Feeling Sorry for Celia - Softcover

Moriarty, Jaclyn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312287364 ISBN 13: 9780312287368

Publisher: Griffin, 2002

Synopsis

An epistolary first novel uses letters written between teenage friends, refrigerator notes from a crazy mother, and epistles that express the narrator`s own internal feelings of self-doubt to weave this bitttersweet coming of age story. A first novel. Reprint. Amazon.com description: Product Description: A #1 Bestseller in Australia and Book Sense 76 PickLife is pretty complicated for Elizabeth Clarry. Her best friend Celia keeps disappearing, her absent father suddenly reappears, and her communication with her mother consists entirely of wacky notes left on the fridge. On top of everything else, because her English teacher wants to rekindle the Joy of the Envelope," a Complete and Utter Stranger knows more about Elizabeth than anyone else. But Elizabeth is on the verge of some major changes. She may lose her best friend, find a wonderful new friend, kiss the sexiest guy alive, and run in a marathon. So much can happen in the time it takes to write a letter...A #1 bestseller in Australia, this fabulous debut is a funny, touching, revealing story written entirely in the form of letters, messages, postcardsâ€"and bizarre missives from imaginary organizations like The Cold Hard Truth Association.Feeling Sorry for Celia captures, with rare acuity, female friendship and the bonding and parting that occurs as we grow. Jaclyn Moriarty`s hilariously candid novel shows that the roller coaster ride of being a teenager is every bit as fun as we rememberâ€"and every bit as harrowing"

About this title

Product Description

A #1 Bestseller in Australia and Book Sense 76 Pick

Life is pretty complicated for Elizabeth Clarry. Her best friend Celia keeps disappearing, her absent father suddenly reappears, and her communication with her mother consists entirely of wacky notes left on the fridge. On top of everything else, because her English teacher wants to rekindle the "Joy of the Envelope," a Complete and Utter Stranger knows more about Elizabeth than anyone else.

But Elizabeth is on the verge of some major changes. She may lose her best friend, find a wonderful new friend, kiss the sexiest guy alive, and run in a marathon.
So much can happen in the time it takes to write a letter...

A #1 bestseller in Australia, this fabulous debut is a funny, touching, revealing story written entirely in the form of letters, messages, postcards--and bizarre missives from imaginary organizations like The Cold Hard Truth Association.

Feeling Sorry for Celia captures, with rare acuity, female friendship and the bonding and parting that occurs as we grow. Jaclyn Moriarty's hilariously candid novel shows that the roller coaster ride of being a teenager is every bit as fun as we remember--and every bit as harrowing.

Review

Feeling Sorry For Celia is a true one-off, a bright, funny and incredibly original read.

Witty and sharp, the book follows Elizabeth, an imaginative and intelligent teenager. A genuinely sympathetic and well-rounded character, Elizabeth divides her time between worrying for flighty best friend Celia, keeping her divorced parents happy, mourning her lack of suitors, running and homework.

The narrative takes the form of all Elizabeth's correspondence, from notes left by her infuriating mother to postcards from her eccentric runaway best friend Celia. Far from making the story disjointed, this device adds to its readability and helps to build suspense. All the characters including very minor ones are so well drawn that it is impossible not to get involved with them.

Perhaps the most hilarious parts of the book are the scathing letters that Elizabeth receives from the various organisations which have spotted her shortcomings, including the Young Romance Association and The Association of Teenagers.

Dear Elizabeth Clarry,

We feel that it is our duty to ensure that you are not getting any crazy ideas. This young man who's been talking to you on the bus? What's his name--Saxon Walker? He is simply not ever going to be interested in you.

My dear child, he is a popular boy, a cool boy, smart, funny, athletic and gorgeous. Perhaps in your imagination such a boy might be interested in you. But never in reality, Elizabeth. Never.

You are merely a running partner to him. No more. We do not wish to offend you, only to warn you.

Best Wishes,

Cold Hard Truth Association

These letters from Elizabeth's subconscious to herself are a really effective contrivance and a hilarious way of expressing how grievous she imagines her keenly felt faults to be. All readers will be able to identify with Elizabeth and remember all those internal confidence-destroying voices that everybody hears during their teenage years.

Highly readable and highly recommended. --Rachel Ediss

About this edition

• Publisher: Griffin
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0312287364
• ISBN 13: 9780312287368
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 276