Bag Books: Summer & the City

Summer & the City by Candace Bushnell

So ends our Trilogy! Unless, of course, Bushnell writes another prequel, then we shall have a glorious Quadrilogy!

This novel is set after The Carrie Diaries during Carrie's first summer in New York, with a firm favourite Samantha Jones.

It's worth noting that the Carrie in the prequels is more like the Carrie in the series than the Carrie in the original novel. I wonder how many times I can say 'Carrie' in this review? So far: 6.

As you live through Carrie's first New York summer, you also explore Samantha's past which was only mentioned in the series. Remember her fiance? Well that's the relationship she's in for the duration of this book.

We also spend alot of time with a very femininist Miranda Hobbs, who was as argumentative and clever as she was in the series. Good ol' Miranda!

The story line has Carrie come to realise her love for the city, has conflicts with her old and new friends, and has Carrie start to experiment with clothing. Scrubs, really Carrie?

There's also Carrie's first love, which is nice to read about. Then there's the school part and the relationships she develops there.

Towards the end of the book you have another loved character introduced, as Carrie meets them on a train heading to New York.

If you love the show and have liked the other books then this is certainly for you!

Final Carrie Count: 12

I shall have a nice Christmassy book up next week for you to enjoy!

Peace, love and all that jazz. xo

Bag Books: The Carrie Diaries

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

As I reviewed Sex and the City last week, I thought I'd move onto the prequels.

I guess it's not difficult to see where I got the inspiration for the title: 'The Carrie Files' now is it?

Of course I had this on the day it came out! I walked all around Wolverhampton in my boots (sadly not Manolos) until I found it. Then I started reading it on the bus home.

It was really interesting to read about Carrie's family, as you never see them in the TV show, and they're not really mentioned as I recall. So getting to know a loved character a bit better is always a big plus.

I found her escapades in school to be interesting, and funnily enough I could relate to her in some parts.

Without spoiling it, people who are lovers of the series will love the very ending of the book, as a very familiar (and loved) character answers the phone.

I read this in about a day because I loved it, and it isn't a difficult read either, so it's nice to pick up at each chapter.

So, I guess it's only fitting that I review Summer & the City next week.

Peace, love and all that jazz. xo

Bag Books: Sex and the City

Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

With 20+ weeks of re-creating Carrie's looks, I think it's about time I wrote about the book!

First off, I'm going to say that my copy of the book is not that sexy, I have the TV show cover with the four girls on where they're all wearing Little Black Dresses.

This is the book which spawned the series which spawned the movies, it's a great character driven piece, but I certainly enjoyed the Carrie you see on screen to the one you read about in this novel, which was first published in 1996.

It certainly explores the the bedrooms of the New York elite, and you see several of it's themes throughout the series.

Series one of SatC certainly has a more book based Carrie, but I'm glad she got developed into the fashionista that she became.

This was a really good first novel for Bushnell.

What can I say? If you love Sex and the City, it's definately worth a read.

Peace, love and all that jazz. xo