anatomydetective's review against another edition
3.0
Quick, entertaining read that skewers celebrities many have already forgotten about. Written about ten years ago, Massive Swelling makes some amusing predictions, some of which ended up being quite accurate, others which are rather hilariously wrong.
psteve's review against another edition
2.0
Nothing ages worse than cultural criticism of celebrities. Or maybe I made the mistake of reading this book in two sittings. The first half or so that I read was funny and engaging, as Wilson savaged the culture of celebrity in this country, and I sometimes laughed aloud. By the time I got 2/3 of the way into it or so, the writing seemed too arch, too selective. I was actually kind of feeling sorry for Celine Dion at one point, and she seems to be too wrapped up in the celebrities she seems to approve of, such as Lou Reed (never a favorite of mine). But in the end, it all just seems so, well, 1999.
psalmcat's review
3.0
Well. Yeah. It is that kind of doll on the cover.
And I don't think Wilson likes Famous People much. In fact, I don't think so, I know so. In this book, she is attempting to pull back the veil of sloppitude we display toward anyone based on how well-known they are. Her plea seems to be that famous-for-famousness's-sake just really isn't good enough, we need to have some standards on who should be allowed to be famous, and for what. Being seen, having your picture taken, that's just not good enough.
I sympathize with her. And she's funny, acerbic (actually, more like acidic), and perverse all at the same time. The problem is that by the end, I was just tired of her complaining. Then again, I was still chuckling about the way she said things by the end of the book.
And I don't think Wilson likes Famous People much. In fact, I don't think so, I know so. In this book, she is attempting to pull back the veil of sloppitude we display toward anyone based on how well-known they are. Her plea seems to be that famous-for-famousness's-sake just really isn't good enough, we need to have some standards on who should be allowed to be famous, and for what. Being seen, having your picture taken, that's just not good enough.
I sympathize with her. And she's funny, acerbic (actually, more like acidic), and perverse all at the same time. The problem is that by the end, I was just tired of her complaining. Then again, I was still chuckling about the way she said things by the end of the book.
bunny_watson's review against another edition
4.0
Not for sensitive readers, this blunt examination of fame and the general public's obsession with it is at times repugnant, hilarious, and scathing. I am happy to duck my 15 minutes of fame.
msjenne's review against another edition
5.0
I was trying to describe this book to a friend, and the closest I could come up with was "It's like if Tom Robbins and Maureen Dowd had a sordid one-night stand at some trashy producer's party in the Valley, and nine months later this brilliant and vicious woman sprang forth fully formed from the forehead of the editor of US Weekly."
But better than that.
I'm just sorry I didn't read it right when it came out--the world of fame and celebrity has gotten so much MORE grotesque since 2000 that I bet Ms Wilson would be spinning in her grave if she were dead. Which luckily she isn't, so I hope she'll write an update.
But better than that.
I'm just sorry I didn't read it right when it came out--the world of fame and celebrity has gotten so much MORE grotesque since 2000 that I bet Ms Wilson would be spinning in her grave if she were dead. Which luckily she isn't, so I hope she'll write an update.
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