Forget Celia and Move On...

Published: January 10th, 2002
Feeling Sorry For Celia (Ashbury/Brookfield #1)
By: Jaclyn Moriarty
St. Martin's Press
ISBN-13: 9780312287368


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

   Elizabeth Clarry is always worrying about things, but mostly the whereabouts of her best friend Celia, who runs away from home a lot.  It doesn't help that her parents are divorced, her Dad is a weirdo and her Mom is never home.  Plus her English teacher wants to rekindle the "joy of the envelope" by giving each of them a pen pal from nearby Brookfield High School (where all the delinquents and criminals go to school).  Now Celia has run away again and Elizabeth and the new boy in school have gone after her, to bring her home from the circus (yes, the FREAKING CIRCUS!).  All the while Elizabeth is busy trying to figure out who she is, her growing friendship with her new pen pal Christina and her feelings for boys, her relationship with her parents - just life in all its forms!  This book was a lot of fun!  It was the first book I've read by Jaclyn Moriarty and I truly enjoyed the epistolary format.  The letters, notes and etc. to and from Elizabeth with the other characters were highly amusing.  The ones from her ad-executive Mome were fun, asking her feelings on certain random objects like purple lipstick or socks for her campaigns.  I cracked up majorly when the letters from the imaginary associations showed up, such as Cold Hard Truth Association, Association of Teenagers, and The Secret and Mysterious Association of all that is Secret and Mysterious.  I loved the whole secret admirer sub-plot and Celia's crazy antics were pretty far-fetched but enjoyable.  After reading this book I can honestly say that Jaclyn Moriarty is one of my favorite international authors and Elizabeth Clarry is who I'd want for a best friend if I was back in high school! :)

VERDICT:  4.5/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*