Planet Janet

Planet Janet #1

by Dyan Sheldon

"The fast-paced, clever writing . . . will keep teens eagerly reading and sharing passages with each other to the end." — BOOKLIST

With a Mad Cow for a mother, an eccentric psychotherapist for a father, and a dweeble for an older brother, it's no wonder sixteen-year-old Janet Bandry is ready to enter the Dark Phase of her life. As this determined British teenager sees it, the DP requires dressing in black, listening to jazz when she can find the right radio station, and thinking about Deep and Meaningful Things — when she isn't thinking about boys, what color to dye her hair, or whether her nose piercing is infected. Told in diary entries with a comical dose of melodrama, PLANET JANET shares the painfully funny travails of a winning new heroine who just knows she is destined for greatness.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Humor, Chick Lit, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Dyan Sheldon is the author of many novels for young adult readers, including the #1 New York Times bestseller CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, which was made into a major motion picture. American by birth, she lives in North London.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 102 pages. I couldn't do anymore. This truly is Bridget Jones' Diary but a teen version of it. Lots of babble and no real point. "Cutesy" observations about the harsh world only they are not cute or entertaining. Not my cup of tea.

[Ruby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting through this book because Janet was the type of teen that makes you want to shake some sense into her (more than likely, even many teens would want to slap some sense into her). Sadly, I found her self-absorbed nature too realistic in terms of many of the young people today. The “I’m too deep and intelligent for anyone to understand me” is a common theme, and this was just too “in-your-face” to make Janet a likeable character.

[Kaymon Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Planet Janet" is an excellent book and I would recommend it to teens like me. The main character Janet is just like any other average teen. Going through a dramatic phase of teenhood with her best friend Disha. The title, I think, fits the book perfectly. She's alone and nobody understands her. It's like she's on her own little planet that orbits Earth trying to communicate but the Earthlings don't understand. Janet's parents were a spot on representation of parents dealing with teens. Her mother "the mad cow" is very stern and has no logic behind her actions. Janet's father "sigmund" doesn't really care what Janet does just as long as it doesn't cost him money. Her brother Justin is an annoying older brother still living with his parents. This book really didn't have a goal to achieve. It's Janet's diary so you're just seeing her life as she sees fit. The plot of this book was unique. Usually when you have book like this it's in the united states. This book takes place in the UK. With this setting you're introduced to new kinds of vocabulary. For instance a Hoover is a vacuum cleaner. Bisquits are crackers and the list goes on. I felt like the end of the book had some loose ends let untied. And I guess the author thought so too because she made a sequel. Janet's parent's marriage begins to fray so something must be done.... Once again "Planet Janet" is an excellent book and teens and adults can relate to the story of Janet Brandry.

[saw · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are very usual things that happen to us, teenagers. But Planet Janet is just so over. If it was me, I wouldn't start the Dark Phase. Just listening to Jazz is no use to me. I wouldn't call my beloved mom Mad Cow, too. Ok. Janet isn't Scarlet.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

this fucks

[Farah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dalam beberapa minggu terakhir ini, gue menghabiskan sebagian besar waktu gue untuk membaca buku-bukunya Dyan Sheldon.
Bukan karena gue ngefans banget sama tulisannya, tapi karena buku-buku itulah yang lagi diobral dengan harga yang sangat murah di bazar buku Gramedia kemarin. Dengan alasan yang cukup jelas: bahwa ceritanya ngga ada yang bagus.

Dari segi ide cerita, buat gue sebenernya ide ceritanya begitu menarik.
Sebagai contoh, Planet Janet ini. Buku ini menceritakan tentang anak yang sebegitu fokusnya sama diri sendiri, sampe ngga bisa menyadari apa yang terjadi sama lingkungannya, dan bahkan sama keadaan keluarganya yang sebenarnya sedang berada di ambang kehancuran. Dia terlalu fokus sama dirinya sendiri; dia pikir dia normal, dan kakak laki-laki serta orang tuanyalah yang ngga normal.

Di akhir cerita, baru pembaca akan tahu apa yang sedang terjadi. Dan gue malah jadi bertanya-tanya, mengapa ide cerita sebagus ini, mesti disampaikan secara tertutup? Nalar pembacanya dipaksakan untuk melihat melalui sudut pandang si tokoh utama melulu, yang berkali-kali meyakinkan bahwa dia adalah anak yang normal, dan dunia di sekelilingnya lah yang ngga normal.
Mengapa pembaca tidak diberi hint-hint yang mengarahkan kepada, "jangan kaget jika pada akhirnya kenyataan berbanding terbalik dengan apa yang selama ini kalian lihat."
Kenapa tidak bisa menyampaikan konflik dengan cara yang cerdas?

Wajar-wajar aja kalo dunia anak perempuan yang beranjak remaja akan dipenuhi dengan percintaan, konflik di sekolah. Tapi buat gue sih aneh aja, ngga ada keterikatan emosi sama sekali antara anak perempuan dan ibunya. Sekalipun dia menganggap si ibu akhir-akhir ini sakit jiwa dadakan, apalagi dia sebenarnya sudah sadar kalo ibunya dulunya ngga seperti itu.

Yang penasaran pengen baca bukunya, silakan aja dibaca. Tapi fiksi tetaplah fiksi. Dan fiksi yang satu ini, tidak merefleksikan apapun yang terjadi di dunia nyata. Karena penuturannya terlalu dibutakan oleh kacamata di gadis remaja, yang terlalu egois untuk membuka mata dan melihat keadaan disekitarnya.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not the target market for this book but I read it for research purposes on YA fiction. I found Planet Janet to be mildly amusing with a few standout lines that were very funny. What I felt the book lacked was a coherent narrative drive and enough character development to make me feel it was worthwhile to slog right through to the end. Janet's self-obsession is not overly endearing or easy to stomach and some of the plot developments were too OTT for my taste (eg. who puts up with a stalker living on their doorstep without taking out a restraining order? Also, it had really never occurred to Janet's mother that she could kick her philandering husband out until Janet mentioned it???)

The lack of realism aside in the plot, I think the author made the error of treating this book too much like a real diary which is just a collection of thoughts and observations. To be a compelling read even an epistolary novel needs to have something at stake for the main character. The only coherent thread running through this book was Janet's desire for Elvin, but this wasn't developed enough to pull me into the story in a significant way. The focus on the DP didn't play much role in the storyline apart from occasional references.

Overall I felt Planet Janet was trying a too hard to be Adrian Mole and that it sacrificed a coherent plot and well-rounded narrator to superficial humour.

[Marie]

Good book for teachers to use as an example of an unreliable narrator and for learning to read between the lines. Also a handy glossary in the back for young American readers to learn some English dialect.

The main character is an English teenager who fancies herself a deep, intellectual person and sees her family as shallow idiots, when the opposite is true. It's fun piecing together the clues from Janet's anecdotes to figure out what's really going on. However, Janet's constant cluelessness may become tiresome for readres who want someone more intelligent as a main character. It's all in fun, though, so don't take it too seriously. I would have liked to see Janet figure at least one of the subplots out herself. The growth she has is minimal and only in the last few pages. I also wish more than one subplot had been resolved - the book felt incomplete for the sake of a possible series. The voice of Janet is relatable and appealing, so it's worth checking out if you're a teen or enjoy the occasional foray into the teen world.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two places I've been very suprized to find books are the local dollar store and just about any thrift shop (Such as Goodwill). Going to a Goodwill one day, I happened to see this book and decided to get it, thinking it would be a simple kids or super early teens book I could finish in a few days, I was wrong. This book is not for kids, or early teens even, it's for more mature teens or even slight twenties. I was happily suprized at this book, and I auctualy enjoyed reading it. The best part was I could relate to it in some ways. Like with the parents constantly fighting over stupid stuff. It was kind of funny too, and I really liked the fact it was set in England. While teens are teens, it's funny to get a take on how British teenagers live, even if it is somewhat smiliar to teens around me. However, if there is another and it is a series, I might not read the next for fear of having to auctualy track it down (Since I came across this one by complete chance) and that it might ruin what I like about this one. But I'd probably read it again.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basically the main character tries to alter herself just to get close to her crush. Whatever she does always ends up making her feel like life is always against her. To top it all off, with a dysfunctional family it makes her situation more or less annoying—the lack of communication and respect sort of triggers this small behavior of "Just LEAVE me ALONE!"

Again this was a filler for time and this was definitely something that I would not pick up twice. I personally thought this book had to do with a character that went through something life changing, but all it was, was the thought process of a young teenage girl who is not willing to be herself around others—hence the self alterations. Anyway, I would recommend this book to people who like to eat the and get full off of a dumb teens decision.

[Potassium · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beware! You are reading Janet's diary as she enters the "Dark Phase" (or DP) of her life/high school career.
All I could think about during this book was "Wow... teenage girls are dramatic! Was I that dramatic?" Heh... Probably. Anyway, Janet is definitely over the top dramatic most of the time but she does point out some common feelings that I know I experienced as a teenager. Mostly those of self centeredness and being completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Janet also acts like she is completely grown up even though she seems actually very naiive. Ohhhh teenagers. I wonder if young adults would enjoy the book better/agree more with Janet than I did (only because I have exited that phase of my life).

[Kristine Shahverdyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Planet Janet, took you deep in Janet’s thoughts and emotions. Janet She is in a crucial time in her life and thinks she should express her feelings. However, she describes her mother as a mad cow. Her father is an eccentric psychotherapist. Janet is finally turning seventeen and she decides to go into a dark phase. During the dark phase she will dress in all black, and think more about deep and meaningful thought. She will write in her diary when she’s not to busy thinking about guys and her hair or her nose piercing. Now, the question is if the dark phase, will take her to a higher level of existence. I usually don’t read books like this, however I gave it a try and I really enjoyed it. I would probably recommend this for 13 year old girls.

[Taylor Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planet Janet by Dyan Sheldon is about a sixteen year old girl whos family is driving her crazy. She decides it is time to enter the Dark Phase. While in the Dark Phase, she thinks deep thoughts and wears mainly black and purple. her best friend Disha has entered the Dark Phase as well. They go throughout the Dark Phase together. janet is trying to be grown up and do things about her family but just can't seem do it. Will she eventually conquer her family or the Dark Phase, or will she just stay on her own Planet?

[Debrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Janet’s diary, recounting how everyone and everything irritates her, and inadvertently (on her part, not on the author’s) revealing what a selfish, obtuse twit she is. Reasonably enjoyable nonetheless. Very British in flavor. For mid-teens—14 and 15 maybe—or those who won’t be shocked by frequent references to sex and sometimes drugs (she and her pal try hash once, and an acquaintance has sex with a stranger while drunk, but the core group is basically clean). Oh, and her aunt’s a feminist vegan lesbian. And her Nan is a conservo Christian.

[Srbuhi Terityan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Planet Janet was about a teenage girl named Janet going through a hard time in her life. Her parents are constantly fighting until they get to a point where her mother leaves. She is planing on going through a dark phase which is trying to get to know who you really are and have deep and meaningful thoughts. Her and her friend,Disha, dress in all dark clothes and start thinking of their inner self. This book isn't what I'm used to and I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but it wasn't all that bad. I would recommend this book for about all teenage girls.

[Gloria Fransisca Katharina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote:
"Orang berpikir cetek dilarang membaca buku harianku."

Planet Janet!!! Buku zaman SMP yang benar-benar mempengaruhi cara berpikirku tentang seorang remaja berhadapan realitas yang tidak menyenangkan dalam keluarga dan lingkungannya. Gugatan-gugatan seorang remaja perempuan tentang kehidupan, dan pertanyaan-pertanyaan soal jatuh cinta yang mulai dirasakan.

Segera berpisah dengan buku ini supaya dia bisa mempengaruhi anak muda lain di seluruh Indonesia. Terima Kasih, Dyan Sheldon!!!

[Symphony Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Planet Janet the writing is quick, clever and witty. Janet is the main character, it discusses how a teenager in London, England deals with life. When I was reading , I could relate to alot of the things she would talk about. The book is in diary form. A lot of the book she converses about boys, friends, enemies, dealing with parents and brothers. At the end she discovers a balance and learns to appreciate her life and the hardships that come with it.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tout au long du livre je n'arrêtais pas de penser "cette fille agit comme une gamine de douze ans alors qu'elle est censée en avoir 16... c'est un monstre d'égoisme qui ne vit que pour elle". Alors ok c'est certainement voulu mais cet égoisme est tout de même poussé au point que même dans les denrières pages on a l'impression que Janet se croit toujours le centre du monde... bref au bout d'un moment j'ai trouvé ça déplaisant et passablement énervant...

[Lea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Janet Bandry is definitely on her own teenage planet and is quite oblivious to everything going on around her. This is precisely what makes this book such a fun read. As a middle aged adult reading this YA book, I was put off at first by how self-centered the main character is, but it doesn't take long to indulge one's inner teen and watch the events unfold as Janet documents them in her diary. Pretty fun read.

[Steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, in some cases, her parents were RIDICULOUS. I just want to get that out there.
I think the biggest irony in this story was how she kept going on about how everyone only cared about themselves, when she was obviously guilty of the same thing, though she never realized this, in typical teenage girl fashion.
Realistic story line (I felt like I really was reading a journal). Very good!

[Saikkussu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was better than most books I read- but I had to keep reminding myself that it was a diary of a young teen who dosen't have as much insight as she claims to have. honestly I'd rather watch bbc than read this again.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might be perhaps because this was a reread, but I was not significantly impressed with this book. It's cute, but it is nothing significantly spectacular. In my opinion, the most interesting parts was towards the very end. I do, however, plan to read the next one.

[Jessababes Tolop · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, i put a lot of my expectation on this book because the author is well known for her works.. I find it somehow boring (im sorry) but on some point it really is funny. But the story is such a cliche' for me not so special.

[Tasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know most people complain that Janet is a whiny, self centered brat, but I feel the need to point out that she's a teenager. She's like most self absorbed teenagers who claim that no one understands them. I mean the book isn't the most spectacular thing I've ever read, but it is pretty decent.

[Carter Newton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didnt like this book at all because i didnt really understand it and it seemed like a book a teenage girl would read, not for me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and funny! Inspired me to devote more time to writing in my diary. Makes me think of when I was that age. A light read that will leave you with a broad smile

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute Book... Not the most interesting ever though.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

IT was kind of odd.

[Riffa Sancati · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of a strange girl...

[Symphony]

this book is very fun and the writng is clever.. when you have
nothing to do and need to be entertained this is perfect. this
novel will captivate you and you wont be able to put it down