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Pretty Little Dirty

a novel by Amanda Boyden

About Me

PRETTY LITTLE DIRTY is a novel by Amanda BoydenABOUT THE BOOK
Lisa sees the life of her gorgeous best friend Celeste as just about perfect: she has a gigantic house, two older sisters to coach her through the hazards of high school, and loving, lively parents. As Lisa's own home has long been a place devoid of joyful noiseher mother has shut herself off in her bedroom for yearsLisa joins the Diamond household, slipping into their routine of sit-down suppers and soaking in the delicious normalcy of Diamond family life. But what begins as the story of two young women living a charmed adolescence, one of mastering dance moves and the protocols of male-female interaction, soon swirls into an intoxicating novel of art, music, and self-destructive impulses as Lisa and Celeste dare each other ever onward.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/13/2006
Band Website: vintagebooks.com
Band Members: Amanda Boyden was born in Northern Minnesota. The eldest of three daughters, she grew up in Chicago and St. Louis. Currently she teaches in the English department of the University of New Orleans. She has held a variety of colorful jobs including elderly companion, artist’s model, gutter cleaner, dishwasher, science lab assistant, cancan dancer, tutor, stuntwoman, and bit part actress. Until recently, Amanda worked as a contortionist and professional trapeze artist. She proudly lists hanging high over the heads of Galactic and 311 in her life accomplishments. She is married to Canadian author Joseph Boyden. Pretty Little Dirty is her first novel.
Influences: BLACK FLAG “Rise Above”
SOCIAL DISTORTION “Playpen”
IGGY POP “Search & Destroy”
NOMEANSNO “It’s Catching Up”
BUTTHOLE SURFERS “Suicide”
CIRCLE JERKS “Live Fast Die Young”
THE SKULLS “Life Ain’t So Pretty”
DEAD KENNEDYS “Too Drunk to Fuck”
SONIC YOUTH “Hot Wire My Heart”
MINOR THREAT “In My Eyes”
BAD BRAINS “Banned in DC”
VIOLENT FEMMES “Add It Up”
X “Because I Do”
RHCP “True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes”
THE GERMS “Not All Right”
T.S.O.L. “Property Is Theft”
DOA “World War 3”
THE RAMONES “I Wanna Be Sedated”
BAD RELIGION “Fuck Armageddon…This Is Hell”
GBH “Give Me Fire”
FEAR “I Don’t Care About You”
SEX PISTOLS “Holidays in the Sun”

Sounds Like: Available March 14, 2006
in trade paperback
432 pages
$13.95Click here to buy.
Record Label: Vintage Books
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

SF Chronicle Review!!!

Punk, brash and thoroughly modern women Reviewed by Laura Anne Brooks, The San Francisco Chronicle   Pretty Little Dirty   By Amanda Boyden   VINTAGE ORIGINAL; 419 PAGES; $13.95 PAPERB...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:25:00 PST

Daily Candy + OK!

Daily Candy Girls Behaving Badly   Remember your best-ever BFF? The one who was already a dynamo in middle school, who got away with everything, a girl so brave and gorgeous and cool that you mig...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:23:00 PST

Feature in New Orleans Times-Picayune

With the greatest of ease Daring young novelist Amanda Boyden flies with 'Pretty Little Dirty'   Sunday, March 19, 2006 By Susan Larson Book editor, The New Orleans Times-Picayune   Amanda...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:22:00 PST

Elle.com Review of PLD

PRETTY LITTLE DIRTY In her riveting debut novel, Pretty Little Dirty, creative writing professor Amanda Boyden nails the obsessive nature of teenage female friendships that are more Heavenly Creature...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:19:00 PST

Read an Excerpt of Pretty Little Dirty

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art presented its pillared façade not far from our high school. Across the street from the museum sat a collection of converted old mansions and full-frontal contemporary b...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:25:00 PST

Vote for PLD on Nerve.com!

Pretty Little Dirty has been nominated for the Henry Miller Award on Nerve.com! Please CLICK HERE to cast your vote. You can also read an excerpt on the site. Thanks!...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:13:00 PST

Publishers Weekly Review

Pretty Little DirtyAmanda Boyden. Vintage, $13.95 paper (384p) ISBN 1-4000-9682-0 Girlhood friends bolt from their innocence with a mixture of eagerness, ignorance and regret in this winning coming-...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Mon, 13 Feb 2006 10:25:00 PST

Q&A

Q: Pretty Little Dirty is a surprisingly profound portrayal of the transition childhood friendships make into adulthood.  Some never make it, some change and grow stronger like Lisa and Celestes...
Posted by Pretty Little Dirty on Mon, 13 Feb 2006 10:23:00 PST