David Cordingly

What were pirates really like? How much, if any, of the piratical stereotype - of a dashingly handsome man with an eye-patch, peg-leg and a parrot on his shoulder - is based on the documented fact. In this revealing and highly original study David Cordingly sets out to discover the truth behind the piracy myth, exploring its enduring and extraordinary appeal, and answering such questions as: why did men become pirates? Were there any women pirates? How much money did they make from plundering and looting? And were pirates really dashing highwaymen of the Seven Seas or just vicious cut-throats and robbers? From Long John Silver to Henry Morgan, Robert Louis Stevenson to J.M. Barrie, LIFE AMONG THE PIRATES examines all the heavyweights of history and literature and presents the essential survey of this fascinating phenomenon.

The Romance and the Reality

Life Among the Pirates

Cecily von Ziegesar

The wickedly funny second book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series that inspired the hit CW show starring Blake Lively. It's brunette vixen Blair Waldorf's seventeenth birthday, and she knows exactly what she wants: Nate, her studly, troubled boyfriend of three years. But Blair's been too busy filling out Ivy League college applications to notice that Nate has found himself another playmate.

A Gossip Girl Novel

Gossip Girl #2: You Know You Love Me

Geoffrey Froggatt

This is the second book in the Gossip Girl book series. Blair's mother has just announced that she will marry a short, stubby man of high society, Cyrus Rose, after a two-month courtship, and Blair must deal with a whole new family life, including Aaron, a dreadlocked hippie stepbrother. She has disowned her best friend, Serena, who slept with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, Nate. He has begun to return the affections of ninth-grader Jenny, whose brother, a hopeless romantic, is pining over Serena. As with the first book, I was constantly seeing what was lifted from the books and what was changed. I like that the book series are slowly exploring Blair’s eating disorder, but I hope that it will be done better in the long run than it was in the show. I was surprised when Gossip Girl herself hinted that Blair should be flirting with her new stepbrother-to-be, but I shouldn’t have been because something like that would fit right into the style of this franchise and make a typical scandalous Gossip Girl storyline. I liked Aaron’s character, he was someone that I would have hung out with in high school, and it was interesting seeing a character like Blair interact with them as they were such polar opposites. I was surprised that the characters in the book were hanging out and casually smoking weed in a Motel 6. That was something that was so far from what I imagined these kinds of characters doing and was much closer to what my friends and I did in high school, but I reminded myself that these characters have the privilege and power to move through as many different worlds as possible and remain untouched. They were merely visitors to certain lifestyles while people like me were there for life. I liked seeing the university interviews and how each one differed, I especially liked seeing Blair fall apart in hers. Seeing that most of the mothers on the Upper East Side are gossiping harpies was interesting compared to their television counterparts. I like seeing Vanessa as part of the main cast from the beginning, and her characterization in the books is much more interesting than her portrayal in the television show. It was interesting seeing Dan and Vanessa begin to form a stronger connection so early. I liked the hint of Serena and Blair becoming friends again, but I also felt like this was too early as I loved their initial conflict in the television show. This book doesn’t move the overall plot or the characters forward too much or change the formula, but it is only the second book in the series, and the author is still comfortable exploring these characters at a surface level, which still makes for an interesting read for a character focused story. I do still think that my enjoyment of the series is partially because I do love these characters in the television show adaptation, and I love the original source material as it’s own thing because of that. I’m still not sure who I would recommend this book series to in real life, but I can safely say that hardcore fans of the Gossip Girl franchise will enjoy these books on some level. Once again because of my rating system, I find myself giving this book three stars, but I must reiterate that this book is not of three star quality compared to my other rated books, it’s simply an indication that I enjoyed this, salacious trash and all.

evy 

definitely better than the first one, but i think that's because the first book was exactly the same as the pilot of the show, so there was nothing new. 
I hope they explore blair and aaron's friendship more, it was one of the best parts of the book.

Tijana Kovac

I like the show but not the book. It has a good storyline but I didn't like the way it was written and..I don't know it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Jessica 

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Full review here: http://bookandbroadway.blogspot.com/2...

You Know You Love Me serves as the second installment of the original Gossip Girl series and comes with the return of fan favorites Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, Jenny, Vanessa and Chuck. After the excellent start to the series, one can tell instantly that these scandalous teenagers and their lives are only just getting started. Get ready for more sex, more betrayal and more fun.

The title of this book is, perhaps, the most iconic of the series due to the phrase “you know you love me” that frequents the ever mysterious Gossip Girl’s blog and also makes its appearance in dialogue for both Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen. You don’t think of Gossip Girl without this phrase.

It reminds me of middle and high school; the way you feel when you're just discovering the world for yourself and how odd and intriguing life can really be. It reminds me of the autumn and the very first pair of heels I'd purchased as a teenager; it reminds me of the thrill of doing things you shouldn't be and the exploration of it all. Plot wise, it picks up right where the first of the series left off and throws us right into the mix of these teenagers scandal filled lives.

Blair and Nate are back together, Nate is as fickle as ever, Serena is kind-of-sort-of with Dan (but for how long?), Vanessa has an older boyfriend and Jenny is looking for a way in as usual. And Chuck Bass is still a dirt bag dressed up with a pinky ring and scarf.


If you’re wondering if these kids and their families would just take a breather, you clearly haven’t been paying attention.

Life Among the Pirates The Romance and the Reality

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