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From: Suzi Steffen <suzisteffen>
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 10:05:10 -0700
Dear CCBCers,
I read FLB's new book, NECKLACE OF KISSES, in ARC form a couple of days ago (and reviewed it on my blog). I am aware it's supposed to be an "adult" book, but I didn't find it so different from all of the other Weetzie Bat books, only longer and with slightly different problems for the main character to solve.
At the recommendation of some slinkster-cool kids I taught last summer, I read all of Block's Weetzie Bat books. I thought they were all right, definitely interesting in terms of subject matter and constructed in a fascinating way. Revolutionary for their time, I guess--I didn't read them in the 1990s, so it's hard to say what effect they might have had on me then.
GIRL GODDESS #9 might be the best of the whole Block canon; her short stories better sustain the atmosphere of magical realism/myth/fairy tales than do her novels (especially the new one).
One reason I do like Block's work is that it's so inclusive of Goth kids and kids who don't identify as mainstream--she's definitely one of the most important authors of "outsider" books. I love that her characters rely on their creativity to transcend their circumstances. I think her books definitely had an effect on Cecil Castellucci's recent YA novel BOY PROOF, for instance; Egg's voice, attitude, and skills seemed reminiscent of a Block narrator (but more grounded in reality). Anyone else care to put forth authors/books influenced by Block? (Maybe Holly Black's TITHE?)
One thing that often disturbs me is that every kid seems not only middle-class but often wealthy, and if the kid isn't that way at the beginning of a book, she (or he) will figure out a way to be highly comfortable by the middle or end--Violet, for instance, in VIOLET AND CLAIRE. In a way it's nice to think that life will work out that way--creativity rewarded, hard work paying off, etc.--but I don't see that playing out in real-life LA (or anywhere else). Speaking of LA, I *do* enjoy reading Block's descriptions of place; she obviously loves the city and writes that love into her scene-setting (including a memorable sequence in NECKLACE).
I am interested to see if she continues the story of Witch Baby/Lily; Witch Baby's last words in NECKLACE seem to broadcast "Possible Sequel!" loud and clear (and that's cool, I want to know).
Oddly, we've also chosen Block to discuss during these two weeks on Adbooks. Hope I don't bore Adbookians with the same thoughts over on that list.
Ta, Suzi Steffen
Suzi's YA Review Blog: http://www.livejournal.com/users/connorgal
Received on Tue 07 Jun 2005 12:05:10 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 10:05:10 -0700
Dear CCBCers,
I read FLB's new book, NECKLACE OF KISSES, in ARC form a couple of days ago (and reviewed it on my blog). I am aware it's supposed to be an "adult" book, but I didn't find it so different from all of the other Weetzie Bat books, only longer and with slightly different problems for the main character to solve.
At the recommendation of some slinkster-cool kids I taught last summer, I read all of Block's Weetzie Bat books. I thought they were all right, definitely interesting in terms of subject matter and constructed in a fascinating way. Revolutionary for their time, I guess--I didn't read them in the 1990s, so it's hard to say what effect they might have had on me then.
GIRL GODDESS #9 might be the best of the whole Block canon; her short stories better sustain the atmosphere of magical realism/myth/fairy tales than do her novels (especially the new one).
One reason I do like Block's work is that it's so inclusive of Goth kids and kids who don't identify as mainstream--she's definitely one of the most important authors of "outsider" books. I love that her characters rely on their creativity to transcend their circumstances. I think her books definitely had an effect on Cecil Castellucci's recent YA novel BOY PROOF, for instance; Egg's voice, attitude, and skills seemed reminiscent of a Block narrator (but more grounded in reality). Anyone else care to put forth authors/books influenced by Block? (Maybe Holly Black's TITHE?)
One thing that often disturbs me is that every kid seems not only middle-class but often wealthy, and if the kid isn't that way at the beginning of a book, she (or he) will figure out a way to be highly comfortable by the middle or end--Violet, for instance, in VIOLET AND CLAIRE. In a way it's nice to think that life will work out that way--creativity rewarded, hard work paying off, etc.--but I don't see that playing out in real-life LA (or anywhere else). Speaking of LA, I *do* enjoy reading Block's descriptions of place; she obviously loves the city and writes that love into her scene-setting (including a memorable sequence in NECKLACE).
I am interested to see if she continues the story of Witch Baby/Lily; Witch Baby's last words in NECKLACE seem to broadcast "Possible Sequel!" loud and clear (and that's cool, I want to know).
Oddly, we've also chosen Block to discuss during these two weeks on Adbooks. Hope I don't bore Adbookians with the same thoughts over on that list.
Ta, Suzi Steffen
Suzi's YA Review Blog: http://www.livejournal.com/users/connorgal
Received on Tue 07 Jun 2005 12:05:10 PM CDT
