Gossip Girl #11: Don't You Forget About Me: A Gossip Girl Novel (Gossip Girl)

Book Description

Don't You Forget About Me continues the #1 New York Times bestselling series about the provocative lives of New York City's most prestigious private school young adults. Sharp wit, intriguing characters, and high stakes melodrama drive the action of this addictive series that have made Gossip Girl the lit world's coveted "it" girl.

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING!.......2007-08-21

This was a great way to end the series for nate, blair, and serena. I'll admit it, I cried at the end. I read every Gossip Girl novel, but this one was byfar my favorite. Cecily knows how to write a series. You're hooked, and the characters become a big part of your life. (at least for me anyway). I'm super excited for the pre-quil, scheduled to release in october; and very, VERY, excited for the tv show...i'm interested to see how much they actually keep to the book. This series is amazing, so buy them all, read them all, and pretend to be them all!

You Know You Love Me!

Did the editor fall asleep on this one?.......2007-06-30

I'm an avid reader of Gossip Girl, and when my copy of this novel came in the mail I was very excited to read it. I loved every bit of it, except one thing. There are so many mistakes in the story. One minute Nate has BUCK NAKED written on his chest in red ink, and the next page it'll say it was black. Things like this continued on with what the girls were wearing. The author is famous for sticking in designer labels wherever she sees fit, but this time I think she got a little mixed up. One page Blair is wearing coral colored Prada flats, let's say, and the next page they magically turn into leopard print D&G's. It was little things like that that annoyed me but overall it was an AMAZING book and I can't wait for the prequel.

Say Goodbye to New York...for now.......2007-06-19

The eleventh and final novel of the Gossip Girl series was, to say the least, a little mediocre. I have to agree with majority of the reviews that, whereas it was a fun read like all the previous books, I kind of expected a little more. It seems it ended quickly with a boring just-need-to-finish-the-series goodbye.

Though I am excited to for the new "season" of Gossip Girl staring the Carlyle Triplets, I wonder if it will just be a repeat or the same played out drama that we've seen with Blair, Serena, Nate and the other characters of the first Gossip Girl. Of course that won't stop be from buying the novel anyways! :)

P.S. To all the Gossip Girl fans, the CW is going to be airing Gossip Girl the tv series in the fall of 2007, so keep an eye for commercials. Blake Lively will be playing Serena, but for more information go to IMDB.com or Wikipedia.com and search for "Gossip Girl".

They've done it again...........2007-06-08

Once again, the characters of von Ziegesar's G. G. series have captured my attention & taken me on another dramatic adventure in the life & times of rich, Manhattan teens. If you've followed this series from the start, like I have, then you'll be thoroughly entertained & satisfied with the last chapters of the overwhelmingly chaotic, yet amusing, story of these characters lives. It'll have you heart-wrenched & heart-warmed as you join Blair, Serena, Nate & all the other people we seem to be wishing we were during their last summer before college. Just when you think you know exactly who gets their way & who ends up sitting in Central Park alone, the ending hits you & you're left wishing there was more to the story than that. I definitely recommend this as a good read to anyone, but especially to those of you still waiting to see how the grand adventure ends.

Oh, please........2007-06-08

This book sucked. And thank God it is the last, these characters need to be put to rest.
But it is so surpising? After Cecily left, the book got very, VERY dumb.
Ok, in the latest installment, Nate finds out that he's in love with both Blair and Serena.
Oh, big shocker. As if we didn't see that coming already.
And I'm so damn tired of Serena. She is such a Mary-Sue. No one is perfect like that. And it irks me to death how much time is wasted describing her slutty behind.
And Dan? Oh, lord. How did I kwow? Hmm, maybe because no one in this book can last wth anyone for more than a chapter?
Dan is not gay. I saw this coming. You saw it coming. You dead ancestors saw it coming. And who does he like, yet again? Vanessaaaa.
Wow.
Sorry, but this book was very stupid and I regret ever buying it.

Oh, and did you hear? This series is getting NEW people next year. Wow, more Mary-Sues. Can't wait! >:U

Clique #6, The: Dial L for Loser (Clique Series)

Average customer rating:

Dial L for Loser
Sealed with a Diss
More More MORE!
Another ah-mazing Clique book!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clique #6, The: Dial L for Loser (Clique Series)
Lisi Harrison
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316115045

Book Description

The social minefields most privileged middle-school girls drive the over-the-top drama in this addictive new book, set in suburban New York City's Westchester County. Massie Block: With her glossy brunette bob and Whitestrip smile, Massie is the uncontested ruler of The Clique and the rest of the social scene at Octavian Country Day, an exclusive private school in Westchester, New York. Dylan Marvil: Massie's second in command who divides her time between sucking up to Massie and sucking down Atkins shakes to try to get rid of the extra fifteen pounds that won't seem to leave her hips alone. Alicia Rivera: As sneaky as she is beautiful, Alicia floats easily under adult radar because she seems so 'sweet.' Would love to take Massie's throne one day. Just might do it. Kristen Gregory: She's been dying to fit in ever since her parents went broke. She's smart, hardworking and will insult you to tears faster than you can say 'scholarship kid.' And then there's Claire Lyons, the new girl in two-year old GAP overalls from Florida, who is clearly not Clique material. The only problem is that Claire's family is staying in the guest house on the Blocks' massive estate while they look for a new home! Claire's future looks worse than a bad Prada knockoff. But with a little luck and a lot of scheming, Claire might just come up smelling like Chanel Mademoiselle....

Customer Reviews:

Dial L for Loser.......2007-09-17

I thought the book was very interesting. It made you want to keep reading. This book was my favorite so far in the series but it left you hanging in the end I can't wait til I get to read the next one. Lisi Harrison is a great writer for teens.

Sealed with a Diss.......2007-09-10

This book was absolutley fabulous. I love how Lisi Harrison keeps you on the edge and anticipating the next word (or in Massie's case, a clever comeback!) These books are fun filled and action packed, a great read for anyone 10 or older. I recomend this series to everyone, and I cannot wait for the next book!

More More MORE!.......2007-08-17

I loved this book, but I hated the fact that it ended like it did and the next one doesn't come out til next year. That sux! But the book itself was )as most cliques are) drama filled and intense. The life of an alpha is so not as great as it seems. And the poor girls and their crushes I mean you have GOT to feel sorry for them.

This story takes you on a journey that ended quite abrubtly, and will begin again in February 2008!!! Man I can't wait!!!!!&hearts;

Another ah-mazing Clique book!.......2007-08-06

I have really enjoyed ALL of the books in the Clique series. I am a middle school teacher, and have shared my love of reading with many girls via the Clique books. These books are perfect for a hesistant reader- they are so engaging and fun to read. They are also age-appropriate, unlike some other series that are marketed to young girls.
Massie and the Pretty Committee do not disappoint in the 8th book of this series. The dialog is snappy as always, and left me looking forward to the 9th book!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-30

this is my favorite book out of the clique series so far. i'm not going to tell you what happened but it's a real cliff hanger. anyway it's a great book and i gaurantee that you won't want to put the book down.

Would I Lie to You (Gossip Girl, No. 10)

Average customer rating:

Did author not read the previous books?
Another GREAT read
What happened?
The book of would i lie to you
An irresistable installment in the Gossip Girl series

Would I Lie to You (Gossip Girl, No. 10)
Cecily von Ziegesar
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316011835

Book Description

Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side where my friends and I live, and go to school, and play, and sleep - sometimes with each other.We all live in huge apartments with our own bedrooms and bathrooms and phone lines.We're smart, we've inherited classic good looks, we have fantastic clothes, and we know how to party... Continuing the #1 New York Times bestselling series about the provocative lives of New York City's most prestigious private school young adults. Sharp wit, intriguing characters, and high stakes melodrama drive the action of this addictive series that have made Gossip Girl the lit world's coveted "it" girl.

Customer Reviews:

Did author not read the previous books?.......2007-04-25

While reading this book, I felt like the writer (which I heard is no longer Cecily von Ziegesar but a ghost writer now) had no clue about what had happened in the previous books. The characters' actions were very out-of-character. Serena is shocked to hear Nate tell Blair he loves her (which was not even the first time for that) and suddenly she has always been in love with Nate. Serena and Nate were not that into each other when they were together. To quote from Nothing Can Keep Us Together from Serena's point of view on page 216, "it had never been right, her and Nate being together. And it would be better be single this summer so she could focus on the film. At least now she wouldn't have to bother breaking with him. Not that they'd ever really been together." And now she's in love with him...yeah, right.
This book was a huge disappointment. I waited so eagerly for it, expecting it to be like the other books, only to be let down. Those who read the series will want to read the last two books but expect them to be awful in comparison to the previous ones and the characters to not act like themselves.

Another GREAT read.......2007-03-04

I've been reading the gossip girl series ever since they came out. The characters have no imperfections, and some have too many, but it's exactly what most teen girls crave. The books have a touch of girly girl, with a huge tocuh of sexuality, where most teen books dont go. But it makes you want to read more and more. Would i lie to you, the most recent book in the series, is so much different from all the other books, because it goes where none of them have gone before. Nate and Blair are finally happy and together, and now Serena has finally got what she deserves and is left stranded, litterally. It really turned the whole series in another direction. But it still keeps you wondering what nate is going to do with his life. I highly reccomend this series to anyone who wants quick entertaining books.

What happened?.......2007-02-18

Would I Lie To You is the 10th book of the highly popular young adult series Gossip Girl. I remember when the first book was released in 2002, and I was finishing my sophomore year in high school. I had no where to go for the summer, went to the bookstore to buy a few books to keep me entertained for the summer, and one of these books was Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar. Once I started reading it I was sucked into it ,and since then I have been buying every single book to keep up with the storyline. Being from NYC I am very familiar with many of the locations that the author mentions, so it's like I can imagine the characters in these places. However the last 2 books have been disappointing, especially this one. From what I've heard Ziegesar has hired a ghostwriter to finish writing the Gossip Girl series because she is too busy writing her newer series "The It Girl". I actually kind of believe this because the writing has changed, and Gossip Girl is not as witty as she used to be, plus the whole mystery of who Gossip Girl really is, is not such a big fuzz anymore, although we still don't know who she is. The main characters of this particular installment are Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, Nate Archibald, Vanessa Abrams, Dan Humphrey, and Chuck Bass has a short appearance in this book. Jenny Humphrey (Dans younger Sister) does not appear in this book, but we get to read some of the extremely short letters she sends Dan from her summer vacation trip in Europe.

Reading about Vanessa and Dan was a total bore, most of the times I felt like skipping their chapters, not even the fact that Dan had all of a sudden gone gay amused me or had me in a state of OMG! What straight guy suddenly goes gay? And the fact that Vanessa (Dan's on and off girlfriend) took it well was just plain stupid. The Blair, Serena, and Nate storyline was the part that kept me semi-interested. After Nate tells Blair he loves her, and Serena overhears him, she decides she is in love with him too, even though in the past books she never showed signs of being in love with him. So she decides to write him a letter telling him how she really feels, and puts it inside the compartment of Nate's Car. Too bad Blair finds it before Nate does, reads it, rips it into pieces, and throws it out. I honestly think Serena really doesn't care about Blair, and unlike Blair who actually seems to have emotions, feelings, interests, dislikes , and whatnot, Serena doesn't seem to have any emotional depth. We just know she is the most perfect, flawless, female specimen (Well, physically because she's a lousy friend) to walk the planet earth. *gag* Its as if she were a robot. Overall this book was mediocre, and hopefully the author makes up for it in the next book.

The book of would i lie to you.......2007-01-16

My daughter loves these books of gossip girl's. She's 16 and has ever one of them.

An irresistable installment in the Gossip Girl series.......2007-01-06

In WOULD I LIE TO YOU, most of the Gossip Girl crew moves to the Hamptons for the last summer before college. While not the best novel in the series, fans will still enjoy keeping up with Blair, Serena, Nate, Vanessa and Dan.

A few differences from previous installments are notable. Gossip Girl herself has gone from funny to flirty. Serena is changing a bit and finds herself competing with Blair in new ways, which may damage their friendship permanently. Dan struggles with sexual identity, which will be a huge surprise for readers of the series. And the language has become stronger in this book, with inclusions of the four-letter word.

Still, there is plenty of fun in this tenth volume. Serena and Blair start by being muses to a hotshot designer at his house in the Hamptons only to find that he has also installed two foreign copycats of them. They are like cheap versions of the series stars, with knockoffs and dyed hair. Serena and Blair trick them into going naked, crashing parties and more, as they emphasize who is original and who is not.

In the meantime, Nate spots the naked girls from his Hampton house next door and starts to wonder why he ever left Blair. His summer of work at Coach's house turns dangerous when Mrs. Coach tries to engage him in an affair. Nate does what he does best, which is to run from anything confrontational. But will Blair run with him?

Dan is impressed with a new co-worker at the Strand who wants to start a literary Salon. But there is very little literature being discussed at the event. People are pairing up instead for a makeout session, and Dan is surprised when his male co-worker kisses him. Is he experimenting? Is he really gay? What is going on?

Vanessa heads for the Hamptons as a nanny, but soon ends up as the new muse for the fashion designer instead. That is, until she gets fired. Vanessa usually ends up on her feet, but this time she finds herself back in Jenny's old room next to Dan's, trying to figure this one out.

Serena and Blair run away together with Nate. As they get ready to head off into the sunset (literally), they make one last stop for Serena's 18th birthday party. It is a night of reveling and revelation all the way around with soul-baring confessions. Readers are left hanging with some big questions. Will Nate still be able to go to Yale now that he dissed Coach's summer job? Will he and Blair be together? Will Serena's confession drive her and Blair apart forever this time?

The same questions continue to pop up even as the Gossip Girl crew grows and tries to change. Even if WOULD I LIE TO YOU isn't as strong as others in the series, there is something irresistible about these characters and the mistakes they keep making. Readers will be waiting to see what happens when the gang goes to college.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Average customer rating:

best of them all
Fun Great Summer Read
The A-list
The A-List
Good Book

The A-List
Zoey Dean
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316734357

Customer Reviews:

best of them all.......2007-09-16

The best book of the series! a true shocker, makes your jaw drop open, very surprising!

Fun Great Summer Read.......2007-07-14

The A- List by Zoey Dean is a great novel about a teenage girl, Anna Percy, leaving her precious home in New York to change and live with her dad in Beverly Hills, California, to work an internship there. On the plane ride over she mets Ben Birnbaum, who brings her to a famous director's wedding and then out on a date at which he leaves her in the middle of the night. Also at the wedding where A- List members, Cammie Sheppard, Sam Sharpe, and Dee Young. Sam later befriends Anna and so does Dee, but Cammie is jealous because she loves Ben. Overall this book was a fun, fast read, and a great summer novel.

The A-list.......2007-03-30

"Like oh my gosh Becky, look at that prada purse," in the area code of 90210 you'll find just about every girl saying that. Ana is a girl from New York that comes from a family in the six digit income. Ana is perfect, but when she's almost eighteen in her senior year she decides she wants to live off the edge like her best friend Cynthia. The day of New Years Eve Ana moves with her father to Beverly Hills to do an internship so she won't have to finish high school. Living on the edge, Ana manages to meet a hot guy named Ben on the plane. She becomes his guest to a famous actors wedding, and things start to go down hill. She's tortured by the actor's daughter Sam and her snoby, plastic surgery, and over the top friends who all happen to like Ben. That night Ben ditches her and when she doesn't get the internship she is stuck at Beverly Hills High School with Sam, Dee, and Cammie. When Ben tries to aoplogize she realizes the old Ana would jump into his arms, but the new Ana has changed. She is finally free. THIS BOOK WAS SO TOTALY AWESOME!! I reccomend it to any girl in grades 7 - 12. Thiis book is filled with humor, drama, and takes you into the life of the rich.

The A-list is filled with lots of humor. The girls in the 90210 area code are very halarious. Even if they're snobby........very snobby, their endless scemes never stop being filled with humor. Like when Cammie decided she was going to step on Ana's dress to embrarass her at the wedding because she came with Ben. Another funny part in the A-list was when Ana was on the plane and a older man was trying to hit on her, when Ben saved her the man became angry and when he spoted them lying to Sam about how they met he busted them in their lie being that he was there.

Of coure all the snobby, rich girls in Beverly Hill could not live without drama. All through out this book there is drama, drama, drama, over boys, boys, boys. The main boy in this book being Ben. The two of Sams friends, even herself have all been in love with Ben at some point of time, but neither of ther the other girls know about their secret love. More drama fumes when they find out he doesn't want them, he wants Ana.

In the A-list it takes you deep into the life of the rich. In the book known as the six didgit people. Almost every teenage girl in this book has had some kind of placstic surgery. They are also stuck in the worl of being thin. All of them have high class cars and luxury houses with pools and jacizzis in the backyard. They have personal designers come to their homes with trunks of clothing from stores like chanel, mark jacovs, and prada. The most important thing they do in the life of the rich is rank you based on your soscial ststus. The best one being the title of the book, The A-list.

Becky, did you think think this book was good or what?, like totally yea...of course. The a-list was amazing girly book. Any girly girl in grades 7-12 would really enjoy this. It was filled with lots of humor, drama, and gave you a small glimpse of how the rich people live.

The A-List.......2007-03-30

Anna Percy leads a dull life that is strictly by the book. When her best friend Cyn starts going out with her crush Scott, Anna decides it is definitely time for a change. She catches the next flight to LA, California to live with her father in search for a new and improved life. She meets a guy named Ben on the flight to LA and starts to like him, thinking he is the start to her new and improved self. When Anna lands in LA her Dad is breaking promises just as soon as she gets there and Anna meets three not so nice girls. Sam, Cammie, and Dee don't exactly come off as the most friendly people. Anna soon discovers that her fairytale life in her head she planned on having is going to be a lot harder than she expected. The A- List was a very attention grabbing and entertaining book.

A part of this book that made it entertaining was the love "problems". In the story, Anna starts going out with a guy named Ben Birnbaum. It turns out almost every girl at Beverly Hills High is in love with him. Including Sam Sharpe, Cammie, and Dee- the girls Anna meets at Jackson Sharpe's(Sam's Father) wedding. Other guys at BHH like Anna besides Ben, so its one big love feud over Ben and Anna. It seems that Cammie and Ben had a former relationship, and Ben had a fling with Sam and Dee. Back in New York, where Anna used to live Anna fell for this guy named Scott. She didn't tell this to her best friend who soon starting going out with him. The entire thing was like a written soap opera, and very fun to read.

One element of the story that made this such a good book, was the main character, Anna. She was pretty much the only person in the story who acted like a real person. Unlike all of the other girls in the story who are conceited and all have the same shallow personality, Anna was different. In the story, when Anna comes to LA all of the girls are obsessed about the big-time movie stars and who looks the best etc. Anna, on the otherhand, is a bit more laid back and doesn't really care or know about that many movie stars. This is one of the reasons why Ben ends up liking Anna over Cammie.

Something about this story that makes it seem unreal is the very rich lifestyle of most of the characters in the story. Almost every character in the story- including the teenagers- have a bank account at least in the upper six digits. Most of the girls in this story are the type that eat caviar and walk around in high-heel stalettos. Samantha Sharpe's father, for example, has a twelve thousand square foot home. Everyone in the story has maids, waiters, waitresses, cooks, etc. Even though normal people are not that rich, this still made the story enjoyable.

The theme in this story was very inspirational(the theme I picked anyway). The theme was that if you try to re- invent your life some positive things will result from it. When Anna decided to start a new life as a different Anna, and she moved to LA, she met a guy named Ben she met on the plane who liked her. She also developed a semi- different attitude towards the Beverly Hills girls. She was more confident than she was back in New York and she was actually living her life. Overall, The A- List was a wonderful book. It was extremely fun and very hard to put down.
S.Brown

Good Book.......2007-02-19

The A-list is the first book of the A-list series, and this book is basically about rich teens living the high life in Beverly Hills, California. The Book starts off with a well-bred, 17 year old, High school senior named Anna Percy, who has decided to add some excitement to her life by moving from her mother's posh townhouse in New York City's Upper East Side, to her father's mansion in Beverly Hills, California. Anna, whom is Polite, Well-Mannered,and Educated is tired of living in the shadow of her best friend Cynthia Baltres, who is Wild, Care-free, and Daring, and has decided that Los Angeles is the perfect place to start her new wild life. Not to mention that it's New Years eve and what better way to start off her new life in the New Year. On her way to L.A. Anna meets Ben Birnbaum, an 18 year old, college student who attends Princeton, and are immediately attracted to each other. After the plane ride Ben wants to continue seeing Anna and invites her to a famous actors wedding, named Jackson Sharpe, but not all is fun and games for Anna when she is forced to meet: Samantha Sharpe, Jackson Sharpe's 17 year old daughter, who is witty, smart,but with serious body image issues, and has the hots for Ben. Cammie Sheppard, One of Sam's best friends, who is beautiful, seductive, and cold-hearted, and happens to be Ben's Ex. Dee Young, Sam and Cammie's other best friend, who is ditzy, air-headed, and Waify, and also happens to like Ben.

In my opinion, I really like this book mostly because of Samantha, because she is the most real one, going through real problems that many teenage girls today seem to be having. This book is also a fun read because we get to see how the rich live in all of their excess. This book isn't really supposed to teach us anything or give us any morals or valuable lessons. It's just for a light, fun read.

Times Square Red, Times Square Blue (Sexual Cultures)

Average customer rating:

hey, reader! stop giving no-star ratings to this book!
Prelude and fugue
An intelligent, touching book
Sex and the City
Not worth it

Times Square Red, Times Square Blue (Sexual Cultures)
Samuel Delany
Manufacturer: NYU Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0814719198
Release Date: 1999-04-01

Amazon.com

An award-winning science fiction writer, esteemed professor of comparative literature at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and celebrated essayist and memoirist, Samuel Delany is one of America's keenest observers. He was also a longtime habitué of many of the sex theaters in New York City's Times Square, spending, by his own estimate, "thousands and thousands of hours" at the Capri, Variety Photoplays, the Eros, and the Venus. In the 1990s all of these theaters were shut down through new restrictive zoning laws, part of a combined effort by the Walt Disney Corporation and the administration of Mayor Rudy Giuliani to gentrify the area, replacing these seedily memorable institutions with antiseptic, innocuous architectural and cultural creations in the name of health safety. But as Delany reveals in his new book, Times Square Red, Times Square Blue, the decision to clean up Times Square had little to do with public health, and everything to do with corporate greed.

In the two essays that comprise this eloquent, provocative book, Delany grieves for the loss of this strip of sexual release. Though he is careful not to romanticize or sentimentalize the peep shows and porn theaters, he does illuminate the way in which these venues crossed class, racial, and sexual orientation lines, providing a delightfully subversive utopia--and a microcosm of New York life. In the first essay, "Times Square Blue," Delany details his shared erotic and conversational encounters with working-class and homeless men in the theaters (which primarily showed straight porn films) and the genuine friendships that resulted; these immensely personal reminiscences also provide a social history of late-20th-century Times Square. Drawing on historical and theoretical resources in the second essay, "Three, Two, One, Contact: Times Square Red," Delany next builds a thoughtful and passionate argument against the gentrification of the area and the classist, characterless direction in which he sees New York heading. Read together, the essays of Times Square Red, Times Square Blue are both heartfelt homage to a beloved city and lament for a quirky vitality increasingly phased out by encroaching capitalism. --Kera Bolonik

Book Description

"Measured but emotional, illuminating but challenging." -The San Francisco Chronicle

"Remarkable." -Salon

"Essential." -The Nation

"In a provocative and persuasively argued cri de coeur against New York City's gentrification and the redevelopment of Times Square in the name of 'family values and safety,' acclaimed science fiction writer Delany proves himself a dazzlingly eloquent and original social commentator. . . . This bracing and well-calibrated blend of journalism, personal history and cultural criticism will challenge readers of every persuasion." -Publishers Weekly[starred review]

Both a celebration of the kaleidoscopic possibilities inherent in urban diversity and a eulogy for the plurality of human contact and stimulation squelched by the Times Square makeover." -Village Voice

If one street in America can claim to be the most infamous, it is surely 42nd Street. Between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, 42nd Street was once known for its peep shows, street corner hustlers and movie houses. Over the last two decades the notion of safety-from safe sex and safe neighborhoods, to safe cities and safe relationships-has overcome 42nd Street, giving rise to a Disney store, a children's theater, and large, neon-lit cafes. 42nd Street has, in effect, become a family tourist attraction for visitors from Berlin, Tokyo, Westchester, and New Jersey's suburbs. Samuel R. Delanysees a disappearance not only of the old Times Square, but of the complex social relationships that developed there: the points of contact between people of different classes and races in a public space. In Times Square Red, Times Square Blue, Delany tackles the question of why public restrooms, peepshows, and tree-filled parks are necessary to a city's physical and psychological landscape. He argues that starting in 1985, New York City criminalized peep shows and sex movie houses to clear the way for the rebuilding of Times Square. Delany's critique reveals how Times Square is being "renovated" behind the scrim of public safety while the stage is occupied by gentrification. Times Square Red, Times Square Blue paints a portrait of a society dismantling the institutions that promote communication between classes, and disguising its fears of cross-class contact as "family values." Unless we overcome our fears and claim our "community of contact," it is a picture that will be replayed in cities across America.

Customer Reviews:

hey, reader! stop giving no-star ratings to this book!.......2004-01-31

A confused "Amazon Customer" is repeatedly inserting blurbs from other periodicals into the "customer review" section of this page, AND failing to give "star" ratings to these inserts -- thus steadily dragging down the star-rating of this book. Since the blurbs are positive and have been repeatedly entered, I assume this "Amazon Customer" wants people to be interested in the book. Well, by failing to give a star rating, you're doing exactly the opposite! So either stop inserting blurbs altogether, or start giving them star ratings. This book is too cool to be muddied up by your confusion.

Prelude and fugue.......2000-03-11

Samuel Delaney has done the near imposible - he has written a book that is both titillating and informing. Dividing his cogent 21st Century social philosophy into two parts is at first disconcerting: Why are we reading (buying) a book that lets us in on the gossip of firsthand observation of Times Square New York, then in a page turn becomes a sophisticated academic treatise on our current social problems, in the City, and in a Country? Once past this mirage of a hurdle Delaney makes it patently clear why he chose this format. If we are introduced to a problem in a seductive manner, we pay closer attention to the bigger issues. This superb little book is illuminating in its exploration of where we are in our interpersonal relationships, our interplay with those around us (street, neighborhood, city, country), and our current drive to homogenize our world. Beautifully written, immensely readable, and a very important contribution to our social perceptions!

An intelligent, touching book.......2000-01-06

I always thought of Samuel Delaney as a writer of science fiction, my least favorite genre, so this is my first book by him. I was impressed and delighted. The worst thing I can say about it is that Mr. Delaney has a love of dependent clauses strung along inside comma-copious sentences that were sometimes hard to read. But he has awesome insights too, and compassion and wisdom lace every page. Makes me wish I was old enough to partake of that culture.

Sex and the City.......1999-11-24

A remarkable book, with both the frankest discussion of people's sexual desires and needs of any book I've read in years, and a compelling argument about the crucial role places like the old Times Square play in the life of a city. A paeon to America's cities and an intimate history of a culture being destroyed. Delany's masterful prose makes this brief book a treat to read. A great stocking stuffer for the intellectually and sexually adventurous.

Not worth it.......1999-11-20

This book promises to be a history and social commentary on Times Square's sleazy recent past. But in reality the book is told from a very narrow and restrictive point-of-view (. . . )There's nothing wrong with that except he practically ignores the fact that the West 42nd Street sex shops, peep shows, and massage parlors were also an attraction for heterosexual men. The reader will get painfully tired of reading endless descriptions of Delaney's sexual exploits among the XXX theater crowd. Additionally, the handfull of black and white photos of the empty storefronts of the "Forty Deuce" were taken after most of the shops had been driven out of business. Without good photos of the way 42nd Street used to be, the vibrant nature of the area is greatly diminished and Delaney's text doesn't make up for it. If you are looking for a social history of the old Times Square, something balanced and better illustrated, try Josh Alan Friedman's "Tales of Times Square" instead.

Average customer rating:

Very Unlikable Characters
sincere, mean as life and insightful
A disarmingly candid, greatly superificial, and charmingly quirky book
Very different from the beloved show
Very different from TV series

Sex and the City
Candace Bushnell
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Very Unlikable Characters.......2007-08-15

Let me start by saying, I'm sort of a literary snob who always sides with the book rather than the movie/television show. However, this time I can't. I've been a HUGE fan of Sex and the City for years, so when I saw this book at the store the other day I had to pick it up. I read it in one sitting, and I was very surprised by it. You can see where a lot of Sex and the City episodes got their themes - Mr. Big, Modelizers, Wild Women Turned Connecticut Mommies, Hopelessly Romantic Young Guys, Playboys, etc. The book was actually pretty interesting and entertaining, if not completely depressing (is love really THAT much of an outdated concept these days?)

The one thing I didn't like about the book, plain and simple, were the characters. Take Carrie, for example. In the television show she chain smokes, sleeps around, spends more than her fair share of money on clothes and shoes she doesn't need, and she makes the same mistakes over and over again (ie. Mr. Big). However, she has a heart. She's a good person. You root for her. You can see that, while cynical, Carri is a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man, but wouldn't push the right one away.

The Carrie of the book is one of the least likable characters I have ever come across in any form of entertainment. Yes, she chain smokes, sleeps around, spends more than her fair share of money of clothes and shoes she doesn't need, and she makes lots of lots of the same mistakes. But this time she doesn't have a heart. Or a soul. She's a whiny, immature, drug-addicted 35-year old woman who needs to cling to a man in order to validate her own self-worth. Instead of focusing on her career, or even just being a good person, Carrie does every drug imaginable, wakes up with a hangover every single day, clings to and cries over Mr. Big, and then sleeps with as many random guys as she can, all while droning on and on about how bored she is with it all. So then stop. I only hope this character wasn't based on a real woman. There are times when you just want to slap her in the face and scream "Wake up! You're 35! You need to grow up and get your life together, you whining, spoiled, completely annoying and needy person!" It actually gets frustrating!

Now I know the book was here long before the television show, but we all know that it was the TV show that made the entire franchise such a huge success. If you read the book looking for the television shows message of being a strong, independent woman who can conquer the world, you won't find it here. If you want to laugh at lifeless, pathetic characters and realize that hey, maybe your own life isn't so bad, then you'll be greatly entertained!

sincere, mean as life and insightful.......2007-05-13

A smart look into the life of single women and dating.
More realistic than the tv series, with no endings where the cute and beautiful win the day. Rather, more realisticlly, meaner and brutal.

It dwells on the subtleties and richness of dating details. Good read.

A disarmingly candid, greatly superificial, and charmingly quirky book.......2007-05-06

As someone who recently discovered (and became addicted to) HBO's delightful series "Sex and the City," it was inevitable that I'd wind up investigating Candace Bushnell's book. Bushnell's book is the collected form of the column she wrote for years before TV writer Darren Star turned it into a hit television series. Ironically, though Bushnell's book probably wouldn't get anywhere near as much attention if it weren't for the TV series, it's because of the TV series that it appears so many readers have had a foul reaction to the book. It's true that those expecting the TV show on paper are bound to be disappointed, probably in a big way, because Bushnell's "Sex and the City" doesn't have a lot in common with the show.

For the most part, the book does revolve around Carrie Bradshaw (a thinly-disguised alter-ego for Bushnell, with even the same initials), a thirty-something columnist in New York. Miranda Hobbes does show up a few times during the first half of the book, though she's not a lawyer. Samantha Jones is not a PR agent nor such a nymphomaniac as she was in the show. And Charlotte is a British woman, whose TV counterpart appeared at the beginning of the series' pilot episode. Stanford Blatch, Carrie's successful homosexual friend, is the only character who remains virtually the same, though here he's a screenwriter. Many of the same situations presented throughout the show pop up in the book, such as Stanford's obsession with his model "protege," the torment of the baby shower, and "modelizers." And those who loved Chris Noth's Mr. Big needn't worry. Big is a major character in the book and is just as adorable (and even less rambunctious) as he was in the show, though the outcome of he and Carrie's relationship is different in the book than in the show.

Bushnell's columns were meant more as musings on the life of single women in New York, and often single men as well, than as a linear narrative. Thus it's surprising that her writings work so well as a book. She has a very cute, quirky, innocent style of writing, and that's a big part of what makes her book such a blast. However Bushnell offers little insight into what any of the characters are actually feeling, and rightly so: it just accents their appalling and, frankly, upsetting superficiality. The dating scene in Manhattan is a hellish world where all that matters is sex, money, fashion, and drugs. Bushnell is obviously deeply involved in this world, and it's her knowledge of it, along with her characters' candid musings, that kept me reading.

In the end, those expecting the HBO series in a book are going to be very disappointed. Those expecting something resembling the HBO series will probably be let down as well. The book and the series are designed for two different worlds - while the show tended to have a sweet optimism to it, Bushnell writes with the same sort of dreamy, hopeful cynicism that one would find in a Bret Easton Ellis book. However, those who would rather read the book than incessently compare it with the show may enjoy it. I recommend Candace Bushnell's "Sex and the City" to those who are younger and looking for a fun, unusual, honest read.

Very different from the beloved show.......2007-04-16

While this book undoubtedly made a wonderful column, it transalted differently onto the big screen. It is very entertaining, although the cast of characters varies, and the ending differs from SITC's.

Bushnell is a great writer, but her fiction feels vastly removed from column work such as this collection.

If you can approach this book with an open mind, you may very well enjoy it. If Carrie-mania alone inspires you to read it--you may be starkly let-down.

Very different from TV series.......2007-01-09

Very different from TV series, so not exactly what I was expecting. A little on the angry, cynical side but still entertaining reading for the most part.

Average customer rating:

A jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and various plot revelations make this 'It Girl' installment 'Unforgettable'
Unforgettable...
best one yet!
Interesting and Compelling, but....
The best one in the series so far...

Unforgettable (It Girl Novel #4)
Cecily Von Ziegesar
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316113484

Book Description

The New York Times bestselling spin-off series to the #1 bestselling Gossip Girl is set in an elite East Coast boarding school and features favorite Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey. Having a roommate at elite Waverly Academy means nightly sleepovers and double the designer wardrobe. But Callie Vernon never really liked late-night girl talk or swapping cashmere sweaters with her younger, rosy-cheeked roomie, Jenny Humphrey. So when Jenny stole her longtime boyfriend, Easy Walsh, Callie didn?t feel that guilty about turning right around and kissing him behind Jenny?s back. Okay, maybe a little guilty, but it certainly didn?t stop her from enjoying it. Now, if only Easy would stop being so irritatingly indecisive and dump Jenny already!While the two roommates are sharing a boyfriend, the rest of Dumbarton?s residents are sharing their feelings at the newly founded Women of Waverly club?aka, WOW! Everyone is totally bonding, revealing their most personal secrets, and hugging out their past rivalries. But despite the sharing-is-caring vibe, there are some things these girls aren?t spilling?like who?s making special late-night trips to the crater . . . and with whom.Now it?s only a matter of time before all the newfound girl power explodes into a massive girl fight. But this battle goes well beyond the ivy colored brick walls of Dumberton?it?s about who will be Waverly?s next It Girl.

Customer Reviews:

A jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and various plot revelations make this 'It Girl' installment 'Unforgettable'.......2007-09-29

Waverly Academy Sophomore, Jenny Humphrey, has done everything in her power to convince herself that her relationship with the resident horse-loving, sullen artist, Easy Walsh, was picture perfect. But after a game of I Never...initiated by the queen of mean herself, Tinsley Carmichael, Jenny is forced to face facts and come to terms with the knowledge that everything between her and Easy is certainly not as smooth sailing as she'd hoped. Easy has been wooing his ex-girlfriend - and Jenny's current Dumbarton roommate - Callie Vernon. What Jenny is still completely oblivious to, however, is the fact that not only have Easy and Callie gone out to dinner on more than one occasion, they've also shared more than a few secret kisses between one another. Jenny is heartbroken, and convinced that she needs time away from Easy to get her thoughts together. Callie, sucking up her me, me, me attitude suddenly becomes Jenny's best friend, sharing hugs, and telling secrets. It appears that she's realized how un-worth her time Easy is, and is much more interested in making nice with Jenny. But things can't stay that way forever. Especially when Easy is currently contemplating the situation, weighing the pros and cons of each girl to figure out who, exactly, holds the key to his heart. Sure, he thinks Jenny's fresh-faced innocence is adorable, but he has history with Callie. It seems like a simple decision, but even the moody Easy is having trouble balancing his feelings. Speaking of feelings, Tinsley - the girl who possesses none - is still hooking up with the ultra-hot freshman, Julian McCafferty. Of course, the violet-eyed beauty is concerned about her reputation, and, much to the chagrin of Julian, insists that the two keep their trysts on the down-low, to ensure that no one learns that Tinsley has gone the way of Mrs. Robinson, and begun to rob the cradle with a younger boy - even if he is as handsome as Julian. Flaming-haired Brett Messerschmidt, on the other hand, is fed up with the entire male population, as well as trouble-making Tinsley. After learning that her steady boyfriend, Jeremiah, cheated on her with another girl during their brief break-up, and having her heart stomped on by the gorgeous Mr. Dalton, all within a few weeks of one another, Brett comes to the conclusion that boys just aren't worth her time. So she, along with the help of her new best friend, Kara Whalen decide to organize the Women of Waverly (WOW) club - a forum where all the female students at Waverly can get together to vent, fume, and just discuss boys, love, life, and any other topic plaguing their minds. The club instantly brings everyone together, as they reveal some of the most personal secrets of their lives. But some things need to remain unspoken - like who's hooking up at the crater, and who's cheating on whom. All this bonding, however, can't last long, as the sudden rush of girl power is sure to end up in a knock-down, blow-up girl fight that can't possibly stay contained within the ivy-covered walls of Waverly, and will determine who, exactly the next It Girl will be.

While many YA series lose steam after the first or second book, Cecily von Ziegesar manages to introduce new characters, and fresh plot situations within the pages of each IT GIRL installment, that keep the reader hooked on not only the storyline, but each and every new face that appears. GOSSIP GIRL's Jenny Humphrey still seems to stay on top. Her unfaltering naivete, and fresh-faced innocence make her an adorable, unthreatening character whom you can't help but sympathize with, and adore. Combine that with her fun-loving, caring personality, and you have the makings of a character who resembles your best friend, and is impossible to resist. Callie's mean streak falters slightly within UNFORGETTABLE, and manages to reveal a vulnerable side to her personality - one that makes the reader see her struggle with an eating disorder, and problems within her family. The raw emotion she displays as she claws her way into Easy's heart is hard to ignore; while her attempts to win Jenny's friendship work to show the reader that she does, indeed, have a heart. There is always that slight hesitation from the reader, however, that makes you think her nastiness could return at any moment, making her a hard character to trust. Kara's introduction to the series in RECKLESS was interesting, yet she remains a prevalent addition to the cast within the pages of UNFORGETTABLE. Her offbeat personality, and style make her the perfect pal for Brett, and seeing their slightly confusing relationship - for them - grow from page to page is no doubt interesting. The party-hardy, beer-loving, grass-smoking, Heath Ferro, on the other hand, is still as humorous as ever. And, oddly enough, he's suddenly palling around with both Brett and Kara, which instantly makes his presence more prevalent than ever. It's also nice to see more of Julian in the picture, as he has more to his personality than just the ability to hook-up with an older woman, and that shines through within the pages of UNFORGETTABLE. Tinsley, however, is slightly cast out of the limelight within this installment, taking a backseat to not only Kara, but Heath and Julian, as well. However, while her character is seen much less than usual within UNFORGETTABLE, the few times she does hit the spotlight are both memorable, and nasty to the bone, making it obvious that she has something planned for the students of Waverly that no one ever expected. A jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and various plot revelations make this IT GIRL installment UNFORGETTABLE.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Unforgettable..........2007-07-07

I was so excited once this book came out. Its most definatley the best It Girl novel yet. It seems that the series just keeps getting better and better with each book. Unforgettable definately keeps you on your toes and wantng more. Poor Jenny just keeps getting stuck in complicated situatiins and boy can girls be vicious.....especially if it involves a hot guy. I wonder whos going to take the fall for the fire? There are so many possibilities.

best one yet!.......2007-07-07

I thought this book was the best one out of the four and I can't wait until the next one. The only thing I didn't like is how the author leaves you hanging at the end. The more I read about Brett and Kara the more respect I had for Heath. Also B and K remind me of Willow and Tara of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In my opinion Easy needs to stay with Callie this time so Jenny and Julian can have a chance. Tinsley was the character that made me mad at the end of this book because of how extra, extra mean she was. Can't wait until number 5 to see how or if things will work out.

Interesting and Compelling, but...........2007-06-23

The characters that i was beginning to like, Von Ziegesar made me hate at the end. I don't like the way Ziegesar creates a friendship between 2 characters but just to have them broken apart at the end. If Brett, Jenny, Kara and Heath were not in this book, this book would be about trashy whores with a lot of money.

The best one in the series so far..........2007-06-14

i bought this book expecting to be dissapointed like i was with Reckless. i was greatefully proven wrong. it was fulfilling, everything happened in a way that made you want to immediately grab the next book in the series. to the people that are die-hard gossip girl fans, dont miss out on the It girl series b/c it can hold its own. there were times where the characters had me laughing, crying, at the edge of my seat with excitement, and envy b/c they were having so much fun. dont miss out on this series!

Same Sex in the City: (So Your Prince Charming Is Really a Cinderella)

Average customer rating:

Could NOT put this thing down!
Very Informative!
It's just a collection of people's stories...
Just what I've been waiting for...
Outstanding Novel

Same Sex in the City: (So Your Prince Charming Is Really a Cinderella)
Lauren Levin , and Lauren Blitzer
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416916326

Book Description

At last, a relationship book for lesbians that tells it like it is . . .

The journey from sexual curiosity to finally coming out can be confusing without proper guidance and empowering role models. In Same Sex in the City, Lauren Levin and Lauren Blitzer provide women -- gay, straight, and bi-curious alike -- with firsthand insight into the advantages and challenges of being a lesbian. In prose that is at once honest and uplifting, the Laurens relate their own experiences and those of the women they interview, as well as offer serious advice, titillating anecdotes, and a positive attitude for girls who know they're gay -- and for those who are wondering about their sexuality but are not yet sure whether their Prince Charming is really a Cinderella.

Part confessional, part informational, Same Sex in the City covers the gamut of lesbian life -- from dating to heartbreak, and from hooking up with straight chicks to raising a family. It's the book that millions of women have been searching for -- a relationship guide that will help every woman come to terms with and celebrate her sexuality, whatever it may be.

Customer Reviews:

Could NOT put this thing down!.......2006-08-22

I was up until the wee hours of the morning for three nights in a row--this book is a page-turner. I'm not gay (that's what they all say, but four beers later...), so the dating info wasn't really helpful to me, except in a fascinating, peek-through-the-keyhole kind of way. The narratives were riveting: two on Chanukah cruises in the Caribbean, threesomes gone bad, raw and real stories about coming out and breaking up, and hilarious, read aloud anecdotes about dating, bar-hopping, and "going in for the kill." I was sad to read about the parents crying over their beautiful gay girls and glad to see them come around. I've already recommended this book to half a dozen people--you don't have to be gay to fall in love with it.

Very Informative!.......2006-08-18

I really enjoyed this book, and it helped me realize that the feelings that I've been having toward women for the majority of my life are common and lots of other females have been in the same boat as me. The only semi-negative message I got from the book was "pretty popular girls can be lesbians, too".

It's just a collection of people's stories..........2006-07-25

Not only is this book, that is authored by TWO people, unaffecting, it's not even really written by them. They've got an intro in every chapter, and that's basically it. It's a collection of people's stories. That is something that should appear in GoNYC magazine, not in a book. This is the first of it's kind, and I expected it to move me. It's not informative and it's not different. It's full of cliche's and there's even a rip of a dashboard song. "Turning to you is like falling in love when you're 10." If you're going to have most of your book written for you by real people, at least have what you write be REAL and YOURS. Even Greg Behrendt's "It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken" is more effective than this. This is the book that stereotypes are made of.

Just what I've been waiting for..........2006-07-20

I want to thank the authors and the wonderful women who contributed their stories to this book. When I came out several years ago, it was a scary time as I had the same stereotypical views of what a lesbian was as the next person. I was unsure of myself and even more scared that I would never find people like me, which is to say a femme girl who happens to like femme girls. Through the years, I have discovered that this world does indeed exist. In a way, this book has reinforced to me just how many of us there are out there and it will give the rest of society a chance to see into this cross-section of the lesbian world. It was so great to read so many of these stories and know exactly how these women were feeling and what they were thinking. It has also been a great way to get my friends and family to better understand exactly where i'm coming from. Thank you again for this great book!!

Outstanding Novel.......2006-06-03

This book is nothing short of marvelous. For a mid-western lesbian "outcast" i learned everything i need to know about lesbian life style, and felt good about it! Not only do the authors boost a gal's self esteem, but the how to guide's couldn't be more on point! Every straight, bi, gay or curious girl should have a copy! It's also the perfect gift for a gay woman to give to her straight friends and family to understand what a she is going through in the coming out experience, as well as lesbian lifestyle. You go girls!

Average customer rating:

a collection of some fragmented articles
The show is soooo much better!
Sex and The City
Just an idea for the excellent TV series.
The screenwriters were geniuses!

Sex and the City
Candace Bushnell
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

The "Sex and the City" columnist for the New York Observer documents the social scene of modern-day Manhattan. The reader gets an introduction to "Modelizers," the men who only have eyes for models, as well as a more common species, the "Toxic Bachelor." Reading like a society novel gone downtown and askew, Sex and the City is a comically sordid look at status and ambition and the many characters consumed by the sexual politics of the '90s.

Book Description

The "Sex and the City" columnist for the New York Observer documents the social scene of modern-day Manhattan. The reader gets an introduction to "Modelizers," the men who only have eyes for models, as well as a more common species, the "Toxic Bachelor." Reading like a society novel gone downtown and askew, Sex and the City is a comically sordid look at status and ambition and the many characters consumed by the sexual politics of the '90s.

Customer Reviews:

a collection of some fragmented articles.......2007-07-30

If you're after Carrie & Mr Big's story, probably you'll be disappointed - instead of a complete storyline, the book is a collection of some fragmented articles (originally appeared on a newspaper). I think the TV drama, which was based on & inspired by this book, is far more entertaining.

But I must say Ms Bushnell has made some interesting & remarkable observation of relationship pattern in big cities. Quite impressive.

The show is soooo much better!.......2007-02-01

I was very disappointed when I read this book. I had already seen a couple of the seasons of the TV show and was hoping to get an idea of how it got started. This author is awful! Her writing just doesn't flow well and it's not as engaging as the book. Don't waste your time.

Sex and The City.......2007-01-13

Great book and wonderful airplane reading. Nice thing to have in the library

Just an idea for the excellent TV series........2007-01-10

the only merit of this book is that it served as an inspiration for the smart and funny TV series, which I think it's far more meaningful that it may seems at a first glance.
The book is dull, badly written, and shallow.
It is incredible how different is from the scripts of the TV serial.

The screenwriters were geniuses!.......2006-11-08

What a disappointment. The TV series bears almost no resemblance to the book. A few character names are the same and the "Carrie" and "Mr. Big" characters are drawn roughly the same as the TV characters. All I can say is that the TV scriptwriters did an outstanding job at developing the series' well-rounded characters from this mess of a "book." There is virtually no plot or character development. The book is a collection of seemingly unconnected short essays in interview format. Bushnell owes a debt of gratitude to the screenplay writer who was genius enough to take her twisted mess of words and turn them into the scintillating story that we know from the series.

City of Laughter: Sex and Satire in Eighteenth-Century London

Average customer rating:

An Interesting new Scholarship
A book highly recommended for any in-depth college-level collection.
engaging, incomparable critique of historic British prints
A Fabulous History

City of Laughter: Sex and Satire in Eighteenth-Century London
Vic [V.A.C.] Gatrell
Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0802716024
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Book Description

Between 1770 and 1830, London was the world’s largest and richest city, the center of hectic social ferment and spectacular sexual liberation. These singular conditions prompted revolutionary modes of thought, novel sensibilities, and constant debate about the relations between men and women. Such an atmosphere also stimulated outrageous behavior, from James Boswell’s copulating on Westminster Bridge to the Prince Regent’s attempt to seduce a woman by pleading, sobbing, and stabbing himself with a pen-knife. And nowhere was London’s lewdness and iconoclasm more vividly represented than its satire.

City of Laughter chronicles the rise and fall of a great tradition of ridicule and of the satirical, humorous, and widely circulated prints that sustained it. Focusing not on the polished wit upon which polite society prided itself, but rather on malicious, sardonic and satirical humor—humor that was bawdy, knowing and ironic—Vic Gatrell explores what this tradition says about Georgian views of the world and about their own pretensions. Taking the reader into the clubs and taverns where laughter flowed most freely, Gatrell examines how Londoners laughed about sex, scandal, fashion, drink and similar pleasures of life.

Combining words and images–including more than 300 original drawings by Cruikshank, Gillray, Rowlandson, and others—City of Laughter offers a brilliantly original panorama of the era, providing a ground-breaking reappraisal of a period of change and a unique account of the origins of our attitudes toward sex, celebrity and satire today.

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting new Scholarship.......2007-03-09

Benny Hill in 1800. We tend to think of the Brits as being rather prudish. There was even a play a few years ago -- 'No Sex Please, We're British.' We especially think of the days past when Jane Austen was writting her sexless romance stories that only a minimum amount of 'laying down and thinking of England' was done to perpetuate the race.

Now comes Mr. Gattrell's book that blows that all apart. He managed to find some hundreds (at least) of graphic prints in the British museum that are more graphic than you would expect to see. Ribald is the word that comes to mind. Here are drawings of every aspect you can image. There's bathroom humor, sexual satire, everything you can imagine.

Underneath the humor there is more serious research as Mr. Gatrell has used the prints to illustrate the climate of the times. It is a bit of scholarship not seen before and which may be used to increase our understanding of the times, much as the cartoons of Lincoln help to explain the background to our own Civil War.

A book highly recommended for any in-depth college-level collection........2007-03-06

CITY OF LAUGHTER: SEX AND SATIRE IN 18TH-CENTURY LONDON considers the presence and meaning of lewd graphic prints in early 18th century London society, and comes from a little-known treasure trove of such prints long held by the British Library. These prints held satire, observational pieces, and represented a changing sexual and social climate in the country: they are key to any in-depth, college-level understanding of 18th century London. Thousands of such prints of the era explore Georgian worldviews and habits in a book highly recommended for any in-depth college-level collection.

engaging, incomparable critique of historic British prints.......2007-02-14

Gatrell seamlessly blends art history and appreciation with social history for an elaborate, panoramic treatment of the spirit of ribaldry and satire captured in numerous comic prints of the era. The author goes well beyond the best known satirical artists of Hogarth, Gillray, Rowlandson, and Cruickshank to include numerous others as well. (The treatment carries over into the early nineteenth century.) Nearly 300 of the prints are reproduced in color in varying sizes from full-page to one-third of the 5" x 10" page size. In this century of sweeping social change from the old order to a much more democratic society, the artists took full advantage of their new freedoms and the growing number of newspapers and other media including posters to portray the antics and vices of English men and women. No one, not royalty or high politicians, escaped the scathing portraits of Hogarth, Rowlandson, and the others; though many of the prints had generic characters such as lechers, lusty women, hypocrites, and drunkards. Pornographic and scatological material and illustration knew no bounds. Still, much of the art of caricature and satire had a moralistic or political intent. In the early 1800s, the "radical commentary turned solemn and earnest on the whole, as a new optimism about the prospects for social- and self-improvement developed." Democratic society had grown to understand itself, its potentials, and its desirable proprieties better. The Victorian era was dawning. Adulterers, drunkards, etc., were no longer to be simply ridiculed, but reformed. Besides, it was becoming increasingly risky to make merciless and often bitter fun of recognizable leaders of society--the legal and financial troubles of some of the satirists moderated others. But generally, as democratic, middle-class values and tastes spread throughout the society, the wicked satire which could send a heir to the throne into seclusion and evoke "wild, coarse, reckless, ribald laughter...was beginning to be taught good manners," as the novelist Thackeray saw. Gatrell is a professor of British history in England.

A Fabulous History.......2006-12-25

I cannot rate this book too highly. It is profusely illustrated with hundreds of caricatures from the period; it is well written, witty, and deeply informed; and it covers ground of great interest to anyone interested in the birth of our modern world, this history of manners, or the specific artists treated, e.g. James Gillray, Cruikshank, or Rowlandson. The book is a deep, social history of the satirical print in England from 1780 to 1830, following the winding routes by which laughter, public sexuality, ridicule, and free speech made their way into the 19th century. The scholarly documentation is formidable.

Anyone with an interest in 18th or early 19th century culture will enjoy this book and find a wealth of fascinating observations. Of course, those who have a love for the artists themselves, will find this to be an inestimable resource!

Particularly interesting is the treatment of 'Libertine Philosophy', and the fuzzy boundaries between the high and low-lifes of London of the 18th century when it came to amusement. Gatrell's discussions of the 'history of laughter', yes, it has a history, is brilliant. If you have ever thought about why some jokes are taboo, why laughing out loud can be wonderful or embarrassing, read on.

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