Book: Necklace of Kisses

Francesca Lia Block
Young Adult
HarperCollins / 2005
Hard Back / 240 Pages
Series Weetzie Bat #6

Where were the kisses? Weetzie Bat wondered. And so begins a magical journey of discovery. As she turns forty and the relationship with her secret-agent lover-man Max falls apart, Weetzie packs up her lime green and bright orange bikini, orange suede sneakers, and Pucci tunic, jumps in her '65 mint green Thunderbird, and leaves.
Weetzie finds herself at the enchanted pink hotel in sparkling Los Angeles, where she once shied away from a kiss that may have led her to the love of her life. Now she returns, perhaps in search of her lost passion, and meets an otherworldy cast of characters, among them a blue-skinned receptionist, an invisible cleaning lady, a seductive fawn, and a sushi-eating mermaid who gives her a kiss that sets the wheel of self-discovery in motion.
Block invests every scene with equal shots of magic and realism, rendering her heroine and supporting players in vivid, poetic detail. In Necklace of Kisses the fans that have grown up with Weetzie Bat will be able to meet her in adulthood and find that life is still no less trying and no less full of wonder.

I picked this book up because Series
What I liked the Most? Weetzie grew up

What I liked the Least? The fact that Max seems to be stuck in his head

Review:Necklace of Kisses is the sixth book in the series and yet is a book in and of itself and I am certain it will hold it’s own without disappointing. I loved the unique cast of characters that FLB creates and the magical kisses are truly inspired. I love the fact that it is actually the strangers that help solidify Weetzie’s desire to return to the family we know so well.

I for one I’m very glad I did not discover this series as a child because the magic is still there when I read it.

Recommended to: I totally recommend this book to all you dreamers out there.

Best Quote: “Find the goddess inside yourself instead of looking for the god in someone else.”

(Well to be honest every time I read this book I take away a new favorite quote and action that I incorporate into my daily life)

Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys

Book: Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys

Francesca Lia Block
Young Adult
HarperCollins / 1993
Oversize Paperback / 128 Pages
Series Dangerous Angels #3

Once there was a slinkster-jamming slam-dunk band called the Goat Guys. Cherokee Bat danced and sang. Witch Baby pounded out the beat on her drums. Raphael Chong Jah-Love played the guitar, and Angel Juan Perez kept the rhythm on his bass. Soon they were a huge success. But with success came a bitter, dangerous power . . . and Cherokee knew it was up to her to save them all.

I picked this book up because Series

What I liked the Most? Witch Baby

What I liked the Least? The flow of this story – who the hell leaves kids alone at this age?

Review: This one just doesn't do it for me. There’s been a bit of magic in all these books but in this one magic is the story’s driving force and Cherokee's 'gift' serve to elevate her a bit above Witch Baby, and that’s just not fair.

Recommended to: Fans of the series

Best Quote: "You make me feel like I have wings when you touch me."

Witch Baby

Book:

Francesca Lia Block
Young Adult
HarperTrophy / 1991
Odd sized paperback / 128 Pages
Series Dangerous Angels #2

One of kids' favorite characters in Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series is Witch Baby: a tangly haired, purple-eyed girl who can curl her toes into cashew shapes. She's a bit of an outsider, more in touch with feelings and portents than the rest of the gang from Shangri-L.A. In Witch Baby and Missing Angel Juan, we're able to watch Witch Baby work through some of her feelings of alienation. Her willingness to explore darker emotional realms is a real inspiration, and, in fact, she seems more evolved and "whole" than the others. In Missing Angel Juan, Witch Baby finally finds a way to create her own sense of belonging. She finds out more about her history and her unique needs to push through some of the shyness and moodiness that has always kept her separate from others.

I picked this book up because Series

What I liked the Most? WitchBaby

What I liked the Least? It's too short

Review: Witch Baby Bat, is a young girl who feels like an outcast in her own family. She feels as if she is nothing like her family, and as if they don't understand her. She runs away from home multiple times, and takes us on many exciting journeys. She is made extremely depressed multiple times throughout the whole book, which only captivates the reader more!

Recommended to: Anyone who's ever like an outsider especially in your own home

Best Quote: "So Witch Baby played. Tossing her head, sucking in her cheeks and popping up with the impact of each beat. Thrusting her whole body into the music and thrusting the music into the air around her. She imagined that her drums were planets and the music was all the voices of growth and light and life joined together and traveling the universe."

Weetzie Bat

Book: Weetzie Bat

Francesca Lia Block
Young Adult
Harpercollins / 1989
Odd sized paperback / 88 Pages
Series Dangerous Angels #1

In her stunning debut, Francesca Lia Block has created a wild, sophisticated fairy tale. She invites us into a magical world where love really does manage to conquer all.

I picked this book up because I don’t even remember – but I’ve never regretted it

What I liked the Most? Everything – the imagery in this book is astonishing

What I liked the Least? It's too short

Review: I can tell you right now you will either love this book or hate this book – there is no middle ground. LOL.

You've got to be bit quirky, bizarre, or crazy to love this story, the way you follow Weetzie (kinda like a generation-X Holly GoLightly without the bitch – the cool boho chic chick that just doesn’t get why everyone can’t go their own way) & Dirk through this little micro-world where love really does conquer all & magic is real. Where words build this wonderful image in your head - they love Jayne Mansfield movies, such as The Girl Can't Help It; the outfits that they wear (pink Harlequin sunglasses, an old fifties' taffeta dress covered with poetry written in glitter or dresses made from kids' sheets that have Disney characters on them) the Jetson-style Tiny Naylors.

Basic Plot Line: Girl meets Boy – Boy is Gay – Boy says he’s Gay – They hunt Ducks together – finding all kinds of bad before locating good ducks – Family Drama Rama.

Recommended to: Anyone who's ever felt at any time that sometimes life is just too darn frumpy

Best Quote: "You are my Marilyn. You are my lake full of fishes. You are my sky set, my 'Hollywood in Miniature,' my pink Cadillac, my highway, my martini, the stage for my heart to rock and roll on, the screen where my movies light up."

Book: Weetzie Bat

Francesca Lia Block
Young Adult
HarperColllins / 2004
Quality Paperback / 128 Pages
Series: Weetzie Bat #1

In her stunning debut, Francesca Lia Block has created a wild, sophisticated fairy tale. She invites us into a magical world where love really does manage to conquer all.

I picked this book up because I don’t even remember – but I’ve never regretted it

What I liked the Most? Everything – the story line, the writing, the characters

What I liked the Least? It is too short

Review: Basic Plot Line: Girl meets Boy – Boy is Gay – Boy says he’s Gay – They hunt Ducks together – finding all kinds of bad before locating good ducks – Family Drama Rama.

Weetzie is kind of like a generation-X Holly GoLightly without the bitch – She’s the cool boho chic chick that just doesn’t get why everyone can’t go their own way. I love the little details in the story – they love Jayne Mansfield movies, such as The Girl Can't Help It; the outfits that they wear (pink Harlequin sunglasses, an old fifties' taffeta dress covered with poetry written in glitter or dresses made from kids' sheets that have Disney characters on them) the Jetson-style Tiny Naylors.

Best Quote: “A kiss about apple pie a la mode with the vanilla creaminess melting in the pie heat.”