REREADING The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

I just finished reading The Second Summer of the Sisterhood. While it did take me longer to finish it in comparison to the first novel, it wasn’t because it sucked so bad. In my own personal opinion, I’d say the suck levels of this book is at a low. With that being said, I don't really have much to say about The Second Summer. I mean, it’s not because little happened, it’s just something that you have to experience on your own. As it’s the second book in the Sisterhood series, there is an assumption that you’ll know the characters. However, if you haven't read the previous book, I'm sure you'll manage just fine. I was actually surprised to see it was a companion novel, not actually a legitimate self-fledged sequel.

Looking back on that though, it makes sense. In other books that are part of a series, the author will summarize what happened previously, usually the first few chapters. This doesn’t happen in The Second Summer. There's actually not specific chapters for each girl, either. Sure there are "chapter"-esque things, always separated by a quote, but it isn't something that's so defined. One moment Lena will be dealing with an issue, and hen Carmen's story will pick up right after in the next paragraph. But sometimes be graced with a letter between the sisters.

Fun fact: Each girl has her own unique “handwriting”.

The book starts off with Lena introducing the story of the pants, with the switch between Carmen noticeable. This isn’t because the change is bad, but because Lena’s personality is shining through. Each girl has own unique voice, and it’s nice to see that. I’d say that Lena is more mature, with a mothering-esque instinct going on. You’re probably thinking wow, you get all that from the first few pages?! BUT even though Lena is mature, that doesn’t mean she’s no fun.

Confession: This book is my favorite in the series, hands down. This could be surprising to some, because compared to the first it doesn't have the same "light" air to it. Actually, to be completely honest, each girl has some serious issues going on. I know, that isn't even a good thing to like, but it made me feel like I could relate to them more. No more did I see Bridget as glamorous and out of reach, but as a human being. No more is Lena just dealing with some passionate love affair, but something tragic as well. Carmen has some personal issues she must deal with and Tibby... Well, Tibby has to find herself. I could identify with each girl and sometimes it wasn't in a pretty light. There were moments when I just stopped reading and said "oh" to myself. I would pinpoint them out exactly right now, but I don't want to get too spoiler-ish.

With all that being said, this book wasn't just about the bad stuff. There was hope. I, as a reader, felt hope. And it wasn't even just for the girls either, but for myself. Ann Brashares did a wonderful job writing a novel that didn't just tell a story, but spoke to the reader as well.

What made the reading experience just that much better was the supporting characters. I feel like I'm reviewing a movie when I call anyone who isn't a sister a supporting character, but it's just what I feel is right to call them. They're there with the characters, not only making the reader laugh when times get tough, but supporting the girls, too. I know I mentioned they were well developed, but this time around, they became even more real. And I know, to create an interesting story, you generally need more characters. This book didn't disappoint, either. Not only were you introduced to a new love interest for Carmen, but one for her mother, as well. (I don't consider this to be a spoiler, because it's on the back of the book.) Tibby's friend Brian was still around, and against all odds, so was Bailey. Bridget had her grandmother and childhood friends, while Lena had her mother's ex-fiance. Each character, even if they were just mentioned by name, you could picture perfectly in your head.

Note: Effie, Lena's sister, she's well liked in my book for this book.

If each book had to be rated, I'd give The Second Summer a 9.5/10. Even the first time around, I liked it more than the first. When I first read it, I liked Lena's story the most, but this time, it was Carmen's. I know I took a strong liking to Tibby during the first adventure, but from what it seems, each girl has her shining moment. I'm pretty sure Bridget's is next, with Girls in Pants. I’m actually getting pretty excited to start reading it, as I’m still feeling capricious that was brought with The Second Summer of the Sisterhood.

Happy Reading,
Julia

Books to read:
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
Forever Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

REREADING the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants!

As I write this, I have a book with a purple cover on the desk next to me. The green cover book is nowhere in sight because I finished it. Yeah, it's now retired to the floor in my bedroom waiting to be put back in the shelf. (My system is efficient, you can't deny that... maybe.) Anyway, it is now time to talk about what I just read.

I thought it would be awesome to reread one of my favorite books from my elementary school days. Especially since I got the yearning to reread The Second Summer as I toiled away at The Virginity Club, a book that, shall I say, isn't even that exciting for virgins everywhere. Whatever the case, I thought I was familiar with the trials of Bridget (yeah, I spelled her name wrong), Lena, Carmen and Tibby. I thought I knew what I was going to like, and what I was going to hate. But the thing is, when you reread a book that you haven't read in years, well, things change. Sure the words are still the same, but the way you take them in is different. (I was well aware of that as I reread Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen.) It's something that I should've expected, but I was (pleasantly) surprised.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the well worn copy of The Sisterhood was the fact that I loved the font. It was fun, it was flirty, and it was summer. While I'm more of a Garamond or shall I even say Times New Roman kind of kid, I liked it. It reminded me of SweeTARTS, something I'm not even sure I ate a lot while reading these books the first time around.

But as I worked my way through the book, I was struck with two thoughts: 1) This wasn't as exciting as I thought it'd be and 2) I kept on comparing it to the movie. Before I discuss my thoughts on the movie, I'll explain number one. Here's the deal: The Sisterhood is not a boring book. I just found it to be a bit tedious to read about the girl's adventures as I already knew what was going to happen. Or you know, I thought I knew. There was this scene I thought was going to happen in regards to Bridget, but it was just something I saw in the movie. HOWEVER, as the story unfolded for each girl, I was drawn to what was happening.

I'm not going to be super spoiler here as I review this read, because I know for a fact my partner in crime Leah hasn't experienced it.

When I first read The Sisterhood, at the age of twelve, I thought Bridget was just so glamourous and fantabulous. To be honest, I still thought the same thing rereading the novel. Sure she has problems in regards to her mother being gone, but she still does everything that I wish I could do. I mean, being kick ass at soccer? Being able to run seven minute miles? If only. However, reading The Sisterhood this time around, I was aware of the concerns her friends had for her. She was pushing herself far beyond her limit, and it wasn't actually a good thing. Her friends, even from a distance could see that.

(I'm watching Gossip Girls as I write this. One might say I'm really imaging Blake Lively as Bridget.)

To get the transition just right, I'm going to talk about Lena now. Like Bridget, I thought Lena was tied for first in my favorite girl contest. And sure, Lena had an awesome story this time around. But how I'm being, I'm just going to be honest: I found her story to be just a tad boring, especially at the beginning. A common theme in this review thing, but perhaps it was just because I already knew what was going to happen. I'll actually have to continue reading the rest of the series to know for sure. I mean, I was REALLY happy when Kostos and Lena finally kissed at the end of the novel, so I know I don't dislike her, so I'm not that worried. Maybe it was just her talking about Greece and its beauty. Apparently I can't appreciate beauty when it's described to me in a novel.

Note: Lena is a painter, and was worried at one point in the novel about not being able to capture the beauty that was the sunset. Perhaps it's just my personal preference, but I thought she could've just took a picture.

Next up is Carmen. Her storyline involved visiting her dad and dealing with the issues that were happening in North Carolina. (Or was it South?) Not being that important, I thought this would be the most boring, due to the story in the movie not being so exciting. I mean, I still like it, but it doesn't have the firework kiss that Kostos and Lena produced. HOWEVER, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it. While I knew what was happening and how she had to deal with being mad at her dad, I still was riveted to what was happening. Sure there were moments when it got a little boring, but I'd give her storyline an 8/10. And it wasn't even that jampacked with action! Unless rocks are a new thing...

Note: I had to message Leah at one point to ask her what a cottonmouth is, as Carmen wished she would see one. It was nice to have my friend there "with me" when I didn't know what something meant.

However, what surprised me the most about reading The Sisterhood was how much I liked Tibby's story. The first time around, I can just imagine how captivated I was at Bridget and Lena's narrations and bored with TIbby's, but this time around I was all about The Tibby. Not once was I a little bored at her story, even though by all accounts it should've been the most boring. After all, she was the only one staying home that summer. But it surprised me, because I absolutely loved it. Sure I had to stop at a few points to put off what was eventually going to happen in terms of tragedy, but it was because sad times are sad times. In terms of looking at it from the movie's point of view, I totally forgot about the guy Tucker Tibby had a crush on. (As he didn't exist in the movie.)

Overall, I'd say I enjoyed this book, even if the beginning was a bit meh in terms of getting started. While the action did start right from the beginning with Carmen's narration, it wasn't until each girl was underway in her own adventure did the story take off.

A note on the narration: It starts (and finishes) off with Carmen's thoughts. I liked the way the story explained the existence of the pants, but also explained each of the girls. Of course, it was a biased view. Since Carmen was narrating, she couldn't explain what the other girl's saw in her. Sure she was able to explain Bridget, Lena and Tibby, but she wasn't able to do so herself. So what I REALLY liked was when the other girls would interact with each other, you'd see the other girls from a different perspective. And yeah, you definitely saw them from a different perspective. I can just imagine it's very difficult to weave FOUR different characters into one story without making them all seem like they're the same, but this didn't happen in the book. Each girl was unique in her own way, and if it came down to it, each one could support a book on their own.

Some random thoughts:

• Tibby's underwear was the only one talked about
• Tibby cut her smock to see how thick 2-ply polyester was, which made me think for awhile how thick it actually was (I remember thinking of this the first time around, as well)
• I don't know HOW I could be confused at what Bridget was doing with Eric. I blame it on being so naive
• The supporting characters were just as developed as the girls
• I'd recommend this book

So maybe it wasn't a perfect reread novel, but I have hopes for The Second Summer. After all, it's what gave me the urge to reread the entire series. So lets hope my hopes aren't crushed like a soccer ball hitting someones face!

Happy Reading,
Julia

Books to read:
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
Forever Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

Lets go, green, purple, orange and yellow book covers! LET US GO.

The first time I was introduced to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares was when my sister returned from a trip she took to the maritime provinces. As my family and I crowded around all the stuff she brought home, I was drawn to the book with the green cover. At this point in my life, I was already a Book Nerd. I had a library card, and I knew how to use it. My sister on the other hand, wasn't what one might call a book reader. To be honest, there was speculation to if she even read the magazines my mother continuously bought her month after month. (I know I read them.)

Time went on... I wore my red dirt shirt from the island of P.E.I. and continued to think of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I mean, a book in my house that I couldn't read? What was this? I learned my sister bought it in an airport, looking for something to read on the long flight home. However, what I really wanted to know was if she was actually touching it. I mean, she wouldn't even let me start on it because she was reading it, but I never actually saw her do so. But I'm a younger sister, and what do younger sisters do? Yeah, that's right, I didn't obey her orders: I started to read the book. To be completely honest, I think I was too young to understand what exactly was happening between Bridgette and Eric, but I did get the general gist of the novel and liked it.

I enjoyed The Sisterhood so much I anticipated the release of the movie that was coming out the following year. (I actually can't remember if it's the following year, but I'm reasoning that the book was in an airport because it was coming to the big screen soon enough.) I remember I even went to go see it on opening night--Wednesday--with my friend and sister. Stupid alert, but I remember pointing out the actors weren't wearing the same pair of pants, like they do in the book. Of course not.

Anyway, the first summer was a good read! I liked it so much I was quite happy to find out there was a second novel. Not only that, but a third and fourth. Of course, these books were released later on (and without me actually knowing about it), but it was nice just the same to continue to visit my friends Bridgette, Lena, Libby and Carmen.

By the time the second movie came out, I had the understanding it was combining the rest of the books for its basis. I didn't mind too much, because I didn't particular ENJOY what every girl went through in every book. (To be honest, I had a favorite girl for each individual book; it kept on jumping around.) I was under the impression they'd show the best of each girl. So there I was, finding refuge from the sun in the movie theatre in the middle of August. It was a cute movie with a good soundtrack: I actually liked one song so much I went on a hunt for it. I'd tell you the title, but I can't even remember right now. It was just a song that you could sing in front of your mirror to. Overall, the movies went okay. Usually I don't enjoy books-turned-movies, but really, that's just another topic for another time.

Here's a little Julia antidote: In elementary school, I won a contest. The contest? Who could read the most books! To be honest, I didn't think I had a chance, because there was rumor this girl was reading a LOT. But I continued to rally, rereading A Series of Unfortunate Events and even attempting some books that were WAY above my reading level. In short: I won. To explain why: It was happening over March Break. I read like a FIEND over March Break. Anyway. The winner got a certificate, some recoginition at a school assembly and a gift certificate to Indigo Inc. The book I bought? Girls in Pants! (The third book in the Sisterhood series.) My mom bought me the second book, since I didn't own it at that point, just having borrowed it from the library. It was a worthy purchase and deal.

By the time I read the fourth book in the series, I was in high school. I read the first three books when I was in grade eight. I can't actually recall a time when I read all four Sisterhood books in order at the same time. To make a confession, I don't even own the fourth book. So here's what I'm going to do: I, Julia, am going to read all four Sisterhood books in order. This is going to require some work on my part to get my hands on the fourth book, but I'm sure that will be easy as pi(e). For now, I glance at the green book sitting on my desk, with the phone I use to keep in contact with my own sisterhood sitting on top of it.

Happy Reading,
Julia.

Books to be read:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood