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March 15, 2005
“Gossip Girl” novels are shallow but enjoyable
"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. We all live in huge apartments with our own bedrooms and bathrooms and phone lines. We're smart, we've inherited classic good looks, we have fantastic clothes, and we know how to party..."
This is an excerpt from "Gossip Girl," Cecily von Ziegesar's hot series about teenagers growing up rich and beautiful in NYC. While the series resembles Candace Bushnell's "Sex and the City" books, "Gossip Girl" is targeted toward today's young adult readers. The "Gossip Girl" series will hook teenager girls because the characters are outrageous, fun and lead interesting lives.
Seventeen-year-old Blair, the protagonist of Gossip Girl, is insecure and self-conscious, despite her wealthy family, good looks and overwhelming popularity. Blair's insecurity is one the many traits that make her likeable to today's teenagers. Even though Blair is rich and sometimes self-centered, she still acts like a regular teenager; she is unsure, for instance, how to act when her ex-best friend, Serena, moves back into town and is upset when her boyfriend Nate calls less and less. The stress of college applications, relationships, divorced parents and re-marriage are realistic situations many teens can relate to as well.
Although Blair is prissy and rich (example: she gets a manicure and pedicure weekly and believes that dropping $400 at Bloomingdale's is "no big deal"), her personality is mostly likeable. The characters' extravagant lifestyles complete with partying and bar-hopping give readers a look into the personal lives of the rich and glamorous.
For those who think Blair is too stuck-up, there are more down-to-earth characters in "Gossip Girl." Dan, an aspiring poet/song writer, and his sister Jenny, a bouncy freshman, become important to the lives of Blair, Nate and Serena as the series progresses. Dan is very realistic and artsy, while Jenny is a young girl who wants to be liked by everyone.
The title of the novel comes from a web site that one of the main characters' friends (or one of the characters themselves) maintains. The site, which is actually hosted at GossipGirl.net, has weekly rumors and sightings that entertain Blair's peers at Constance Billiards and other students in New York City. The gossiper knows all, sees all and posts all on the web site. She (or he) remains anonymous by signing each post "you know you love me, Gossip Girl." One of the novels' charms is the mystery of Gossip Girl, as readers can try to guess who Gossip Girl is by who is seen and discussed on the site.
Once one enters the "Gossip Girl" world, it's hard to get out. Often readers get caught up in the lives of its main characters and have trouble putting the books down. Although the content of the novels is PG-13, the reading level is much lower. The novels are an easy read but the content is nor suitable for teens younger than 14 years old.
The "Gossip Girl" series has some of the young adult's problems right on target as it concentrates on the character's problems with alcohol, morality and popularity. However, not all aspects of "Gossip Girl" are realistic to the teen world. All the main characters are under 18, yet never get carded for alcohol at the bar, where they seem to spend many of their weekend hours.
Despite somewhat shallow characters and drama-filled plots, the "Gossip Girl" series entertains readers looking for a quick escape from their own lives, whether they are bored teens or adults yearning to be in high school again.
The six "Gossip Girl" novels are "Gossip Girl," "Because I'm Worth It," "All I Want Is Everything," "You Know You Love Me," "You're the One That I Want" and "I Like It Like That." Each novel is available for $8.99 at area bookstores. The seventh "Gossip Girl" novel is entitled "Nobody Does It Better" and will be released this year on May 11, 2005.
This is the cover of the first "Gossip Girl" novel. Photo courtesy of GossipGirl.net.
This is an excerpt from "Gossip Girl," Cecily von Ziegesar's hot series about teenagers growing up rich and beautiful in NYC. While the series resembles Candace Bushnell's "Sex and the City" books, "Gossip Girl" is targeted toward today's young adult readers. The "Gossip Girl" series will hook teenager girls because the characters are outrageous, fun and lead interesting lives.
Seventeen-year-old Blair, the protagonist of Gossip Girl, is insecure and self-conscious, despite her wealthy family, good looks and overwhelming popularity. Blair's insecurity is one the many traits that make her likeable to today's teenagers. Even though Blair is rich and sometimes self-centered, she still acts like a regular teenager; she is unsure, for instance, how to act when her ex-best friend, Serena, moves back into town and is upset when her boyfriend Nate calls less and less. The stress of college applications, relationships, divorced parents and re-marriage are realistic situations many teens can relate to as well.
Although Blair is prissy and rich (example: she gets a manicure and pedicure weekly and believes that dropping $400 at Bloomingdale's is "no big deal"), her personality is mostly likeable. The characters' extravagant lifestyles complete with partying and bar-hopping give readers a look into the personal lives of the rich and glamorous.
For those who think Blair is too stuck-up, there are more down-to-earth characters in "Gossip Girl." Dan, an aspiring poet/song writer, and his sister Jenny, a bouncy freshman, become important to the lives of Blair, Nate and Serena as the series progresses. Dan is very realistic and artsy, while Jenny is a young girl who wants to be liked by everyone.
The title of the novel comes from a web site that one of the main characters' friends (or one of the characters themselves) maintains. The site, which is actually hosted at GossipGirl.net, has weekly rumors and sightings that entertain Blair's peers at Constance Billiards and other students in New York City. The gossiper knows all, sees all and posts all on the web site. She (or he) remains anonymous by signing each post "you know you love me, Gossip Girl." One of the novels' charms is the mystery of Gossip Girl, as readers can try to guess who Gossip Girl is by who is seen and discussed on the site.
Once one enters the "Gossip Girl" world, it's hard to get out. Often readers get caught up in the lives of its main characters and have trouble putting the books down. Although the content of the novels is PG-13, the reading level is much lower. The novels are an easy read but the content is nor suitable for teens younger than 14 years old.
The "Gossip Girl" series has some of the young adult's problems right on target as it concentrates on the character's problems with alcohol, morality and popularity. However, not all aspects of "Gossip Girl" are realistic to the teen world. All the main characters are under 18, yet never get carded for alcohol at the bar, where they seem to spend many of their weekend hours.
Despite somewhat shallow characters and drama-filled plots, the "Gossip Girl" series entertains readers looking for a quick escape from their own lives, whether they are bored teens or adults yearning to be in high school again.
The six "Gossip Girl" novels are "Gossip Girl," "Because I'm Worth It," "All I Want Is Everything," "You Know You Love Me," "You're the One That I Want" and "I Like It Like That." Each novel is available for $8.99 at area bookstores. The seventh "Gossip Girl" novel is entitled "Nobody Does It Better" and will be released this year on May 11, 2005.
Discuss this Article
THEY ARE SO TRASHY AND SO HORRIBLE ITS LIKE WATCHING THE OC....THE GREATEST BOOKS EVER AND IT ONLY TAKES LIKE 1 HOUR TO READ ONE. but seriously now its funny that the author refers to jenny as bouncy. haha
also the new one is coming out and im siked!
nobody saw that before this was written?
pls. email me back if u can make it available here in asia...esp in the phil.. we love it..
grace of manila
j-baby
especially hayden christensen
I think that your books are really good.
I just can't wait t'll the 8 th book comes out.Hope you enjoy my comments to you .Thanks again for the wonderful books that you wrote.
sencirly,Traci
LOL!!! i read them each like 20 times!
Remember - u know u luv me!
I got hooked on this books cos they r so good and full of GOSSIP
there are barely any books like these around but i think they shud be
Its so hard 2 find em
enywayz
the characters arent that shallow
its sooooo addictive
Jen!
i got all these guys chasing me
haha
i dont know what to do
hehe
sorry for all you jealous gurls
youll get there one day
--Kadie--
*You Know You Love Me*
1) Gossip Girl
2) You Know You Love Me
3) All I Want Is Everything
4) Because I'm Worth It
5) I Like It Like That
6) You're The One That I Want
7) Nobody Does It Better
8) Nothing Can Keep Us Together
9) Only In Your Dreams
I've never read all of them. The library never has all of them. It sucks! Anyways, bye!