I’m a fan of the “celebrity” memoir, and this is possibly the worst one I’ve read. Certainly the worst book this year. That it’s badly written is a giI’m a fan of the “celebrity” memoir, and this is possibly the worst one I’ve read. Certainly the worst book this year. That it’s badly written is a given, but it is so BORING. This is very likely ghostwritten and it is so dense with mixed metaphors and heavy-handed references, it was almost painful to read at points. This is not the story of someone who has fundamentally struggled with her religion, who has to grapple with the understanding that faith is not enough to keep her tied to a church that is actively harming its people. Gay reiterates (ad nauseum) that, while she was ambitious and outspoken, she was still very tied to the Mormon religion. She deeply felt a communion with god and had sublime religious experiences; any moments of embarrassment or confusion were quickly glossed over.
Gay is an odd duck on RHOSLC and her memoir does nothing to flesh this out. Her marriage fails because, as Gay mentions, they are fundamentally incompatible but she gives examples in the most unflattering ways. Her epiphany comes because her husband walked out of a particularly gross scene in Scream 3. She realized her marriage was a failure on her honeymoon bc her husband walked out of an empty theatre during Scream 3. My god. She also complains about how he doesn’t spend his family money, and doesn’t agree with her throwing money around to out-do the Joneses. Obviously, if you can afford a pj and you choose Southwest, you’re a horrible husband who borders on abuse.
The only interesting parts of the book were towards the end when she starts covering RHOSLC. She manages to shittalk all her cast mates while also kissing their asses. Just like the show....more
O'Reilly has a very distinct writing style, but he is incredibly funny. Tender and heartfelt, and totally absurd at the same time.O'Reilly has a very distinct writing style, but he is incredibly funny. Tender and heartfelt, and totally absurd at the same time....more
I had to quit about 1/3 of the way through. I don't know how a story as juicy and drama-filled as this ends up being such a slog, but there it is.I had to quit about 1/3 of the way through. I don't know how a story as juicy and drama-filled as this ends up being such a slog, but there it is....more
I can see why people would take umbrage with this book. It's definitely edgier, shall we say, than the usual biography of Roman emperors. Southon saysI can see why people would take umbrage with this book. It's definitely edgier, shall we say, than the usual biography of Roman emperors. Southon says "fuck" a lot, and really enjoys mocking the people involved -- which, fair play. These were real people who did deeply weird and fucked up things. Personally, I loved the familiar tone. Southon did yeoman's work in making this time period more accessible. I learned a lot about a very powerful figure that I knew absolutely nothing about before picking up this book, and I managed to enjoy myself while reading it....more
amanda eve
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