Pretty Little Dirty

by Amanda Boyden

Book Overview

A dazzling, racy, and exuberant debut--Amanda Boyden tells the story of two Midwestern girls of privilege in the late 70s and early 80s and their shared plunge from innocence.

"Pretty Little Dirty takes a classic coming-of-age tale and turns it inside out, then gives it a few kicks in the head for good measure. Funny, sexy, inventively told, and scary as hell--a gutsy debut."-Dani Shapiro, author of Family History

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400096820
• ISBN13: 9781400096824
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Pretty Little Dirty - A Pretty "Satisfying" Account of Adolescent Degradation

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Such strong subjects of juvenile overindulgence are not few and far between in this tell-all novel of two best friends and their journey from being awkward, academically gifted sixth graders to cocaine-sniffing, promiscuous young women. While Lisa and Celeste hardly possess qualities truthful to the totality of aging teenage girls, it is no doubt that many will find themselves identifying with certain aspects of the highly scandalous story. It is a rare occurrence when an author can provide such a raw, uncut interpretation of the problems facing female youth, truthfully addressing everything from educational stress and household altercations to "bitchy" acquaintances and the constant underlying pressure to "hook-up," so Amanda Boyden's ability to do so in Pretty Little Dirty undoubtedly earns her respect in the literary world. Intense, candid diction within and between the girls and those they interact with in addition to the occasionally grotesque yet always blatant visual and tactile imagery used by Boyden is what truly allows her to express the rapid rate at which the girls emotionally and physically developed into everything feared by a proper society. When Lisa had her first intimate experience at Camp Evergreenshade, a simple dare that turned into more than anyone would've expected, I was able to see her sheltered fear and daunted disbelief in a way so real as if I had previously found myself in a similar situation. As the girls bonded through their summers with lazy days lounging by the pool and the desire of something more, I could see my best friend and I craving adventure along side them. And when Celeste dropped out of college and Lisa followed her lead so that they could lead "spontaneous," drug-filled, sexually uninhibited lives, it was as I was a side observer, desperately wanting to save them from their self-inflicted misery but too afraid to intervene. Furthermore, as if the daring imagery and uncensored phrasing were not contributors enough to the development of Lisa and Celeste, Boyden also includes short inter-chapters within the story, ones adding depth through the foreshadowing of lives similar of the ones the girls ultimately succumb themselves to. These sections are shocking to read, as the language is so appalling and deplorable that it makes you wonder how anyone could ever let themselves live in such an unrestrained state of being. As evident through the obvious theme of unedited intensity within the novel, some may find Boyden's words too much to swallow, but for those unafraid of the realities which she dangerously presents, the story of Lisa and Celeste is one that will leave you yearning for more. As in the movie "Thirteen," an account of two girls following the same life path as the best friends seen in Pretty Little Dirty, the images are harsh to the most extreme level, but do captivate the audience's attention. If being enthralled by a true life account identifying w

honest

What a wonderful and honest look at the transition from junior high awkwardness into adult debauchery. This is a uniquely female investigation into the standard roles, norms, and expecations for all women. The two best friends, Lisa and Celeste appeared to be unalike only in the mind of Lisa. It turns out they were very similar in their lack of self-awareness and their ability to become easily discontent. Lisa's family was dysfunctional, so she adopted Celeste's "normal" family as her own. Yet the two of them still lacked something undefineable....and they tried to find in eachother.

A Brave New Voice

As an astute reviewer at the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, it's easy for the average reader to miss the subtleties of the wonderful Pretty Little Dirty if he only skims the prose's surface. Fortunately there's much more in this smart, sad, and insightful novel than meets the immediate eye. Pretty Little Dirty is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth as told from the handmaiden's perspective, and while this knowledge isn't necessary for the understanding of plot, it most certainly lends credence to Boyden's abilities. Lisa Smith tends to her best friend Celeste's needs the way a servant might, but after a while, the reader begins to question just who is taking care of whom. The symbiotic relationship between Lisa and Celeste grows stronger with each chapter till the reader reels. The young women's friendship virtually sings with authenticity; nearly all close readers would agree that these BFF ring true. Yes, the novel addresses sex and drugs and danger and music in its later chapters. And the girls cook and dance and attend glee club in the earlier chapters. They're great students who screw up, Renaissance women who wander down a dangerous path. But most importantly, this novel from a brave new voice addresses what Beauty is, how we treat it (and her), and the place of art in our world. Such notions are complex and worthy of examination to be sure, and Boyden doesn't take the easy way out. There may not be many quick answers to all that the novel questions, but the reader who believes this book to be a work without depth has missed all of the nuance and, truly, the importance of the bigger issues between the lines. Pretty Little Dirty is contemporary. It touches on issues all too many parents wish would simply go away. Still, the fact that some of us may want to cloister our daughters in their safe bedrooms forever, hide them from the portion of the world that Lisa and Celeste find, doesn't mean that Boyden's work is dangerous or, oppositely, a cautionary tale. If it's used as one, fine, but Pretty Little Dirty asks very important questions that reflect on reality in both the early `80s and today. Ultimately, the readers must decide on what answers make the most sense for them. Art isn't simple, and neither is Pretty Little Dirty.

Beautifully Brutal

Every now and then an artist spends the night with the tried-and-true and emerges into the dawn with singular and transcendent results. Clint Eastwood did it with the underdog boxing movie and we got "Pretty Baby". Just this past weekend Springsteen did it with folk music at JazzFest and we got the performance of a lifetime. Amanda Boyden has done it with the coming-of-age novel and "Pretty Little Dirty". PLD tells the story of two young women's hormone and adreneline-fueled adventures through a labyrinth populated by modern mythological creatures: sexually charged artists, dangerous but alluring music and musicians, poor but nobel hipsters, loving but clueless parents and siblings. These are all familiar tropes, but like the gifted sculptor in her own novel, Boyden renders her subjects in a way completely her own. Revealed from the blank marble of familiar types, Boyden's characters are compellingly and charmingly original. She writes like a scorching blues guitarist, one who makes you think "I've heard the blues before, but never LIKE THAT." What gives this novel its heart and soul, its juice, is its bold and fearless portrayal not only of emerging womanhood but of friendship. Boyden explores not only the love and loyalty inherent in close friendships but also the envy, competition, fear, and possessiveness that sometimes darkens even the best of relationships. Boyden fearlessly confronts the darkness that lives alongside love. With her bold and eloquent writing, her bravery, and her impeccable pacing, Boyden's work reminds me of Alice Sebold's, another author unafraid to shine a light into life's shadowy corners. That's where the best stories, ones like "Pretty Little Dirty" often live.

If You Liked the Virgin Suicides

This is one of my favorite novels I've read in the past few years. What a fabulous rendering of suburban teenage girls and their introduction to the world of early '80s artists and California hardcore. It is vividly drawn, cinematic even. I've told everyone I know to read it, and the response has been unanimously positive.