California Screaming: A Novel
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.52 (698 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0684849364 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2017-09-19 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Charles Slovenski said Gym rats gone WEHO. What is refreshing and entertaining about this book is that the West Hollywood lifestyle is sent up completely, touching upon and torching the gym culture, the size obsession (steroids and penis enlargement), money, sex, drugs and ATTITUDE. It's an entertaining and vivid indictment and I got not a few laughs out of the author's style and in particular the dialog which is excellent. However, there is not a lot of humanity in the characterizations and although the irony and social comedy reminded me of the writings of Robert Rodi and Ethan Mordden, the people in this story lacked the kind of charism. You'll see a lot of friends (?) in these characters A Customer Right from the start you are pulled into the world of the self-absorbed, skin-deep minds as they walk through their shallow worlds. Oh, you might think this is fictionwell, sort of.A very witty look at gay life amongst the club set, this novel is fun, funny, and grabbing. You'll find yourself empathizing with at least one of the characters, and possibly more.Buy it, read it and pass it on. Too much fun to miss.. Starts out fun and light, but packs a surprising punch This tale started out dishy and fun, with lots of inside jokes that took me back to adolescent readings of "Hollywood Babylon" and "Mommy Dearest." But just as I had settled in for a light summer read, I was surprised to find more in-depth examinations of the characters and their pasts. An added plus: great phrases to toss into everyday conversation - "soul-destroyingly dull" is my personal favorite!
For why shouldn't they, since illusions are all that matter anyway? And life in LA, when it's not a dream, can turn into a real nightmare. But what about Kim, the Australian personal trainer desperately seeking the American dream? Or perhaps Shane, the innocent young flight attendant seeking self-esteem through steroids and very special plastic surgery? The game they play, of course, is one of all or nothing. And so long as Kevin can keep the real reason he left New York from getting out, everyone's illusions can continue. And so, on a smog-free Christmas morn, Brad, seeking better cell phone reception, finds himself in a deserted parking lot on Sunset Boulevard.
Never afraid to go over the top and always knowing when to stop, California Screaming is a perfect pop cultural artifact; like the most exquisite example of camp, it suggests the innate worth of the absurdities and excesses of contemporary life even as it wickedly ridicules them. All that ego, glitz, and enormous lack of talent is just too deliciously bad to go unpunished. --Michael Bronski. With a plot that throws All About Eve and "Apartment 3G" into a blender with ingredients from a Feydeau farce, Guinan manages to hit most of his targets with deadly accuracy and even allows his characters some tender moments along the way. Hollywood has long been a target of satirical fiction, from Budd Schulberg's What Makes Sammy Run? and John O'Hara's The Big Laugh to Michael Tolkin's The Player and Dennis Hensley's Misadventures