Quick Pop Culture Reviews
October 13, 2008 by Tracee Sioux
Filed under Parenting
Barbara Walter’s Audition:
This book is written from the dry, poker-faced stance of a neutral journalist. Which is great if you’re reporting for 20/20, but it’s not the tone you want to take when you’re reporting your own life. In spite of that it’s a knock-out. Barbara Walters has lived some kind of life. It’s also a first-person view of history as told by someone who was there. By there, I mean, in the room and asking the questions. The first woman in journalism has a personal opinion of our recent history. Oh, and she’s also to blame for first exploiting our interest in sex. She discovered when writing press releases for a PR firm that the public responds to sex in a headline every single time and thus she can be seen as the impetus for the sexualization of the media. Thanks Barbara.
Sex and the City, The Movie:
Trendy fashion went overboard when the ladies look like clowns by the time the DVD comes out. I confess I watched this movie with my husband, so I may have been more willing to see how ridiculous the uber-fashion was but, seriously – since when are shoulder pads and 80s power suits back? It’s like every fashion designer who bought product placement in the movie barfed all over these four.
Samantha Jones has to be the epitome of SAD and pathetic. When she leaves the one guy who can tolerate her self-absorption and celebrates her 50th birthday alone so she can screw it was a sad, sad moment in feminist pop culture. That’s powerful? No. Happy women have grandchildren at 50 or 60. Monogamous sex only gets better cause you stop pretending you’re the star of a porno movie.
Carrie Bradshaw is a complete idiot. You’re SURPRISED that Mr. Big screwed you over on your wedding day cause he’s commitment phobic? Really? Where have you been? Meanwhile Aiden is the perfect father of 4 working on his craft and spending time with his wife. You get what you settle for – reduced to a 3rd wife’s wedding dress in Cinderella’s shoes. Please see my article Cinderella Could Have Saved Herself. Let me add – by not marrying a selfish dick.
I enjoyed the story-lines of Charlotte and Miranda Hobbs. Charlotte pooping her pants was the only parts that made me laugh out loud.
New Moon & Eclipse:
I hated the first book, Twilight, because I thought it was a great description of battered wife syndrome rather than “true love.” Everyone kept saying “read the next books, you’ll see.” So I tried. But, 3 pages in the sentimental crappola distortion of love and exaggerated teenage angst made me decide, “I don’t have time to read bad romance novels no matter how fast they are flying off the shelves.” I’m over it.
Running With Scissors:
My friend said this was a great movie so I put it on my Netflix. Annette Bennening was fun to watch. But, it was depressing. I used to watch depressing movies over and over, but then I realized it only made me . . . depressed. I need no extra downers in my life. I turned it off and watched E’s Sunday lineup of sexed-up reality television – which was no less depressing. So I went to bed with a good book.
One Fifth Avenue
Like the original Sex and the City book, this one was written by Candace Bushnell. This is a good book. It’s interesting and fun and light and entertaining. Only, unlike when I was younger and books like this made me want to seek my fortune in New York City – this one makes me want to never, ever live there again. Was New York always as shallow as L.A. and I just thought it had more depth?
A Return to Love: Reflections on a Course in Miracles
This is the best book I’ve ever read on what Love really is. It presents true love as a miracle. A gift from God. A gift to ourselves. A gift to the world. A gift to each other. It also presents love as a battle against the ego and it says love is really hard work worth doing. If you’re looking for a soulful meditation on true love – skip the juvenile romance crap of Stephanie Meyers and read this book.
This is a Blogtoberfest Post.
Leave a comment guessing what I’m giving away on this post to enter to win. A random winner will be awarded this fantastic surprise one week from today.
I’m giving something away every day for two weeks straight, subscribe to Blog Fabulous (RSS button at top, share at bottom) so you don’t miss any Christmas hoarding opportunities (see our cool list of prizes here.
You’re the first one to agree with me that the Twilight series isn’t worth your time! I hated Twilight and suffered through New Moon BARELY and I will NOT touch the others.
Y’know, as much as I love the Twilight books, I freely admit they’re pure and utter crap.
Then again, I have earth logic unlike so many of the other fans.
Of these, I agree with you that Sex and the City wasn’t so great. However, I really enjoyed Running with Scissors. I thought that although it is very sad, the author (and autobiographer) added some humor (though sometimes demented) to the situations he experienced and had to endure. The book is better (as usual), but the actors did a magnificent job portraying the characters and the movie is directed extremely well.
For the surprise, I imagine you’re giving away Blurb bookmarking Credits? Maybe?
Haven’t read any of those, thanks for saving me some time! My prize guess is the 3-month subscription to Bookswim. Thanks!
I haven’t read any of these but would love the chance to!
I’m guessing it’s one of the totes (to carry all those books around)
a book perhaps!!!!
earth logic?
I did kinda enjoy Sex in the City but not as much as I though I would.
My guess is a book, DVD or tote.
I have not seen “Sex and the City”, have not read any of the “Twilight” books, but have read “A Course in Miracles!” My guess for your prize giveaway is a tote. Many thanks…..Cindi
I have never read this. Is the prize a book?
I’m glad I’m not the only one who wasn’t a fan of the Sex and the City movie. It just wasn’t that good to me. I also heard a lot of praise for Running with Scissors, but when I watched it I just didn’t enjoy it that much.
The only thing I can comment on from your reviews is Running With Scissors. I didn’t see the movie but the book was a great read albeit disturbing. My guess is a DVD!
I’ll guess that you’re giving away one of these books or movies.
I think you’re giving away a 3 month membership to bookswim.com
3-month subscription to Bookswim
i agree about sex and the city. I might add I did not like the whole seve thing. I just don’t see that in him. He seemed like the kind of guy who wouldn’t cheat. I think that storyline was a stretch
I would say a gift certificate to Amazon.com
Lawsy, I hope it is a bookswim membership. I loved the Twilight series. It’s a guilty pleasure, but I like to mix things up a bit. Variety is the spice o’ life.
I actually enjoyed the first and second book of the Twilight series but then it became all angsty.
My guess is 3-month subscription to Bookswim