This is a weekly meme hosted by Freda’s Voice
The Friday 56
I decided it would be fun to take part in another weekly meme! This time it’s the Friday 56, which looks like fun and a great way to be part of the bookish community!
The rules are as follows:
- Grab a book, any book
- Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
- Find any sentence (or a few, just don’t spoil it) that grabs you
- Post it
- Add your URL post in the link on Freda’s most recent Friday 56 post
Happy Endings Are All Alike by Sandra Scoppettone
Sandra Scoppettone’s 1978 lesbian young adult romance was a novel ahead of its time. The story follows the relationship between high school seniors Jaret and Peggy. At a time when girls were only allowed to date boys, Jaret and Peggy know they had to keep their love a secret. Of course, nothing goes according to plan, and before long they have to contend with the confusion and outright hatred of those closest to them. But nothing compares to the danger ahead, and the tragedy that will not just test their faith in their relationship, but their belief in themselves.
Synopsis from Goodreads
56%:
“Watched a dumb movie. There was this chick in it, Donna something, and she really pissed me off the way she went boogying around that flick. Just like Jaret. She needs somebody to knock her on her ass. Who do these chicks think they are, anyway? I’d show her what’s what if I had the chance.”
lgbt month
I first read this book in the early-to-mid 1990s and the subject matter stayed with me for a long time. When I saw the book was being released again by Lizzie Skurnick Books, I just had to purchase it.
Lizzie Skurnick Books (if you haven’t read her posts on Jezebel about YA books from the past or read her book Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading, I would suggest checking them out – they really are worth a read), according to the website is: “devoted to bringing back the very best in young adult literature, from the classics of the ’30s and ’40s to the thrillers and novels of the ’70s and ’80s.”
Happy Endings Are All Alike by Sandra Scoppettone was one of my favourite YA books that I read in the 1990s. The above quote is stated by the antagonist in the book. Even now, I think this book is very relevant despite being set in the late 1970s.
Is the book standing the test of time or does it read like it was written in the 70s? Too often older books really date themselves with cultural references. I’m glad you are enjoying this “old friend.” Happy reading!
It is dated but it still reads very well (at least so far!). I know what you mean though – too many cultural references even in up-to-date stuff very quickly makes the book seem dated.
I love how it sounds like you’re having a conversation with a friend! Great cover too!
Happy weekend!
It’s a lot better than the old cover that’s for sure!
Happy Weekend to you too! 🙂
Haha, great quote! Happy Endings Are All Alike is new to me and I haven’t heard of Lizzie Skurnick Books either, but I’ll be checking them both out. 🙂
Btw, don’t forget to add your post to the link up! Also, enter the links of your LGBT posts to the rafflecopter so you can win! (you can enter once a day)
http://nijiclovers.blogspot.com/2014/04/lgbt-month-kick-offgiveaway-2014-ya.html
It is a really good book – worth checking out.
Thanks – I will do that! Thanks for hosting this event – I am really enjoying taking part. 🙂
Interesting and great quotes.
Thanks! It is a really powerful book. 🙂