Summer and the City

Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given this book as a surprise beach-read, and initially, I wasn't interested in reading it. I've always been of the mind that I don't want to waste time on a book that isn't worth my time, that I want to read the books that I'm super excited about, and this was not one of those books. I was pretty sure I was going to hate it, hands-down. I know some people get off on reading trashy novels, and I do, too, sometimes - but I wasn't in one of those moods. I was in a I HAVE TOO MANY BOOKS I REALLY WANT TO READ RIGHT NOW MOOD, but sometimes a book hits me when I least expect it, and it's definitely the right book at the very right time for me.


Reasons why I assumed I would hate SUMMER AND THE CITY: A Carrie Diaries Novel by Candace Bushnell:


1) I really liked Sex and The City, the tv show. I didn't like the book of essays it was based on.

2) I don't generally like Candace Bushnell's writing, and yes, I have tried many of her books, and put them down.

3) I've been reading a ton of YA in the past 6 years. I'm getting picky.

4) There was no reason I needed to read a prequel, written as YA, to adult characters I already like, but are on TV.

5) Is this just fan-fiction marketed as YA? How do I read that? Do I want to read that?

6) What, then, is the source story? Not that this really matters to a lot of people, but it does to me, as a professional dramaturg, a stickler for continuity, and a fan of the TV series, which was loosely based on the book of essays, but then took on it own's life. How do I reconcile which stories that are being told are the real stories - or the stories I want to believe - and how do I ignore the story arcs that don't work for me?


And now, here are the reasons that I was won over by SUMMER AND THE CITY: A Carrie Diaries Novel by Candace Bushnell:


1) My expectations were exceptionally low. See above list.


2) I still don't love Candace Bushnell's writing for her adults-only audience. And I wondered how writing for fans of the show, plus younger readers would, work out.  I was genuinely surprised at how well the book flowed, the transitions were smooth, the characters - though the origin myth of their friendships on the TV series was different - were rich and full and well-built. The plot lines easily crossed into each other, without seeing any of Ms. Bushnell's usual uneven story-stitching. The writing was so much freer that I actually suspected there was a ghostwriter involved. If not, forgive me, but my suspicion will stay until proven wrong.


3) It reminded me of my first internship I had when I was in New York, set closely in time as to when young Carrie is taking a writing course at the New School. (So, it's personal here, not necessarily about the writing, but about my personal interaction with it.) The details of city life - before cell phones and texting- when pay phones were still vital and one could only pay for a cab ride with cash- were right on.


3) It didn't feel anything like the show, and yes, I understand that it's different genres, but I was scared it was going to try to replicate it too on the nose, and it didn't. Summer and the City is it's own beast.


4) I really liked the way the characters met and interacted in the book, especially Carrie and Charlotte, which I won't give away. And there are some names, like Capote Ducan, from Season 1 of the TV show, that we meet in this book, so that's delightful, too.



I was very surprised, and slightly charmed, by the SUMMER AND THE CITY. I thought I would put it down after 3 chapters, but I read quickly, much like the pace of the book itself.  I found out that this was a book I did want to read after all, trashy or not, and that it came at just the right time, before a trip back to NYC for an outdoor wedding in a heatwave.


My last two cents on SUMMER AND THE CITY:


A quote from the book that stuck with me - "Like me, he has a searing believe that books are sacred. They might not be to other people, but when you have a passion, you hold on to it. You defend it. You don't pretend it isn't important at the risk of offending others." - pg.388


AND


If you dislike the show, or think Carrie Bradshaw is repugnant, she can be a really selfish asshole in this book. Fair warning.


And that's it, folks!




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