A Story of Strong-Willed Women: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Sometimes we need to take a moment, step back, and appreciate the people who are in our lives. Our lives are filled with all sorts of different relationships; some intimate, some strictly professional, or some merely acquaintanceships. Regardless of the depth, relationships shape who we are today. Everyone influences everyone, whether we realize it or not. In today's novel, relationships, social structure, love, and respect are explored and lines blur. 

In The Help, Kathryn Stockett transports the reader back to 1962 Jackson, Mississippi. One of the main characters is Aibileen, a black maid who works for a very well-to-do Southern family. She used to be a meek, mild-mannered woman, but she's eventually unable to hold her bitterness, resentment, and emotions back. Aibileen's friend, Minny, is also a black and a maid and recently gained employment from the town's outcast resident.  She was never one to hold her tongue and keep opinions to herself, but now she finds herself in a situation where she has to keep secrets for the woman she works for.  The women team up with the young, white socialite Skeeter, who just graduated college with ambitions to make it big in journalism and writing. She's spunky, full of life, and ignored (and often openly defies) the social norms of segregation. Although the other young white socialites of Jackson can tolerate (but definitely not accept) Skeeter's race-related trespasses, being that Skeeter is without a husband to provide for her, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about what it is like to be a black and a housekeeper in affluent homes in the South.  What is written forever changes life in their small town, the South, and their destinies.

The strength of these characters grabs the reader's heart and doesn't let go. I found myself cheering for Skeeter's little victories, Aibileen's big ones, and Minny's accepting nature. The reader feels the frustrations of the characters as if they are experiencing the troubles themselves. The Help certainly describes the situations and the internal struggles of being black in the  South in the 1960's to the point where you can't help but think 'how did people think this was an acceptable way to act back then?'. Some of the women are cruel and heartless to the very people who are raising their children and bringing up their families. In this novel, there are some black women who were staples of a family, who acted as nannies and caregivers and nurturers, only to be cast aside as soon as something went wrong. It's often heart-wrenching to read how the characters treat each other, but there are also moments of triumph, justice, and acceptance.

Although it is obvious that this book is about race issues in the South during the civil rights movement, there is another theme to the book. Another major theme of The Help is the practice of  intolerance of women by other women. There weren't many (if any if I remember correctly) situations in which male characters treated women, regardless of skin color, poorly. It was always the women who were mean to each other. It was always the women who put each other down. Aibileen and Minny weren't the only characters to suffer abuses by their white employers. The socialites were cruel to a newcomer housewife who so desperately wanted to join them. The woman was ostracized and ridiculed for being different than the other white socialite housewives of Jackson. This woman would become Minny's employer and the two had more in common than one would initially believe.
  
There were stories of heartbreak, loss, and sadness. But there were stories of life-long friendships, love, family, and unconditional acceptance.  There were triumphs and defeats. The reader can relate to so many of the characters that it's hard to accept that these people are not real and that the story is fiction. Kathryn Stockett's book is beautifully descriptive that draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are right there in the kitchen, helping the women write their tell-all book while drinking coffee and trading gossip. The story flows smoothly, even though the story is written in the varying perspectives of the different women. I enjoyed seeing the world through their very different eyes and watching them grow throughout the story. Although the story may seem intense sometimes, it is definitely an easy read that leaves you wanting to read more about the characters' lives even after the last page is turned. These women just seem to be able to reach out and touch you in an unforgettable, inspirational way. 


The Help by Kathryn Stockett is can be purchased through Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and retail booksellers. It is available for Nook, Kindle, and audio book. It has also been made into an award-winning motion picture of the same title. 

Throwback Thursday: GOOSEBUMPS, the children's series by R.L. Stine

You think you're safely tucked in bed...but wait! There are creaking noises on the stairs as if some ghostly figure is ascending them, headed straight for your bedroom door! There's a strange scratching sound outside your window. Lightning cracks and brightens the room. Shadows dance across the walls and you could have sworn you just saw that thrift-store dummy move on its own. You find a mysterious message that has been scribbled on your mirror with (what you hope is) red paint.

"Reader beware! You're in for a scare!"

    R.L Stine is a name that most children growing up in the 90's cherished and still captures the hearts of adults who remember the series. Many consider him the "Stephen King of children's literature".  His first horror novel, Blind Date, was published in 1986. During this time, believe it or not, R.L. Stine was a co-creator and head writer for the popular Nickelodeon show Eureeka's Castle. Stine continued writing horror for the young adult crowd, but then switched up his audience to younger children. He wanted to write scary stories, but didn't want to alienate his young audience. Thus, the Goosebumps book series was born.

     Goosebumps, published by Scholastic Publishing beginning in 1992, were different than the routine chapter books that parents gave their children. They were humorous at times, but horror and the supernatural were always the main focus. There were stories of ghosts seeking revenge, monsters lurking in the woods, and possessed objects. The protagonists were always children, usually ranging from 9 to 12 years old, with the occasional teenager thrown into the mix. The children were constantly thrown into scary situations and mysteries in which they had to fend for themselves. Some situations were the stereotypical horror fodder, such as mummies' curses, haunted houses, or dolls becoming alive. Others, not so much. Goosebumps shows that even the mundane can be scary. School auditoriums can be haunted and certain plays raise more than just school spirit. Piano lessons can taught by psychotic instructors who have the strong desire to chop off their pupil's hands. Nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted. Parents were often absent in the stories (i.e "Mom and Dad always work and have no time for me..."). If they were present, they rarely believed the events their children tried to explain to them (i.e "Oh honey, you have such a wild imagination! Now go play with that unusually pale kid..."). 

    Eventually, R.L Stine began a new take on the Goosebumps series, combining it with his earlier work the Fear Street Series,  and created "Ghosts of Fear Street". Its reading level was a step above Goosebumps, but is still considered children's literature. It was the same set-up as previous Goosebumps books, but for the aging audience member who just wasn't ready to leave Fear Street yet. Ghosts of Fear Street resided in the same universe as its predecessor  but the stories focused on the often unfortunate and strange events of those who lived on Fear Street. Basically, think of all the odd people and scary creatures of Goosebumps, and have them all live in a weird-ass town. The characters were a little bit older, usually around middle-school age. The situations they were thrown in were just as bizarre as before, but the plots were somewhat more complex.

     I have recently binged on some Goosebumps and Ghosts of Fear Street books that I discovered in a box in my attic, delighted that they weren't thrown out in spring cleans of yesteryear. I was curious as to see how my (allegedly) mature adult mind would digest these once beloved pieces of children's literature. I chose a dozen or so, selected as the ones I remembered enjoying the most as a kid. I noticed many constant themes and characteristics of these series that I failed to understand when I was younger. 

Rules to Survive By in the Goosebumps/GoFS Universe

1. STAY OUT OF THE BASEMENT!!!!! Those plants have a mind of their own...

2. Stay out of the woods! Strange creatures are known to lurk there.

3. That new kid in school may not be as alive as you think.

4. Adults are NOT to be trusted. Especially the ones that say "trust me". This cannot be stressed enough! This includes, but is not limited to: piano teachers, camp counselors, neighbors, librarians, shop keepers, and your very own parents!

5. Do NOT play a game of hide-and-seek in the following locations: cemeteries, old houses (both creepy and otherwise), abandoned schools, libraries, in the woods.... Actually, in fact, just avoid the game altogether. Anyone up for Monopoly?

6. If an object sounds like it's exotic, rare, or an antique, DON'T TAKE IT. There's a 98% chance that it's cursed or possessed. Or both. Probably both. Let's just be safe and bump that up to 100%. 

7. Be careful what you wish for. That fortune-teller, genie, or talisman may just grant it. This will not go well for you.

8. Inanimate objects, such as masks and ventriloquist dummies, will try to kill you. Actually, most things will try to kill you at some point.

9. Never go to camp. Ever. If your parents say you're going to a camp, it's a sign that they don't love you anymore. Now would be a good time to run away from home. Your odds of survival are better living on the streets than at a summer camp. Between crazed counselors, creepy woods, and legends of creatures living in the shadows, summer camp is your one-way ticket to a bad time.

10. There's always a twist to every situation you find yourself in. Life is never what you think it is.

I'm pleased to say that the Goosebumps series is still around. A lot of the original stories have been re-vamped and new spin-off series have been written. Recently, many episodes of the Goosebumps television series has become available on Netflix. Seeing that R.L Stine's work is available to newer generations of kids actually gives me some relief. Although his work may be repetitive,  he never fails to deliver the goods and churn out a great scary story. And I'd trust R.L Stine to scare my children over any other run-of-the-mill children's book writer. There's always a twist and a lesson to be had at the end. 

Wait. Rule #4: Don't trust adults. Oh well, I think I have to let that rule slide. Just this one time...

Were those glowing red eyes under my bed always there?

Uh oh...


Goosebumps and Ghost of Fear Street, written by R.L. Stine, can be be found on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and most retail booksellers. Some titles of each series can also be found on the Kindle and Nook apps.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: John Dies at the End by David Wong

It's Weird Wednesday, which means that I'll be reviewing a book that is...well... weird. It's not exactly a mainstream hit, but is an interesting read nonetheless. 

Imagine you go to a party and the next thing you know, all Hell breaks loose. Your friend dies after the two of you are at a police station. You take a substance that gives you the ability to know the ins and outs of timespace. Your friend ends up not really being dead and helps you fight the unimaginable and absurd. If anything described above sounds familiar to you, you may be a character in the horror-comedy-sci-fi adventure John Dies at the End.

John Dies at the End is a entertainingly strange and quirky novel written by David Wong. Wong is best known for his writing on the popular humor site Cracked.com. The humor is dark, but remains comical enough to appeal to readers who may not necessarily be a fan of science fiction or horror.  Yet there are some bits that are genuinely creepy and make you question the sanity of the writer. The writing toys with the reader's mind with psychological suspense and dark tones, but then adds a moment of comical relief to change gears up a bit. 

David and John are friends. To be more exact, they're friends who casually fight evil and aliens and consider it to be their typical Friday night. A unique series of unexplained events happen in their small town, and it all appears to be linked to a Bob Marley poser who deals a special drug only known as "the soy sauce".  This 'soy sauce' is a mysterious substance that chooses who can tolerate it and consume it. It gives its users the ability to pick up on the doings of other dimensions, the past, the future, and can even allow telepathy and the reading of minds. For example, at one point, David is able to gain the insight of how a defective bullet was created and how it just so happened to end up in a gun that was aimed at him. This substance ends up being a key into something much more bigger than anyone could have known. It's also the key to an invasion from another dimension. Through manipulation, invasion, and destruction, evil tries to sneak its way into the modern world. Luckily, David and John know just how to handle situations like that. 

In a way, this book reads like a buddy comedy with odd-ball characters and laugh-out-loud absurd situations (the first monster that is encountered is entirely made up of meat that was left in a freezer too long). At the same time, there are many elements from the horror and sci-fi genres that add a sort of cleverness and adventure to the story. Additionally, David Wong wrote a sequel of sorts to this novel, titled "This Book is Full of Spiders", which also draws on elements of the same genres used for this novel. 

I would recommend this book to the older end of 'young adult' and above. Although the book itself may lack maturity, there is much mature content in the story that wouldn't be appropriate for a younger audience.  John Dies at the End is cleverly written and is sure to keep readers glued to the pages.

John Dies at the End by David Wong BarnesAndNoble.com, Amazon.com, retail booksellers, and David Wong's booksite JohnDiesAtTheEnd.com. It is available on Kindle, Nook, and audio book. This book has also been made into a motion picture (and is actually pretty good!).  

Fifty Shades of Grey ....or "How I Was Tricked into Reading Trashy Fan Fiction"

Okay....so here's how it happened.

"It was a dark and stormy night..."

Oh wait...Wrong story!

A fellow-reviewer friend of mine suggested a book to me, because she knows I'm always looking for something new to read while I drink inhuman amounts of coffee. She knows I'm into reading "weird books" (whatever that means), and said that I would either find E.L James' novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" amusing, or would be completely horrified. She was also swamped with reading her own assignments and offered me $20 to read Fifty Shades for her. After some good old internet research, I found out that this book actually began as a fan-fiction for Twilight. And while reading these books, it was painfully obvious that it was a shameless Twilight fan fiction. It seems that the author just switched out some names and it was ready to hit the presses! She then wrote 2 more books to accompany it, creating a trilogy of trashy "romance" for the modern day girl. Or guy. Do guys read these things?

Fifty Shades... is told by this college senior named Anastasia Steele. Sweet name, right? This was the only thing about this character that I liked. I found her too pretentious and highly difficult to relate to. She seems very sheltered from the "real world". She uses all sorts of words and phrases that no normal girl would admit to using unless she was being ironic. She constantly says "oh my", "holy crap", "subconscious" and "inner goddess" a lot. A whole lot. If this book were a drinking game, I would have died of alcohol poisoning within the first 50 pages. It was a bit ridiculous. 

The other main character is Christian Grey. Here's what he looks like in my head:

Just drink this in for a moment.... Take your time. I'll wait..... This is a photo of the actor Armie Hammer. (Again, sweet name, right?)

Christian Grey is this billionaire business tycoon. I know, real specific right? I never got a strong idea of what he did for a living. All the tabloids think he's gay because he's never been seen with a girlfriend. Because apparently it's a tragedy to be rich, successful, and gay. How scandalous! He has all sorts of hobbies, such as flying helicopters, fishing, driving expensive cars, and boating. He eats exquisite, exotic foods and enjoys top shelf champagne and brandy. But as it turns out, he's had multiple sexual partners behind closed doors....but not in the term of having "girlfriends". More like Subs. As in Submissives. As in he's into BDSM (Bondage Dominance, Sado-Masochism). He's HUGE into being a Dom (Dominant) and submits any lovers he has to a contract in which he completely controls them. And by controlling them, I also mean "stalk". Throughout the story, Christian has all these psycho stalker tendencies such as email tracing, phone tracking, and oh so many more creepy things that would have a normal girl running for the hills. 

But he's described to be smokin' hot..... so I guess that means that it's all okay to do?

That is the message of the "Fifty Shades" trilogy.

Fifty Shades is a story about a girl who meets a guy. The guy is into kinky stuff. The guy falls in love with the girl. The girl is scared, but then comes running back because she is entranced by his world. The girl somehow manages to change Guy into being "more vanilla" although all the while they still enjoy copious amounts of sex. Fifty Shades gives the disturbing message of "as long as the sex is good, it's okay to stay with your unhealthy relationship". 

 Ana Steele's character is completely unrealistic in how she dealt with sex. She went from pure naive virgin to sexual deviant addict. And of course, Christian is happy to oblige her. In fact, it becomes a bit tiresome. These people supposedly have day jobs, but work never seems to get done. They have sex in several hotels, on the beach, on a boat, in several apartments, in a BDSM playroom, in elevators, in a boathouse, in bedrooms, in kitchens, in bathtubs and showers, in cars and offices, and on pooltables. 

Actually, it'd be easier to make a list of where they didn't do the deed:

Mount Everest

The Titanic

The Moon

In a submarine

Yeah, that was much easier. 

Ana doesn't develop into a strong character. She remains an annoyance the entire trilogy. She's inconsistent in her thoughts and is overly-emotional and over-thinks EVERYTHING. She keeps talking down about herself and frankly, I agreed with her. Throughout the entire story, all I could think of was "What the hell does this incredibly hot guy see in this incredibly dull, self-defeating girl?" 

The one complaint I have about Christian Grey is that he was a walking cliche`. Everything about him was "oh, I'm a billionaire bad boy who likes to dominate women. But then I met this amazing girl and she makes me deal with all my inner demons and I become a normal loving person who was transformed by having a loving relationship." He's obscenely wealthy and he is unemotional for the majority of the first book. But as it turns out, he had an extremely difficult  childhood and is emotionally scarred. He also lost his virginity to his mother's older friend. This "Mrs.Robinson" as she's referred to, is the one who introduced Christian to BDSM. Ana eventually confronts this woman and blames her for "ruining Christian".

Any sexual development psychology textbook would tell you that BDSM isn't about control and sexual depravity and trauma. Just because someone is molested doesn't mean they become a sick person. Just because someone is into any or all aspects of BDSM, it doesn't mean that they are a sick person and that they're "ruined". BDSM is about trust and openness between partners. It is intimate and it's an activity shared between consenting adults. The author doesn't seem to understand that. She treated Christian as if he was psychologically disturbed and needed to be cured. Of course, Anastasia's unconditional love is what cures him and his need for dominance. 

As for the technical characteristics of Fifty Shades, it isn't hard to believe that this was written as a poor excuse of a fan fiction. The grammar was elementary, as was sentence structure and character development. The constant repetitive use of annoying phrases such as "oh my" and "inner goddess" was irritating. It was irritating to the point where I would just skim over parts with internal dialogue because my "inner goddess" was ready to throw my e-reader across the room. 

I know this is where I usually tell you how you can purchase this book. However, today, I will not tell you where to buy this book, as I strongly feel that you shouldn't waste your time and money on it. If you really feel the desire to read it, it is available for free in its original fan-fiction form. Google it and you'll be able to find a pdf document of it.  Or just go to a bookstore. Because why should you skip the embarrassment of purchasing this book in public?

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

When Dorothy Gale faced the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, we only knew Dorothy's side of the story. But what about the mysterious green-skinned witch? Where did she come from? What's the deal with those shoes?

In Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that the reader will never look at Oz the same way again. There is political turmoil. There is aggression and fear everywhere and no one can be sure as to whom they can trust. There is class warfare and societal oppression. The world of Oz is definitely not that technicolor dream that most people are familiar with.  

Then, of course, there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who grows up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba proves to be a smart yet misunderstood girl who constantly challenges the fast-held beliefs regarding the nature of good and evil. The reader learns of the events surrounding her birth, her not-so-nurturing family life and early beginnings, and her personal journey of figuring out who she is. Is Elphaba truly wicked? Or is she misguided and misunderstood? 

The reader is also introduced to the early life of Elphaba's "good half", Glinda, who would later become known as the "Good Witch of the North". Glinda (or previously known as Galinda, before a professor refused to say her name correctly) winds up being Elphaba's roommate when the two attend a prestigious university. Glinda chooses to study sorcery while Elphaba decided to study natural sciences. The two are an unlikely pair and clash throughout the novel. Glinda is presented as a snobbish, upper-class, superficial girl who absolutely abhors Elphaba simply on the basis that she looks and acts different than her. What is interesting in this novel is that the author presents the notoriously "good witch" Glinda as terribly unlikable and cruel. Glinda is essentially a "mean girl". Elphaba, the infamous "bad witch", is actually...not so bad. She openly cares about the rights of others and later becomes heavily involved with a activist movement to bring civil rights to a class known as Animals. While she may do things that are questionable in motive and nature, she overall isn't that bad of a person. Just because she has grin skin and isn't totally socially adept, she is labeled negatively. Overall, if I had to sum these characters up, Glinda would be that annoying rich mean girl you knew in high school. You know the kind that wears all pink and hangs out with girls who are equally conceited and shallow. Elphaba would be that goth kid who yells at people for not being a vegetarian, but secretly makes out with the king football jock under the bleachers after school. 

I found the book itself not too enjoyable. I found it long-winded and dull at many, many parts and often skipped through pages and realized that I missed nothing by skipping through them. The parts that were interesting slowly became dull as situations became drawn out to where you didn't care what happened anymore. Often times, I feel like the author tried a little too hard to establish a parallel between Oz and our modern society. There were times when it seemed that there was no plot and nothing going on, but the author tried desperately to make it sound good, as the language used is often pretentious and flowery. There would be side stories that contributed nothing to the main conflict and sometimes too many characters thrown into a situation that it made it hard to keep track of who was who and why they were there. The odd, outlandish names didn't help the situation either...

When deciding to finally read this novel, I will admit that I was intrigued by the premise of the story. I thought the author to be quite clever, perhaps even ingenious, to explore the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West wasn't all that wicked to begin with. With the sky-rocketing popularity of the musical Wicked, I believed that there must be a strong story to cause such an obsession with the musical fan girls and boys out there. I unfortunately misjudged the situation and was very much disappointed with this book choice. I know there are a lot of people who did enjoy the book; people who found it enchanting though dark. In ways, I can see this novel as a story of friendship (or lack thereof) and in some senses "nature versus nurture: why do we do the things we do?". If Elphaba had a different home life, would she have turned out differently? Or was she born to become who she ultimately became? It was at times entertaining to see events unfold that would shape her into the Wicked Witch. But perhaps the book was a little too slow to explain. The author could have cut a lot of things out of the book and there might have still been a decent story to tell. The length of the book wouldn't be an issue if it were able to capture the imagination of the reader until the story's conclusion. However, it failed to do so for me and I found myself struggling to finish it, which is a rarity for me. 

Overall, interesting concept. Wickedly bad execution.

At least I now understand the deal with the shoes!

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory McGuire is available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and retail booksellers. It is available on the Kindle, Nook, and audio book. 

(I've been told the Broadway musical is much more tolerable....)

THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Throwback Thursday is dedicated to reviewing classic pieces of literature. You know, the stuff we all have to read in high school. But the classics are classic for a reason! Just because a book is written decades ago doesn't mean that it doesn't hold up in today's standards. 

Have you ever felt more like a monster than man? Does every good person have a darker self inside them? Robert Louis Stevenson explores these questions in his novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has been the inspiration for countless movies, musicals, plays, and television shows since its publication in 1886. It focuses on the investigation conducted by Gabriel John Utterson, who notices strange occurences in the life of an old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll. Jekyll has recently befriended a man known as Edward Hyde. The nature of the friendship puzzles Utterson, as Hyde has a rough personality, in huge contrast to Jekyll's timid, gentle nature. There is a huge mystery of the true identity of Mr. Hyde, as no one seems to know exactly who he is. Utterson is witness to several strange, often violent situations that involve Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll. Eventually, Dr. Jekyll reveals the true nature of the mysterious identity that is Hyde. There are two personalities within Dr.Jekyll: one is good and the other evil. In one man, there lies both ends of the morality spectrum. Jekyll is able to physically separate the two personalities with the help of a chemical concoction that allows Jekyll to transform into the physical manifestation of the evil that dwells within him. It's as if he unleashes a monster every time he consumes the elixir, and this frightens him, as he becomes less and less able to control the impulsive violence of Edward Hyde. As his ability to change back from Hyde into Jekyll disappears, Jekyll comes to the conclusion that he will eventually permanently become Hyde and the good in him will cease to exist. He composes a letter to Utterson, explaining his predicament, and ponders the future in which Dr. Henry Jekyll will disappear and be replaced forever Edward Hyde. Will Hyde be arrested for his crimes and be put to death? Will his impulsiveness bring wrath and harm to himself and thus end him.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel that still holds up today because we as humans are fascinated by the concepts of the soul, of evil, and of good. Can a person be truly good or truly evil? Do people possess the ability to be both? For some, it is a struggle. Some are compelled to do bad things while others selflessly do much good for their fellow man. Robert Louis Stevenson explores in his novel what he referred to as "the horror of my other self", in which he poses the question of whether or not all persons are capable of having two selves; one inherently good and one inherently evil. By focusing on one, do we deny and repress the other to the point we eventually cannot control ourselves? The character Dr. Jekyll expresses the fascination and the occasional enjoyment in being free to act on dark urges by transforming into Mr. Hyde. It shows that everyone is capable of committing evil deeds and perhaps people want to and will do evil things if they have the chance. Stevenson raises some excellent points in this novel that force the reader to reflect on their own thoughts, actions, and moral choices.

Regarded as one of the greatest horror stories ever told, Stevenson shows us that the true horror isn't some ghoulish creature or ghostly spectre. The true horror is within ourselves.


The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is available at BarnesandNoble.com , Amazon.com, and retail booksellers. It is also available on Nook, Kindle, and audio book.

Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture

Some people dream that they will make it big in television. Some people work hard and make the dream a reality. Andy Cohen, the man behind the Real Housewives television series, tells all the juicy details of his lifelong love affair with popular culture, media, and fame. And boy, can he talk!

From a young age, Andy Cohen was sure of one thing: he loved television, namely the overly-dramatic soap opera All My Children. In Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture, Andy Cohen describes just how deeply devoted he was to his television shows. In the beginning of the book, there is a comical exchange of letters Andy wrote while in summer camp, pleading with his mother to remember to "tape the soaps" so that he could marathon view them when he returned home.  Andy describes how he was (and still most certainly is) an overly talkative devotee to pop culture, regaling tales of how he was convinced and determined to become a television star. He began his journey with a dreamlike meeting and interview with his all-time soap opera idol Susan Lucci, which he was able to nab thanks to a college newspaper project.  Cohen would experience not-as-dreamlike internships at local St.Louis (his hometown) television stations, absurd mishaps while working for CBS News, and unbelievable encounters with the idols of his youth. 

Cohen also dives into his personal struggles. In retrospect, it's hard to believe that people didn't seem to realize that he was gay. Cohen remained in the closet until his college years, where he experienced a few key events that shaped him into the person he is today. His personal story is a story of unconditional acceptance and devotion. This book is a no-holds-barred memoir that shares triumphs, embarrassments, joys, and dreams. Reading this book was like gossiping with an old friend. Cohen dishes on the behind-the-scenes dirt about the reality stars of The Real Housewives franchise. He reveals embarrassing moments where he may have been a little too enthusiastic when meeting a celebrity, or may have said something beyond strange during an interview on his show Watch What Happens Live. Andy Cohen may be the brains behind a media empire, but he shows that he is human after all and has on and off days like the rest of us. 

Most Talkative allows the reader to catch a glimpse into the complicated inner-workings of television. From a boy who probably thought about television a little too much, to the ruler over Bravo's reality TV empire, Andy Cohen shows that a fun devotion to what you love can turn into an unimaginable journey. 

Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture by Andy Cohen is available at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and retail booksellers. It is available on Nook, Kindle, and audio book. 

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Fifty Shades of Dorian Gray -- A Modern Classic Mashup

It's Weird Wednesday, which means that I'll be reviewing a book that is...well... weird. It's not exactly a mainstream hit, but is an interesting read nonetheless. 

With the craze that swept the literary world, Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels have taken the breath away from many a woman. Many writers have jumped on the bandwagon and have put their own spin on the concept of "soccer mom erotica". Nicole Audrey Spector created a mash up of a classic controversial novel and the modern fascination of Fifty Shades...

Fifty Shades of Dorian Gray by Nicole Audrey Spector is a fresh retelling of the Oscar Wilde novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". The original novel caused quite the stir when it was first published in 1890, as it featured homosexual undertones and was considered too progressive for the Victorian era. Combined with the modern controversial Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, Dorian Gray gets a fresh new makeover.

Dorian Gray can be best described as a vain playboy with too much time on his hands as well as too much money. In the original novel, Dorian is the subject of a portrait being painted by a male artist, Basil Hallward. Hallward becomes enchanted and infatuated by Dorian's youthfulness and beauty. Hallward's friend Lord Henry Wotton, also becomes interested in Dorian and introduces him to much debauchery and impulsive pleasures. Wotton expresses the view that the only thing worth pursuing in life is beauty and the indulgences of the senses. Dorian is entranced by this suggestion, but soon becomes depressed with the realization that he will one day age and die. Vanity is the main theme of the original novel, as Dorian's greatest fear becomes age and growing ugly. It becomes an obsession. He desires to sell his soul in order to remain eternally youthful and beautiful. This wish is granted and Dorian ceases the age. Instead, his portrait of himself takes on the abuses and ravages of age. Whatever physically happens to Dorian, happens to the portrait. For example, if Dorian is hurt, the picture reflects the injury. The picture reflects the true age and decay of the flamboyant prettyboy. As long as the portrait is kept intact and out of view, Dorian will remain forever young.

In Fifty Shades of Dorian Gray, Dorian is still the same character as depicted in the Oscar Wilde original. He is a rather careless, cruel, selfish man who only cares for his own pleasures. The painter is changed to a female character, who becomes the tragic love interest of Mr.Gray. Lord Wotton's character is also changed to be female,  but still encompasses the hedonistic traits of the original character. True to the Fifty Shades form, there are quite a few raunchy scenes involving many of the characters. Many of these steamy scenes are surprisingly tastefully written and the reader forgets that they are supposedly reading a revamped trashy romance novel that's been combined with Victorian Literature. Some parts are actually humorous as well as absurd. But that's the magic of the mash-up.

The changes that Nicole Audrey Spector makes to the original story are refreshing. It's interesting to see a well-known literary character such as Dorain Gray take on different situations that couldn't be published in 1809. At the same time, Ms. Spector keeps true to the original character and has written him as Oscar Wilde had. Dorian is the same man, only transported to an alternate universe of the original novel.

I'll be honest. I picked this book up because I was mildly amused by the title. I am a fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray. I am not a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey. But a combination of the two titles? Why not give it a try? I was interested in discovering how the two worlds would collide. The book itself was a quick read, but an entertaining one and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of either original title.

Fifty Shades of Dorian Gray by Nicole Audrey Spector is available on BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com, as well as retail booksellers. It is available on the Nook, Kindle, and audiobook.

The Paper Crane - The Debut Novel by Madeleine Wilson

Growing up is never easy. Lin Roberts is a simple girl with high school dreams and plans with friends. The summer has just started and it's time to have fun. When Lin and her friend Mike are magically transported to another world, Nouveau Monde, their lives suddenly change. In the new land, the sentiments of war are stirring and the newcomers find themselves in the middle of it.

The Paper Crane is the debut novel of Madeleine Wilson. It is a story of exploration, friendship, and identity. The characters in this novel are varied in traits and provide much insight as to what Nouveau Monde is like to live in. The characters are not cut-and-dry, which makes their interactions interesting and intriguing. As the various characters travel through dark forests, enchanting glittering palaces, and strange villages, it becomes hard to tell who can be trusted and what will happen next. As Lin and Mike find themselves in unimaginable situations, they form a unique bond that grows stronger with each trial they face.

The main character, Lin, is a young girl who is thrust into a difficult situation. As if high school wasn't stressful enough, right? This book begins at the end of ninth grade, where Lin Roberts has no idea about the drastic turn her life is about to take. The reader journeys with her, becomes familiar with her insights and concerns, and experiences a kaleidoscope of emotions with her as events unfold.

The supporting characters offer some context to on-going situations that have started before Lin and Mike's arrival. However, the reader is often in the dark in the same manner that Lin is in the dark about some of the happenings in the strange new world she finds herself in. Readers are able to relate to the character in this way, as they are experiencing this new world at the same time as the narrative character.

Lin's companion, Mike, compliments the traits of the main character, all the while having unique traits of his own. He easily reminds the reader of that boy we all knew in high school: kind of shy but outspoken when needed. He is protective of Lin, although Lin proves to be capable protector as well. While not necessarily the stereotypical heroes of a fantasy novel, Lin and Mike provide some familiarity to the fantasy genre as well as provide some new perspectives.

The main conflict of this tale is the looming war that is believe to erupt at any moment. Nouveau Monde has a somewhat unconventional political structure, which can be best summed up that there are a handful of kingdoms that make up the world. Each kingdom has their own distinct qualities, gods, belief systems, social structure, and terrain. When one kingdom threatens war and becomes hostile, the other kingdoms have to decide who to align themselves with. Lin and Mike are forced to choose sides, even though they're unsure of what is happening around them. The lines between right and wrong are blurred, and Lin and Mike must decide who they can trust.

The titular paper crane started out as a simple gesture of friendship. Eventually, it evolves into a symbol of normalcy, peace, and love. 

This book is recommended as a teen fantasy novel or as a young adult fantasy, in regards to the median ages of the characters and the content of the novel itself. The contents of the story are not over-complicated nor hard to follow, but still allow much room for imagination, mystery, and unanswered questions that will appear in upcoming sequels. Ms. Wilson has created a fantasy universe that is sure to keep readers hooked and wanting to learn more.

The Paper Crane by Madeleine Wilson can be purchased at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. It is currently available for the Kindle e-reader and will soon be available for the Nook. You can follow Madeleine Wilson on Twitter

Learning to Die in Miami: Confessions of a Refugee Boy

Imagine having to leave your home, your entire country, only end up in a foster home in a foreign land. It's the makings of a traumatic childhood and it's unfortunately the shared story by many. When a young boy from Cuba finds himself a part of the American foster system, he struggles with identity, pride, love, and family.

Learning to Die in Miami: Confessions of a Refugee Boy by Carlos Eire is the story of a boy who comes to America from Cuba. He experiences culture shock in his new home and struggles with becoming "Americanized". Many life changes are forced upon him, such as dietary preferences, clothing, living environment, and school. Some of these changes he accepts while others are met with frustration, aggravation, and struggle.

The title itself stems from the author's past (child) self's desperate need to "kill" his former Cuban self. He becomes "Charles", denying his given name of Carlos. He changes his appearance to become "more American looking". He disassociates himself from his Cuban heritage and tries to "forget about all of that Cuban stuff".  This is his way of coping with the drastic life changes. His happy normal childhood in Cuba is turned upside down when he comes to America. He struggles for a sense of normalcy that just doesn't seem to happen. He's forced to learn and embrace a new, different culture, all the while of being shuffled from foster home to foster home. Nothing in his life feels permanent. Nothing is in his control.

An unfortunate side of America's foster home system is explored through Carlos' experience. One particular foster home is quite traumatic, as his foster parents nearly seem sociopathic. They deny wholesome food, clothing, and basic necessities to the children in their care. Carlos recounts the tattered clothes and shoes that had to be held together with electrical tape in order to keep from falling apart as he walked.

It's easy to be appalled by what happened to Carlos and it's easy to understand why he chose to disassociate himself from life's everyday troubles. When your life is so drastically changed, it's hard to accept what happens in life. Carlos' journey is worthwhile to read. Not because of the hardship he faces, but rather the experiences gained by learning how to deal with it. By reading his story, the reader is allowed a glimpse into a non-traditional upbringing and how someone can grow from it.  This book is about choices. Are we victims of fate, or do we have the free will to change our destiny? When experiencing hardship, what does one do about it? Do you continue the journey of self-destruction, or do you try to change and do some good in the world?  Learning to Die in Miami shows that you can move on.

This book is recomended for teens, young adults, and adult ages. The narrative is simple and easy to follow, as the narrative is spoken in the form of a young boy recounting his days. Some of the material is for a mature audience, as frequent themes of this memoir are abuse, neglect, and sexual conduct. However, the message of this book is strong and should definitely be given the chance, whether you're a fan of non-fictional novels or not.

Learning to Die in Miami: Confessions of a Refugee Boy by Carlos Eire is available on Amazon.com, Barnes And Noble, and retail booksellers. It is also available for the Nook, Kindle, and on audio book.

Reconstructing Amelia -- A Tale of Tragedy and the Dark Lives of Teens

In this day and age, privacy and technology do not a happy marriage make. When your personal information is readily available to anyone online, it's hard to know who you can trust. Online, anyone can be anything they want to be.

Reconstructing Amelia, a novel by Kimberly McCreight, is a tragic story about a girl who is the victim of the dark side of the internet.

The story focuses on Kate, a single mother and law firm partner, who one day gets an urgent phone call from her daughter's exclusive private school. This comes as a shock to Kate because her daughter is generally a well-behaved over-achieving daughter. She is informed that Amelia is to be suspended for cheating. When the confused and concerned mother arrives at the school, she is in for an even greater shock. The saddest, ultimate shock a parent could ever receive.

Her daughter is dead.

Amelia jumped from the school's roof in an act of impulsive suicide, clearly distraught over the cheating scandal and fear of facing the consequences. Overcome with grief, Kate tries to come to grips with this life-shattering news. One of the hardest things for a parent to do is have to bury their child. Amelia had her whole life ahead of her, a bright future, and now it has dissolved to nothing. Cut short before its time. Kate cannot comprehend what is happening.

Then she gets an anonymous text:

Amelia didn't jump.

As the story progresses, Kate learns that her daughter had a secret life that she knew nothing about. Kate becomes determined to find out what those secrets were and what lead to Amelia's life to be tragically cut short. Searching through Amelia's Facebook updates, e-mails, texts, Kate pieces together the last days of her daughter's life.

Reconstructing Amelia is Ms. McCreight's debut novel. It explores the secret world of teenagers, first loves, hidden friendships, and the cruelty that can happen. Anyone who has gone through the high school system can understand what happens when teenagers get emotional, feel intensely enough to do dangerous things. The frustrations and confusion of Kate is sympathetic and leaves a sense of guilt that the reader knows that these things happen and it often seems like there is nothing you can do about it. The reader feels compelled to comfort Kate, and join her in her investigation of her daughter's hidden life. 

This book is recommended for young adults, as the content matter is a bit mature and focuses on a delicate subject of youth violence and cyber-bullying. It was a definite page-turner thriller that keeps you yearning to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. 

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimbery McCreight is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and retail booksellers. It is also currently available for the Nook and Kindle.