Monthly Archives: October 2011

Book Review: Damned

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Damned by Chuck Palahniuk (pub date 10/18/11)
 

 
“I can’t believe there’s no wifi in Hell…”
 
I’ve been an avid Chuck Palahniuk fan for twelve years.  Yeah, I’m dating myself a little.  When I read Fight Club after having seen the film, I was hooked.  Since then, the day a new Chuck book is released is like a mini Christmas, and I always move his books straight to the top of my ‘to read’ pile.  Each of his books is unique in its own way, yet each book is laden with his own brand of satire and his own unmistakable writing style.
 
Now Damned is out, and it seems to be one of Palahniuk’s more divisive novels, Pygmy being another example.  Fans seem to be unsure of what to make of it (at least according to the Amazon reviews), and I think that’s because Damned is part of a trilogy, and the story isn’t over yet. 
 
The plot of this book is deceptively simple: Madison is a 13-year-old girl who finds herself in Hell after having died of a suspected marijuana overdose.  Overweight and shy, Madison wasn’t quite the ideal daughter her narcissistic, ultra-hippie movie star mother wants her to be.  In fact, Madison’s mother hardly noticed her at all, having shipped her off to a Swiss boarding school while spending her time advancing her career and collecting adopted children from third-world countries.
 
But now in Hell, Madison faces a whole new set of challenges.  Teaming up with a “Breakfast Club” of new friends, she navigates Hell’s vast terrain in an effort to find out how she ended up there in the first place.
 
It was very interesting that Palahniuk chose to write as a teenage girl.  It was new for him, and I think he managed to capture some of the angst and isolation that someone like Madison would feel.  Like most of Palahniuk’s characters, Madison is someone who finds herself in an unusual situation, and from that makes a choice about how she will react to that situation.  That’s where the simple plot ends and the symbolism begins, with the pervasive themes of love and death, which is what is so great about Palahniuk’s writing.  
 
Palahniuk’s description of Hell is both hilarious and disgusting: a wasteland filled with such sights as the Great Ocean of Wasted Sperm, where people are forced to spend eternity as telemarketers and The English Patient plays on constant repeat.  Soon Madison begins to take control of her situation, and starts taking on some of Hell’s most notorious residents while coming to terms with the ups and downs in her own (previous) life.  Her frankness and caustic sense of humor are what make her enjoyable:
 
 
“Yes, I’m thirteen years old and dead and doing child labor in Hell–but at least I’m not whining and crying about my situation.”
 
Damned wasn’t my favorite, but for me it was still good and definitely worth reading.  I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy, which supposedly will feature Madison’s journeys through Purgatory and Heaven.  If you’re a Palahniuk fan, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.  Damned is funny, offensive, gross, and satirical–everything that I love about Palahniuk’s work!      

Early Review: Film School

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Film School by Steve Boman (pub date 11/1/11)
 

 
I’m usually wary of reading about other people’s success stories.  Part of the reason is because I’m disinclined to believe that the person really struggled to succeed as much as he or she claims.  I often come away from the story thinking “Sure, it was easy for you because you were rich/well-connected/a genius to begin with!”  The other part of the reason why I usually shun success stories is because for the vast majority of people, the ‘rags to riches’ story will never be a reality.  So for the pessimist in me, reading about the triumphs of another so-called ‘average joe’ can be somewhat depressing.
 
But this book is an exception.  Film School is the story of an actual average person who decided to switch careers in his late 30s and succeeded.  Steve Boman was a middle-class Midwestern family man, who worked off-and-on as a journalist while caring for his cancer-stricken wife and raising three daughters.  Wanting to make a dramatic change in his life, he decided to take a professional risk (as well as taking on a copious amount of debt) and applied to the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, one of the most prestigious film programs in the nation, if not the world.
 
The film program at USC has a well-earned reputation of being tougher than medical school (I know a current student there who can attest to this), and Boman quickly found himself in way over his head.  Being more than ten years older than most of the other students, and not having a background in film, he found it difficult to convince people to work with him.  In his first semester, he was threatened with expulsion for inadvertently violating a school policy.  He dealt with constant competition with other students and harsh criticism from his teachers.  After his first semester he dropped out of the program, and a year or so later he re-applied, was re-admitted, and then had a stroke on his first day of class.  But despite all the physical and mental stress he endured, Boman did graduate from USC in his early 40s, and pitched a television show idea to CBS which eventually became the short-lived series “Three Rivers.”
 
There are several reasons why Film School is a memoir that’s worth reading.  First off all it’s very well written.  Having studied writing while attending USC, Boman expertly crafts the story of his personal journey through hardship and success, and his insight and sense of humor are evident throughout the entire book.  It’s a little long in some parts but never boring.  It’s also a compelling story in that it’s an accurate reflection on what it’s really like to work in Hollywood.  Boman was fortunate enough to have pitched a TV show idea that was picked up by CBS…and then the show got canceled.  He did make some money from the show, but he did not become a millionaire overnight.  That’s the truth about trying to work in television or film: you’re up one day and then down the next.  It’s a hard business and it’s not for everyone. 
 
Boman is also brutally honest in telling his readers that admittance to the USC film program in no way guarantees success in the film industry, or even a job for that matter.  He describes how some of his fellow students have found themselves disenchanted with USC, and frustrated that the school’s administration cannot (or will not) provide any data on how many of its graduates actually go on to find jobs in the film industry.  Indeed, Boman takes the time to express both his gratitude to USC for the amazing experiences it afforded him, and also his frustration with some of the faculty and especially with the political climate:
 

“At USC’s film school, the fashion is to say that America is a corrupt and villainous empire, with injustice under every rock.  It is ironic that in this bastion of wealth and privilege and luxury, I hear almost unrelenting criticism of the society that creates all this wealth and technology and freedom of expression.  I notice the loudest critics often have perfectly straight and dazzling white teeth.  Sometimes these opinions seem more often based on the desire to be cool than on clear-eyed political analysis.”
 

Film School is a must-read for anyone who has ever wanted to attend USC (myself included) or any other film program.  It’s also a great motivator for anyone who wants to change careers but worries that it’s too late (me again).  And have I mentioned how freaking awesome the cover is?  I never usually comment on cover art, but this one is just great!  All in all, this book is an American success story that’s both realistic and uplifting, and at heart a very interesting read.    

P.S. Click here to read an interview with Steve Boman about what motivated him to write the book.

Early Review: Dead of Night

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Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry (pub date 10/25/11)
 
Dead of Night
 
Believe it or not, this was actually my first experience with reading one of Jonathan Maberry’s books.  I got to meet him at BEA (awesome!) and I was psyched to pick up an advance copy of this book.  In fact I got the last copy…double awesome.  Maybe now I’ll finally sit down and read the extremely popular Patient Zero.
 
Giving a nod to George Romero, Dead of Night is set in western Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.  Convicted murderer Homer Gibbon has just been executed by lethal injection.  Only what no one knows is that the prison doctor injected Gibbon with something else: a drug meant to keep his consciousness awake while his body decays.  Presumed to have no family, Gibbon was set to be buried in a pauper’s grave and soon forgotten.  But when an estranged relative comes forward to claim the body and takes it back to her home town, Gibbon awakens as a zombie and spreads his infection throughout the town.
 
Our heroes are Desdemona (Dez) Fox, a small-town cop who’s devoted to her job but carries a lot of emotional baggage; and Billy Trout, a no-name local reporter who discovers the truth about what really happened to Homer Gibbon.  Dez is a great character.  She’s a ’take no prisoners’ kind of girl who’s brave and tough but also human.  While most protagonists in zombie stories are male, it’s refreshing to see a chick take charge now and then.
 
What I enjoyed most about Dead of Night was how Maberry tried to add some originality to the zombie genre.  In a market that’s already pretty well saturated with zombie stories, this book tries to be creative in explaining how the zombies were created.  Most similar stories usually rely on the old “it’s a virus” or “nobody knows” explanations, but Maberry combined theoretical science with cultural beliefs in coming up with a zombie origin. 
 
I have to say that The Walking Dead (the graphic novel and the show) is still my personal favorite zombie tale.  But if you’re a fan of the genre you’ll definitely enjoy Dead of Night.  And if there are any Jonathan Maberry fans reading this, please comment and let everyone know how you think this book compares to his previous ones!            

Cool Indie Comics You Should Be Reading!

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Last month I visited Intervention Con in Rockville, Maryland.  Intervention is ”the internet culture convention,” a place for people who specialize in online media and marketing.  I got to meet a ton of cool people there, some of whom are indie comic writers, and I was able to pick up some comics I wouldn’t otherwise be able to find in a store.  So here is my take on some cool indie comics you may not have heard of but are worth checking out.   
 
Plastic Farm by Rafer Roberts
 


 
This one is a real trip.  If you’re looking for something unconventional and a little disturbing, try reading Plastic Farm.  Written in a non-linear format, it’s the story of a man named Chester who is slowly going insane.  In Issue One we are introduced to Chester’s “alter-ego,” a cowboy called the Kamikaze Kid, who rides a dinosaur instead of a horse.  Issue Two shows an older Chester sitting in an airport bar, telling the story of his rough childhood to a bartender who doesn’t care.  Having grown up in an orphanage that was formerly a mental institution, Chester has certainly been dealt a crappy hand in life, to say the least.  
 
I read the first three issues of Plastic Farm and I’m definitely enjoying the ride so far.  The format takes some getting used to but once you get into it you’ll find it easier to follow.  The art varies from issue to issue but is really cool black-and-white style with an “underground” feel to it.  I found out that this comic has been around for a few years, so older issues are tough to find.  However an omnibus of issues 1-12 was released this year, and is available for purchase on the website if you want to check it out.  It’s a mind-bending book, so if you like edgy stuff, Plastic Farm is where it’s at.             
 
Kidthulhu by Martin Brandt & Jason Stephens
 
 
As a huge Lovecraft nerd, I jumped on this when I saw it.  Kidthulhu shows Lovecraft’s classic monster as a smart-mouthed little kid, and follows him on his adventures in the underwater city of R’leyh.  I definitely detected an Invader Zim influence in this book, in terms of the sense of humor and the way the Kidthulhu character is drawn.  Issue Infinity introduces all the characters and then gives a little taste of the storyline, cutting off where Issue One will take over.
 
I only got to read Issue Infinity, and as of right now Issue One is listed as “coming soon” on the website.  I’d definitely love to grab Issue One when it becomes available.  (But Christmas is coming, if anyone out there wants to get me a present!)  I love Kidthulhu for how clever it is.  Even the cover art of Issue Infinity is a nerd reference; it’s modeled after the classic Tales From The Crypt comics.  And the Kidthulhu character is just adorable!  Definitely check it out.    
 
The Otherkind by Clare Moseley
 
Product Image
 
Written and drawn by a Canadian artist, The Otherkind centers on a college student named Grace (short for Graceland…her parents must have been huge Elvis freaks!) who finds herself at a difficult time in her life.  After she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, she moves out of their apartment and ends up living in the “adults only” section of the Japanese video rental store where she works.  She soon encounters some mysterious people who call themselves the ”otherkind.”  Among them are a vampire and a woman/fox shapeshifter.
 
I read the first two issues of The Otherkind and found it cute and enjoyable.  However there were a bunch of references to manga and anime that I didn’t really get because I personally never got into them.  But if you enjoy them you should pick up this comic.  And it’s always cool to see a comic by a female artist!    

What Makes a Good Self-Help Book?

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I don’t usually read many self-help or advice books, but I find it interesting when women write advice books specifically for other women.  This doesn’t mean of course that women couldn’t benefit from books written by men, but sometimes there are issues more pertinent to women which a female author can better relate to, and a feeling of sisterhood that comes from reading a book written by a woman for other women.  So since this blog is called Chicks Dig Books, I’d like to take a look at two radically different self-help books written just for the ladies! 
 
Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin (2005)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My trainer recently loaned me this book to read.  I had heard of it of course, but never really knew too much about it.  Frankly I was surprised and more than a little put off by this book.  What purports to be a diet and wellness book is foul-mouthed propaganda for veganism containing theories disguised to look like facts. 
 
For me, what was most offensive about this book was the tone.  The co-authors (a former model and modeling agent, so no duh they’re skinny!) frankly are bullies.  By the time I finished the first chapter I had already been called a gluttonous pig, lazy, and a pussy, among other things.  Way to motivate, girls!  The entire book is filled with a level of profanity I would expect from a Tarantino film, not an advice book.  And the chapter entitled “Pooping” is just disgusting.  I get the whole “tough love” angle they were going for, but instead of appearing knowledgeable and helpful, Freedman and Barnouin come off as just plain, well, bitches.  Which is clearly because they don’t eat. 
 
Just as egregious is the way Skinny Bitch makes nearly impossible promises to its readers.  The authors state over and over again ”you will be skinny” if you eat what they eat.  I find this to be more than a little irresponsible, since one particular diet is not right for everyone, and not everyone loses weight at the same rate.  All in all, I can’t understand the appeal of this book.   
 
Knowing Your Value by Mika Brzezinski (2011)
 
Knowing Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You're Worth (... Cover Art
 
Knowing Your Value is a book written about another common problem many women face: being underpaid and undervalued in the workplace.  Author Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the news program Morning Joe, describes her personal experiences with inequality in her career and offers practical advice on how women can be taken more seriously at work.  Brzezinski tells her readers how to go about negotiating for a raise, asking for a promotion, and getting noticed in meetings.
 
What was most interesting about this book was the author’s analysis of some reasons why women sometimes find it harder to succeed in business.  She points out how women are socialized to be passive and accommodating, and thus may not pursue a raise or a promotion the way some men would.  She also makes some interesting commentary on how sometimes women can manipulate each other in the workplace, and how sometimes a woman’s worst enemy is herself.  I think that any woman can benefit from reading this book, even if she is already happy with her career.
 
My Analysis
 
Reading these two books back-to-back was an interesting experience.  Both books were intended to inspire women to make positive changes in their lives, yet one book chose to rant and rave at the audience and the other book is calm and personable.  In nonfiction books (especially in advice books), the tone is paramount.  If readers are offended or confused by an author’s tone, the author’s intentions will be lost on them. 
 
Just as radically different is the information contained in both of these books.  Skinny Bitch offers a lot of opinion on the virtues of a vegan diet and less-than-subtle lists of organic food brands the authors endorse.  The authors quote a lot of studies and still sometimes manage to get the facts wrong.  For example, they state that stevia (a sugar substitute) is illegal in the United States when it is legal but can only be purchased as a dietary supplement as opposed to a food product.  My favorite “fact” was the claim that the only cattle-owning tribe in Africa is also the only tribe whose members suffer from osteoporosis.  Must be the dairy.  Couldn’t possibly be anything else.  This book is all correlation and no causality!
 
Knowing Your Value cites several university studies on gender bias, but also relies on interviews and personal experiences to support its points.  What I like most about this book is that Brzezinski doesn’t promise her readers success and wealth if they follow her advice.  Instead she offers practical tips based on studies and real-world experiences.  It’s ultimately up to the readers to decide how they will put those tips into practice.  There’s no bullying or name-calling, just a woman trying to help other women.
 
It was fascinating to see the differences in these two books.  I think the best advice books are those which do not make outrageous promises and do not have an agenda.  Women have a lot of options when if comes to finding the right advice book, and I think a realistic, personable book will make a greater impact on a female reader than a book which relies on sensationalist tactics and foul language to motivate its readers.  Freedman and Barnouin can learn a lot from Brzezinski about how to be persuasive and classy at the same time. 

Early Review: The Pumpkin Man

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The Pumpkin Man by John Everson (pub date 10/15/11)
 

The Pumpkin Man
 
“The only true evil in this life is small-mindedness.  That evil thrives, unchecked.  If only it could be cut out, like eyes from a pumpkin.”
 
 
 
I don’t think I’ve been this hooked by a horror story since The Hellbound Heart.  The further I got into it, the harder it was to put it down.  This book is everything a horror story should be: original, suspenseful, and disturbing.  This should be THE book to read for this Halloween season.
 
In The Pumpkin Man, our heroine Jennica Murphy finds herself at a difficult time in her life.  Her father has been murdered, and soon after she is laid off from her job and evicted from her apartment.  Jenn later finds out that she has inherited a cabin in northern California, a home which has been in her father’s side of her family for many years.  Jenn and her best friend Kirstin decide to spend a few weeks in the cabin.  But while Jenn was hoping to use the free time to relax and come to terms with her grief, she ends up discovering an ancient evil hidden in her family’s cabin.  What she thought was a local legend is actually real.  And it is coming for her.
 
If you enjoy horror, The Pumpkin Man is a must.  Everson’s writing style pulls you right in from page one.  This book offers creepy settings, realistic characters, intense kills, and well-placed touches of humor.  The kill scenes are expertly laid out: graphic enough to scare you but leaving just enough to the imagination to really get under your skin.  Everson’s extensive knowledge of the occult clearly shows in his writing. 
 
I would say that this book would make a great movie if not for my fear that no screenwriter could do the story justice.  Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if this book was optioned for a screenplay in the next year or so, being as Hollywood seems to have run out of ideas for original horror films.  But I’m willing to bet that the book will scare the hell out of people more than a film adaptation will.