It Pays To Be A Fan
I'm in love with Ann Brashares. She owns me. My Goodreads review (which goodreads won't give me the permalink to) of Last Summer:
"LOVE.
Great characters. Brashares is seriously skilled at characters.
This is a book about people, mostly. So if you're not into that stay away.
I want to read it again. Man, I loved it.
One of my goodreads friends didn't share the same sentiment and rated it one star, saying (in different words) that it was too chicklit. I disagree. Of course, I could spend my whole life disagreeing with people on chick lit (the good stuff, anyway) and wouldn't convince anyone. You people box us into anti-intellectual beach umbrellas and whatever, that's fine. We're scrappy, we can deal.
I also loved Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Brashares first breakout success. I didn't blog about Pants, but I think I sent Heather about twenty emails that went like this: "best young adult fiction i have ever read." "seriously." "this is so good." "did you know that the guy who directs a lot of Office episodes made the first movie? because the universe is awesome. just like these books."
So it was with bittersweetness that I learned that her next book wasn't going to be about adults, or pseudults, but high schoolers again. She did high schoolers perfect and so I am excited about reading this, but at the same time it sounds like Random House is asking her to write Pants again. I mean, I read an excerpt of 3 Willows online and the narrator was even referencing the Pants girls (same high school several years later, apparently my loves left a legacy). So we shall see. I have so much faith in Brashares that even if this is a RH gimmick she can pull it off.
Regardless, I love that I got this advance reader's copy 3 months early. I feel like I'm one of Ann's close personal friends reading the first draft. Annie, I'll be highlighting my favorite parts for you.
Comments
My thought on good chick lit is that it's not really chick lit. I actually just hate the term chick lit A LOT.
Right o. Like a story has female characters and people are all CHICK LIT CHICK LIT.
Posted by: Jennie | October 23, 2008 6:36 AM
I hate people who hate things and are unable to provide a good reason why, because chances are that means the thing they're hating is not necessarily bad, it's just not their thing. If something touches you, who cares whether it's chick lit or sci-fi or "literature" or, God help me while I say this I have to hold back the shivers of disgust, MANGA. (Ew, I must go wash myself.)
I love The Sisterhood BTW.
Posted by: Ashley | October 23, 2008 7:31 AM
I think all four of the Traveling Pants books are brilliant.
Posted by: heather anne | October 23, 2008 10:05 AM
Hi, another Ann Brashares fan here! Also got an advanced copy of 3 Willows. I enjoyed it, so I'm curious to see what others think.
Have you found any books you think are similar to those Ann Brashares writes? I can never find anything I like quite as much as her stuff, and she just doesn't have enough out there!
If you're excited to read her write adults, get really excited. Rumor has it she's planning on revisiting the Sisterhood girls in their mid to late 20s. Ah...that would be heaven!
Posted by: Kait | October 24, 2008 3:04 PM
Why won't your blog remember me EVER?! ***pouty face***
Yay, you "advanced reader's copy" holder, you! That's cool.
Posted by: shari | October 24, 2008 5:08 PM
Hey, where's my comment from Thursday? Did you delete me? :(
Posted by: Ashley | October 24, 2008 8:22 PM
The internet ate your comments . But I have found them!
Shari, my site doesn't remember anyone. Sorryz!
Ashley, MANGA, hahahahaha.
Posted by: Abigail | October 24, 2008 8:29 PM
I've always felt a little silly being a 36 year old woman who is in love with the "Traveling Pants" series...good to know I am not alone!
Posted by: Hilly | October 25, 2008 10:05 AM