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mthrash 's review for:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
by Ann Brashares
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I am a sucker for an easy young adult read. Nothing makes my heart happier. When I randomly chose this book out of the pile I smiled at my luck. I have watched this movie years ago and had always wondered if it took liberties with the book or if it followed along. One big plot line went amiss, the casting was a little off, but all in all, not too bad.
I wonder why the casting of Alexis Bledel for Lena in the movie? In the book, Lena is "olive-skinned" reflecting her roots in Greece. Alexis is far from that reflection of the book character. It is always hard to read the book after watching the movie because your brain automatically fills in the faces and characteristics of the actor. I'm not mad about it....just curious....I am mad, however, about leaving the whole plot line of Lena and Kostos. The pond, the nudity, the language barrier, the feud, that's good entertainment. I assume it was trying to keep its PG rating, but it would have made the romance a whole lot more interesting. This plotline in the book had be grinning ear to ear, something that I did not do in the more subdued movie meet-cute.
All in all, I followed along, easily turning pages. I felt Tibby's resentment in life and then renewed interest in living after meeting Bailey. I felt the anger behind a rock thrown through a glass window. I felt the emptiness inside Bridget. All very relatable teenage feelings that were well written in a not too angsty way. The metaphor of a pair of jeans that fits all body types, fits all style requirements, brings a group of friends together, was not lost on me.
What was lost on me was the other plot deviation from the movie. Why did Lena not fly to Bridget's soccer camp in the movie? That was a lost moment on film having been beautifully written in the book. I mean, I thought it a bit unrealistic that a teenage girl can just up and change her flight without checking in with her parents, but, the understanding and depth in this picture of friendship was exactly what the book needed to help wrap things up and I have always felt the movie version of this moment felt a little too superficial.
The one wrap up that I think the movie does better than this book was the storyline of Tibby and Bailey. I was so disappointed to read the weirdness of Mimi at the gravesite and wanting to lay down with them, I get it, it was a great way to punctuate Tibby's renewed zest for living...but in the movie.....the self-recorded insert that Bailey creates.....it really hit home with the heart strings and I was shocked when I got to the end of the book and realized that was a creative direction from Hollywood and not the author.
All in all, this is a super quick read for people who just want a feel-good book that tugs a bit at the heart and the smile. I am looking forward to reading the second one!
I wonder why the casting of Alexis Bledel for Lena in the movie? In the book, Lena is "olive-skinned" reflecting her roots in Greece. Alexis is far from that reflection of the book character. It is always hard to read the book after watching the movie because your brain automatically fills in the faces and characteristics of the actor. I'm not mad about it....just curious....I am mad, however, about leaving the whole plot line of Lena and Kostos. The pond, the nudity, the language barrier, the feud, that's good entertainment. I assume it was trying to keep its PG rating, but it would have made the romance a whole lot more interesting. This plotline in the book had be grinning ear to ear, something that I did not do in the more subdued movie meet-cute.
All in all, I followed along, easily turning pages. I felt Tibby's resentment in life and then renewed interest in living after meeting Bailey. I felt the anger behind a rock thrown through a glass window. I felt the emptiness inside Bridget. All very relatable teenage feelings that were well written in a not too angsty way. The metaphor of a pair of jeans that fits all body types, fits all style requirements, brings a group of friends together, was not lost on me.
What was lost on me was the other plot deviation from the movie. Why did Lena not fly to Bridget's soccer camp in the movie? That was a lost moment on film having been beautifully written in the book. I mean, I thought it a bit unrealistic that a teenage girl can just up and change her flight without checking in with her parents, but, the understanding and depth in this picture of friendship was exactly what the book needed to help wrap things up and I have always felt the movie version of this moment felt a little too superficial.
The one wrap up that I think the movie does better than this book was the storyline of Tibby and Bailey. I was so disappointed to read the weirdness of Mimi at the gravesite and wanting to lay down with them, I get it, it was a great way to punctuate Tibby's renewed zest for living...but in the movie.....the self-recorded insert that Bailey creates.....it really hit home with the heart strings and I was shocked when I got to the end of the book and realized that was a creative direction from Hollywood and not the author.
All in all, this is a super quick read for people who just want a feel-good book that tugs a bit at the heart and the smile. I am looking forward to reading the second one!