Gossip Girl: Would I Lie To You?

Happy New Year to everyone! Wishing you all the luck in the world with all the resolutions and reminding you to party safe!

Author: Cecily Von Ziegesar

Pages: 192

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Summary (from the publisher):
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.

Thoughts:
Everyone has graduated (except for Nate who is working at his Coach's Hampton house). Blair and Serena have these weird European twins flown in by Bailey Winter who end up trying to take over their spotlight from the fashion campaign B & S were muses for. Vanessa had started babysitting in the last book, but in this book she leaves after coming to the Hamptons. She comes back to the city to find Dan exploring his sexuality with a guy named Greg (coworker at The Strand). This happens in a drunken same-sex orgy that was originally supposed to be a literary salon. The story and even some of the editing seemed very lazy. On page 126, they misspelled the word "brother" and put "bother". The one thing I will say was that this was the first time I've seen the series use a Craigslist ad and letters. I also liked some of the quotes being quoted during the literary stuff that was going on (ex. "Weren't ideas, when all is said and done, so superior to reality?" page 64). That was a pleasant surprise, but it wasn't something I could enjoy for long. I was more annoyed than shocked when Serena had her "realization" that she loves Nate this whole time. Not only was it in the tenth book, it was also in the last third half of the book. I'll read the other books after this only because I bought them (so I don't want to waste money). However, I don't know if wasting my time reading them will make up for the money. Since the TV show is over, I don't feel as obligated anymore to finish the series if it's not that well-written. We'll see. My next review will show my decision. 

Ain't No Body Got Time for That

I'm up early (9:00 am to be exact) and while I wake up and get my busy day going, I thought I'd post early for once.

This Christmas, I had the pleasure of sharing it with Eric. Last night was our one year anniversary. All these things are all great, but one thing was grinding my gears. To be specific, it was this video: 

Now, this video isn't so bad when it's standing alone. However, whenever there's a news report on Youtube, there's always a spoof. THAT is what I don't really like. This is it:

For some reason, Eric's siblings could not get enough of this video. I liked it at first because I thought the editing was well done. Hearing it once might make you laugh, but hearing it on repeat for half an hour will really test your patience. Maybe I was just being cranky, but maybe all the repitition butchered it for me as well. Who knows. Anyways, just thought I'd share it with you for this Friday's installment. You be the judge.

'til next time, keep it classy! ♥

-M

Sexist humor on a Wednesday?

I'm very pro-equality among men and women and this can make me laugh.

'til next time, stay classy!♥

-M

Gossip Girl: Only In Your Dreams

Merry Christmas to all! :)

I was going to try to fill in the blanks and rush in reading all the books I've missed. However, it's not fun if it's a job so I'm just picking up where I left off today.

Author: Cecily Von Ziegesar 

Pages: 231

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Summary (from publisher):
Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where the girls are dazzling, the guys are gorgeous, and the summer heat is the perfect excuse to throw a fabulous roof-deck pool party. As if we need a reason!It's our last summer together before heading off to college, and things are sizzling -- no, it's not just the weather. Despite that steamy kiss on graduation night, Blair, Serena, and Nate have gone their separate ways...though not for long. Blair is off to London with her English Lord boyfriend, Serena's about to become a movie star -- as if she wasn't a star already! -- and Nate's rolling up his well-worn khakis and heading to the Hamptons. Back in New York, Dan and Vanessa are rekindling their love. Fiery! Watch out, this summer is going to be hotter than ever

Thoughts (relevant material bolded, opinion is normal font):
As I've said before, the other books have things going on that don't really add to the story (like Blair and Serena kissing) but this one seems to progress the story more than recent books. This is the first one I finish in a two-three day span since the first three books so I don't know if that says something. Also, I read in several outlets that this far along in the series, it isn't even Cecily Von Ziegesar writing anymore (more of a ghostwriter). I don't know how true that is but if it is true, I picked up on it like two books ago. ANYWAYS, out of the main characters, Jenny seems to be the only one absent. I think she got her own spin off series but her absence was noticed since I wasn't reading about her rebellious adventures that I subconsciously got accustomed to. Serena gets a lead in a movie that Blair ends up getting a job as a costume designer. Blair seemed in denial that Lord Marcus was more into his "cousin" (who is made to feel like his arranged fiance) and comes back to New York from England. Blair is excelling and Serena is having trouble for the first time in her life. Serena thinks that she's going to end up with Thaddeus, the Hollywood hotshot, but he ends up being gay. That part of the story was being foreshadowed since the last book and I thought it was well done although I could predict it. Dan cheats on Vanessa with this yoga-obsessed, Zen girl named Bree. Vanessa is heartbroken since she actually moved in with Dan after her sister kicked her out and expected things to go "back to normal". However, Rufus lets her stay and offers her the chance to pay cheap rent in exchange for some company once Dan and Jenny are off in their respective schools. Awkward?! Nate is working in the Hamptons for his lacrosse coach to get his high school diploma (after stealing his stash of Viagra) and meets this local "slut" type named Tawny. Nate hears Blair is back early and thinks she's either pregnant or married and he starts to ditch Tawny as a result, who later hooks up with Chuck. Tawny and Bree were a little lame but I wasn't so annoyed by everything..only one thing. The whole Nate and Blair things needs to finally end or they need to get together. It's starting to feel more juvenile for high school graduates. So, as I've said, this was one of the better books lately and I'm about halfway into the next book because I'm curious to see how everything plays out and where the series will end. Will the story touch on their freshmen year of college? We'll see. 

'til next time, stay classy! ♥
-M

Grades are in! :)

This is already on my Facebook but just showing it to show hard work pays off! Also, not working 50 hours a week makes school a lot easier. Now that I'm employed again, I'm planning on keeping these grades as the standard. Hopefully A's across the board next semester! :)

Book Review Update:
I didn't read the past two weeks because I was cramming for school but I should catch up this winter break. Gossip Girl on the CW officially ended this Monday. :( It was predictable and a litte rushed, but I think the fans got what they wanted. Here's one review you can read that's favorable and here's another that's a little more critical. I'm genuinely very sad to see it go, even if it was kind of lackluster towards the end.

'til next time, stay classy! ♥

-M