Monday, March 18, 2013

BOOK NOOK: CELEBRITY sTALKER

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I had a plumbing emergency on Friday that lasted until Tony the Plumber Man arrived on Saturday and made everything better. It turned out to be a minor plumbing problem, but before I knew that, I pictured my little house going up like Old Faithful.

If you know me at all, then you know I am capable of worrying (more than just a bit), expecting the worst (the glass is eternally half empty), and not being able to think about anything other than my worries (I'm so focused).

But during this worry episode, a miracle occurred. A book arrived in the mail Friday afternoon, and it actually distracted me from the plumbing problem. The book is so good and so funny and so sweet and so poignant that I stopped seeing my house as a geyser, and I instead pictured Suzy Soro meeting celebrities, sometimes in chance encounters and sometimes because she was invited to cool parties and dinners because she's a comedian.

The book is called Celebrity sTalker: Stories From a Woman Who Thinks Celebrities Are Dying to Talk to Her. Only They Aren't.


Suzy Soro blogs at Hollywood: Where Hot Comes To Die. I've followed her for quite some time, so I was thrilled when I found out she had written a book. Her blog is great. If you don't follow her, I hereby order you to follow her NOW. Because you are missing out if you aren't a Suzy Soro follower. She will lead you where no other blogger has gone before.

Occasionally, I receive a PERSONAL email from Suzy. She's very nice and always makes me laugh, but I can't help thinking OH MY GOD THIS EMAIL IS FROM SUZY SORO WHO PLAYED THE WOMAN WHO GOT THE LAST CHOCOLATE BABKA ON THAT EPISODE OF SEINFELD.

Okay. I'm over my little fandom thing now, and I can write about the book. Soro tells wonderfully funny stories about running into folks including Angelina Jolie (who was shopping for groceries -- can you believe it?), Brad Pitt, Diana Ross, Oprah, Mick Jagger, Betty White, and the list goes on and on.

What got me hooked, though, is that this book isn't just about meeting celebrities. It's about the ups and downs of Soro's career as an actress and comedian, and how much it means to her to meet these people. It's adorable when she writes about meeting Richard Pryor and having her picture taken with him.

She could count on Phil and Brynn Hartman as friends, and she's loyal to their memories. She refuses to trash Brynn (just in case you've forgotten, Brynn shot and killed Phil and then committed suicide) and explains that people who are in the grip of an addiction don't think clearly. And Brynn was an addict.

But Celebrity sTalker is not a book that will make you feel sad. Here's an example of her great sense of humor and excellent writing as she discusses Malibu:

The supermodels slouching on picnic tables while they have a hearty lunch of an Altoid and a decaf half-caff are interspersed with all the underpaid personal assistants of the rich and famous. Although it's sometimes hard to tell where Rich ends and Poor begins, finding a poor person in Malibu is as rare as finding the Winklevoss twins at Mark Zuckerberg's house. No item in any store in Malibu needs a price tag because it would just prompt the buyer to ask the sales clerk what this "funny little piece of paper" is. If INS ever shows up unexpectedly in Malibu, a lot of pissed-off white people are going to have to learn to load their own dishwashers. 

I'm feeling power mad today, so in addition to telling you to follow Suzy Soro's blog, I hereby order you to buy her book. If you click on the complete title higher up in this post, it will take you to Amazon, where you can get the paperback or buy the e-version for those strange little book reading devices that my kids already told me I won't like and I know they're right because I like to hold a real book in my hands.

And I especially like holding Suzy Soro's book in my hands.

You can also get Celebrity sTalker from Barnes & Noble. It's not expensive, so run along now and make your purchase.

You'll be glad you did.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug


37 comments:

  1. Ha! I already love this book without having even seen it. I will, I will order it!

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    1. You are so wonderfully obedient, Shelly. Now send me $25,000. And thank you for buying Suzy's book.

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  2. I am glad your plumbing problem is solved now. I would like to read that book. It sounds very interesting.

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  3. Don't know about the book... I only read porn, but I am glad the plumber knocked the shit out of your plumbing.

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  4. Janie, thanks for the great review. I haven't read my book since it came out. (It's like seeing pictures of yourself from the 1980s) So I was reading your excerpts and thinking how glad I am that I wrote it all down!!

    Thanks again, and to anyone who buys my book, thanks.

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    1. You're welcome. Thank you for writing the book. It's great!

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  5. Sounds like a hilarious book! I will do as you command!

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  6. I will check out her blog, but I'm not that much into Hollywood stuff. I once dated someone who directed movies and that sort of cured me. Still, I wish Suzy all the best with her book. And your review of it was great.

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    1. Thanks, Inger, but the book is really about more than Hollywood and celebrities. Suzy has had an interesting life, making it as an actress and comedian.

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  7. Dear Janie, I have an iPad now and so I will...perhaps, not sure, but maybe....order this book as an e-book. I could do with some laughter! I hope all is well with your house plumbing and that you too are well and eager for the arrival of spring. I've decided to go to a few late afternoon movies now that the days are longer. I've got a lot of catching up to do because the only movies I saw that were featured at the Oscars were "Argo," "Les Miserables," and "Lincoln." Peace.

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    1. My plumbing is healthy, and spring arrived in Florida during January. I hope you get the book and enjoy it, Dee. It's nice to see you here. I hope it means you feel better.

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    2. Dear Janie, I am feeling more rested. The barometer is changing only a little at a time now. No big storms on the horizon. And I've been able to talk about the PTSD meltdown and laugh heartily. I hope to post about it this Wednesday or next. You are a dear. Peace.

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  8. I went over to her blog & became a follower. I went to Amazon & bought her book. Can I go back to bed now?

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    1. If Bud says it's okay, then it's okay with me. I appreciate your obedience. Good, fishducky. Good girl.

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  9. Looks like a great book. I'll have to check it and her blog out.

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  10. Wow a book in the mail is always a good thing and it sounds like a bloody great book at that..........lucky you...........

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  11. I'm laughing and I haven't read the book. From your posts, it seems to be a book worth buying and reading.

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    1. I'm glad you're laughing and I hope you're okay.

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  12. Your wish is my command.

    Okay. You can forget I said that if we ever get to meet in person.

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    1. Damn, I wish you hadn't added that last part.

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  13. Sounds like my kind of writer! I just followed her blog. :) I'm glad your plumbing fiasco is over and done with too!

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  14. Even the title of her book is hilarious. I'm going to buy this for my husband's Easter basket. He'll love it. Thanks for this review.

    She's the one who got the chocolate babka? I've got a cinnamon bit in my upcoming book that was totally inspired by that scene. :) Okay well, I've got orders to carry out & must go follow her NOW.

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    1. Yes, she got the last chocolate babka. I look forward to your cinnamon bit. So does Suzy Soro (okay I made that up. Suzy Soro probably doesn't care and is probably tired of hearing, OMG, you're the woman who got the last chocolate babka).

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  15. You seem to be facing a lot of plumbing issues. I remember a few months back you had an issue too. Love to read but just cant find time.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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    1. I hope my plumbing problems are over for a while, PAPS. You travel too much to have time to read!

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  16. Yes, ma'am. I'm her newest groupie now. Happy?

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    1. Yes, or at least I'm what passes as happy for me. Thank you.

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  17. It sounds like a book I would love...and we will find out this weekend when I buy it :) Great review!

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  18. re word verification: I know what you mean, I hate it too. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by spam, I turn it on for a while until I cool off, then turn it off :)

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    1. You could refuse anonymous comments. I don't want you to be upset by spammers.

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  19. Yes apparently google reader will be discontinued from July 1st. But Google Friend Connect will be still there.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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