humor, honesty, and entertainment. However, a few weeks ago I picked up The Isabel Factor, and I was blown away by this more recent book (2005). Friesen's writing reminds me even more of Kit Pearson's this time around.
(I've always admired Kit Pearson's writing to the extreme: someone who can take the nuances of relationships and make an enchanting, uplifting, realistic, nitty gritty honest story that means something real and is truly about growing up. Always worthwhile reading.)
The Isabel Factor, by Gayle Friesen, reminds me strongly of these strengths of Pearson's. Friesen takes a scenario that I always hated (summer camp) and brings out all the things that I hated most about it (cliques and competitiveness and popularity) and makes an extremely entertaining story out of it. I couldn't put the book down. And the entertainment is not due to sneaky plot lines or elements of fantasy, but of real people undergoing real disappointments in themselves and others, of the realizations that come with growing older, and finding oneself and the strength that comes with that. What Gayle Friesen also adds is a dry sense of humor and sarcasm that I thoroughly enjoy. Yes. It was yummy, and a worthwhile read!
Sigh. Oh, how I like quality literature for young adults.
I haven't read all of Friesen's books yet - but I will be on the look out for them. Watch out for this author. She's going to get some awards for her work, I'd bet on it.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Gossip Girl OMG!!
Okay... I haven't posted for a while. So I've saved up all the best and the worst of the last month or so to unload on you, my faithful reader.
Gossip Girl... a series of books by Cecily von Ziegesar. I suppose it also refers to a newish TV series based on these books. I would like to add that I have not seen a single episode of the TV show. I am telling you this so that you know I am coming from a clean slate.
The book I picked up was called It Had To Be You, the prequel to the series. Now, teen girl boy-and-popularity-based books are not my normal fare, but I thought I ought to branch out and see what was out there, and what was popular.
I am so sad. So sad that such books exists - and more sad because they are so popular. That book was a piece of crap. I didn't bother finishing it, I just couldn't. Can you say, "Hello, I'm here to tell you that life is about finding someone to have sex with and love you and that's all that matters, especially when you're in high school, and true love with him/her lasts forever, oh, and maybe let's go buy some clothes to fit on our perfect bodies, especially some lingerie." I thought Twilight was sad because it was all about nonsense (perfect and eternal love to die for while you're a teenager)... but Gossip Girl is just worse. Soft teenage porn. I can understand why it's popular. Titillating. Unrequited love. Requited love. Guy and girl mix-ups. Perfection. Being rich. Wildly dysfunctional families. BUT despite its popularity, it's certainly not literature, and it certainly has NOTHING I repeat nothing to help anyone understand the world, grow up, expand your mind, understand life.
Or maybe that's not the point of young adult literature anymore?
*tears falling*... okay, they're not really falling... but maybe they should be.
Gossip Girl... a series of books by Cecily von Ziegesar. I suppose it also refers to a newish TV series based on these books. I would like to add that I have not seen a single episode of the TV show. I am telling you this so that you know I am coming from a clean slate.
The book I picked up was called It Had To Be You, the prequel to the series. Now, teen girl boy-and-popularity-based books are not my normal fare, but I thought I ought to branch out and see what was out there, and what was popular.
I am so sad. So sad that such books exists - and more sad because they are so popular. That book was a piece of crap. I didn't bother finishing it, I just couldn't. Can you say, "Hello, I'm here to tell you that life is about finding someone to have sex with and love you and that's all that matters, especially when you're in high school, and true love with him/her lasts forever, oh, and maybe let's go buy some clothes to fit on our perfect bodies, especially some lingerie." I thought Twilight was sad because it was all about nonsense (perfect and eternal love to die for while you're a teenager)... but Gossip Girl is just worse. Soft teenage porn. I can understand why it's popular. Titillating. Unrequited love. Requited love. Guy and girl mix-ups. Perfection. Being rich. Wildly dysfunctional families. BUT despite its popularity, it's certainly not literature, and it certainly has NOTHING I repeat nothing to help anyone understand the world, grow up, expand your mind, understand life.
Or maybe that's not the point of young adult literature anymore?
*tears falling*... okay, they're not really falling... but maybe they should be.
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