Chart Throb, Part2
November 28th 2006 23:55
I finished the book a few days ago, after staying up till some insane hour of the morning. Dammit Elton! I need to sleep man!
I have to admit though, that I wasn't as happy with this book as I was with his previous works. It didn't lack sense of humour (it was funny because it was so true) it didn't lack swearwords (it had more swearwords than any other book I have read) and it didn't lack interesting characters (one of the judges they had was a transexual ex-rock and roll star that had his/her own "reality" tv show). So I have no complaints there. It was also very well written.
No, the thing that bugged me about this book was the lack of poetic beauty that Mr Elton managed to create and captivate with in both First Casualty and High Society. But I think perhaps, that was the point. Reality TV (by this I mean the kind that he attacks, being programs like Idol and The Osbournes) for the better part, hardly helps encourage the best from us (this being said, I am yet to watch a whole episode of ANY reality tv based tv series. the closest I ever got was to watch a little "Flatmates" in new zealand and parts of an episode of "The Amazing Race) and instead helps alot of very insecure people validate their own flaws as marketting gimmicks. Scripted "fights", "arguements" and "reconciliations" (that take place in the "real" household of the aforementioned judges house) only further her ambition to be recognised as a woman and an amazing mother, where in reality she has problems even recognising her daughters and has the seeming inability to try and do anything positive in their lives.
But this is his world, so I ought stick to that. The main parts of their personal little reality is that everything is scripted, everything manipulated, everything guided down a certain path with a certain result in mind. The one doing the script work? Calvin Simms, a judge on his own show, who also does the behind the scenes work to ensure his own ends. That is what bothers me about the book the most. The main character has a dualistic nature. He knows he is a manipulative and deceitful bastard and throughout the book could have been completely redeemed by at any time by simply telling the truth a couple of times. And the other characters (most of them, Emma is okay) seem to be happy to go along for the ride. The picture it paints is two kind of scary pictures. One is a gullible public, prepared to accept the truth that is presented to them, on the basis they think it is presented sincerely. The other is of a hype-based celebrity (and of hype-based celebrity personalities) that are very well prepared to do almost anytthing in order to gain attention and adulation. Or failing that, attention in any form.
JZ
I have to admit though, that I wasn't as happy with this book as I was with his previous works. It didn't lack sense of humour (it was funny because it was so true) it didn't lack swearwords (it had more swearwords than any other book I have read) and it didn't lack interesting characters (one of the judges they had was a transexual ex-rock and roll star that had his/her own "reality" tv show). So I have no complaints there. It was also very well written.
But this is his world, so I ought stick to that. The main parts of their personal little reality is that everything is scripted, everything manipulated, everything guided down a certain path with a certain result in mind. The one doing the script work? Calvin Simms, a judge on his own show, who also does the behind the scenes work to ensure his own ends. That is what bothers me about the book the most. The main character has a dualistic nature. He knows he is a manipulative and deceitful bastard and throughout the book could have been completely redeemed by at any time by simply telling the truth a couple of times. And the other characters (most of them, Emma is okay) seem to be happy to go along for the ride. The picture it paints is two kind of scary pictures. One is a gullible public, prepared to accept the truth that is presented to them, on the basis they think it is presented sincerely. The other is of a hype-based celebrity (and of hype-based celebrity personalities) that are very well prepared to do almost anytthing in order to gain attention and adulation. Or failing that, attention in any form.
JZ
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