Attack of the Theater People
It's been a long time since my last post and I'm sorry. I could make excuses, but I won't. Now it's time to get back to the book reviews. I've got a few to get us started again.
When I first started this blog, I reviewed a book called How I Paid For College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater. Recently, I was lucky enough to read the sequel, Attack of the Theater People by Marc Acito. This novel finds our hero Edward Zanni let go from Juilliard for being too "jazz hands". In his usual madcap fashion, Edward ends up taking odd jobs around New York City to pay the bills. Working as a party motivator for bar and bat mitzvahs nets Edward a 13-year-old stalker and a few secret identities including one as a British MTV VJ. Not that MTV exists in Britain, but no matter for Edward as long as the kids are entertained. The same cast of characters from How I Paid for College is back: Edward's friend Paula is stuck at Juilliard playing the grandmother in every show and staying in character far too long after she exits the stage. Doug, Paula's ex-boyfriend, is the lead singer in a Bruce Springsteen cover band and their pal Natie is up to his philandering ways losing Edward's money in the stock market. It's the 80s in New York and the adventures are just as loud and crazy as the neon suits. I loved this book.
Unfortunately for Indiana Jones fans, the new movie has not gotten the greatest reviews. Although I have not seen it yet, I have become an expert in all things Indiana Jones thanks to The Indiana Jones Handbook: The Complete Adventure Guide by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese. I now know how to handle awkward foods, escape if I'm entombed accidentally, handle poisonous snakes, use a bull whip (whip it good), run on top of a moving train and blend in when I find myself in unfamiliar surroundings. This book is a cool take on an adventure guide and I like the movie tie-ins. Although I'm getting to it late and the movie has already come out, this book is worth taking a look at.
Now for a few movie notes. My favorite movie of all time is When Harry Met Sally which I'm watching right now. It's been far too long since I've seen it and it's still just as wonderful as when I saw it the first time at age 13. Recently I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall, it was great. It was funny, but also had a lot of heart. Plus, Jason Segel is adorable and his character is writing a musical. It can't get much better than that. On the other side of the spectrum, I caught the Sex and the City movie and totally hated it. I thought it was too long, not funny and generally misogynistic. I was a fan of the show, despite hating Mr. Big and thought the movie lost the wit and sassiness of the TV show.
I'm glad to be back and hope you're happy to read more. Thanks for sticking with me, dear readers. That means you, Mom :)
8 comments:
Ooh, and me :) I'm excited about Acito's new book. I'm not sure how I'll get my hands on it as I had to cancel the hold when I moved.
As for the movies, I went the other direction and saw Indiana Jones and not Sex and the City. Personally I think I won that battle!
No doubt in my mind that you won that battle. I hope you can check out Theater People, it's fun.
Great to have you back. How am I going to stay hip without you?
--And don't ever forget where you got your love for theatre (that's a 3 syllable word).
Mom
Hi Emily,
Welcome back! Hope you're doing ok.
Thanks for the tip on "Theater People." I just finished reading "How I Paid for College," and I really enjoyed it. It was very breezy, a quick read, with witty dialog and very funny characters. So I'm looking forward to the sequel.
I saw "Sex and the City," too, and I had a hard time believing that Carrie would go back to Big after what he did to her. He humiliated her on what should have been the happiest day of her life.
Thanks Mom, I'll always know how to say "theatre" properly because of you.
Esther, it seems we continue to share the same opinions. I completely agree with your assessment of Sex and the City, although I thought that Carrie beating Big with her flowers in slow motion was hilarious. Unintentionally hilarious, but hilarious nonetheless.
Glad, glad, GLAD you're back! And I'm sorry to hear about Sex and the City--but I was already boycotting it because I heard it was more than two hours long. That is TOO long! (And I even like Mr. Big.)
Thanks CR, it's good to be back. I'm glad you stayed away from Sex and the City, it was painful. Loving your new blog, keep up the good work.
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