Joie de Vivre! (Two from Susie Morgenstern)

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I’d never heard of Susie Morgenstern before I picked up a hardbound copy of  A Book of Coupons (#109 for 2009) from the Book Sale bargain bin. It was P15, in pristine condition, and I initially thought it was one of those booklets that had tear-out coupons for little good deeds that you could give out to friends and family members.

When I got home, I realized it was a chapter book and read it in one sitting. A few weeks later, I found a copy of Susie Morgenstern’s Secret Letters from 0 to 10 (#110 for 2009) for P10 at a roving book sale and I ended up reading it in one sitting too!

Reading the back flap of one of the books, I found out that Susie Morgenstern is one of the most popular children’s  book writers in France, with over forty books for children. Interestingly, while she writes primarily in French, she is an American who moved to the south of France over thirty years ago! Her recent books, however, have been translated in English, so now more readers have been enjoying her books.

Continue reading “Joie de Vivre! (Two from Susie Morgenstern)”

Pardon the estrogen.

Book #11 for 2009: The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

I read the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants two years ago, just before the movie was shown, and I liked both. I lost my copy (someone borrowed it, I forgot who, and it never got returned… this is why I do not like lending my books!) and replaced it when I joined BookMooch, and I only recently got a copy of the 2nd book at the Scholastic warehouse sale, it was the pretty Australian edition for only P50!

I saw the 2nd movie with Myx (my best friend — hehe the movies are totally girl-bonding flicks!) and I loved the Santorini bits, and the hunky boys (male model in birthday suit and Brian – who would have thought the gamer dude had a bodacious bod underneath the ratty sweatshirt!) I finally got around to reading the book last night – it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

What I love most about the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is that it’s realistic – the characters are real girls in real-life situations and real problems. I also like that it’s not skanky – that’s where all the other YA series for girls seem to be going these days, and I really don’t like it.

Unlike the first book adaptation though, which was exactly like the book, the 2nd book is quite different from the movie, which was a blend of a bit of books 2 and 3 and a lot of book 4 from what I’ve read in the reviews.

It’s a light and charming read, and while I’m in no hurry, I’m definitely reading the next books in the series.

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My copy: trade paperback (Australian), rummaged for P50 at the Scholastic warehouse

My rating: 4/5 stars