Saturday, December 13, 2008

BOOK: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block, 109 pages

genre: young adult

What a sweet little fairy tale! Well, modern fairy tale, with Weetzie, a decidedly eccentric LA teen and Dirk, her gay best friend, out looking for Ducks (boyfriends.) They aren't battling ogres and dragons, but separated parents and AIDS. Not wolves and bears, but the club scene and babies. Not witches and, no wait, there are witches in the book, and genies and wishes that come true.

It is young adult in the true sense, as Weetzie and Dirk are in their twenties, although they met in high school. The writing style is very fairy tale, with no descriptions, just events occurring, and then this next event happens. The plot jumps from major event to major event as Weetzie learns what makes her happy and how to live happily ever after. Having the book set in Los Angeles and Hollywood lends to the unrealness of their life.

[Secret Agent Lover Man] kissed her.

A kiss about apple pie a la mode with the vanilla creaminess melting in the pie heat. A kiss about chocolate, when you haven't eaten chocolate in a year. A kiss about palm trees speeding by, trailing pink clouds when you drive down the Strip sizzling with champagne. A kiss about spotlights fanning the sky and the swollen sea spilling like tears all over your legs.

I was quite enchanted.

3 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good book! I had never heard of it before

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  2. I really have to read this! I loved everything I've read by Block so far.

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  3. kelly - it's a quick read, 109 pages. It was quite unlike what I usually read.

    nymeth - it's my first Block, but I'd read another Weetzie Bat book for sure.

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