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Gossip Girl (book series)

A young adult book series about Upper East Side teenagers created by Cecily von Ziegesar.

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Apathy in the Big Apple

Nov 30, 2011

by tomtom13
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

-4

The gorgeous Serena van der Woodsen returns home after getting kicked out of an expensive boarding school overseas. She believes things are going to be just the way before she left, but they aren't. Upon seeing her for the first time since her return, her former best friend Blair Waldorf is filled with jealousy. She decides she isn't going to welcome Serena with open arms because she now sees her former best friend as a rival instead of a comrade. Of course it doesn't help that Blair's boyfriend Nate Archibald still has a thing for Serena even though Serena no longer pines for him. Rumors run rampant about Serena who, for the first time in her life, feels out of the loop. The book builds-up to the first major party of the year for these privileged, adolescent children where the alcohol flows like water and drugs are free. In the midst of it all is the mysterious Gossip Girl an apparent student with the people in the book who posts her observations about the book's characters online.

GOSSIP GIRL is an incredible boring book. Most of the characters spend their time whining about their upper-class lives and complaining about each other. The rest of the time they smoke pot, have sex with each other, and get drunk. None of this has anything to do with the actual plot of the book. Oh, wait a minute, the book doesn't have a plot. That wouldn't necessary be an issue of there was some amazing characters and deep character development that happened. But it doesn't. The main characters are cardboard chess pieces, complete with clichés. The only character in the book that shows a semblance of originality is Jenny Humphrey. Of course, Jenny is the youngest member of the cast and the reason she's the most interesting is because she's a stereotype just like everyone else: the young innocent, naïve of the ways of the world. I guess that's the reason she went on to have a book series of her own (the IT GIRL series).

I had a difficult time reading GOSSIP GIRL. The reading itself was incredibly easy, but it was so boring that I had to force myself to plow through it. I'm at a complete loss how and why this series became so popular (how did this garbage get adapted into a tv series?). Stick to the gossip column of your local newspaper; it's bound to be better written and more interesting than this book.

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devora November 30, 2011

Have you watched the show? Sadly, I've got semi-sucked in and do watch an episode every once in a while. The lifestyle and drama is just fascinating and easy to melt into. Not sure I could sit through a book though. Thanks for your review!

tomtom13 December 01, 2011

@devora: No, I've never seen the show. I knew the show was loosely based upon these books and avoided it. There's only so much of snooty Manhattanites that I can take.

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review by Bethany_Halligan. June 23, 2010

perfect for pre-teens

This is an awesome series that has now been made into a hit tv show. I read this series when i was 13 years old then reread it again when i was 16. it is full of drama and is a real page turner. it does have some controversial issues like sex, drinking, and drugs but they are told through lessons learned. the books take place in the uper east side of new york city and shows the lives of the super rich children and their parents. it take place mostly at the super elite high school that they all … more

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Quick Tip by Bethany_Halligan. June 22, 2010

A Quick Tip by Bethany_Halligan

such a fun series to read for the teenage group

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review by xonewish. June 21, 2010

I love these books : Better than TV

This was one of my first series that I read, and I love them. If you love the TV, the book series is way better. Also, if you think "Oh, I watch the show, so I already know the plot", well think again! The books are way different and better than the TV Show. The only downside is it is kind of vulgar. I began reading this when I was like 14/15, and I don't think they are that appropriate for that age. I would say 10th grade and up. Also, near the … more

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Quick Tip by xonewish. June 17, 2010

posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

A Quick Tip by xonewish

Love these books! The shows is not as good, I think.

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