READ THIS: THE CARRIE DIARIES by CANDACE BUSHNELL
We had a strong opinion on Candace Bushnell prior to reading The Carrie Diaries, so you should know that. The day One Fifth Avenue came out, Peachy went to the booksigning and met her, before she WAS Peachy. That night, she read the entire book, cover to cover. Peachy has read all of her books and has loved them ALL. Though we formally are reviewing The Carrie Diaries and highly recommend it, we highly recommend every work by Bushnell, Bushnell's Carrie and Pinky Weatherton. And if you want to know who Pinky is, you must read The Carrie Diaries.
The day The Carrie Diaries entered into Peachy's life, she read it cover to cover too and we highly recommend it for so many reasons. First of all, Candace Bushnell is a literary genius. The whole success of the Sex and the City Series (book, television movie) we credit to her; it was HER IDEA. Though The Carrie Diaries is being marketed to those 14 and up, we strongly believe that anyone that has any love for Sex and the City would enjoy it; as you may have heard it is the story of Carrie Bradshaw before she came to Manhattan. You can appreciate the older Carrie so much more when you understand where she came from. Bushnell's wittiness and pure creativity makes her God's gift to booksellers.
Carrie grew up in Castlebury, Connecticut which we are guessing could be Glastonbury as there really isn't a Castlebury. (And could East Milton be East Hartford?) "Castlebury" is outside of Hartford; young Carrie even goes to the Wadsworth Atheneum which is a baby Met for you Manhattanites that haven't been to it in Hartford. Peachy grew up outside of Hartford too and really got hooked on page 40 with the Yellow Corvette...when we see Yellow on a Corvette we cannot help but think of the 1986 Pace Car for the Indy 500 which was of course a Yellow Corvette. See Cruising Peachy for more on our Corvette passion, including some Q and A with Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Marketing Manager.
While Carrie loves Corvettes and who could be in them, you will love her. The younger Carrie is just as lovable as the older Carrie we already know. From the ordering of her Singapore Slings (and in defending herself in doing so: "...I get to take the umbrella home. And what do you get to take home besides a hangover?") to her numerous charming neurotic qualities, Carrie really is smart, interesting and quirky, just as someone might think (p. 49) and certainly could be a modern derivative of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Even the mink heads on her scarf have personality given to them by Carrie when they festively "sip beer." You will wish Carrie was in your high school class.
While Carrie loves Corvettes and who could be in them, you will love her. The younger Carrie is just as lovable as the older Carrie we already know. From the ordering of her Singapore Slings (and in defending herself in doing so: "...I get to take the umbrella home. And what do you get to take home besides a hangover?") to her numerous charming neurotic qualities, Carrie really is smart, interesting and quirky, just as someone might think (p. 49) and certainly could be a modern derivative of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Even the mink heads on her scarf have personality given to them by Carrie when they festively "sip beer." You will wish Carrie was in your high school class.
Why You Will Love the Young Carrie; Her Insightful Words of Wisdom:
* Funny does always make the bad things go away.
*There ought to be a law that says every time a boy kisses a girl, he has to call within three days
*Guys always call as soon as another man is interested. They're like dogs: They never notice if you've changed your hair, but they can sense when there's another guy sniffing around their territory.
*They should make passports for relationships
*I know I have to do the right thing. And the sooner you do the right thing, the better. You get it over with, and you don't have to worry about it anymore.
One of our favorite quotes:
"Eventually, I went upstairs and took out the box of my old stories, and tried to soothe myself by imagining a better life, when I would live in New York and write books and have a completely different existence. I pictured my future buried like a jewel deep inside of me, where it couldn't be taken away even if I was stuck in Bralcatraz for the rest of my life. [-Carrie]"
She even wanted to arrive in New York wearing a hat. (Top it Off!)
Growing up is not easy for anyone, Carrie included, and Bushnell weaves a story of plots, subplots and characters that will crack you up for the hours that you read this cover to cover too. You will not be able to put it down! Though we loved the story, we liked the ending the best. Whom You Know highly recommends The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.
*Guys always call as soon as another man is interested. They're like dogs: They never notice if you've changed your hair, but they can sense when there's another guy sniffing around their territory.
*They should make passports for relationships
*I know I have to do the right thing. And the sooner you do the right thing, the better. You get it over with, and you don't have to worry about it anymore.
One of our favorite quotes:
"Eventually, I went upstairs and took out the box of my old stories, and tried to soothe myself by imagining a better life, when I would live in New York and write books and have a completely different existence. I pictured my future buried like a jewel deep inside of me, where it couldn't be taken away even if I was stuck in Bralcatraz for the rest of my life. [-Carrie]"
She even wanted to arrive in New York wearing a hat. (Top it Off!)
Growing up is not easy for anyone, Carrie included, and Bushnell weaves a story of plots, subplots and characters that will crack you up for the hours that you read this cover to cover too. You will not be able to put it down! Though we loved the story, we liked the ending the best. Whom You Know highly recommends The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell.
***
Bestselling author Candace Bushnell revisits her iconic character Carrie Bradshaw in the highly anticipated teen prequel to Sex and the City, THE CARRIE DIARIES (Balzer + Bray; April 27, 2010).
With the suburbs of Connecticut as the backdrop, readers will learn about Carrie Bradshaw in high school—her close knit group of friends, her relationship with her sisters, which boy stole her heart long before Mr. Big, and how her determination to become a writer ultimately leads her to Manhattan, where she meets one of her future (and familiar) best friends.
Teens and adults alike will be enthralled by Carrie’s story. The revelations in Candace Bushnell’s smart, funny and captivating YA debut are sure to make THE CARRIE DIARIES one of this summer’s most talked about must-reads.
Candace Bushnell is the critically acclaimed bestselling author of Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle, Once Fifth Avenue, 4 Blondes, and Trading Up, which have sold millions of copies. Sex and the City was the basis for the HBO hit show and film of the same name. Lipstick Jungle became a popular television show on NBC. Candace lives in New York City.
THE CARRIE DIARIES
Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books
By Candace Bushnell
978-0-06-1728914
April 27, 2010 $18.99 Ages 14 and up
