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Available
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Series
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Collection
Publication
Macmillan Children's Books (2001), 288 pages
Description
A bitter-sweet novel of love, letters and lemon souffle. Life is pretty complicated for Elizabeth. Her best friend, Celia has disappeared, her absent father has reappeared, and her communication with her mother depends entirely on fridge notes. A funny, poignant novel for young adult readers from a major new Australian writer.
User reviews
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Elizabeth Clarry is not your average private school teenage girl. In fact, she’s anything but. Her favorite hobby is long-distance running. She communicates with her mom through notes left on the refrigerator. Her one and only friend is Celia Buckley, who has a bad habit of running away for weeks
In the midst of Celia’s latest escapade, Elizabeth’s English teacher sets up a pen-pal project with the public school down the road. The last thing Elizabeth wants to do is to be forced to communicate with a total stranger, but she soon discovers that writing to her pen-pal, Christina, is actually a nice retreat from her increasingly hectic life. Her dad, who ran off with another woman when she was just a baby, has now returned to Australia to work and is interested in bonding with his daughter.
As things with Celia get more and more interesting, Elizabeth is forced to reconsider her friendships. Maybe it’s time for her to grow on. Luckily she’s got Christina, her mom, and an anonymous admirer to make the way easier for her!
It’s impossible to sum up this amazing book in a few sentences. Let’s just say that this is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ll never get sick of it. Told entirely in letters and notes, FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA will make readers laugh, cry, and wish they could be part of Elizabeth’s crazy but wonderfully interesting life.
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at a time.In the midst of Celia’s latest escapade, Elizabeth’s English teacher sets up a pen-pal project with the public school down the road. The last thing Elizabeth wants to do is to be forced to communicate with a total stranger, but she soon discovers that writing to her pen-pal, Christina, is actually a nice retreat from her increasingly hectic life. Her dad, who ran off with another woman when she was just a baby, has now returned to Australia to work and is interested in bonding with his daughter.
As things with Celia get more and more interesting, Elizabeth is forced to reconsider her friendships. Maybe it’s time for her to grow on. Luckily she’s got Christina, her mom, and an anonymous admirer to make the way easier for her!
It’s impossible to sum up this amazing book in a few sentences. Let’s just say that this is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ll never get sick of it. Told entirely in letters and notes, FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA will make readers laugh, cry, and wish they could be part of Elizabeth’s crazy but wonderfully interesting life.
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LibraryThing member skyandstars
I loved the book Feeling sorry for Celia because it has a amazing plot about Elizabeth's friendship, family, school life and her secret admirer. I also love the way the book was written. The story is told by letters between Elizabeth and her pen pal Christina, notes between Elizabeth and her mom,
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postcards from Celia and messages from societies such as "The Cold Hard Truth Association".( Which I think the societies are imaginary from Elizabeth's head.) The book is all in a form of a letters which is so cool. It always makes you feel that you are in the book, experiencing what Elizabeth goes through and goes in a way where you never expect it to go. Show Less
LibraryThing member amiciano
276/276
Summary- Feeling Sorry for Celia is about friendship and the difficulties of life, friendships, and school in High School. Elizabeth Clarry has trouble with her best friend Celia because Celia always runs away and leaves Elizabeth to have no one to talk to about what's going on in her life,
Description- Elizabeth Clarry is a teenager who attends a private high school, her best friend is Celia who has been running away from home since they were little. Elizabeth isn't very outgoing and she doesn't try too hard in school. However, Elizabeth is an interesting character because of her attitude towards certain things. She has unique opinions about homework and instead of doing her homework, she writes letters to the teacher about why she doesn't do her homework. Elizabeth's passion is long distance running and she dreams of winning a marathon and moving to the next level to compete in New York.
Relate- I can relate to how Elizabeth's relationships with her family and friends had developed throughout the story. Especially, Elizabeth's relationship with her mom because at first she doesn't tell her mom much about her life only about Celia and later on their relationship deepens and Elizabeth opens up to her mom more. I have began to open up to my parents more also.
Dislikes- The only thing that made reading this book difficult was that the story was told by letters. The idea was unique and the author did a good job of how the letters were written, although the letters limited how much description of the characters and setting was given.
Recommendation- I would recommend this book to freshman girls because as a freshman there are a lot of things that change so quickly, and things that you have to become accustomed too. This story follows Elizabeth and shows he she dealt with different and difficult changes.
Summary- Feeling Sorry for Celia is about friendship and the difficulties of life, friendships, and school in High School. Elizabeth Clarry has trouble with her best friend Celia because Celia always runs away and leaves Elizabeth to have no one to talk to about what's going on in her life,
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although, Elizabeth is accustomed to Celia disappearing. The story is told by a series of letters or notes written by Elizabeth and the people close to her. Some letters are written by different organizations addressed to Elizabeth, these letters give the thoughts of Elizabeth sometimes, the background of the story or the setting of the story. Elizabeth grows throughout the novel discovering secrets about her family, becoming closer to her mom, and strengthening her friendship with Celia and even making new friends. Description- Elizabeth Clarry is a teenager who attends a private high school, her best friend is Celia who has been running away from home since they were little. Elizabeth isn't very outgoing and she doesn't try too hard in school. However, Elizabeth is an interesting character because of her attitude towards certain things. She has unique opinions about homework and instead of doing her homework, she writes letters to the teacher about why she doesn't do her homework. Elizabeth's passion is long distance running and she dreams of winning a marathon and moving to the next level to compete in New York.
Relate- I can relate to how Elizabeth's relationships with her family and friends had developed throughout the story. Especially, Elizabeth's relationship with her mom because at first she doesn't tell her mom much about her life only about Celia and later on their relationship deepens and Elizabeth opens up to her mom more. I have began to open up to my parents more also.
Dislikes- The only thing that made reading this book difficult was that the story was told by letters. The idea was unique and the author did a good job of how the letters were written, although the letters limited how much description of the characters and setting was given.
Recommendation- I would recommend this book to freshman girls because as a freshman there are a lot of things that change so quickly, and things that you have to become accustomed too. This story follows Elizabeth and shows he she dealt with different and difficult changes.
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LibraryThing member jtanny
In Moriarty's three books (Feeling Sorry for Ceclia, The Year of Secret Assignments, and The Murder of Bindy MacKenzie) she focuses on a few girls from the same high school. In Feeling Sorry for Celia -- I liked seeing the world through Elizabeth Clarry, and all of the quirky characters around her.
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Its written in letters from Elizabeth's private school English class to a girl in the local public school. Very clever and witty book. Show Less
LibraryThing member lalalibrarian
I like how it's written entirely in letters. I really did laugh out loud several times while reading, which is fun to do.
LibraryThing member mad.
i read this in one night it was so good, I love moriatry's works (year of secret assignments, the death of bindie mackenzie) I love how it's written all in letter with several different plots that fit together nicely ina really laugh out loud way.
LibraryThing member guiltlessreader
I love love Moriarty. But "A Year of Secret Assignments" is still my favorite. This one has the same wit and empathy in a series of letters (yes, an entire book in ONLY letters and emails) but with far fewer characters; more personal yet somehow less funny.
LibraryThing member kaionvin
A cute epistolatory novel around an Australian teen named Elizabeth Clearry... whose 1) quixotic best friend has run away to join the circus, 2) busy mom communicates to her through refrigerator notes, 3) absentee dad is suspiciously trying to reconnect, and 4) English teacher is initiating a
Most of fun comes from the ways Jaclyn Moriarty bends the format. Besides the aforementioned 'fridge notes (and the letters to and from her new penpal Christina), the book also is plenty populated with Elizabeth's mental correspondence from such bodies as the 'Association of Teenagers', the 'Society of Amateur Detectives', and the 'COLD HARD TRUTH ASSOCIATION'.
Hey, if you pick up this book, you probably know what you're in for, and out of this genre, I think it's a fairly innocuous and clever entry. It doesn't quite stick the landing, as some of the resolutions are a little ... constrained by the structure and thereby not fully developed. But it's easily forgiven by the generally believable teenage voice (in that incredibly trendy way, however, that I don't think ages particularly well). Overall, an easy enjoyable read.
A truth: I kept having that nagging feeling of deja vu while I was reading, and some of the plot development. Whether or not I *have* read Feeling Sorry for Celia before, familiarity probably doesn't say good things about its memorability.
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penpal project with a neighboring public school.Most of fun comes from the ways Jaclyn Moriarty bends the format. Besides the aforementioned 'fridge notes (and the letters to and from her new penpal Christina), the book also is plenty populated with Elizabeth's mental correspondence from such bodies as the 'Association of Teenagers', the 'Society of Amateur Detectives', and the 'COLD HARD TRUTH ASSOCIATION'.
Hey, if you pick up this book, you probably know what you're in for, and out of this genre, I think it's a fairly innocuous and clever entry. It doesn't quite stick the landing, as some of the resolutions are a little ... constrained by the structure and thereby not fully developed. But it's easily forgiven by the generally believable teenage voice (in that incredibly trendy way, however, that I don't think ages particularly well). Overall, an easy enjoyable read.
A truth: I kept having that nagging feeling of deja vu while I was reading, and some of the plot development. Whether or not I *have* read Feeling Sorry for Celia before, familiarity probably doesn't say good things about its memorability.
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LibraryThing member CaroTheLibrarian
PLUS -
* I first read this book several years ago when it was first published in the UK. I know I enjoyed it then, and have loved rereading it recently. It's nice when that happens!
* Our heroine Elizabeth receives and writes lots of letters - she has a school project penpal at another school, a
* It's a great coming of age novel - family relationships change (in unexpected ways!), friendships come and go, there's a bit of romance and a growing self awareness.
MINUS -
* First published in 2000 I think it has dated a little - it all letters and notes. I guess if it was written now there may be more texts and emails, especially when Elizabeth is trying to contact her missing friend Celia.
OVERALL -
* It is teenage chick-lit and is a light read, but it's funny, quirky and very entertaining. It's the first in a sequence of related books (not a traditional series) with overlapping characters and I'm off now to read some of the others.
* I first read this book several years ago when it was first published in the UK. I know I enjoyed it then, and have loved rereading it recently. It's nice when that happens!
* Our heroine Elizabeth receives and writes lots of letters - she has a school project penpal at another school, a
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mother who communicates via fridge door notes, and a runaway best friend who sends postcards. What really adds to this book though are Elizabeth's own musings on life which take the form of letters from imaginary organisations such as the 'Cold Hard Truth Association', 'Best Friends Club' and the 'Young Romance Association'. * It's a great coming of age novel - family relationships change (in unexpected ways!), friendships come and go, there's a bit of romance and a growing self awareness.
MINUS -
* First published in 2000 I think it has dated a little - it all letters and notes. I guess if it was written now there may be more texts and emails, especially when Elizabeth is trying to contact her missing friend Celia.
OVERALL -
* It is teenage chick-lit and is a light read, but it's funny, quirky and very entertaining. It's the first in a sequence of related books (not a traditional series) with overlapping characters and I'm off now to read some of the others.
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LibraryThing member calmclam
A comedy of errors featuring Elizabeth, the main character; her pen pal Christine; her parents, an no-longer-absent father and a hilarious mother; her runaway best friend Celia; Celia's new boyfriend; the boy leaving Elizabeth anonymous notes on the bus; and a mysterious stepbrother. The story is
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told entirely through the notes, letters, and postcards the characters write to each other (along with some letters Elizabeth imagines people should be writing to her, from the Association of Teenagers and COLD HARD TRUTH Association). At times I thought it was a little cutesy, but I laughed out loud more than once and had a smile on my face for ninety percent of the book. Definitely recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member sapphire--stars
I remember really, really loving this book. I guess I'll have to revisit it and see what was so phenomenal to my sixth grade self.
LibraryThing member nancyh01
A quick, enjoyable read. I liked the fact that there was no perfect ending. The father was still a putz, the best friend was still flaky and self-centered, the mother was still uninvolved. Despite this, the protagonist had worked out a way to live with these things and still feel reasonably good
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about her life Show Less
LibraryThing member stieglitzcnewaccount
I thought Feeling Sorry for Celia, to be a very funny read. This book is completely made up of letters and notes, that depict the life of a teenager named Elisabeth Clarry. Life is not easy for Elisabeth Clarry, as her friend Celia has disappered, her absent father reappers in her life, and she
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mostly communicates with her mother through notes. I was able to relate to the issues of Eliasbeth's life, when nothing in your life seems to make sense. Feeling Sorry for Celia has won many awards including, a White Ravens selection, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, a BookSense 76 Pick, a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book, and winner in 2001 of the Ethel Turner prize. Show Less
LibraryThing member jonilee73
Feeling Sorry for Celia was a very easy read. It was so entertaining. This book is written entirely in the form of letters, which is such a unique idea and it made things so much more personal and easy to read.
Eliabeth has such an interesting life. Her personality is so entertaining. I wish she
Along with letters to and from Christina, there are letters from an anonymous boy on her bus, letters from to and from her mother stuck to the fridge with magnets, and letters from made-up societys such as The Association of Teenagers and The Cold Hard Truth Association.
There are so many eccentric characters and just enough mystery that I couldn't wait to find out what happened on the next page! With Celia running away, then coming back, then running away again it was always a guess as to what was going to happen.
This book has comedy, tragedy, family drama, and even a touch of espionage. It is a very entertaining read that I recommend to anyone.
Eliabeth has such an interesting life. Her personality is so entertaining. I wish she
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would be my best friend! Elizabeth starts writing to a student, Christina, who attends the public school three blocks away from the private school that she attends. While reading the letters to Christina we learn that Elizabeth's best friend Celia has a habit of running away in the middle of the night and has recently done just that. She has not contacted Elizabeth with her whereabouts and Celia's mother is not nearly as concerned as you would think she would be. Along with letters to and from Christina, there are letters from an anonymous boy on her bus, letters from to and from her mother stuck to the fridge with magnets, and letters from made-up societys such as The Association of Teenagers and The Cold Hard Truth Association.
There are so many eccentric characters and just enough mystery that I couldn't wait to find out what happened on the next page! With Celia running away, then coming back, then running away again it was always a guess as to what was going to happen.
This book has comedy, tragedy, family drama, and even a touch of espionage. It is a very entertaining read that I recommend to anyone.
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LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
Elizabeth's relationship with her mother is limited to fridge note, her inner teen is sending her warning letters, and now her teacher has forced a pen pal down her throat. If only her missing best friend would send her a letter, instead of forcing her to rely on a complete stranger.
This was
This was
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funny, endearing, tender, Australian, unpredictable, and satisfying. I'd give this to fans of realistic school stories, especially comic ones. And while this was thoroughly entertaining, it was't fluff, I keep thinking about Elizabeth and her friends and family long after finishing the book. I am happy to see it it part of a series, hurrah! Show Less
LibraryThing member chlokie
Jaclyn Moriarty's hilariously candid novel shows that the roller coaster ride of being a teenager is every bit as fun as it is harrowing.
So, as you might have read, this novel is not written in tipical narrative. Instead it follows Elizabeth's life through hilarious notes from her crazy mother,
I absolutely positively loved this book, and cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of her series, and her other book, The Spellbook of Listen Taylor. Jaclyn Moriarty creates such delightful, witty, and entertaining characters that are hard not to love, and just an overall spectacular novel.
So, as you might have read, this novel is not written in tipical narrative. Instead it follows Elizabeth's life through hilarious notes from her crazy mother,
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heartfelt letters exchanged to her new pen-pal and outragious letters sent from societies such as "The Association of Teenagers" expressing what she is thinking. I absolutely positively loved this book, and cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of her series, and her other book, The Spellbook of Listen Taylor. Jaclyn Moriarty creates such delightful, witty, and entertaining characters that are hard not to love, and just an overall spectacular novel.
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LibraryThing member peptastic
Dear Lauren,
Didn't Elizabeth's dog die when she went on a trip? Think about that next time you go anywhere.
Love, your beloved Chihuahua Seamus
Feeling sorry for Celia was a lovely book about the complications of relationships. Elizabeth Clarry's teacher has assigned them to write to kids from
This book was in it's own way hearkening back to a time where everyone wasn't texting while talking to someone else. The book was published in 2000 when people did email but twitter and Facebook hadn't happened.
I can only imagine the drama Christina's friend Maddie would've brought on with those tools. Celia might have had a harder time disappearing though. Maddie sounds like the sort of girl who would be texting others while your talking or interrupt you mid-sentence to call someone else.
This story was a shining example on how meaningful a penpal friendship can be. Celia was self absorbed and selfish. She represented a true account of how manic depressives can be on those who love them. They can be exciting but not reliable and you can never do enough for them.
The teenage association letters were cruel. My mom once told me when I was a teen that I didn't lead an exciting enough life. She took off with boys to led Zeppelin concerts in other states at age thirteen. I listened to the cure and the Smiths while reading books. No arrests for skipping school or fake seizures to rob drugstores for me. My aunt was pretty wild.
Teen movies have a way of glamourising that age. There just isn't time to have an active social life, school, work, family, data, etc. and be perfect.
This book got that perfect.
My mom told us "whatever you want to fix" was for dinner so Elizabeth's mum didn't seem that bad to me. I find the helicopter parenting strange. Celia's mother would be arrested for neglect in America. Elizabeth's mom seemed normal to me.
Didn't Elizabeth's dog die when she went on a trip? Think about that next time you go anywhere.
Love, your beloved Chihuahua Seamus
Feeling sorry for Celia was a lovely book about the complications of relationships. Elizabeth Clarry's teacher has assigned them to write to kids from
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another school to rediscover the joys of letters in envelopes.This book was in it's own way hearkening back to a time where everyone wasn't texting while talking to someone else. The book was published in 2000 when people did email but twitter and Facebook hadn't happened.
I can only imagine the drama Christina's friend Maddie would've brought on with those tools. Celia might have had a harder time disappearing though. Maddie sounds like the sort of girl who would be texting others while your talking or interrupt you mid-sentence to call someone else.
This story was a shining example on how meaningful a penpal friendship can be. Celia was self absorbed and selfish. She represented a true account of how manic depressives can be on those who love them. They can be exciting but not reliable and you can never do enough for them.
The teenage association letters were cruel. My mom once told me when I was a teen that I didn't lead an exciting enough life. She took off with boys to led Zeppelin concerts in other states at age thirteen. I listened to the cure and the Smiths while reading books. No arrests for skipping school or fake seizures to rob drugstores for me. My aunt was pretty wild.
Teen movies have a way of glamourising that age. There just isn't time to have an active social life, school, work, family, data, etc. and be perfect.
This book got that perfect.
My mom told us "whatever you want to fix" was for dinner so Elizabeth's mum didn't seem that bad to me. I find the helicopter parenting strange. Celia's mother would be arrested for neglect in America. Elizabeth's mom seemed normal to me.
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LibraryThing member themythicalcodfish
Another reread of an old favorite. I love epistolary books anyhow, and this one is particularly amusing with letters from little clubs and societies that don't exist. I really enjoy the localized Australian content in the book, which might make it difficult for some American readers, but serves to
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really set the narrative. Beyond that, the descriptions of what each character is going through are very realistic and thoroughly engaging. Show Less
LibraryThing member knotbox
I was obsessed with letters because of this novel and made a very good friend that way. The story is harrowing because I sympathized with the narrator so much. She is flawed but interesting and not at all annoying. Most importantly everyone has an aspect of humor about them, it's really good.
Really funny and quirky novel (written in letters) about a girl who's even stranger best friend has gone missing, and no one is concerned. There is no reason to be, but you know, it's still anxiety creating. Fun adventures ensure.
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Really funny and quirky novel (written in letters) about a girl who's even stranger best friend has gone missing, and no one is concerned. There is no reason to be, but you know, it's still anxiety creating. Fun adventures ensure.
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LibraryThing member a-shelf-apart
Light, fluffy YA fun.
I loved Elizabeth Clarry, her writing and her family, and I loved that even though she had her doubts about whether she was doing teenager-hood "right", she still embraced her hobbies and talents and personality.
Although... there's some darker themes hinted at here, and I think Are we gonna mention the rapey circus manager? Suicide pacts? What?
For all that Celia is the title character, the book's not really about her, and she remains a shadowy and confusing figure until the end. This book is about Elizabeth and Christina (definitely not Tina) and their friendship is super sweet. Elizabeth's life gets tied up a-little-too-neatly at the end, but sometimes a happy ending isn't a bad thing.
I loved Elizabeth Clarry, her writing and her family, and I loved that even though she had her doubts about whether she was doing teenager-hood "right", she still embraced her hobbies and talents and personality.
Although... there's some darker themes hinted at here, and I think
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Moriarty's reluctance to address them is a weakness. Why did Celia run away? Why is her mother so slack? For all that Celia is the title character, the book's not really about her, and she remains a shadowy and confusing figure until the end. This book is about Elizabeth and Christina (definitely not Tina) and their friendship is super sweet. Elizabeth's life gets tied up a-little-too-neatly at the end, but sometimes a happy ending isn't a bad thing.
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LibraryThing member ssperson
Very cute book. I loved Elizabeth and her mom, and ended up not feeling all that sorry for Celia. The devise of using letters, notes, and postcards to tell the story was very interesting, and made for an interesting look into the life of a teenager. (One who isn't in love with any supernatural
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creatures at that!) Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2004)
New South Wales Premier's Literary Award (Winner — 2001)
The White Ravens (2002)
Isinglass Teen Read Award (Nominee — 2004)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2002)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
288 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
0330397257 / 9780330397254