Rating: Summary: So... Review: I went out and brought this book just today after I read some of the reviews on here Friday night. I finished the book in a few hours and I personally thought it was quite a good book. Not great. But good.It's easy to read, fast paced, light and cheeky. Not everyone can relate to the characters (c'mon, how many of us are among the "priviledged" who live in the Upper East Side of New York or wherever it is?!) God, I don't even live in America! It's a great summer read to pass those boring hours while you bum around the house waiting for your friends to call and arrange something interesting to do. Or while you sit around waiting for public transport. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't like getting into heavy novels and plot lines. It's very simple and flows along quite nicely. The chapters are broken up with little interruptions from "Gossip Girl" which is a nice little break, and makes you want to keep reading. Keep in mind I said this book was good, not great. But mind you, I'm going out tomorrow and buying the second one!
Rating: Summary: Stereotypical and trashy Review: If you're looking for any sort of intelligent or thought provoking, this is definately not the book for you. The girls were stereotypical teenagers... getting drunk, having sex, and "suffering" from bulimia. This book is not about real girls, but rather the teenagers that some adults tend to believe exist. There were so many times while reading that I had to stop just because I was so angry at the characters. It was not only poorly written, but it was offensively written. Definately NOT recommended!
Rating: Summary: Awesome! Review: OMG- It was the BEST book that I have ever read. Cecily Von Ziegesar knows her stuff. I finished the book in 2 hours tops- it was such a page turner- you got to get this book- it is suspenseful and risk-ka. You'll absolutely love it- I have to get the next one!!
Rating: Summary: Very good!! Review: This is the best teen series out there, and while it isn't completely realistic it is more real then book series like Sweet Valley High.The girls school, Constance Billiard is described to the letter, I was a scholarship student at a school very similar to the one in the book I'll admit not all rich teens in upper New York act this way only a very few do. But the characters do make the book interesting, my favorite character is Vanessa, she seems more real. Dan and Jenny are okay too but their obession with Serena is kind of weird. I don't care for Blair, she had no real reason to cut Serena out of her life like that, she didn't even know what happened between her and Nate before she did that. This is a great series and I hope it goes on for a long time!
Rating: Summary: ...Good... Review: I've read all 4 GG books, and this is really a review of the whole series. Hm. Well. I mean, these books are good....ish. They're not as "addictive" as everyone seems to say....I mean, I know they're supposed to be about the posh lives of NYC socialites...but it almost made me feel bad about myself, because I can't afford 12 gorgeous dresses, or a Barney's shopping trip whenever I want it. And I found this book through magazines, teen magazines. I mean, what is it teaching these girls? Who cares if you've got smarts, it doesn't matter unless you can party hard? On the other hand, it was slightly engrossing. It was sex and the city, teen style. But I don't really like Sex and the City, it's just so....unbelievable. I can't connect to it at all. But you are drawn into the plot of this novel. There is a reason I gave it 3 stars, not 1. It is fairly enjoyable reading this book, as long as you don't become attached. I guess I would reccomend this. Reluctantly. It's a light read, something to read by the pool. There is a lot of profanity in this bas well as sex. But nothing someone who knows all that can't handle.
Rating: Summary: Not a "trashy" novel. Review: I had always wanted to pick up this book when I stormed through the book stores. Being a vivacious reader I would usually skip these "teen-engrossing" books but the flashy cover and chic title "Gossip Girl" finally lured me to read it. It soon became apparent that I was addicted to this book. The characters were very relatable and when I gave it to a friend to borrow, it was soon scouring through every girls hands in the grade. And so another trend had been started. Although people may say this book was mindless, implausible, trashy and inappropriate, I reply with, "What school do you go to?" This is a very real recollection of what happens at school/life today. You may not have all the money that these characters have but that just makes them more interesting. You know how many books I've come across today about "real kids" well there BORING as anything and I can't force myself to read them. Sure I wouldn't pass my thirteen year-old sister this to read, but it seemed to be aimed at the 16-19 year level anyways. I would totally recommend this book for older teenaged girls, and hey, maybe even the guys.
Rating: Summary: Pick up something else Review: I picked up this book because it looked interesting, but I was very dissapointed. The characters are not believable at all. All they care about is clothes and boys. The only long lifeterm goal was to get into Yale early- because it is good for social status. They have petty little arguments that are boring and pointless. These kids are filthy rich, and have everything going for them, and what do they do with their life? Absolutely nothing. And after every few chapters they have this gossip girl website with "sightings". Don't these people have lives of their own???? I did like the setting, and least there were a few redeeming qualities, like trying get into a good college, but that was about it. There are great books for teen girls out there- but this isn't one of them.
Rating: Summary: A crummy review for a crummy book. Review: Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl contains that juicy gossip (the reason for the title Gossip Girl) that tends to appeal to some, but others will not find it so satisfactory. If you detest gossip, I suggest that unless you like reading hateful book reviews, you should put this down immediately. Enter into the Upper East Side of New York City, and you might have the opportunity to be swept up in this whirling, sophisticated, posh world of those who have enough money, fame, and beauty to do whatever they please. The book is mainly based on a website, www.gossipgirl.net, where on unknown character reveals her world, spreads gossip, and has a fun time. You work through the viewpoints of all of the characters, not only the main ones, seeing their good points and their good. The glitz and glamour is almost too much to bear in some places. For most of the time, you are in the viewpoint of Blair, who happens to be dating Nate, for sure getting into Yale, and Serena's ex-best friend. Some will find it annoying how she treats the people who love her, but she doesn't care at all. In other parts, you are with Serena, previously mentioned, who just got back from her old boarding school, which she was kicked out of, and is back to her old private girls school, Constance Billard. She just happens to be one of those girls that all of the other girls either hate or envy, and all of the guys severely want. And then, you come to the heartthrob, whom I shall call Nate. Being wasted three-fourths of the time, he manages to stir up major problems with Blair when he admits something went on with him and Serena. Bad Nate! The rest of the characters follow the same cookie cutter type pattern, excluding several, who still manage to be self-centered, rude, etc. Some of those include Vanessa, the film expert who shaves her head and wears black all the time, and Dan, a poet who just happens to be desperately in love with Serena. Most of the "plot", or lack of plot, is based around most of the characters falling in love with each other, dumping them for someone else, while downing gallons of alcohol, and smoking cigarettes and marijuana all the time. Some of the strong points include mild suspense, slightly addictive (which could be a good or bad thing), and plenty of big-city action/drama that keeps you interested until you finish the series and realize that the storyline is rubbish and it has no morals or inner message. After reading Gossip Girl, I would think that people under 13 wouldn't understand this novel as well as some girls older than that age. Having lots of drugs, sex, alcohol, and swearing, I would also recommend it to girls whose parents allow them to read about these topics. Because of lack of storylines, morals, protagonists and antagonists, outweighs the strong suspense and draw, I would severely not recommend this book to anyone. For the time it takes you to read it, you will probably be slightly entertained, if you're into that kind of thing. Otherwise, I would suggest reading a better book with strong storylines and laugh-out-loud humor, like Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging.
Rating: Summary: Addicting gossip... Review: I'll admit it. This book hooked me. With its rich teenagers who seemly never have parents around and can party all the time premise, I wanted to see what would come out of it. It wasn't a terribly bad story. The book centers on a group of teens, some belonging to the "elite" group, some not. The biggest event is the return of one girl that was mysteriously "kicked out" of boarding school and the jealously, lies, and backstabbing that ensue. A couple of characters are very stereotypical, but some of the girl's behavior was not that far off from what things were like when I was in high school. I knew this book was going to need a sequel, I almost felt like the whole thing was just an introduction sometimes, letting us get to know the characters and background history. Some people found the whole gossip girl idea annoying, but I thought it was kind of cute, and I'm wondering who it is! I'll read the next one and see if that draws me in further. A light and relaxing read overall.
Rating: Summary: Not Disappointing!!! Review: At first I wouldn't give this book a second look due to the offsetting and superficial title, but on a whim I picked it up at 11:00 at night and couldn't stop reading. You actually get to peek into the lives of rich teens in manhattan and all I can say was it wouldn't be a bad life to live. This book was funny, sad and all around a delight to read. It was not at all trashy it showed true and honest emotions and angst from the characters. I especially loved the character Serena though at first I hated her for her looks and all the things she had. But now after all the things and people that stood in her way and made her life hell in the novel all I want is the best for Serena and I certainely hope her new love interest works out. And as for her snobby ex-friends I hope they all get what is coming to them. This is a delicous and enjoyable novel.
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