Gossip Girl

Rating:
Summary: Gossipy "Girl"
Review: Cecily Von Ziegesar must be credited with this much: She never pretends that "Gossip Girl" is anything but vapid, vitriolic fluff with no real plotline and no real end. It is possible to produce books like that that are also funny and even enlightening, but "Gossip Girl" is essentially a plodding, repetitive attempt at a "real" teen book.

The beautiful Serena has returned from a sojourn in a ritzy private school and some time in France. Pretty bulimic Blair is dismayed by this, as Serena has unconsciously usurped the position that Blair had been occupying. Even worse, Blair's boyfriend Nate once slept with Serena and is still interested in her, but Serena is not really interested in Nate. Dan is besotted with her, and Jenny looks up to her.

Rumors begin to fly about Serena -- that she's slutty, that she has a variety of STDs, that she had a baby in France, that she was thrown out of her boarding school, that she's had several abortions, and just about every other kind of vicious rumor. And presiding over all of this is Gossip Girl, a mysterious omniscient observer who reports online about the tangled lives of her friends and peers.

It seems that readers will never tire of the antics of too-rich Manhattanites, especially if they live empty lives that they believe are significant. Like Nick McDonell's "Twelve," this book is filled with shallow, obnoxious characters who do drugs, sex, alcohol, and mourn the problems of their privileged lives. The drugs, sex, alcohol, bulimia and angst serve no actual purpose in the plot; they are merely attempts to shock.

The problem is that they are handled in such a haphazard manner that they don't shock at all -- they are merely diversions to spice up the lack of plot. Strip them away, and there's pretty much nothing left. Von Ziegesar never makes an attempt to get the readers interested. We are never given a reason to react to anyone in this book, either to be interested or repelled by them -- only bored.

Those characters are stereotypes, in a fictional world where the elite rich are all gorgeous: the scheming insecure girl, the mystery beauty, the shy naive girl, the weak handsome guy, the promiscuous guy, and dozens of others are devoid of any originality. They are part of the stereotype that teenagers are intrinsically shallow and can't be bothered with anyone who is not of interest to them.

Admittedly, the "Gossip Girl" website extracts are amusing. There's a certain wit to them, and they are also the only parts of the book that show some genuine originality. I only wish there had been more of them, and fewer repetitive rumors about Serena's past. The writing style lacks detail or any sort of wit or spiciness. And, like, the dialogue is so, you know, like, stupid, right?

Perhaps the worst part of the book is the finale, which fails to produce a climax or wrap up any loose threads. The book simply stops. Perhaps this is an effort to get readers to read the sequel, if they aren't too disgusted by the plodding storyline and grating characters. Von Ziegesar, take a writing class.

Rating:
Summary: The BEST Book
Review: I normally find it difficult to find a good book...one that you just can't put down. Then I came across Gossip Girl and it is definitely the best book I have read. It's full of scandal and gossip. The story line is good and keeps you interested. I reccomend all the books in the addictive series. All 4 are just amazing! You attach yourself to characters as they go through their "perfect" and unbelievably rich lives. You'll be up all night reading until it's done! =)

Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: If you are looking for a book that is fun and easy to read (along with racy, scandilous, and a guilty pleasure) Gossip Girl is for you! All about rich friends living in New York City, Gossip Girl is something to take your mind off of your world and excape into theirs.

Rating:
Summary: Enter the World of "Gossip Girl"
Review: Meet GOSSIP GIRL, an anonymous New York teen who posts all of the latest news about her peers at her website. Readers are introduced to a variety of high schoolers whose days and nights are filled with money, cars, boyfriends/girlfriends, cell phones, agendas, parties, and more. If you're in, you're in; if you're out, you're definitely out - unless you are dating or are related to one of the cool kids.

The character with the most mystery surrounding her is Serena, a blonde beauty whose return to Manhattan sparks controversy galore as her classmates wonder why she has come back to her all-girl private high school after a year-long absence and travels overseas. Serena's estranged best friend Blair, who was just getting accustomed to being THE most popular girl, now must take a step back and share the spotlight. Not only is her popularity at stake, but so is her love life, as she worries that her boyfriend Nate only has eyes . . . for Serena.

If GOSSIP GIRL was a TV show, HBO, FOX and THE WB would all fight over the rights to it. GOSSIP GIRL takes 90210 and moves it to Manhattan. The teens are trashy and classy at all once; while they know the difference between Prada and Gucci, they don't always know the difference between right and wrong. The book is more melodrama than drama, and delightfully so. It's a beach read mixed with martinis.

Rating:
Summary: Just Who is GOSSIP GIRL?
Review: This book is one of those that you can't put down. It's full of the drama that surrounds the upper east side of Manhattan. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a good read that is just fun. This book leaves you with a burning question in your head: Just who is Gossip Girl?

Rating:
Summary: Just Who is GOSSIP GIRL?
Review: This book is one of those that you can't put down. It's full of the drama that surrounds the upper east side of Manhattan. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a good read that is just fun. This book leaves you with a burning question in your head: Just who is Gossip Girl?

Rating:
Summary: Great for teens!!!Gossip Girl
Review: Who doesn't like gossip? Be honest now. Well, sit back and don't miss a word because "Gossip Girl" is going to dish for you. She's a part of the rich and fatuous set from Manhattan's Upper East Side where too much is never enough, whether it's too much sex, too much drugs or too much alcohol.
Christina Ricci has the patois down pat as does Maria deLuca who delivers the emails from "Gossip Girl." Young girls of a certain age (say 10 - 13) will undoubtedly be fascinated by this tale that gives tell-all new dimensions. It's the stuff of which their worlds are made - boys, parties, shopping (with no credit limit?).
Before long listeners will feel as if they're a part of the Serena/Blair crowd at a tony school for girls. They'll empathize and anguish through the fictional gals hopes and predicaments.
"Gossip Girl" has become a bit of a phenomenon sprouting a website and other works from Cecily von Ziegesar. That's how it is with gossip - you can never get enough and are eager for the latest.

Rating:
Summary: SOME VERY TASTY DISH
Review: Who doesn't like gossip? Be honest now. Well, sit back and don't miss a word because "Gossip Girl" is going to dish for you. She's a part of the rich and fatuous set from Manhattan's Upper East Side where too much is never enough, whether it's too much sex, too much drugs or too much alcohol.

Christina Ricci has the patois down pat as does Maria deLuca who delivers the emails from "Gossip Girl." Young girls of a certain age (say 10 - 13) will undoubtedly be fascinated by this tale that gives tell-all new dimensions. It's the stuff of which their worlds are made - boys, parties, shopping (with no credit limit?).

Before long listeners will feel as if they're a part of the Serena/Blair crowd at a tony school for girls. They'll empathize and anguish through the fictional gals hopes and predicaments.

"Gossip Girl" has become a bit of a phenomenon sprouting a website and other works from Cecily von Ziegesar. That's how it is with gossip - you can never get enough and are eager for the latest.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: SOME VERY TASTY DISH
Review: Who doesn't like gossip? Be honest now. Well, sit back and don't miss a word because "Gossip Girl" is going to dish for you. She's a part of the rich and fatuous set from Manhattan's Upper East Side where too much is never enough, whether it's too much sex, too much drugs or too much alcohol.

Christina Ricci has the patois down pat as does Maria deLuca who delivers the emails from "Gossip Girl." Young girls of a certain age (say 10 - 13) will undoubtedly be fascinated by this tale that gives tell-all new dimensions. It's the stuff of which their worlds are made - boys, parties, shopping (with no credit limit?).

Before long listeners will feel as if they're a part of the Serena/Blair crowd at a tony school for girls. They'll empathize and anguish through the fictional gals hopes and predicaments.

"Gossip Girl" has become a bit of a phenomenon sprouting a website and other works from Cecily von Ziegesar. That's how it is with gossip - you can never get enough and are eager for the latest.

- Gail Cooke