Worst of Gossip Girl Season 1 Episodes 11-18

I'm sure this post will be on the short side since I'm only writing about eight episodes not to mention I have a soft spot when it comes to Gossip Girl so I have trouble seeing its flaws. But here are the things that I found unnecessary, annoying or just plain stupid.

Dan's Constant Whining 

I sympathize with Dan's plight. I really do (I mean I also went to private school and there were girls with waaayyy too much money). But with his constant tirade against the privileged kids at his school I can't imagine that he is all that much fun to date. Dan, I don't know if anyone ever explained it to you but life isn't always fair. Sorry to have to break it to you but if you haven't gotten a grip on that fact by the time you are in high school then you are the privileged one. I mean, yes these kids may get away with murder (well drug offenses, DWI's and probably manslaughter) but I'm sure they would trade that for a dad like Dan's instead of one that is in jail or constantly working or not even in the picture. Dan needs to start focusing on the stuff he does have and not on why the Upper East Siders have the advantage when it comes to college submissions. 

Lily Getting Together with Bart and Not Telling Rufus Why

Lily flipflopping between Bart and Rufus was not only annoying but it got tiring after a while. When she ended up picking Bart in the end, she could at least have told Rufus why. Also she picks her husband off of who her daughter is currently dating at the time? No wonder her previous marriages didn't work out. 

Jenny Becoming Mean and Popular

Oh Jenny. Where to begin? This girl annoys me like no one else does. Selfish, spoiled, ungrateful- I could go on and on for a while. I understand that Blair may not have been the nicest to her but that does not justify kicking someone when they're down aka dropping yogurt on Blair's head after her fall from grace. And then she follows it up by inviting Blair out to dinner and not showing up. Aside from it being stupid (Blair always wins in the end) it's just mean. What happened to not forgetting who you are, Jenny? Famous last words indeed. 

Chuck Being Sooo Mean to Blair

After Chuck sends a blast to Gossip Girl revealing the intimate details of Blair's life, she comes crawling to him since he alienated practically everybody else. I understand that Blair hurt him but the things Chuck says to Blair are pretty awful. I adore Chuck and Blair's relationship as much as anyone does but I must admit there are numerous times when he's been guilty of verbal or emotional abuse and this is one of them. "I'll try to be more succinct. You held a certain fascination when you were beautiful, delicate and untouched. But now you're like one of the Arabians my father used to own. Rode hard and put away wet. I don't want you anymore. And I can't see why anyone else would" My heart broke for Blair when he said that. I don't blame Blair for wanting to flee to France. I would have done the same thing and never come back. Blair Waldorf has guts. 

Jenny Having No Regard for the Rules 

Jenny needs to understand that she can't just break all the rules and get away with it. You can't lie to your dad, steal from your "friends" and then betray the people who were kind to you and then expect everything to be okay. When you make mistakes, you suffer the punishment, not try to worm your way out of them by climbing out the window or lying about a study group. Has it ever occurred to you, Little J, that the reason your father treats you like a little kid (which he isn't by the way. He's just doing what any normal parent would do and making sure you aren't out clubbing) is because you refuse to take any responsibility for your actions just like a little kid? Own up to your mistakes Jenny and stop thinking you can win the game by cheating. Classic example of  "You ultimately become what you most despise" 

Serena Not Being Honest with Dan or Her Mom About Pete and Georgina

Telling the truth can be extremely difficult. But Serena would have saved herself an enormous about of trouble if she had just come clean with Dan. Then again the point of blackmail is that the person doesn't want their secret to be revealed. But I do think she could have talked to her mom or at least a lawyer or something about what is going on with Georgina. Telling her mom what had happened would have saved alot of trouble and prevented alot of panic attacks. This is not the only scenario in which Serena makes things worse for herself by clamming up. She needs to figure out who she can trust and who she can't because she constantly turns away from the people who want to help her. Serena, no one is going to help you if you can't help yourself.

Jenny Turning Her Back on Eric

And the award for the most ungrateful goes to...Jenny! Eric is nothing but nice to you and then you hurt him like that.  I find it ironic that Eric (the one person who has been in a mental institution and undergone therapy) is the only one on this show who seems to have an ounce of sanity. 

Jenny and Asher

I did not feel bad for Jenny at all when she got called out by Gossip Girl for lying about Asher. That is what

they call karma, Jenny. You will meet again plenty of times in the future.

Anyway, what did you think? Do you agree? What was I missing? Please comment or subscribe and check out my next post. In the meantime, you know you love me. XOXO Bernadette

Reality Show Challenge Episode 3 Part 1

And the plot thickens. Well not really. One thing I've noticed about reality shows is that all the episodes are kind of the same. Hopefully that didn't come as some sort of revelation. As the season progresses, shows usually have to resort to more drastic measures but since alot of the shows pulled out all the stops in the first few episodes I'm not exactly sure what there is left, short of committing on screen homicide. With some of the characters I'd say that's a definite possibility. By the way, I got rid of the "Authenticity" category so now the points are out of 20 not 25.

 The Bachelor

With every episode, I become more and more concerned about the mental health of these girls. There are some girls who treat the experience for what it is: a game. But there are others who genuinely believe that this is the way to find love. Honey, if you can't find love with the right guy by yourself what makes you think you are going to find it with a guy who has 24 other girls? In real life, a guy could never get away with that. So why is it okay on TV? You have girls literally dissolving in tears because he has talked to another girl. You have girls constantly complaining that you never get to spend any time with him. Well there is a simple solution to that: Go home and find a real guy. But enough of my advice (which will probably go unheeded) With all the drama I almost forgot about the actual dates- a one on one date with Emily (bridge climbing and a fireworks show) a group date (skiing on fake snow in bikinis. I guess Ben is getting as much as he can out of this experience) and a one on one date with Lindzi C (he was originally supposed to have the date with Brittany but she went home because she didn't know if she liked Ben or not and was wondering why she was there. Good call Brittany)
Characters: 1.5 Some of these girls are insane. They need to find hobbies or something. And sorry to break it to you, ladies, but you can't possibly have formed that strong of a connection with him in three weeks especially not with a bunch of other girls in the way. And whenever they feel the least bit threatened the claws come out, dipped in arsenic. Like when Chantelle (probably spelled that wrong) comes onto the scene, the girls immediately pounce on her. Girls, just because she exchanged a few words with your precious Ben doesn't mean you need to tear her to shreds. Classic case of "Attack the New Girl" You think girls would have learned by now that ganging up on someone for no reason other than jealousy only serves to make themselves look stupid.

Emotional Intensity: 2.5 I felt bad for Chantelle (left and yes I did spell her name wrong but I don't have enough energy to change it). Whatever their justification, some of those girls were awful to her. I think Chantelle made a really good point before she left. When it comes to who you spend the rest of your life with, you shouldn't go for what's fair. You should go with your heart. Your future is not a game which is why shows like this really shouldn't be taken seriously.
Conflict: 3.5 
Class: 1 I'd love to buy some of these girls a dictionary and show them what the word "graciousness" means because they obviously have never heard of it.
Overall Score: 8.5/20

16 and Pregnant

In this episode, we got to meet Briana, her sister Brittany (I kept mixing up their names for the majority of the episodes) and their mom. I've noticed that I haven't seen any of the girl's dads appear yet in 16 and Pregnant and it probably isn't much of a coincidence. Guys, if you get a girl pregnant shoulder some responsibility and look after your kid. The guys in the first two episodes (though definitely not prepared to be dads) stood by their girlfriends and their kids and did the responsible thing. Not so in this episode. Briana's boyfriend Devoin     is the epitome of lazy. He also is extremely disrespectful- to Briana and her mom. But the biggest kicker of this episode was that Briana's sister, Brittany became pregnant around the same time only she got an abortion. Not only that but Briana's mom was disappointed that she didn't get an abortion. I might have mentioned this is old posts but I am pro life. So I really admire Briana for keeping her baby even though she didn't have the support of the baby's dad or her mom. The right decision may not feel like the right decision at the time especially when your sister is out partying while you are changing diapers. But in the episode we also saw Brittany having second thoughts about the abortion and all the moments with her kid that she missed out on. I'll say one thing about 16 and Pregnant- at least it's honest. 

Characters: 2 Like I said, I admired Briana for keeping the baby because it's difficult to listen to your moral compass instead of the voices around you. But what can you expect when you use protection "once or twice" If she's smart enough to graduate a year early she should be smart enough to see the consequences of unprotected sex. And I sympathize with Brittany even though her decision is not one I would ever make. But Devoin (the worst excuse for a boyfriend) really pissed me off.  

Emotional Intensity: 2.5 Even though Devoin annoyed me, that's the worst emotion he inspired. The fact that he practically abandoned Briana to raise the baby is disappointing but in the long run it's a good thing because she is better off without someone who is more of a hindrance than a help. Emotionally, what I found difficult about this episode was Brittany and her abortion. Both Briana and Brittany made decisions and both of them have regrets but I feel like Briana is the one who will be satisfied in the end, no matter how many parties she misses out on. I also feel like this episode was just as much about Brittany as it was about Briana.

Conflict: 3 Some of the conflict stemmed from Briana's relationship with Devoin but alot of it came from her relationships with her mom and sister. Initially it was very hard for Brittany to be around Briana because it reminded her of the baby she gave up which was probably the saddest part of the episode.
Class: 1.5 There are alot of reasons why this episode scored so low (some of the reasons you may agree with some you may not) but the biggest reason was that bailing on your pregnant girlfriend isn't classy under any circumstances. And neither is cursing at her or her family.
Something I really took away from this episode (and the other episodes) is girls, it's not the guys job to bring protection because they are not the ones who will end up pregnant. It's you.
Overall Rating: 9/20

Real Housewives of New Jersey

Episode 3 is all about dragging out the same old drama from Episode 1. These people don't know what it's like to let something go. They need to pay a little more attention to their kids and less attention to their social lives (Note: This applies to some housewives more than others) Then again being social is what they get paid for. Anyway, there was plenty of it in this episode starting off with a boat ride along the shore and finishing with a Summer Solstice party. Other major plot points of this episode include Lauren and her diet and a showdown between Theresa and Melissa over a comment that was said weeks before. 

Characters: 2 The characters are getting old (no pun intended, Caroline) fighting over the same old things. Can't they move on? Also they seriously need to pay more attention to their children (I'm talking about the beginning of the episode where there were about 5 young kids all standing near the dock inches from the water until their older cousin got them to go on the other side of the railing) This episode we got to get a closer look at Caroline's family which consists of her daughter Lauren (left) and her two sons. As I mentioned earlier a major plot point was Lauren and her new diet. I understand that her mother has Lauren's health in mind when she got her started on this diet but I feel like talking about it in front of the entire country is humiliating and can't be good for Lauren's self esteem. Not to mention Lauren's brothers treat her like crap and so does her boyfriend. She may be getting healthier physically but the only way she's going to start feeling better about herself is if the people in her lives knock off that crap and start treating her with more respect. 

Emotional Intensity: 1.5 The only thing I felt was emotionally intense about this episode was the way Lauren was treated by her boyfriend and her brothers. And it's not just her. I feel like they wouldn't know the right way to treat any girl.

Conflict: 2 There was a showdown between Melissa and Theresa over the gold-digger comment Theresa had  but it reminded a lot like the fights my friends and I had in junior where no one is actually saying anything to anyone's face until someone just snaps and starts yelling. Oh and twenty other people also have to be involved. This is the confrontation that the first two episodes led up to and honestly, it was disappointing.

Class: 1.5 Classy people do not A) make fun of someone's weight even if it is their sister B) leave a large group of kids with only one or two responsible adults C) Try to cause problems in other people's marriages. And I could probably get to letter H if I had the energy.

Overall Rating: 7/20

What do you think of the new points system? Which show do you think deserves to win? Leave a comment, subscribe to my blog and please check in for more posts. It's been a pleasure as always.

Best of Gossip Girl Season 1 Episodes 1-10

On the surface it may seem like trash. I know that was my initial impression. However,underneath the superficial levels of backstabbing and drama there lies a vibrant array of characters and under appreciated dialogue. I've included a couple of my favorite quotes from the first ten episodes (I got them from planetclaire.org which has an amazing collection of quotes so check it out)
                 
                Dan:  "Well I can't say much for his child-rearing skills, but Bart Bass knows brunch.
                                                    (Episode 2: The Wild Brunch)
                         
                Chuck: "Looks like it's just you and me. Apparently my room's available"
                                                           (Episode 2: The Wild Brunch)

                 Dan:  Last year, I believe he had an original thought. It died of loneliness.
                                                                                   (Episode 3: Poison Ivy)

                        Chuck: It's a facility for the disturbed or addicted.

  Blair: You must have your own wing.

(Episode 3: Poison Ivy)

Wall Street: Hey, Baby. You wanted to, ah, maybe show me to the bathroom, get lost somewhere around coat check?

             Blair: My answer is usually never say never. But for you I'll make an exception.

             (Episode 5: Dare Devil)

 Blair: After being broken up with my boyfriend for exactly 20 minutes, I succumbed to inebriation, performed at a speakeasy, and surrendered my virtue to a self-absorbed ass. The only good news is that he's a total pig who'll act it never happened. Thank god. Sorry. Truthfully I'm not even Catholic.

Priest: You don't say.

(Episode 8: Seventeen Candles)

Eric: Even if you did cook, we don't have an oven.

Lily: Preaching to the converted, Eric

(Episode 9: Blair Waldorf Must Pie)

Best of Gossip Girl Season One Episodes 1-10

I had to be really selective when choosing what I enjoyed most about the first ten episodes (much as I would like to spend my entire Friday night blogging I actually have friends. It's hard to believe) So I picked a few things that I thought Gossip Girl did really well. 

Serena's Presentation At Cotillion

For those of who don't know, Cotillion for the New York upper class is basically an excuse to get all the girls with social climbing agendas in one place and see who snagged the cutest guy as an escort. Serena reluctantly goes to Cotillion to please her grandma but when she discovers her mother altered her presentation statement she substitutes it for one of her own. Unfortunately we only get to hear the beginning leaving the end to our imagination."Ms. van der Woodsen hopes to bed as many billionaires as she can before settling down to—" Ahhh, so many possibilities.

                                                        Past Thanksgiving Flashback

These flashbacks were perfect for showing us the differences between the past and the present. We get to see how much things have changed in just a year. Dan goes from random guy on the street to Serena's boyfriend. Serena, Blair and Nate go from a tight threesome to a tense twosome. Rufus and Alison go from blissfully married to on the rocks. I generally find flashbacks overused but the writers knew not to overdo it.

Everyone Ends Up at Dan's House for Thanksgiving

Totally unrealistic but entertaining. I love when a bunch of people all end up in the same place. And turkey just makes it better. Plus seeing Blair in Brooklyn is always interesting.

Blair in the Confessional

Any oxymoron if I ever heard one. If Blair decided to go confession on a regular basis, they probably should just give her her own priest since she'd be there several times a day. In fact she might just want to have him on speed dial. 

Blair and Chuck

My two favorite characters. Scheming, manipulative, self-centered, deceitful, intelligent, attractive, charismatic, lively, captivating. Blair's beauty literally puts me in awe (I sometimes wonder if she's the prettiest girl I've ever seen) and Chuck reinvents the word "sexy" They get together (well they hook up) for the first time in Episode 7 at Chuck's burlesque club, the Victrola. Watching their tumultous relationship for the next several episodes was one of my favorite things about Season 1.

Blair's Truth or Dare Game

Suddenly my past games of Truth or Dare that once seemed exciting now seem tame in comparison. Blair sure know how to make the most of a sleepover, though it wasn't so much a sleepover as a night out on the town. I must say none of my sleepovers have involved breaking somebody out of a mental hospital. Maybe I've been going to the wrong sleepovers.

Ivy Week Interviews 

Instead of showing each individual interview or one individual interview, it was a good idea to blend them all together to show the differences and similarities between the characters. Not to mention amusing.  And anyone who has gone through the college application process knows a Dan Humprey who works his tail off to get the chance he deserves. Or a Chuck Bass who figures he is entitled to everything he wants because of his name. Or a Nate who puts his parent's dreams before his own. And taking a look at the issues of college is a refreshing change from the usual relationship and friendship drama and makes the spoiled socialites of the  Upper East Side more relatable. 

Chuck's Scarf

Only a guy as cool as Chuck could pull off a scarf like that. 

Brunch Brawl

This has to be my all time favorite scene in Season One which takes place at a formal brunch complete with tablecloths and suits. We have Nate, Blair's boyfriend who is in love with Serena. We have Chuck who goes after anyone in a dress and who tried to rape Dan's sister. We have Dan, Serena's boyfriend who gave Chuck a black eye for trying to rape his sister. We have Serena, Blair's best friend who once slept with her boyfriend. We have Blair, out for blood and intent on destroying Serena's reputation. This is probably why adults generally don't invite groups of high school kids to formal events.
                   
It wasn't really all that difficult to figure out what exactly got me hooked on Gossip Girl. It wasn't all the lying or drama because I get enough of that watching my reality shows. I think it was no matter how many times they fought, or schemed against each other they were true friends and when it came down to it they were there for each other (and there is proof of this later in the season and in the following seasons) Also Gossip Girl has got the concept of comic timing down to an art and it just gets better in later episodes (well so far. I'm only on Season Three so far) as I will show you.

Reality Show Challenge Episode 2 Part 2

Here I am again, bringing you the latest dish on Episode 2 of the Reality Show Challenge. So far the show to beat is 16 and Pregnant with a score of 18.5. It's time to see how these shows stack up against it.

Bad Girl's Club

Things escalated fast this episode resulting in a trip to the hospital and several physical altercations. These girls think that they're so tough. One of these days they are going to get into a fight with the wrong person (or group of persons) and end up dead. You just can't say that kind of stuff to people. They are going to learn the hard way that you cannot just go around insulting everyone.

Characters: 2 My favorite character is definitely Kori (the blonde Barbie) I still think Sydney's cool but she lied to her boyfriend which is not. And Nikki has to be the most irritating person of all time. She's like a three year old in the body of a teenager. No, she's like an undomesticated animal in the body of a teenager. I understand she's around to create drama but couldn't she be a bit more...mature about it? I'm surprised the other girls let her stay after all. I guess you can't force people to leave the house but I think you could lock her out. Or tie her up in a closet (I'm not sure what the boundaries are. Has anyone been killed on this show?)  I know they are going to make her life a living hell but I was expecting a 5 vs.1 full out war with vases and chairs being hurled. And purses. Because apparently they are dangerous.Also, what is up with the parents of these girls? So far I think we've only heard two or three (on the phone). I always assumed that a girl's parents would be mortified if their daughter was on this show but then I realized that the parents not only support it but encourage it. I'm sure if they were young enough they would go compete themselves. All of a sudden I feel alot more sorry for these girls.
Authenticity: 2 Honestly I'm just guessing here. The whole thing with Kori's hand was a little confusing (she cut herself on the purse? How do you cut yourself on a purse? What is it made of, barbed wire?) but did she really have to take an ambulance to the hospital for it? Also we never actually saw the cut we just saw the blood dripping on the floor. I'm not saying she wasn't hurt I'm just saying I'm confused (which happens a lot with these kinds of shows)
Emotional Intensity: 3 Only because Nikki was so annoying. I think I'm going have permanent damage from gritting my teeth so tightly.
Conflict: 4 Hospital visits are always good for excitement. Plus there was the drama with Sydney cheating on her "boyfriend" Although I don't know if they were actually dating or not. But why did she lie to him? She had the perfect opportunity to tell the truth when Nikki told him what happened. It's not like he's never going to find out about it. When something happens on national television, it tends not to remain secret very long.
Class:.5 Still feeling generous
Overall Rating: 11.5/25

The Biggest Loser

I seem to wind up watching this show on the days when I feel the most lethargic. I'm pretty fit and I seriously doubt I could handle training this intense. I need to give props to this show for making a show about health and exercise so interesting. Usually I just tune that stuff out. And although I don't exactly feel like picking up a dumbbell any time soon it does motivate me to push myself harder in the areas of my life that really need my immediate attention (But that's an entirely different post) And I am definitely going to lay off the soda.

Characters: 3.5 Since less contestants spent their time passing out or throwing up I got to know the characters a bit better during this episode. I have to say I'm throwing all my support to the underdogs and that means the white team. Unfortunately my support doesn't seem to be doing anything for them because they lost three of their team members in the last two weeks. But they have my two favorite characters- Danni and Nathan. I was actually even hoping they would become an item (I forgot Nathan had a girlfriend back home) but I guess that can't happen because Nathan got sent home at the end of the week. If you ask me, Nathan was last person who should have gone home this week (but nobody did ask me) For what its worth Jillian didn't want Nathan to go home either (we definitely got to see a softer side of Jillian this week. Good thing too otherwise I think her entire team might have just walked out)

Authenticity: 4 Everything seems very genuine (the sweating, the grunting, the complaining- all very reminiscent of my last gym class) but I still have some questions about the final weigh-in. Did they arrange it so that the final weight would be "do or die" or did it just work out that way? These are the questions that keep me up at night (no wonder I'm so tired)

Emotional Intensity: 3.5 I felt really bad to see Nathan go home. Certain characters just grow on me and Nathan was one of those characters. The ending was really cute though- when we see him propose to his girlfriend. I always thought that line about "making me the happiest man in the world" was incredibly cheesy but also romantic. I won't settle for anything less when my husband proposes.

Conflict: 3.5 The trainers put the teams through some pretty grueling work. Grueling but original.Special challenges are designed every week that are alot more interesting to watch than weight lifting or sit ups.

Class: 4.5 Usually I don't give an episode above a 4 in anything (just a rule I made up when I judged on the debate team) but the proposal was so cute I gave them bonus points for it.

Overall: 19/25

Beauty and the Geek

I've come up with an alternative name for this show that I think can work just as well: Brainless Beauties in Bikinis, affectionately known as BBB for short.  This week the 9 girls and the 8 remaining geeks tackled the challenge of a talent show. With 24 hours notice, the task sounded deceivingly simple. Unfortunately, it was Mission Impossible in the hands of girls whose greatest skill is strutting down a catwalk. Granted, I'm sure they could have come up with something better if they didn't have the attention span of gnats with ADHD. The end result was a trainwreck of a dance routine that closely resembled the beginnings of an adult film. Needless to say the geeks emerged victorious with a routine that incorporated comedy, rap and dinosaur impressions giving them the power to send 5 girls to the elimination room. Instead of preparing themselves for the elimination trivia, about half of the girls spent the night draping themselves over the boys, giving alot of geeks more action than they've gotten from...well probably anybody. The boys looked beyond their hormones (for the most part) and ended up sending to the elimination room the girls they felt caused the most drama. Guys, this is a reality show! The ones that cause the most drama are the ones are are supposed to stick around the longest!

Characters: 2 I'm beginning to confuse alot of the models with each other (I guess that's what happens when you all look like the stereotypical Barbie doll, only with different hair). Even their voices sound the same- light and airy, similar to their heads. The geeks are sweet though. Especially Tom (my favorite) I'm glad they sent Amber (left) home though. Tom seems like a nice guy and he doesn't deserve to be played by her for the sake of some stupid contest.

Authenticity: 4 This is the last time I'm going to have authenticity as part of the criteria because I really can't tell what is real and what's not (After all this is pretty much the first time I've watched more than one episode of the same reality show)

Emotional Intensity: .5 Although I think part of me died inside when I discovered that these girls were more enjoyable when they were ugly.

Conflict: 1.5 It's a talent show. And there wasn't even any competition!

Class: 2 Beauties, I don't usually say this but I found the lack of intelligence slightly offensive. 

Overall Rating: 12/25

I decided instead of a different reality show winning every episode, I would just add up all the points that each show earned and divide it by the greatest number of points they could have had in the end. So it's not who got the most points each episode it's what show got the most points overall. 

Behind the Stacks: Author's Spotlight: Sarah Desson Part 2

Sarah Desson has written a total of 11 novels and I'm about to review most of them (click here if you want to see my review on her novels Dreamland and Someone Like You ) My reviews are a little different in that they will probably spoil some plot twists so if you would rather be surprised I suggest reading only the "Read This Book If" which is basically a list of whom I recommend the book too (Note: I recommend all of the books in this post for everyone but especially those I have listed)

These books I am about to review are the ones that follow what I have dubbed "Desson's formula" which is  girl's life is missing something, girl meets boy, girls life improves, girl and boy have a falling out/ misunderstanding, girl's life gets worse, girl reconciles with boy and everything turns out okay. Yet every book has different set of characters, a different internal struggle, a different set of problems as I've outlined in the review below.

Keeping the Moon

15 year old Colie goes to stay in Colby, North Carolina to stay with her aunt while her mom heads off to Europe to promote her exercise program. She arrives with a lip piercing, a botched hair job and a major attitude from being picked on at a time when she was once overweight. She gets a job working at Last Chance with the help of two coworkers Morgan and Isabel and gets to know her Aunt Mira better. Cliche though it may sound (and it does get cliche in some spots) she comes to feel comfortable in her own body- and even meets a cute boy along the way. 
Why I Recommend This Book: I had to reread this book twice to appreciate how good it was because at   first read it only seemed (how can I put this gently?) mediocre and full of cliches. A second reading reveals nuances in the characterization and the dialogue that might have been missed the first time around. Honestly, I  only recommend this book to hard-core Desson fans. If you were to pick one novel to read by her, I would not choose this one.
Read This Book If:

• You're tired of being the victim
• You want (or need) an attitude adjustment
• You don't like what you see in the mirror

                                                              Just Listen

Annabel Greene used to be one of the most popular girls at her high school. That all changes however when she is sexually assaulted by her best friend’s boyfriend, Will . When her best friend (Sophie) discovers Annabel in a compromising position with Will, Sophie ostracizes Annabel and Annabel becomes a loner. At home the Greene family is busy dealing with the eating disorder of Annabel’s older sister, Whitney so no one notices Annabel’s fall from grace. Annabel sticks to herself at school, avoiding all contact with her old friends including her other best friend Emily, until she is befriended by fellow loner Owen Armstrong. The two of them begin spending time together. Owen starts teaching Annabel about honesty and Annabel starts to realize how her silence might be hurting other people. When Emily is also sexually assaulted by Will, she goes to the police and asks Annabel to testify for the prosecution, With Owen’s help, Annabel is able to tell the court, her family and the rest of the world what really happened.

Why I Recommend This Book: This is another book that had a personal connection with me. It was the first Desson book I ever read and when I reread it I cried. Because I had something similar happen to me and I felt like this book was talking to me, telling me I was not alone. I find this to be the most powerful of Desson's novels but that is only because of my past experiences. Everyone has a book they can connect to and for me it was this one.

Read This Book If:  

• You were ever a victim of sexual assault or abuse
• You're a loner
• You're ashamed of your past
• You love music

This Lullaby

Remy is spending the summer after graduating high school watching her mother marry her fifth husband. And as usual she plans the wedding. Remy just wants to enjoy the time with her friends and leave with no strings attached. Enter Dexter, a musician like Remy's dad once was. He gives Remy what she has always been afraid to have: a real relationship. 

Why I Recommend This Book: This book was a lot of fun to read. Remy and the banter she has with her friends is so entertaining- I know every girl wishes she could find a solid group like that. Dexter and his band add a lighthearted element to the story that is contrasted by Remy's fear of commitment as a result of her mother's many failed marriages. Desson actually said herself that this was her favorite book so if you want to dive into her novels this would be a nice book to take the plunge.
Read This Book If:

• You have many short term relationships
• You don't believe that love can last or you don't think it exists
• You want to read something more on the lighthearted end of Dessen's spectrum

Lock and Key

Ruby goes to stay with her sister Cora and her husband after she is found to have been abandoned by her mother. Suddenly she trades in a cockroach infested house for one with a fish pond in the yard and a drug ridden public school for an elite private one. Not only that but she's become good friends with her neighbor, Nate. Preppy, smart, athletic..and mysterious. Could it be that there is alot more to Nate's life than meets the eye?                                                                                                                                                     Why I Recommend This Book: This book deals with the heartbreaking issue of child abuse. As with all her other books, Desson manages to write about a sensitive topic in a realistic, powerful way. I particularly like the contrast between Ruby's two different "worlds" as well as the relationship between Ruby and Cora which I think is the core relationship of the novel (even more so than the relationship between Ruby and Nate) The book also explores the question of forgiveness. How can we forgive someone who has damaged us emotionally and/or physically? And should we even want to?                                                                     Read This Book:

• You have been a victim of abuse or know someone who has been a victim of abuse
• You've recently had a dramatic life change
• You're angry at the world

The Truth About Forever

Macy has a simple goal: perfection. She wants to be perfect for her boyfriend, Jason, classic overachiever in almost every area. She wants to be perfect for her mom, who is a workaholic completely dedicated to her job in real estate. She wants to be perfect so she can forget the death of her father several years before. However, the summer starts off on a not-so-perfect note when Jason leaves for camp, and Macy takes a position at the library information desk which is tedious and lonely.  But then Macy takes a second job at a catering company where she meets fun loving Kristy, "monotone" Monica, handsome Wes and eccentric Bert. With their help, Macy learns much more than serving hors d'oeuvres and balancing cheese platters. She learns that perfection is not only impossible, but that sometimes imperfection is a lot more fun. 
Why I Recommend This Book: It has some great characters (all of Desson's books make me want to go out and get a job just to see if I could meet people as cool as this) but more importantly it has a theme alot of  girls can relate to. Perfection. Whether it's the highest score on the SATS or an immaculate string of A's on our report cards, we work ourselves to the bone striving for the impossible. This book serves as a gentle reminder that we can't be perfect- and we don't have to be. 
Read This Book If:

• You are out of touch with your own emotions
• You find it difficult to express your feelings
• You have lost a parent or someone close to you
• You put alot of pressure on yourself
• You feel like you need to be perfect

Along for the Ride

Auden, tired of the disparaging comments from her overly critical mother, decides to pack her bags and stay with her dad, her step mom and her new baby step-sister. A new place, a new social scene, a chance to reinvent herself. With the help of some coworkers (what would summer be without a job?) and a mysterious boy named Eli, she begins to loosen up and engage in activities that she never had a chance to enjoy (like riding a bike) As she witnesses, her father make the same mistakes in his second marriage, Auden also comes to terms with her parent's divorce and accepts that it was not her fault.

Why I Recommend This Book: Auden suffers from what I call the "little adult" syndrome which basically means she never had all that much of a childhood. While watching Auden discover what it truly means to be a kid (or in this case a teenager) the reader learns that it's never too late to break out of our boxes and try new things.
Read This Book If:

• You blame yourself for your parents divorce (or your parent's disagreements)
• You suffer from "little adult" syndrome
• You want to make a fresh start

What Happened to Goodbye?

16 year old McLean isn't sure who she is. The preppy, the goth, the cheerleader- these are all personalities she has donned before at past schools. And each time she has left without so much as a goodbye. But this time around McLean decides to be the one person she hasn't been in a long time: herself.  When her dad gets transferred to Hawaii, will she hold on to the friendships that she's made? Or will she flee without so much as a goodbye?

Why I Recommend This Book: Whereas a lot of Desseo's books deal with traumatic issues (abuse, rape, death) this book, the primary issues of this book is something every teenager can relate to. Nothing like a good ole' identity crisis.

Read This Book If:

• You have no clue who you are (pretty much every teenager)

Quick Note: I haven't reviewed Desson's latest book (The Moon and More) because I haven't read it yet. It's actually sitting on my dresser waiting to go. I'm going to review it in the next batch of books I cover (Recent Young Adult Fiction)

I think I've spent longer on this post than any of them so far. And that's okay. Because Sarah Desson is one of the authors who inspires me to keep writing. And not just to keep writing but also to keep going in general. And that's why I shone the spotlight on her in this special post. Leave a comment if you liked this post and please check in for future posts. 

Worst of Gossip Girl Season One Episodes 1-10

"Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here, you're one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite. "

If these words sound familiar, great! If not then open a new window, stop reading and start watching. 

Worst of Gossip Girl Season One Episodes 1-10

I love Gossip Girl. I'll admit it. I love each of those characters like they are children (some of them estranged,  annoying foster children but children nonetheless) So it was really hard for me to pick and choose what I didn't like out of the first ten episodes. I actually had to go looking for things to get annoyed about which is rare for me. 

Jenny Becoming a Blair Clone

"I won't forget who I am. Ever" Famous last words. I sympathize with Jenny and her plight. Well sort of. I don't understand why she can't hang out with kids her own age instead of tagging around after the upperclassmen. But I do understand that she wants to fit in and be part of a group. And throwing away her self respect to become a carbon copy of Blair is fine. It's her decision. I just have issues with the way she treats her parents. She is so disrespectful to her mom and her dad. Her mom buys her a new pair of shoes and she doesn't even get so much as a thank you? Even I'm more grateful than that. And she gets away with so much. If I were Jenny after my first brush with the fast life (i.e. almost being raped by Chuck) I'd try the slow lane for a while. 

Alison

Alison annoyed me. She returns home because her daughter dragged her there after she left and had an affair with her neighbor. She has no right to make demands on her family. For example she gets mad that her husband kissed Lily while she went and slept with someone. And then she wants her daughter to give up something that is really important to her so she could come to the opening of her art show (which I agree is a reasonable request. But if you don't have a give and take relationship then you can't ask that of someone. You need to have established a relationship based on respect before you ask favors of people. And a mother who gets up and leaves her family will have to work a little bit to earn back her daughter's respect.

Chuck As An Attemped Rapist

I take rape very seriously. In fact there are certain things I never joke about and rape is and always will be at the very top of the list. I feel like Chuck trying to rape two girls in the very first episode was going too far even for him. There is a fine line between being a party boy with no committments (putting it as nicely as possible) and being a rapist. And I don't think the show really explained that. In the Second Season, Chuck really seems to be sorry about what he tried to do and how screwed up it was but in the first season I don't think enough was done about it. Even if you don't rape somebody, having full intent to do so is just as bad and you need just as much counseling. 

Blair Being Bulimic Wasn't Explained Enough

I am only up to the third season so I don't know if Blair's bulimia is explored in later seasons but I don't think it was explored enough in the first two seasons. We see that Blair was bulimic at one point but we don't really see why she stopped or if she is in therapy (if I am wrong correct me because maybe I missed something) and she doesn't talk about it at all. I know that Blair's bulimia was part of an effort to control herself but if they aren't going to tell us anything about it then is there really a point of introducing it? 

Alot of the Episode Titles

I told you I had to go looking for things to be annoyed about and I found it in the episode titles. I get that they are plays on movie titles and some of them are kind of cute but some of them were really forced. Like "Blair Waldorf Must Pie" (I get that it was a spin on John Tucker Must Die but I had to have Wikipedia explain that to me) Next time they need to come up with something that isn't so corny/ immature (sounds like the name of a children's book or something)

Vanessa Coming Back/Dan Hiding it

I warmed to Vanessa eventually but I'll admit I was not too fond of her when she walzted onto the scene, assuming she and Dan would pick up right where they left out. Either she is very confident in her appeal with the opposite sex or she just figures no one else will date Dan. Either way not earning her any respect points. But what annoyed me even more is that Dan was too spineless to tell her the truth. Dan always is so judgemental when anyone lies or hides something yet he (clumsily) tries to juggle two girls at once? Not cool, Dan. 

The Cliche From Two Different Worlds Thing

The whole "rich-girl-poor-boy" storyline is almost as exhausted as the whole "rich-boy-poor-girl" story. Arguably worse. I don't mind having it as a background but the writers make waay to big a deal of it. We get it- Serena is insanely rich, Dan isn't. We can move on and worry about something else. 

Nate Trying to Sneak Around With Serena

I get that you like her but dude, if you're dating her best friend there is no way she is going to sneak around with you especially if her best friend does revenge like no one else. You've caused enough trouble between them. It's time you stop being selfish. You can't date Blair and have Serena and/or Jenny too. Right now Nate needs to focus on himself and his family. For the sake of the girls (and the viewer) as much as everybody else.

Everyone Fawning Over Serena

 But Blair is just as pretty! (And I'm always partial to brunettes)

Crazy Parents

With the exception of Rufus, I feel like there are no normal parents on this show. There's Lily who likes to jet off around the world and ignore the fact that her son is in an institution for trying to commit suicide. There's Eleanor who would rather make friend's with her daughter's best friend than building a relationship There's the Captain who gets arrested for fraud and embezzlement. There's Nate's mom who ignores who helps her husband (a fugitive from justice) leave the country. There's Alison who leaves her family for her "art" There's Bart Bass who obviously likes to womanize as much as his son. No wonder these kids are so messed up. Look who they got for role models!

Well what did you think? I know it's not the honeyed voice of Kristen Bell but I do the best I can. PLEEASSE comment or subscribe and check out my next post. In the meantime, you know you love me. XOXO Bernadette

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Reality Show Challenge Episode 2 Part One

I think each of these shows should come with a warning that even though the characters may be awful and the content may be trashy, there is something sort of compelling about them. And like it or not I'm more or less hooked. Round One went to the Real Housewives of New Jersey but Round Two is a whole different story.And here it is.

The Bachelor

Episode 2 was a big step up from the first episode. The girls (and Ben) traveled to Sonoma which was Ben's hometown. I'm kind of wondering where they get all the money for plane tickets and gas since they always seem to be going somewhere. What with that and the fact that you might get sent home, I'm not sure why anybody would bother unpacking their suitcase. Episode 2 consisted of a one on one date with Kacie B., a group date and another one on one date with Courtney who is supposed to be beautiful but I don't think she's all that spectacular looking especially standing next to the rest of the girls. At the end of the week Jenna (the crying girl from Episode One) and another girl whose name I don't know went home.
Characters:3.5 The characters got a lot more interesting this time around. I got to see which ones were catty and which ones weren't. I still like Lindzi but I also like Jennifer and Kaci B. As for those girls who rub me the wrong way? That title is split evenly between Blakeley and Courtney. Blakeley wore a jumper on the group date that left nothing to the imagination and in the evening of the rose ceremony she was omnipresent. I really would like to see her and Courtney duke it out over Ben and "shoot themselves in the foot" (as Courtney likes to say) Towards the end of the episode, Blakeley starts crying because she feels like none of the other girls like her. Hmm, wonder where she got that idea? Jenna also started crying (and then fell asleep) but got sent home since you are not allowed to cry two episodes in a row. I always wonder about these "Bachelors" They say how they want commitment and want to find love so can't they do that with one woman instead of 25. And personally I thought it was very tacky of Ben to kiss Jennifer and two minutes later make out with Blakeley. I mean if a Bacherlorette had done that it would have never been okay. But I'll stop talking before I get too off topic.
Authenticity: 3.5 I understand that most of what happens is authentic but I also know that the camera crew is an expert at editing footage so that we don't see the whole story. I don't know if that is what's happening here but I am kind of wondering if there is a behind-the-scenes reason why Jenna keeps crying. Unless her period lasts a scary long time then I really don't know why she is so sensitive.
Emotional Intensity: 3 The only emotion I really felt was frustration that Ben was/is such a guy. Blakeley shows her boobs and like clockwork she scores the rose for the group date. Not to mention he is completely enticed with Courtney's fake personality.
Conflict: 3.5 At least the conflict was over something tangible- the group date rose. It's nothing I would cry over but I might push Blakely into the pool if she rubbed it in my face.
Class: 2.5 Lost points for major boobage, hot tub make out sessions and for just having a character as fake as Courtney on the show. The main redeeming factor of this episode was the 7th grade playwrights and even they weren't so classy especially the one boy that asked Blakeley to jog in slow motion. Innocent sounding request but with that jumper she had on it looked more like a botched strip tease.
Overall Rating: 16/25

16 and Pregnant

This episode featured Katie and her boyfriend Joey and their baby Molly from the suburbs of Wyoming. The more I watch this show, the more I realize how stupid some teens really are. It is easy to get pregnant, but it is easy not to. So if you have a future and you want to go to college and not tied down to someone you might not even love...don't get pregnant! That's all I am going to say on the subject.

Characters: 3.5 Katie seemed a little smarter than Mackenzie (then again she wasn't a cheerleader) and she also seemed really driven (she had been accepted into a few colleges including the University of Denver). So I don't know why she was stupid enough to get herself pregnant when she didn't even want a family in the first place. I sympathized with her though, I really did. She gave up her college dreams to go to community college and she manages to find an apartment where she takes care of her baby all day long. That is a lot of responsibility and I am impressed she does it without any assistance from anyone. Her mom puts in a few appearances. Actually I think she might have just been photoshopped into several scenes since she had the same expression in all of them. (See the picture on the left). As for her boyfriend Joey he was a lot like the boyfriend in the first episode since he didn't really speak and seemed tired all the time. I get the feeling alot of these guys don't want to be on 16 and Pregnant. The girls are all chipper (at the beginning anyway) but the guys never even smile. I agree with them- I think being pregnant is tough enough without having a camera crew following you around all the time.I also think Katie was expecting way to much from him- most guys don't even put on a clean pair of socks let alone go out and get a full paying job and get an apartment with their girlfriend and child. At least he didn't break his neck in a car accident.

Authenticity: 3.5 I'm still not sure what is real and what isn't. I don't know if the drama between Katie and Joey was real (I definitely sensed tension) but I'm not sure what was scripted and what wasn't. In fact I'm debating just cutting this category out altogether since I seem to suck at judging it.

Emotional Intensity: 3.5 This episode was alot more intense than the first one (even without the car accident) I think the main reason was that Katie was mostly doing this on her own- in her own house, all alone, all day. She had to give up her college dreams and take online classes. And I don't know if the cameras misrepresented the relationship that she had with her mother but I got the feeling she did not have her mother's full support. Plus Katie's relationship with Joey was insanely tumultuous to the point that they stopped speaking for a while.  

Conflict: 4 There was the conflict between Katie and her mom, the conflict between Katie and Joey and just the way Katie had to live her life by being alone all day. The conflict felt more intense than it did in the first episode probably because Katie and Joey were mostly on their own (I'm not saying their parents didn't help them out at all) Plus childbirth with no epidural is always good for a little nail biting.
Class: 4 I give them "class" points for the reasons I outlined in my last post- Katie struggles to be a good mom to her daughter, even giving up her college dreams. Joey goes and gets a full time job at 17. Even though they might curse more than your average parental units and even though Katie's culinary arts seem to leave a lot to be desired they are clearly both trying their hardest and I need to give them props for that.
Overall Rating: 18.5/25 BTW: I wish my luck to every single couple on this show and to every pregnant teen out there. Whether you are on TV or not, the struggles are real and my prayers are with them.

Real Housewives of New Jersey

They had a strong start (well strong for a reality show anyway) but the second episode kind of lost it's gusto. It really seemed like "much ado about nothing" and more of a wrap up of the first episode instead of an entirely new one. 

Characters: 4 I would never want them as my parents or role models but...I like them. I find them funny, spunky and pretty. And entertaining. I don't approve of subjecting their entire families to a reality show but they seem to have the best intentions for their kids. I got to see more of Melissa in this episode. Her romance with Joey (both of them are pictured on the left) seems pretty solid considering they are under surveillance from the entire country. Not alot of marriages could withstand that strain (then again not alot of couples would be willing to put it through that) Kathy also seems kind of down to earth. Like when she found out her son was receiving inappropriate pictures from a girl she acted like it was a big deal rather than a rite of passage which is refreshing from someone in Hollywood (well New Jersey but...you know what I mean) The only two characters I have any problems with is Teresa's husband Joey and Ashleigh (pictured on right. I said Joey might be competing for the world's most insensitive husband, and he is also in the running for one of the world's most preoccupied dads. One of his daughters cuts herself and he's like "Yeah, she's fine
" What kind of dad does that? And on national television? (Not sure if that makes it better or worse). Asheligh is Jacqueline's daughter and I don't blame her for kicking her out of the house. With her vague, distracted way of talking I would have kicked her out months ago. 

Authenticity: 2.5 I'm calling bullocks on some of the stuff in this episode. Like that whole pictures thing. When Kathy talked to the girl about it she said something along the lines of "LOL sorry Mrs. Wakile. I just find your son really attractive" Between this and Jersey Shore no wonder Jersey girls are getting a trashy reputation. And wouldn't they have to have the girl sign something to release that on television since she is underage? Or maybe not since they didn't say her name. I don't know I find the whole thing very creepy.

Emotional Intensity: 2 I felt bad when Teresa's husband completely ignored the fact that his daughter was bleeding because his buddies were coming over and of course they are more important. I also felt bad for Jacqueline because her daughter seems to be a 21 year old who can't string together two coherent sentences.

Conflict: 1.5 Most of the conflict was leftover from the first episode such as the cookbook drama. I'll say it again- who writes all this personal stuff in a cookbook. And she was saying how she wrote all these memories about her brother in her first cookbook- what does that have to do with food? Maybe cookbooks are a code word for something else? Or maybe I've just been reading the wrong cookbooks? The other main conflict was when Teresa's husband got in a fight with Kathy's husband (can't be bothered with names) over virtually nothing. Teresa said at the end she was glad her husband "handled it like a man" Yeah because a grown man would totally grab another's private parts.
Class: 3.5 There really wasn't as much gossiping but it lost points for aforementioned fight as well as the fact that Theresa's husband sucks as a dad.
 Overall Rating: 13.5/25 

Well looks like Real Housewives lost the edge it gained in the first episode. Check out more of my posts to find out who wins the second episode- and just to keep up with my latest commentary on TV and books!

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