Review: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
Candace Bushnell’s latest book, The Carrie Diaries, is aimed at the Young Adult market as a chance to “Meet Carrie before Sex and the City.” I love Sex and the City (the TV show) so I wanted to read this story, but I had to wonder – would this story for teens be as frank and explicit as the show?
As it turns out, it is frank but not explicit, which I think really rings true to YA (and adult) readers everywhere who are tired of idealized heroines who don’t cuss or have sex. Even if you are not a SATC fan, this young Carrie Bradshaw is a character you can really care about. She’s a small town girl who dreams of being a writer, is fiercely loyal to her friends, has a bold sense of fashion and is looking for romance.
This coming of age story chronicles Carrie’s senior year of high school. She applied at Brown, but was devastated when rejected for a summer writing seminar in New York. Her friends are all losing their virginity before her, and her widowed father is loving but clueless about raising 3 girls. When she meets and begins to date the new boy in school, Sebastian Kydd, she earns the ire of a group of cheerleaders called “the Jens” and their leader, Donna La Donna. Then her best friend’s betrayal changes everything.
I connected with Carrie’s story in many ways. I loved reliving the soaring highs and the devastating lows of first love. The stickier question is why you change your essential self in order to please the one you love? Carrie remembers her feminist mother and finds inner reserves of strength from that. The eighties references (I’m dating myself here) I giggled at, and the longing to grow up and live your dream I definitely remembered. The jealousy between girls – even best friends – was a sadder but realistic part of high school I also remembered well.
This book is such an engaging and interesting read. Carrie’s voice is strong and endearing. You can see the beginnings of the fabulous fashionista, successful writer and best friend to Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda that she becomes. The last line in the book made me howl with laughter – and I am not a howler! I recommend this book for young adults and adults alike, and all fans of chick lit.
I give this book 4 STACKS
STACKGirl Nancy
I’m not a TV-watcher, but I’ve definitely heard of SATC. And this book sounds great — fun but realistic, and I love that it’s “frank but not explicit”. I’ll add this one to my summer reading pile!
I enjoyed this one too
Great review! I really enjoyed reading about Carrie’s not so fabulous life growing up in a small town. Plus it was also great to finally get a glimpse into her backstory, which was barely touched upon in the TV series and movies. I recommend this book to teens and adults alike!
Yall should read the minutiae by Carter faulk, its on amazon and is a top read.
Yall should read the minutiae by Carter faulk, its on amazon and is a top read.