The Carrie Diaries

Last updated
The Carrie Diaries
The Carrie Diaries.jpg
First edition cover
Author Candace Bushnell
LanguageEnglish
Genre Young adult fiction
PublishedApril 27, 2010
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback)
e-Book (Kindle)
Audiobook (CD)
Pages400 (hardcover)
416 (paperback)
ISBN 0-06-172891-8
Followed by Summer and the City  

The Carrie Diaries is a young adult novel, the first in a series of the same name by American author Candace Bushnell. The series is a prequel to Bushnell's 1997 collection Sex and the City , and follows the character of Carrie Bradshaw during her senior year of high school during the early 1980s and part of her life in New York City working as a writer. The Los Angeles Times described it as "addictive" and "ingenious." [1]

Contents

Plot summary

The Carrie Diaries focuses on Carrie Bradshaw, a high-school student who lives in Castleberry, Connecticut. Carrie is followed through high-school starting her junior year, continuing through the summer, and ending at senior year graduation. Carrie, her friends, and family are shown going through many different trials during this time.

Carrie handles these well, including having a few boyfriends along the way. She and her dad have disagreements but do not come to blows until the end of the book. Carrie's final decision to not attend Brown University contributes to her living with her eventual lifelong friend Samantha Jones. This sets up Carrie as the precedent of a main character in Sex and the City .

Characters

Reception

The Carrie Diaries received generally favorable reviews. Joel Ryan of the Los Angeles Times gave the novel a positive review, calling it "addictive" and "ingenious", while asserting that the brilliance of the book is that "sex is really beside the point." [1] Sabrina Rojas Weiss of MTV's Hollywood Crush also gave it a positive review, stating, "All that plot is great and keeps you glued to the page until the end, but what sticks with you later are Carrie's internal musings." [2] Meeta Agrawal of Entertainment Weekly rated the book A− and wrote, "It would have been easy to write a coming-of-age story about Carrie Bradshaw that ham-fistedly foreshadows everything fans of the franchise know will come to pass. But Bushnell nails something harder: telling another chapter in the story of a cherished character that stands on its own." [3]

Television adaptation

In September 2011, it was officially announced that The CW was moving forward with a television series as a prequel to the original series, based on The Carrie Diaries. The project was developed by Gossip Girl producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Former Sex and the City writer Amy B. Harris was tapped to pen the adaptation. [4] On January 18, 2012, The CW network ordered a pilot of The Carrie Diaries. The project was helmed by executive producers Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Len Goldstein, and Bushnell. [5]

On February 15, 2012, the series' first role was cast when Stefania Owen landed the part of Carrie Bradshaw's 14-year-old sister Dorrit. [6] On February 27, 2012, it was announced that AnnaSophia Robb had won the role of the young Carrie. [7]

The series was formally picked up by The CW on May 11, 2012, and premiered on January 14, 2013. [8] It was renewed for a second season on May 9, 2013. [9] It was canceled on May 8, 2014. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Sex and the City</i> American TV series (1998–2004)

Sex and the City is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the same name, the series premiered in the United States on June 6, 1998. They concluded on February 22, 2004, with 94 episodes broadcast over six seasons. Throughout its development, the series received contributions from various producers, screenwriters, and directors, principally Michael Patrick King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candace Bushnell</span> American author, journalist, and producer

Candace Bushnell is an American author, journalist, and television producer. She wrote a column for The New York Observer (1994–96) that was adapted into the bestselling Sex and the City anthology. The book was the basis for the HBO hit series Sex and the City (1998–2004) and two subsequent movies.

<i>Sex and the City</i> (newspaper column) Newspaper column by Candace Bushnell

"Sex and the City" is a newspaper column written by Candace Bushnell for The New York Observer from 1994 to 1996. The column was based on her and her friends' lifestyles living in New York City in the 1990s. An anthology of Bushnell's columns was published as a book of the same name in 1996. The columns became the basis for the HBO television series Sex and the City, which led to the 2008 film of the same name, a 2010 sequel, and the HBO Max revival of the series And Just Like That....

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Bradshaw</span> Sex and the City character

CarolineMarie "Carrie" Bradshaw is a fictional character and the protagonist of the HBO franchise Sex and the City, portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Candace Bushnell created Carrie as a semi-autobiographical character for her column "Sex and the City" in The New York Observer. This column was later compiled into the book Sex and the City and adapted into the television series. Parker reprised the role in the films Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2, and the HBO Max series And Just Like That. Bushnell also authored the young adult novels The Carrie Diaries and Summer and the City featuring the character. The Carrie Diaries was adapted into a CW prequel series of the same name, with Carrie portrayed by AnnaSophia Robb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AnnaSophia Robb</span> American actress (born 1993)

AnnaSophia Robb is an American actress, model, and singer. She began as a child actress on television, making her feature film debut in Because of Winn-Dixie (2005), followed by the supporting role of Violet Beauregarde in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Her performance as Leslie Burke in Bridge to Terabithia (2007) garnered her recognition and praise, and two Young Artist Awards. She received wider recognition and praise for playing surfer Bethany Hamilton in the 2011 film Soul Surfer and the lead role of Carrie Bradshaw on The CW's series The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014). In 2019, she played the role of Gypsy Blanchard's neighbor Lacey in the Hulu miniseries The Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Letscher</span> American actor and playwright

Matt Letscher is an American actor, director and playwright, known for his roles as Captain Harrison Love in the 1998 American swashbuckler film The Mask of Zorro and as Colonel Adelbert Ames in the 2003 American film Gods and Generals. He co-starred in the 2016 Michael Bay film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, playing Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. He has also portrayed Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.

Samantha Jones (<i>Sex and the City</i>) Fictional character

Samantha Jones is a fictional character created by Candace Bushnell who appears in the Sex and the City media franchise. The character first appeared in Bushnell's newspaper column Sex and the City, which was published in The New York Observer from 1994 to 1996, and as a book of the same name in 1996. A semi-fictionalized version of one of Bushnell's real-life friends, Samantha is a confident and sexually liberated woman in her forties with a propensity for dating multiple men. Author Louise Perry has claimed that Samantha's character was based on a stereotypical portrayal of the life of a promiscuous gay man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloe Bridges</span> American actress (born 1991)

Chloe Marisa Suazo Devine, known professionally as Chloe Bridges, is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Zoey Moreno in the sitcom Freddie (2005–2006) and as Dana Turner in the Disney Channel original film Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010). She has starred in the films Forget Me Not (2009), Family Weekend (2013), Mantervention (2014), The Final Girls (2015), and Nightlight (2015). She has also portrayed Donna LaDonna in The Carrie Diaries, Sydney in Pretty Little Liars, and Kibby in Daytime Divas.

<i>Sex and the City</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of Sex and the City, an American television romantic comedy-drama, aired in the United States on HBO from June 6 to August 23, 1998. Based on the eponymous book written by Candace Bushnell, the series was created by Darren Star and produced by Darren Star Productions, HBO Original Programming, and Warner Bros. Television. Star, Barry Josen and Michael Patrick King served as the series' executive producers. The show follows the relationships and sexual escapades of Carrie Bradshaw, a sex columnist for the fictional New York Star, and her friends Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes.

<i>Nikita</i> (TV series) 2010 American action thriller drama television series

Nikita is an American action thriller drama television series that aired on the CW from September 9, 2010, to December 27, 2013, in the United States. The series is an adaptation of Luc Besson's French film La Femme Nikita, the second such adaptation after the 1997 TV series La Femme Nikita.

Stefania LaVie Owen is a New Zealand-American actress. She is known for her roles as Puddle Kadubic in the television series Running Wilde and as Dorrit Bradshaw in the teen drama television series The Carrie Diaries. She starred as Melanie in the film Paper Spiders, as Bear in the Netflix show Sweet Tooth, and as Nicole Chance in the Hulu original psychological thriller Chance.

Amy B. Harris, sometimes credited as Amy Harris, is an American screenwriter and producer. She is best known for producing the HBO series Sex and the City (1998–2004) and developing its prequel series The Carrie Diaries (2013–14), which aired on The CW.

<i>Summer and the City</i> 2011 novel by Candace Bushnell

Summer and the City is a young-adult novel written by Candace Bushnell. The sequel to The Carrie Diaries and the prequel to Sex and the City, it was first released as a hardcover on April 26, 2011.

<i>The Carrie Diaries</i> (TV series) 2013 American teen comedy-drama television series

The Carrie Diaries is an American teen comedy-drama television series that aired for two seasons on The CW from January 14, 2013, to January 31, 2014. It is a prequel to the HBO television series Sex and the City and based on the 2010 book of the same name by Candace Bushnell. The first season focuses on Carrie Bradshaw during her junior year of high school in 1984 as she explores life in New York City while interning at a law firm office, and also secretly working at a magazine company, while the second season focuses more on her expanding life in the city as well as the lives of her friends and boyfriend.

<i>Emily Owens, M.D.</i> American medical drama TV series

Emily Owens, M.D. is an American medical drama television series created by Jennie Snyder Urman. It was picked up by The CW on May 11, 2012. It premiered on The CW on October 16, 2012, and aired on Tuesdays at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central.

<i>The Carrie Diaries</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American comedy-drama television series The Carrie Diaries premiered on The CW on January 14, 2013, and concluded on April 8, 2013, consisting of 13 episodes. Developed by Amy B. Harris, the series is based on the novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell, and serves as a prequel to the HBO series Sex and the City.

<i>Star-Crossed</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Star-Crossed is an American science fiction romantic teen drama television series created by Meredith Averill. The series premiered on The CW on February 17, 2014, and concluded on May 12, 2014, with a total of 13 episodes.

<i>The Carrie Diaries</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second and final season of the American comedy-drama television series The Carrie Diaries premiered on The CW on October 25, 2013, and concluded on January 31, 2014, consisting of 13 episodes. The series serves as a prequel to the HBO series Sex and the City.

<i>Sex and the City</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of Sex and the City, an American television romantic comedy-drama, aired in the United States on HBO from June 6 to October 3, 1999. Based on the eponymous book written by Candace Bushnell, the series was created by Darren Star and produced by Darren Star Productions, HBO Original Programming, and Warner Bros. Television. Star, Barry Josen and Michael Patrick King served as the series' executive producers. The show follows the relationships and sexual escapades of Carrie Bradshaw, a sex columnist for the fictional New York Star, and her friends Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes.

References

  1. 1 2 Ryan, Joal (May 15, 2010). "Book review: 'The Carrie Diaries' by Candace Bushnell". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  2. Weiss, Sabrina Rojas (April 27, 2010). "'The Carrie Diaries' Review: We See Big Things In Your Future, Carrie Bradshaw". Hollywood Crush. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  3. Agrawal, Meeta (April 14, 2010). "The Carrie Diaries". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (September 11, 2011). "'The Carrie Diaries' Now Officially At CW With 'Gossip Girl' Producers On Board". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  5. Hibberd, James (January 18, 2012). "'CW Orders 'Sex and the City' Prequel Pilot, More". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  6. Hibberd, James (February 15, 2012). "'Carrie Diaries' casting scoop: Bradshaw's sister is... -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  7. Oldenburg, Ann (February 27, 2012). "AnnaSophia Robb lands role as young Carrie Bradshaw". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 16, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  8. "LA Times article on The Carrie Diaries". Los Angeles Times. May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  9. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 9, 2013). "'Nikita' Renewed For A Short (Final?) 4th Season & 'The Carrie Diaries' Renewed For 2nd Season". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  10. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 8, 2014). "'Carrie Diaries', 'Tomorrow People' & 'Star-Crossed' Cancelled by The CW". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.