The Carrie Diaries
by Candace Bushnell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Candace BushnellEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2010-04-27
ISBN: 0061728918
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Book Reviews of The Carrie Diaries
Book Review: Carry On, Carrie...
Summary: 5 Stars
We meet Carrie as she begins her senior year of high school and see the beginnings of what will one day become the Carrie Bradshaw that we know from the "Sex and the City" series and movies. We see the start of her unique fashion sense, her obsession with fine shoes (starting in kindergarten), and even the beginnings of her "Carrie" necklace when she designs her own handbag with "Carrie" written on it. We also see the start of her writing career, her attitude toward boys/men, her feelings about love and sex, and her search for "the one." Ironically, as a teen, Carrie is interested in maintaining her virginity and doesn't have much interest in sex like she does when she gets older. I thought this was a great twist because I could definitely see where this would be how she began.
Despite being categorized as a "young adult" book, this novel was written both for the young adult audience it's going for, as well as the adult lover of the "Sex and the City" characters. It captures the feeling of being in high school where kids all have heightened emotions, yet it didn't feel immature. It felt relatable.
The novel was very well-written, and I can tell that Candace Bushnell has matured as a writer since she first authored the poorly written "Sex and the City" novel in 1997. I was disappointed having read the original book while enjoying the TV series in its heyday. I'm glad that the writers of the show took out only the basic elements from the book in the development of the series and its four main characters. Now, thankfully, Bushnell captures the Carrie that we all have grown to know and love.
Although called "The Carrie Diaries," thankfully, this book is not written in a diary format. It reads more like a series of "Sex and the City" articles similar to the ones that Carrie Bradshaw wrote/writes for her newspaper column. As I read the book, I could almost hear Sarah Jessica Parker's voice speaking to the audience, and pondering questions about life and relationships as she did on the popular HBO show and movies. There was only one chapter near the end that felt a bit disjointed with the other chapters. It contains fragmented sentences and is inconsistent with the format of the rest of the book. I felt like it was Bushnell's attempt to actually write a chapter in diary format, but when the rest of the chapters aren't written this way, it makes reading it very jarring.
Yes, there are some story elements and "facts" that don't coincide with what we know about Carrie from the TV series character and, while it doesn't detract from the content of the book, I can see where it could be disappointing to some diehard SATC fans. However, I didn't let it bother my enjoyment of the book (or Carrie). Granted, Bushnell should have followed the history and facts presented in the TV show (which was much more popular -- and far more superior in quality -- than her original novel), because it's not like the show was adapted from a series of books (like Harry Potter). But "The Carrie Diaries" still reads well as a stand-alone young adult/teen novel, although it reads just as well for the adult reader.
I'd give the book 4 1/2 stars, but because Amazon doesn't offer these, I'm rounding up to five stars for "The Carrie Diaries" and looking forward to the next installment.
Summary of The Carrie Diaries
The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.
Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.
With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.
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