"Gossip is sexy. Gossip is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should!"*

[snugglekitty]

Title: Gossip Girl
Author: Cecily von Ziegasar
Series: Gossip Girl #1
Genre: Fictional snark. Internet books, as it contains a number of blog entries from the eponymous, anonymous character.
Reason for Reading: This book was in a box of free books. I like free and it looked interesting.
Pages: 201
Copyright Date: 2002
Cover: Three girls sitting on a couch. Their skin gleams, and they seem to all be wearing the same lipstick. You can't see their hands or their feet.
First line: "Ever wondered what the lives of the chosen ones are really like? Well, I'm going to tell you, because I'm one of them."
Best part: Despite the snarkaliciousness it had a happy ending.
Worst part: Unexpected misogyny at a few points, verging on sexual violence.
Imaginary Theme Song: "Hollaback Girl" by ms. Stefani
Grade: C
Recommended for: Those who like snark.
Related Reads: Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella, Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding. Those both have the gossipy quality. I'm having a hard time thinking of other "lives of the rich" type books because it's not a genre I read often - suggestions?

New York, New York - a wonderful town, especially if you are filthy stinkin' rich. But even the filthy rich have to go to high school. Watch them get drunk, get high, get laid, get in trouble, and get even.

This book was a smash hit, creating an entire series, the last few of which were apparently ghostwritten (naughty naughty!) and a TV show too. Right time, right place? I'm not sure, but it wasn't really my thing. Funny in places, yeah, and I liked the main character Serena, but overall I feel like it would be a brain-cluttering series to engage in. There's such a thing as too much snark.

*Quote is from page 112.

Comments

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I kind of fell in love with the TV show the first season. There was something so sweet about Serena and what's-his-name falling in love, in the midst of all the rich kid snobbery and backstabbing. Never got into the second season, though.