Yeah, yeah. So who am I do review anything? Nobody, I guess, but I read alot of books and so should you and everyone listens to music, so here's some reviews on stuff I've read or listened to. Enjoy.
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
It is said that reaching stardom is like climbing Mt. Everest. You climb and climb and when you finally get to the top, no one can touch you. But on the other side of the mountain, you look down and that's when you see the Valley of the Dolls. The fall from grace, the valley you reside in when you are no longer the star on top.
In Valley of the Dolls, Jacqueline Susann tells the story of three women though two decades. Anne is a girl from a small town who comes to New York looking for nothing more than an office job and someone to love. She finds herself almost married to all of New York's richest men, and eventually becomes a supermodel and television star. Her best friend, Neely becomes the Mariah Carrey of the 50's and becomes a star so big, she destroys herself, but not before destroying everything around her. Their other friend Jennifer is an actress who is considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her beauty brought her to the top, but the inevitable truth that it would someday fade brings her to her death.
I read this 440 page book in only 5 sittings. I just couldn't put it down. This book has everything: drugs, glamour, suspense, sex, deceit, and most of all excitement. There was never a boring paragraph. Valley of the Dolls gives a detailed look at how women in Hollywood were tormented and abused in order to attain the perfect image of a star. It also gave a good look at how women in the 40's, 50's and 60's were treated in general. It shows a lot hasn't changed. All in all, this book was a blast to read and I think any woman with the inclination that she wants to be famous should read it.
Celebrity Skin ~ Hole
This CD was about probably a good 3 weeks released before I even wanted to listen to it. I was pretty pissed that Patty was leaving the band, and I was too busy stocking up on rare vynl to buy it. But my mom bought it (that should tell you something right there) and decided to give it a whirl. At first I just listened to the first and title track, Celebrity Skin, over and over. After I was sick of that, I finally listened to it the whole way through. Overall, it is a great album. I see less of Courtney in this album and more Hole (and ALOT of Billy Corgan). I really liked Hole's first two albums, and this one doesn't have the same feel, but it is good just the same. These songs really show how Courtney Love has changed as a person. She knows who she is now, she knows who she was and she doesn't care what people think of her. She even makes fun of herself on the second track, "Awful": "I was punk, now I'm just stupid, I'm so awful".
That's great. Alot of references to Hollywood and glamour were made, like in "Reasons to be Bueatiful", "Malibu" and "Celebrity Skin": "it's all so sugarless, hooker/waitress, model/actress, oh, just go nameless". Courtney's vocals have improved 100% since the last recording, and so has her guitar playing. I'm not sure of who wrote the music, but the album was produced by Billy Corgan and lots of songs have that "pumpkins" feel to them, especially "Northern Lights" it has a timpani drum and everything. Lyrically, I think this album is totally Courtney's way of saying "fuck you" to everyone who's been judging her and picking on her for trying to clean up. Good job, roit girl.
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