Non-Fiction
$10.20 from Amazon.com (Not for sale at Wal-Mart retail outfits...)
Super Nerdy Distinction Award: Gilbert Lowell
Buy it if: You want to read one of the most fascinating books about corporate control of the global economy ever written
Don’t Buy it if: You’re an addicted Wal-Mart shopper who doesn’t want to know about the evil ways they keep those prices down…
There is an evil empire out there, and it was founded by Sam Walton. Whether you’re a Wal-Mart hater or an addicted shopper, there’s no denying the chain’s ubiquitous presence in America. My own town of York has two Wal-Mart Supercenters, one for each side of town! But how did this little midwestern discount store expand to the corporate monolith it is today? How pervasive is its influence when it comes to the economy? And how can they sell things so cheaply and still survive?
Charles Fishman tackles these questions and more in his superb book, The Wal-Mart Effect. 259 pages hardly seems enough to cover a corporation’s impact on the global economy while including a variety of case studies and well-trimmed statistics, but Fishman has no wasted words. Start to finish every sentence is a fascinating insight into the (very disturbing) depth to which Wal-Mart shapes the scales and breadth of worldwide commodities.
Of course, it’s one thing to point to statistics, declining trends and regression lines and use them to illustrate the obvious: Wal-Mart’s insistence on razor-thin margins trickles down through nearly every commercial enterprise in the world, from trucking to salmon farming. But the author’s brilliant incorporation of specific products and cases prevents the book from veering into the abstract. Two of the most memorable examples are the ‘Makin’ Bacon’ bacon microwave tray and Snapper lawnmowers. The former maintains a commercial relationship with the super chain and offers insight into the meeting and marketing process that occurs at Wal-Mart headquarters, while the latter is used an example of a company that could no longer juxtapose Wal-Mart’s insistence on lower prices with its own quality standards and thus had ceased appearing on the stores’ shelves.
Throughout the book, insights from Wal-Mart and manufacturer principles are used to bring depth to what could have been a very dry take on finances, economics and your basic supply and demand. Instead, we’re clued in to what makes Wal-Mart so different. After all, Target has nearly the same products at nearly the same prices, but Wal-Mart’s are ALWAYS lower. Why? And does it make a difference? Fishman posits that it certainly does and cites examples to prove this. (Wal-Mart’s corporate power being the most obvious one.) But what’s even more fascinating is the trickle down effect that comes from the policies of a company as massive as Wal-Mart - who’s trucking fleet is actually larger than that of the US government… It’s this study of the company’s effect on the world at large that is the main theme of The Wal-Mart Effect and it’s chilling to say the least. Big Brother may not be here yet, but if he comes, it’s a near certainty he’ll be arriving via a ‘Low Price Guarantee.’
As you know, I am a sucker for corporate profiles, but this one transcends the normal nerd-quotient and should suck in even you mainstreamers. It’s a glimpse into the brain of the monster in your backyard. (Or, in the case of the my town, the TWO ‘super’ monsters in my backyard.) You won’t ever look at the that massively blank storefront – or even the kindly old greeter – the same way again. Whether it’s with fear or loathing, The Wal-Mart Effect will forever change you discount retail perspective…
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Service Included – Phoebe Damrosch
Non-Fiction
$12.56 from Amazon.com
Buy it if: You love Hell’s Kitchen, Spanglish or Thomas Keller
Don’t Buy It If: You think Ruby Tuesday’s is overpriced and too fancy
I have this weird fascination with fine dining, but I’m not sure where it comes from. Lord knows I don’t have a taste for tripe or sweetbreads. In fact, my culinary preferences run a lot more towards rustic Italian than classic French. But there’s something about the precision machines that are classic fine dining establishments that just draw me in. Maybe it’s too many episodes of Hell’s Kitchen. Or perhaps my own feeble attempts to prepare more than two dinner courses at a time have led me to this. Either way, books that pull back the metaphorical curtain that is the swinging kitchen door just suck me right in.
Of course, like restaurants, all books are not created equal. And I’d like to think that, at least in a literary sense, I have a relatively discerning palette. Hence, I have ‘no reservations’ (cue rim shot) about recommending Phoebe Damrosch’s Service Included, a memoir of her time spent as a member of the service staff at Thomas Keller’s New York eatery, Per Se. Like most of my favorite first-person experiential tales, Damrosch didn’t go looking for a book. No, she went looking for a job and the book followed and I think there’s something to be said for discovering the story, rather than seeking it out, as these tend to be the most interesting ones…
What really gives Service Included an edge over similar works is the author’s presence from the beginning of Per Se. It’s one thing to assimilate into a functioning workplace, quite another to be there for the evolution of its creation. This is unique perspective doubles the book’s ‘bang for the buck’ if you will. A behind-the-scenes look at the life and work of a fine dining waiter is fascinating enough (it ain’t like your local diner, that’s for sure) but couple this view with the process of getting such an establishment up and running, and a whole other world begins to emerge for the reader.
We learn with Phoebe as she describes the nonstop education the waitstaff receives. From daily food briefings about the menu to more in depth bits of knowledge such as – seriously – the origins of the different salts used by the kitchen, the foodiness of a fine dining front of house staff comes off as more than a little intense. And the details! Some of the author’s most fascinating anecdotes revolve around the experience that is a restaurant with a premiere chef in a premiere city. Meal courses scrapped because a guest wasn’t present at the table and it’s against policy to serve in such a situation. The honor that is being served off menu as a ‘gift’ from the chef. The astounding variety of food that can come from a tasting menu. It’s a world that has no comparison to your everyday dining experience.
Naturally, as a memoir of sorts, there’s a rich personal story as well. After all, the author is trying to succeed in what turns out to be a very intense business, and the crossover between the personal and professional lives that she portrayed is simply astounding. Never in my life have I ever considered scouring New York City for the best bone marrow dish, but this is exactly the kind of night out these high end food folks crave… And while it’s tough to relate to such a particular search, as someone who works in an industry where passion for the work often outstrips the standard desire to simply earn a paycheck, I can absolutely relate. I seek out sexy microphones and bleeding edge sound consoles with the same intensity. The consuming interest of the Per Se staff absolutely comes across and the book is all the richer for it. Intensity is tough to fake, but fortunately for us, Damrosch has done nothing of the sort.
The most telling aspect in any book like this is whether or not you find yourself wanting to make a pilgrimage to the story’s epicenter yourself when it’s over. I may never get to dine at Per Se myself (the meals are a bit on the pricey side from what I gather) but I’m hoping… Any book that not only entertains and informs during the reading - but also continue to inspire and stir the reader afterwards - is certainly one that’s well worth picking up. Especially at a cost that comes in below anything you’d find in a Thomas Keller dining room…
$12.56 from Amazon.com
Buy it if: You love Hell’s Kitchen, Spanglish or Thomas Keller
Don’t Buy It If: You think Ruby Tuesday’s is overpriced and too fancy
I have this weird fascination with fine dining, but I’m not sure where it comes from. Lord knows I don’t have a taste for tripe or sweetbreads. In fact, my culinary preferences run a lot more towards rustic Italian than classic French. But there’s something about the precision machines that are classic fine dining establishments that just draw me in. Maybe it’s too many episodes of Hell’s Kitchen. Or perhaps my own feeble attempts to prepare more than two dinner courses at a time have led me to this. Either way, books that pull back the metaphorical curtain that is the swinging kitchen door just suck me right in.
Of course, like restaurants, all books are not created equal. And I’d like to think that, at least in a literary sense, I have a relatively discerning palette. Hence, I have ‘no reservations’ (cue rim shot) about recommending Phoebe Damrosch’s Service Included, a memoir of her time spent as a member of the service staff at Thomas Keller’s New York eatery, Per Se. Like most of my favorite first-person experiential tales, Damrosch didn’t go looking for a book. No, she went looking for a job and the book followed and I think there’s something to be said for discovering the story, rather than seeking it out, as these tend to be the most interesting ones…
What really gives Service Included an edge over similar works is the author’s presence from the beginning of Per Se. It’s one thing to assimilate into a functioning workplace, quite another to be there for the evolution of its creation. This is unique perspective doubles the book’s ‘bang for the buck’ if you will. A behind-the-scenes look at the life and work of a fine dining waiter is fascinating enough (it ain’t like your local diner, that’s for sure) but couple this view with the process of getting such an establishment up and running, and a whole other world begins to emerge for the reader.
We learn with Phoebe as she describes the nonstop education the waitstaff receives. From daily food briefings about the menu to more in depth bits of knowledge such as – seriously – the origins of the different salts used by the kitchen, the foodiness of a fine dining front of house staff comes off as more than a little intense. And the details! Some of the author’s most fascinating anecdotes revolve around the experience that is a restaurant with a premiere chef in a premiere city. Meal courses scrapped because a guest wasn’t present at the table and it’s against policy to serve in such a situation. The honor that is being served off menu as a ‘gift’ from the chef. The astounding variety of food that can come from a tasting menu. It’s a world that has no comparison to your everyday dining experience.
Naturally, as a memoir of sorts, there’s a rich personal story as well. After all, the author is trying to succeed in what turns out to be a very intense business, and the crossover between the personal and professional lives that she portrayed is simply astounding. Never in my life have I ever considered scouring New York City for the best bone marrow dish, but this is exactly the kind of night out these high end food folks crave… And while it’s tough to relate to such a particular search, as someone who works in an industry where passion for the work often outstrips the standard desire to simply earn a paycheck, I can absolutely relate. I seek out sexy microphones and bleeding edge sound consoles with the same intensity. The consuming interest of the Per Se staff absolutely comes across and the book is all the richer for it. Intensity is tough to fake, but fortunately for us, Damrosch has done nothing of the sort.
The most telling aspect in any book like this is whether or not you find yourself wanting to make a pilgrimage to the story’s epicenter yourself when it’s over. I may never get to dine at Per Se myself (the meals are a bit on the pricey side from what I gather) but I’m hoping… Any book that not only entertains and informs during the reading - but also continue to inspire and stir the reader afterwards - is certainly one that’s well worth picking up. Especially at a cost that comes in below anything you’d find in a Thomas Keller dining room…
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Duma Key – Stephen King
Fiction
Softcover from Amazon.com - $9.99
Buy it if: You love classic Stephen King, the kind that keeps up for nights at a time.
Don’t buy it if: You wish Mr. King wrote more ‘Shawshank Redemptions’ and less ‘Pet Semetarys…’
It’s not that I thought Stephen King was getting soft – far from it – but lately he’s been writing about the Red Sox and penning columns for Entertainment Weekly. He even bought a beach house in Florida! With the grim Maine winters out of his life maybe he’s finally taking a little time to kick back and explore some new facets of life? OK, the man’s earned it. Despite swirling rumors for years about his imminent retirement he keeps turning out a simply astounding number of novels – the anti-James Joyce. But still, I couldn’t help but wonder where the terror had gone. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was great, but I didn't feel my own mortality while reading it. I had a hard time even worrying about the girl. It was as close to a feel-good novel as King gets. (OK, maybe that’s The Green Mile, but come on, that one is astounding.)
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t need to be frightened by him to love what he’s written. I still contend he will be 20th century author most revered in coming decades. But I sure like it when he scares me out of my wits ‘Salem’s Lot-style.
Duma Key did it. And did it with an idyllic setting in – where else? – the Florida keys. I doubt he set out to prove horror grows just as strongly in the warm, summer shadows of sandy Floridian spits…but it happened anyway. The creeping hand of death has returned in a new form and forum. It’s just that now a lot more of the characters are probably wearing sunscreen.
Edgar, construction-magnate-turned-crippled-divorcee, is seeking some breathing room in his new sunny Florida digs, trying to heal himself through the expressive power of art. But this ain’t a ‘Stella getting her groove back’ tropical vacation with Edgar doing some feel good soul searching and finding a gal pal love interest. No. This a haunted, creepy, evil journey that’s going to grip Edgar through – of all things – painting. It’s vintage King, taking the ordinary and turning it into a hell of terror with subtle touches that draw you in. The pace ramps up, catches you off guard and finds you feverishly turning pages, waiting for the ghosts and demons to show themselves… But like most King novels, the baddies rarely appear overtly… It’s the devil in your own mind that puts you on edge and the writer wields this skill as ably as ever.
Of course, recommending a Stephen King book is kind of like telling you to go out and buy a Springsteen album. Chances are, a lot of minds were made up before the thing even left the printer. The die-hards bought the hardcover version on the release date - I know I did- and the haters wouldn’t take a free copy if offered. But I’m talking to the ones on the edge of decision, who pine for the days of Misery and Christine… This one’s for you… Get it. The man’s back in a big way. Like the best bits of Cujo and The Tommyknockers, Duma Key’s got that ‘thing.’ That flesh-crawling, peering-over-your-shoulder, double-checking the locks thing
(fear)
that it seems only Stephen King can deliver. Absolutely get it. Then look under your bed, close the closet and start reading…
Softcover from Amazon.com - $9.99
Buy it if: You love classic Stephen King, the kind that keeps up for nights at a time.
Don’t buy it if: You wish Mr. King wrote more ‘Shawshank Redemptions’ and less ‘Pet Semetarys…’
It’s not that I thought Stephen King was getting soft – far from it – but lately he’s been writing about the Red Sox and penning columns for Entertainment Weekly. He even bought a beach house in Florida! With the grim Maine winters out of his life maybe he’s finally taking a little time to kick back and explore some new facets of life? OK, the man’s earned it. Despite swirling rumors for years about his imminent retirement he keeps turning out a simply astounding number of novels – the anti-James Joyce. But still, I couldn’t help but wonder where the terror had gone. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was great, but I didn't feel my own mortality while reading it. I had a hard time even worrying about the girl. It was as close to a feel-good novel as King gets. (OK, maybe that’s The Green Mile, but come on, that one is astounding.)
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t need to be frightened by him to love what he’s written. I still contend he will be 20th century author most revered in coming decades. But I sure like it when he scares me out of my wits ‘Salem’s Lot-style.
Duma Key did it. And did it with an idyllic setting in – where else? – the Florida keys. I doubt he set out to prove horror grows just as strongly in the warm, summer shadows of sandy Floridian spits…but it happened anyway. The creeping hand of death has returned in a new form and forum. It’s just that now a lot more of the characters are probably wearing sunscreen.
Edgar, construction-magnate-turned-crippled-divorcee, is seeking some breathing room in his new sunny Florida digs, trying to heal himself through the expressive power of art. But this ain’t a ‘Stella getting her groove back’ tropical vacation with Edgar doing some feel good soul searching and finding a gal pal love interest. No. This a haunted, creepy, evil journey that’s going to grip Edgar through – of all things – painting. It’s vintage King, taking the ordinary and turning it into a hell of terror with subtle touches that draw you in. The pace ramps up, catches you off guard and finds you feverishly turning pages, waiting for the ghosts and demons to show themselves… But like most King novels, the baddies rarely appear overtly… It’s the devil in your own mind that puts you on edge and the writer wields this skill as ably as ever.
Of course, recommending a Stephen King book is kind of like telling you to go out and buy a Springsteen album. Chances are, a lot of minds were made up before the thing even left the printer. The die-hards bought the hardcover version on the release date - I know I did- and the haters wouldn’t take a free copy if offered. But I’m talking to the ones on the edge of decision, who pine for the days of Misery and Christine… This one’s for you… Get it. The man’s back in a big way. Like the best bits of Cujo and The Tommyknockers, Duma Key’s got that ‘thing.’ That flesh-crawling, peering-over-your-shoulder, double-checking the locks thing
(fear)
that it seems only Stephen King can deliver. Absolutely get it. Then look under your bed, close the closet and start reading…
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Emperors of Chocolate – Joel Glenn Brenner
Non-Fiction
Softcover from Amazon - $10.85
Extra Super Nerdy Distinction!
Buy it if: Like chocolate or not, you’re a sucker for a charming business profile
Don’t buy it if: No way, no how do you care about business of any kind. And you’re lactose intolerant to boot…
I love chocolate, I really do. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate…it’s really one of the world’s most fantastic substances. Surprisingly, I never considered this when I purchased a house so near two of the world’s most influential chocolate makers. With Hershey being just across the Susquehanna River and Mars near my old DC haunt in northern Virginia, I’m ideally located for sweet gorging. I knew that. What I didn’t know was the rich and vibrant history of these companies. And the strikingly different stories that lie behind their respective creations.
Yet, despite my admitted naïvete, I’m no longer blindly perusing the candy aisle with no sense of the deep history I’m strolling past. In The Emperors of Chocolate, author Joel Glenn Brenner tells the parallel tales of Hershey and Mars with encompassing profiles of each business and its values, while including some of the most fascinating details you’ll ever find in a business profile. Not since Roald Dahl has there been such richly told story of candy.
Admittedly, Brenner has been gifted a great cast of characters. Mars plays the vast, Microsoft-style empire, quietly dominating industries you’d never even suspect it owns (kitty litter?!) from the quiet little town of McClean, Virginia. Meanwhile, Milton Hershey’s little experiment careens wildy with Wonka-like flair - the Apple to Mars’ Microsoft - eschewing traditional business schemes for philanthropy and parks. (Hershey Park used to be just that, a park for Hershey employees to enjoy during their free time.) There’s even a company funded Hershey school for boys that could be (and probably is) the subject of a book itself.
As The Emperors of Chocolate explores the vastly different roots and philosophies of these companies with dueting, call and response-style chapters, it also carefully weaves in the rest of the chocolate-making world for context. Nestle, Cadbury and the others make appearances when appropriate and help set a very useful context for the discussions that follow. Even with the focus squarely on Mars and Hershey, it’s difficult to avoid becoming enamored with the asides pertaining to world chocolate supplies and the difference between American and European pallets. (Just ask a Londoner their opinion of the Hershey flavor, you’ll see!) It’s easy to forget what a common human experience chocolate is, and as such, one that nearly everybody has an opinion on. But oh how those opinions vary! Without a doubt, once Brenner’s through with you you’ll never taste chocolate the same way again, and in this case, that’s a very good thing.
But this work really succeeds thanks to its infusions of drama and character. In my opinion, the measure of a truly great business profile is found in the enchanting details, the small facts that lodge themselves in your brain, only to reappear months later in the oddest of contexts. The Emperors of Chocolate delivers these in spades. Admittedly, more of the vignettes are Hershey-centric, but that is mainly due to the unbelievable secrecy that has traditionally surrounded the Mars company, a veil that is rarely lifted even today and a circumstance, that ironically, makes the company all the more fascinating. Hershey, on the other hand, continually delivers charm and joy at nearly every turn, and some bits are just plain fun. Did you know Milton Hershey’s mother personally wrapped Kisses in foil by hand on her front porch until the day she died. How cool is that?
Brenner’s economy of words packs a lot into a little space and this one of the few business profiles that I think ‘goes mainstream.’ Even if such reading material is not normally your cup of tea, this one absolutely deserves a shot. It’s tough not to be captivated by these vastly different companies, dueling for the same market, and the author delivers the goods in chapter after chapter with a terrific writing style. Highly recommended, whether you prefer milk, dark or even with almonds…
Softcover from Amazon - $10.85
Extra Super Nerdy Distinction!
Buy it if: Like chocolate or not, you’re a sucker for a charming business profile
Don’t buy it if: No way, no how do you care about business of any kind. And you’re lactose intolerant to boot…
I love chocolate, I really do. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate…it’s really one of the world’s most fantastic substances. Surprisingly, I never considered this when I purchased a house so near two of the world’s most influential chocolate makers. With Hershey being just across the Susquehanna River and Mars near my old DC haunt in northern Virginia, I’m ideally located for sweet gorging. I knew that. What I didn’t know was the rich and vibrant history of these companies. And the strikingly different stories that lie behind their respective creations.
Yet, despite my admitted naïvete, I’m no longer blindly perusing the candy aisle with no sense of the deep history I’m strolling past. In The Emperors of Chocolate, author Joel Glenn Brenner tells the parallel tales of Hershey and Mars with encompassing profiles of each business and its values, while including some of the most fascinating details you’ll ever find in a business profile. Not since Roald Dahl has there been such richly told story of candy.
Admittedly, Brenner has been gifted a great cast of characters. Mars plays the vast, Microsoft-style empire, quietly dominating industries you’d never even suspect it owns (kitty litter?!) from the quiet little town of McClean, Virginia. Meanwhile, Milton Hershey’s little experiment careens wildy with Wonka-like flair - the Apple to Mars’ Microsoft - eschewing traditional business schemes for philanthropy and parks. (Hershey Park used to be just that, a park for Hershey employees to enjoy during their free time.) There’s even a company funded Hershey school for boys that could be (and probably is) the subject of a book itself.
As The Emperors of Chocolate explores the vastly different roots and philosophies of these companies with dueting, call and response-style chapters, it also carefully weaves in the rest of the chocolate-making world for context. Nestle, Cadbury and the others make appearances when appropriate and help set a very useful context for the discussions that follow. Even with the focus squarely on Mars and Hershey, it’s difficult to avoid becoming enamored with the asides pertaining to world chocolate supplies and the difference between American and European pallets. (Just ask a Londoner their opinion of the Hershey flavor, you’ll see!) It’s easy to forget what a common human experience chocolate is, and as such, one that nearly everybody has an opinion on. But oh how those opinions vary! Without a doubt, once Brenner’s through with you you’ll never taste chocolate the same way again, and in this case, that’s a very good thing.
But this work really succeeds thanks to its infusions of drama and character. In my opinion, the measure of a truly great business profile is found in the enchanting details, the small facts that lodge themselves in your brain, only to reappear months later in the oddest of contexts. The Emperors of Chocolate delivers these in spades. Admittedly, more of the vignettes are Hershey-centric, but that is mainly due to the unbelievable secrecy that has traditionally surrounded the Mars company, a veil that is rarely lifted even today and a circumstance, that ironically, makes the company all the more fascinating. Hershey, on the other hand, continually delivers charm and joy at nearly every turn, and some bits are just plain fun. Did you know Milton Hershey’s mother personally wrapped Kisses in foil by hand on her front porch until the day she died. How cool is that?
Brenner’s economy of words packs a lot into a little space and this one of the few business profiles that I think ‘goes mainstream.’ Even if such reading material is not normally your cup of tea, this one absolutely deserves a shot. It’s tough not to be captivated by these vastly different companies, dueling for the same market, and the author delivers the goods in chapter after chapter with a terrific writing style. Highly recommended, whether you prefer milk, dark or even with almonds…
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Here’s the Story – Maureen McCormick
Autobiography
Hardcover from Amazon.com - $19.72
Buy it if: You slow down for car accidents
Don’t Buy it if: You feel sick at the idea of another child-star tell-all
‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…’ You know it, you love it, you’ve said it. Maureen McCormick lived it. The damaged-child-star-life-ruined story has become a familiar literary motif these days. The ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ kids, Danny Bonaducci’s beyond-surreal life. Even Soleil Moon Fry (Punky Brewster for those not in the know) has managed to keep herself ‘relevant.’ Does Maureen ‘Marcia Brady’ McCormick’s effort suffer as a result of those who’ve come before her? I think not. But the book does struggle a bit on its own merits.
Though I never made an effort to watch the Brady Bunch, I think it would be impossible to grow up in America (maybe anywhere in the western world) and not see at least a few episodes here and there. It’s ubiquitous and gives any reader at least a moderate amount of context for this book, which has a massive focus on the ‘Bunch.’ In fact, it’s really quite surprising what a role the television show played in McCormick’s life. I was under the impression that, like so many child actors, the show was only a jumping off point for her tumultuous ride to pseudo-fame and the typical trappings that usually entails. Instead, I was surprised to find the Bradys continuously cropping up throughout her life. It does give the reader an oddly comforting touchstone with every mention, despite the fact that you can easily find yourself transposing the characters and real-life actors. Amazingly, doing so doesn’t usually lead you too far off the mark.
As for the content, well…it’s actually fairly boilerplate celebrity with a few surprises. Drugs? Check. Weight gain? Check. Affairs? Check. Family mental illness? It doesn’t come in the form you might expect, but…check. Disappointingly, there are definitely some missing sections. She mentions an album once and has pictures of herself on tour, yet nothing is written about her ‘musical career.’ She also seems to allude to a deep religious conviction, but never really shines a light on that either. It’s a bit odd that some parts of her life receive such detailed examination while others are wholly left out of the text. I can only wonder about the reasons for omission as, given what was included, she’s not afraid to show the worst sides of herself.
Ironically, my initial impetus for purchasing this book came after hearing McCormick on the Howard Stern show. She was inviting, forthright, candid and charming. I figured that if the book was written in the same tone it would be enjoyable, with a twist of 70s-child-start voyeurism… Unfortunately, it’s a little more staid with less humor. A lot of that personality does come across, but not with the same verve she mustered for Howard.
As I finished, Here’s the Story, I was reminded of something a friend of mine told me recently. She mentioned that she walked out of Oliver Stone’s ‘W’ in the fall, not because she felt it was incorrect or poorly made, but merely because she didn’t think enough time had passed to give the subject matter proper perspective. I have to say, this book suffers from the same issue. It covers events right up until the middle of last year, and they’re not small or insignificant ones, either. It’s tough to muster conviction when an author with such a tumultuous life is writing about occurrences from such a recent time period. I think it’s just a bit too soon…
So, for this reason, I’d say it’s best to hold off on this one. HOWEVER, when the paperback comes out with the oh-so-inevitable ‘Now, with a brand new afterword!’ splashed across the front, then I say unleash your wallet for Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. Hopefully by then she’ll have found time to reflect a bit more and deliver the rest of the goods…
Hardcover from Amazon.com - $19.72
Buy it if: You slow down for car accidents
Don’t Buy it if: You feel sick at the idea of another child-star tell-all
‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…’ You know it, you love it, you’ve said it. Maureen McCormick lived it. The damaged-child-star-life-ruined story has become a familiar literary motif these days. The ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ kids, Danny Bonaducci’s beyond-surreal life. Even Soleil Moon Fry (Punky Brewster for those not in the know) has managed to keep herself ‘relevant.’ Does Maureen ‘Marcia Brady’ McCormick’s effort suffer as a result of those who’ve come before her? I think not. But the book does struggle a bit on its own merits.
Though I never made an effort to watch the Brady Bunch, I think it would be impossible to grow up in America (maybe anywhere in the western world) and not see at least a few episodes here and there. It’s ubiquitous and gives any reader at least a moderate amount of context for this book, which has a massive focus on the ‘Bunch.’ In fact, it’s really quite surprising what a role the television show played in McCormick’s life. I was under the impression that, like so many child actors, the show was only a jumping off point for her tumultuous ride to pseudo-fame and the typical trappings that usually entails. Instead, I was surprised to find the Bradys continuously cropping up throughout her life. It does give the reader an oddly comforting touchstone with every mention, despite the fact that you can easily find yourself transposing the characters and real-life actors. Amazingly, doing so doesn’t usually lead you too far off the mark.
As for the content, well…it’s actually fairly boilerplate celebrity with a few surprises. Drugs? Check. Weight gain? Check. Affairs? Check. Family mental illness? It doesn’t come in the form you might expect, but…check. Disappointingly, there are definitely some missing sections. She mentions an album once and has pictures of herself on tour, yet nothing is written about her ‘musical career.’ She also seems to allude to a deep religious conviction, but never really shines a light on that either. It’s a bit odd that some parts of her life receive such detailed examination while others are wholly left out of the text. I can only wonder about the reasons for omission as, given what was included, she’s not afraid to show the worst sides of herself.
Ironically, my initial impetus for purchasing this book came after hearing McCormick on the Howard Stern show. She was inviting, forthright, candid and charming. I figured that if the book was written in the same tone it would be enjoyable, with a twist of 70s-child-start voyeurism… Unfortunately, it’s a little more staid with less humor. A lot of that personality does come across, but not with the same verve she mustered for Howard.
As I finished, Here’s the Story, I was reminded of something a friend of mine told me recently. She mentioned that she walked out of Oliver Stone’s ‘W’ in the fall, not because she felt it was incorrect or poorly made, but merely because she didn’t think enough time had passed to give the subject matter proper perspective. I have to say, this book suffers from the same issue. It covers events right up until the middle of last year, and they’re not small or insignificant ones, either. It’s tough to muster conviction when an author with such a tumultuous life is writing about occurrences from such a recent time period. I think it’s just a bit too soon…
So, for this reason, I’d say it’s best to hold off on this one. HOWEVER, when the paperback comes out with the oh-so-inevitable ‘Now, with a brand new afterword!’ splashed across the front, then I say unleash your wallet for Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. Hopefully by then she’ll have found time to reflect a bit more and deliver the rest of the goods…
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