Post by BinkyBetsy on Dec 1, 2007 21:49:08 GMT -4
Does anyone read this series, or know anyone who does? I have a sick fascination with it, rather like my sick fascination with FBoFW. I keep telling myself "That's the last installment I'm going to read," but then Rennison cranks out another one, and I have to find out how much worse it can get. There are eight now; I've read the first six.
I read the first installment when it was only one of three. I was working at a bookstore, and took it to read on my break. Thought it wasn't the worst YA I'd ever read, but by no means the best; I was bemused by all the "I couldn't read this on the bus because I was laughing so hard!!!" reader comments. See, I thought the subject matter was interesting: 14 y/o British girl living in what is apparently a skrank village up north, where they still have separate schools and there's very little to do, and then this hot guy appears and how will she catch his eye when every other girl also is? It started off a bit Bridget Jones-y (oh, gee, she's going to a costume party. I'm sure her costume won't contribute to her making a bad impression), and awkwardly paced, unlike the first Adrian Mole diaries, which I love (we shall not speak of the latest ones). But I gave it a chance.
And it wasn't too terribly bad as a standalone. But after the second one, I started wondering if the reader is supposed to think something is wrong with this girl. First of all, she perfectly fits the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Second, I tend to think that even if the main character is huge drama queen, constantly wailing that no one understands them, there should be at least one supporting character who does understand them. It's understandable that Georgia's parents are put off by her behavior. It's understandable that every adult at her school is; I mean, this is supposed to have a Teenagers Against the World theme. But the other teens in the story seem pretty normal, and they don't understand her either. Even the guys who want to snog her or cop a feel think she's a freak. But then, who could understand?
Which leads me to my third point: Georgia is so self-centered, so rude, so quixotic, and so not-terribly-bright, I can't understand why anyone finds her appealing as a main character. I'd enjoy a series about Jas and her annoying friend Georgia, but Georgia thinks Jas is the annoying one. Georgia would be funny if you only saw her exploits, but seeing the thought process that shapes her actions makes her seem...well, retarded, really. Apologies in advance.
So I find out that there's going to be a movie of the first book. Now, I'm actually down with that! I might get what I was looking for when I started reading. Every so often in the books, I get a glimpse of what it must be like in that world, like the subterfuge necessary to let guys see you wearing makeup, but not to let adults see you. I'd like to see these situations from a neutral POV, instead of everything getting bogged down by Georgia's "Me me me it's all about me" narration.
There is one thing, though. I knew they would cast this way, making Georgia an awkward tween, not the best looking in the group, so the audience could empathize. However, there actually seems to be more evidence for her being hot. There's always some guy coming on to her, and since there's absolutely nothing in her personality to attract anyone, it must be her looks. Or, more precisely, her nunga-nungas, which she thinks are too big.
Beyond that, though, it should be enjoyable. Live action will avoid another annoying device: the minute-by-excruciating-minute pacing. Adrian's diaries were set up like an actual diary. He got home and wrote up what had happened that day, as well as he could remember it. Just the high points, and the significant dialogue without all the ums and ers. But Georgia's diaries have that aggravating device of "9:10. I'm not going to do this thing. 9:15. I did that thing. 9:20. And it turned out badly. 9:25: Also I feel stupid." BJ does the same thing -- GAH! Also, note to Rennison: When you put dates on the entries, you're committing yourself to a timeline. Georgia would be, what, seventeen by now? She's still acting like she's fourteen. Be brave; let her age.
I read the first installment when it was only one of three. I was working at a bookstore, and took it to read on my break. Thought it wasn't the worst YA I'd ever read, but by no means the best; I was bemused by all the "I couldn't read this on the bus because I was laughing so hard!!!" reader comments. See, I thought the subject matter was interesting: 14 y/o British girl living in what is apparently a skrank village up north, where they still have separate schools and there's very little to do, and then this hot guy appears and how will she catch his eye when every other girl also is? It started off a bit Bridget Jones-y (oh, gee, she's going to a costume party. I'm sure her costume won't contribute to her making a bad impression), and awkwardly paced, unlike the first Adrian Mole diaries, which I love (we shall not speak of the latest ones). But I gave it a chance.
And it wasn't too terribly bad as a standalone. But after the second one, I started wondering if the reader is supposed to think something is wrong with this girl. First of all, she perfectly fits the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Second, I tend to think that even if the main character is huge drama queen, constantly wailing that no one understands them, there should be at least one supporting character who does understand them. It's understandable that Georgia's parents are put off by her behavior. It's understandable that every adult at her school is; I mean, this is supposed to have a Teenagers Against the World theme. But the other teens in the story seem pretty normal, and they don't understand her either. Even the guys who want to snog her or cop a feel think she's a freak. But then, who could understand?
Which leads me to my third point: Georgia is so self-centered, so rude, so quixotic, and so not-terribly-bright, I can't understand why anyone finds her appealing as a main character. I'd enjoy a series about Jas and her annoying friend Georgia, but Georgia thinks Jas is the annoying one. Georgia would be funny if you only saw her exploits, but seeing the thought process that shapes her actions makes her seem...well, retarded, really. Apologies in advance.
So I find out that there's going to be a movie of the first book. Now, I'm actually down with that! I might get what I was looking for when I started reading. Every so often in the books, I get a glimpse of what it must be like in that world, like the subterfuge necessary to let guys see you wearing makeup, but not to let adults see you. I'd like to see these situations from a neutral POV, instead of everything getting bogged down by Georgia's "Me me me it's all about me" narration.
There is one thing, though. I knew they would cast this way, making Georgia an awkward tween, not the best looking in the group, so the audience could empathize. However, there actually seems to be more evidence for her being hot. There's always some guy coming on to her, and since there's absolutely nothing in her personality to attract anyone, it must be her looks. Or, more precisely, her nunga-nungas, which she thinks are too big.
Beyond that, though, it should be enjoyable. Live action will avoid another annoying device: the minute-by-excruciating-minute pacing. Adrian's diaries were set up like an actual diary. He got home and wrote up what had happened that day, as well as he could remember it. Just the high points, and the significant dialogue without all the ums and ers. But Georgia's diaries have that aggravating device of "9:10. I'm not going to do this thing. 9:15. I did that thing. 9:20. And it turned out badly. 9:25: Also I feel stupid." BJ does the same thing -- GAH! Also, note to Rennison: When you put dates on the entries, you're committing yourself to a timeline. Georgia would be, what, seventeen by now? She's still acting like she's fourteen. Be brave; let her age.
