Friday, August 06, 2004
Book Blessing: Diary of a Teenage Girl
Despite my movie mania, I have not been reading as many books lately. I seem to only pick them up when I'm out of films and my next Netflix delivery hasn't arrived yet. But... during one such dry spell, I picked up THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL by Phoebe Gloeckner. And once I started reading, the Netflix deliveries started piling up, unopened.
I *loved* that book. I am pissed with the writer and the editor that they allowed such a lame title and mismatched cover image to slip by. This is the book I've always dreamed of writing - it's even better than I could have ever imagined. The book is, in fact, written diary entry style. But I love the mixed media. Parts of the story are drawn out as graphic novel, some scenes are depicted in single-frame comic book style. She includes poetry, as well.
The story line is of a teenage girl growing up in San Francisco in the 1970's. The story starts out as a sexual awakening; she is having an affair with her mother's boyfriend. But it also addresses a lot of issues that teens frequently face - exploring bisexuality, drugs, body image, peer relationships. Though I'll admit the last dozen pages or so were a bit of a disappointment, as that is where the drugs appear. But the ending did not interfere with my adoration for this work of art. If you haven't already read it - check it out and let me know if you think it's as amazing as I do.
I *loved* that book. I am pissed with the writer and the editor that they allowed such a lame title and mismatched cover image to slip by. This is the book I've always dreamed of writing - it's even better than I could have ever imagined. The book is, in fact, written diary entry style. But I love the mixed media. Parts of the story are drawn out as graphic novel, some scenes are depicted in single-frame comic book style. She includes poetry, as well.
The story line is of a teenage girl growing up in San Francisco in the 1970's. The story starts out as a sexual awakening; she is having an affair with her mother's boyfriend. But it also addresses a lot of issues that teens frequently face - exploring bisexuality, drugs, body image, peer relationships. Though I'll admit the last dozen pages or so were a bit of a disappointment, as that is where the drugs appear. But the ending did not interfere with my adoration for this work of art. If you haven't already read it - check it out and let me know if you think it's as amazing as I do.
Comments:
I will definitely check it out. I have been reading like a mad womon lately! I just finished the excellent medical memoir I discussed in my blog, Homesick by Jenny Lauren. One book I highly recommend that I recently devoured is Borderlines by Caroline Kraus. It is a memoir of an unhealthy friendship between two femail friends in San Fran. After the first few pages, I thought to myself, "Oh, no, I will not get anything done until this book is over!" It was that good!
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