Later this month, self-proclaimed fashionistas and label-lovers everywhere will be flocking to theaters to see the latest installment of the life and times of Carrie Bradshaw and company, also known as “Sex and the City 2.” Any fan of the show knows that its appeal is not just about the Manolos and men (though those are two very big aspects) but about Carrie’s wit and undeniably contagious personality — even if she is fictional. In “The Carrie Diaries” by Candace Bushnell, readers will get an inside view at the moments and friendships that shaped high-school Carrie into the character she is today.
The novel follows Carrie during her senior year of high school as a fairly unpopular but genuine teen with one goal: to become a writer. Much like the Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City” fame, she has a close group of friends for whom she would do anything. But things get a little messy when she falls for Sebastian Kydd, a handsome bad boy who turns her world upside down. Her whirlwind romance, combined with an unforgivable betrayal by one of her best friends, only solidifies her notion that she needs to attend a summer writing course in New York City and get out of her small town.
Bushnell’s writing is somewhat entertaining, but not exactly compelling. She is not big on giving the reader the little details that often give a book life, like what Carrie wore to the dance where she had a blowout with Sebastian. Not all authors offer so much information, of course, but with a fashion icon like Bradshaw, the reader expects a little more. Some might be disappointed by this lack of information, and its absence certainly does not add to the plot.
If you’ve seen the HBO series or the movie, it’s impossible to separate the book from those other works. And taken out of context, independent of those artistic productions, the book would probably be able to stand on its own, especially because then it would be possible for one to ignore the inconsistencies between the book and the television series. But in comparison, the lackluster plot and flimsy character development just don’t measure up.
The concept of exploring a fictional icon’s coming of age is incredibly fascinating and downright fun. Who better to offer a glimpse into Carrie’s past than the woman who created the cultural phenomenon with her “Sex and the City” books? One might think that, and in theory it’s a great idea, but in this case the execution of that idea will most likely leave the reader feeling shortchanged.
“The Carrie Diaries” gives a glimpse at how the fashion maven meets one of her most beloved friends, Samantha Jones, and that leaves one wanting to know just how she found the other loves of her life. Otherwise, however, it’s simply an easy read about teenage high school drama that is somewhat devoid of the spirit one would have expected.
Rating: W W
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