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melwilBook 89:Black and White by Jeanne Betancourt
"I'm not sure the Apollo's a place for my white friends. Know what I mean?"
This seems to be a series of books about three different girls in New York City, who met and became friends through a photography workshop. Unfortunately the idea of the series isn't real clear, and without the first book, it is a little difficult to figure out what is going on. The three characters are Joy, the rich Goth-girl, Carolyn, the motherless girl who's just moved from out west, and Maya, the African-American girl who feels uncomfortable having two different groups of friends.
It's Maya that the plot really revolves around, and her struggle to hold onto friends who share the same culture as her, while also remaining friends with Joy and Carolyn. Sub plots involve Joy's father losing his job, and Carolyn's father falling in and out of love. It's well written, but not particularly ground breaking.
A 3 out of 5
Book 90: Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live and go to school and play and sleep - sometimes with each other.
I seem to recall that this book was a little controversial when it first came out. I'm not sure why, it's really not covering ground that hasn't been covered before in lesser known books. Everyone sleeps with each other, lies to each other, and spends way too much money. La, la, la.
The narrator is interesting - it's some omnipresent character who claims to be 'part' of the group. Most of the time the narrator tells the story straight, but there are a few snide asides and the ends of each chapter is capped with a 'Gossip Column' complete with questions and answers. Other than this little bit, most of the rich, society charactres are really boring. The interesting ones are the ones who don't make up the rich, society set - the brother and sister with a crazy artist family, and the alternative film maker student.
3.5 out of 5
"I'm not sure the Apollo's a place for my white friends. Know what I mean?"
This seems to be a series of books about three different girls in New York City, who met and became friends through a photography workshop. Unfortunately the idea of the series isn't real clear, and without the first book, it is a little difficult to figure out what is going on. The three characters are Joy, the rich Goth-girl, Carolyn, the motherless girl who's just moved from out west, and Maya, the African-American girl who feels uncomfortable having two different groups of friends.
It's Maya that the plot really revolves around, and her struggle to hold onto friends who share the same culture as her, while also remaining friends with Joy and Carolyn. Sub plots involve Joy's father losing his job, and Carolyn's father falling in and out of love. It's well written, but not particularly ground breaking.
A 3 out of 5
Book 90: Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live and go to school and play and sleep - sometimes with each other.
I seem to recall that this book was a little controversial when it first came out. I'm not sure why, it's really not covering ground that hasn't been covered before in lesser known books. Everyone sleeps with each other, lies to each other, and spends way too much money. La, la, la.
The narrator is interesting - it's some omnipresent character who claims to be 'part' of the group. Most of the time the narrator tells the story straight, but there are a few snide asides and the ends of each chapter is capped with a 'Gossip Column' complete with questions and answers. Other than this little bit, most of the rich, society charactres are really boring. The interesting ones are the ones who don't make up the rich, society set - the brother and sister with a crazy artist family, and the alternative film maker student.
3.5 out of 5
