I absolutely loved this modern fairytale. Now I can see why so many people are obsessed with Francesca Lia Block's writing! I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
From Wikipedia:
"Weetzie Bat is the first novel written by American author Francesca Lia Block and was originally published in 1989. It is most often categorised as fiction for young adults.
The narrative follows the adventures of the eponymous character Weetzie and her best friend Dirk, their friends and relations. On being granted three wishes by a genie, Weetzie discovers that the ramifications of her wishes are not exactly what she had been expecting.
The story is set in an almost dream-like, heightened version of Los Angeles, aptly referred to as Shangri-L.A., in an indefinite time period that evokes both the essence of the 1980s punk craze and the sophisticated glamour of Hollywood in the 1950s. Block's use of language is original and poetic. She has crafted a form of slang for her characters' speech, coining such phrases as 'duck-hunting' - meaning to go out looking for potential dates.
What is most striking about the book is its treatment of the family unit. 'Family' is a central theme, but most of the characters are not biologically related. This is a literary example of a craze that swept through popular culture in the 1990s: the family unit being replaced by a close-knit circle of friends. Other representations of this phenomenon include Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the situation comedy Friends.
The novel is set in a world not without pain, but seemingly without prejudice. Issues such as blended families, pre-marital sex, homosexuality and AIDS are described freely and without apology. This has led to some backlash from parents who do not believe that such material has a place in teenage fiction.
Weetzie Bat is the first of Francesca Lia Block's Dangerous Angels series."
"Weetzie Bat is the first novel written by American author Francesca Lia Block and was originally published in 1989. It is most often categorised as fiction for young adults.
The narrative follows the adventures of the eponymous character Weetzie and her best friend Dirk, their friends and relations. On being granted three wishes by a genie, Weetzie discovers that the ramifications of her wishes are not exactly what she had been expecting.
The story is set in an almost dream-like, heightened version of Los Angeles, aptly referred to as Shangri-L.A., in an indefinite time period that evokes both the essence of the 1980s punk craze and the sophisticated glamour of Hollywood in the 1950s. Block's use of language is original and poetic. She has crafted a form of slang for her characters' speech, coining such phrases as 'duck-hunting' - meaning to go out looking for potential dates.
What is most striking about the book is its treatment of the family unit. 'Family' is a central theme, but most of the characters are not biologically related. This is a literary example of a craze that swept through popular culture in the 1990s: the family unit being replaced by a close-knit circle of friends. Other representations of this phenomenon include Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the situation comedy Friends.
The novel is set in a world not without pain, but seemingly without prejudice. Issues such as blended families, pre-marital sex, homosexuality and AIDS are described freely and without apology. This has led to some backlash from parents who do not believe that such material has a place in teenage fiction.
Weetzie Bat is the first of Francesca Lia Block's Dangerous Angels series."
