I don't like to know too much about a story before i start reading it. This was the case with this book. Not only i had no idea about the subject matter, i didn't even know too much about Gore Vidal.

There was something really strange about the main character, Myra. She was way too arrogant and full of herself. At first, i thought that was due to the writing. What does Gore Vidal know about women? I remember how surprised i was with She's Come Undone. After reading that book, it was hard for me to believe that Wally Lamb is a man!

But this Myra sure was weird. She was recently widowed, and traveled to Hollywood to collect on her husband's inheritance, which until then had been in the hands of Uncle Buck, an old movie star who now ran an acting school. Uncle Buck decides to keep Myra close by while his lawyers investigate her alleged marriage to his nephew, so he offers her a job in the acting school.

Myra keeps a diary which she is planning to share with her shrink back in NYC. While at the school, she becomes obsessed with a very handsome young man and his girlfriend. She in fact starts planning some unclear revenge, with the handsome guy as the victim.

This was one of those novels that kept me entertained even when i wasn't reading it. It was during one of those moments, when i was thinking about a small detail that did not make sense, that i was able to finally figure out what was going on with Myra. And then i smacked my forehead, because it was sort of obvious.

Not for the faint of heart, because there are some XXX moments, but this was a very fun ride. I enjoyed Myra's self-righteousness after a while, as well as the great movie commentaries throughout the book. There were two points that particularly resonated with me:

1: Myra's praise for the commercial as an art form. I love commercials and the incredible creativity they can concentrate in such a few seconds.

2: "But then the pedestrian is not favored hereabouts. In fact, the police are quick to stop and question anyone found on foot in a residential district since it is part of California folklore that only the queer or criminal walk; the good drive cars that fill the air with the foul odor of burning fossils, and so day by day our lungs fill up with the stuff of great ferns and dinosaurs who thus revenge themselves upon their successors, causing us to wither and die prematurely".

And i have just found out that there is a movie based on the book, so bad that it is good.

This is going to be a very short ray, but oh well!

BookRay guidelines (inspired from LyekkaMarengo's profile):

1. Please let me know your shipping restrictions.
2. Journal the book when you get it.
3. If you can't finish this book in ~ 4 weeks, please let me know.
4. Make your Journal Entry.
5. PM the next person in line before you send it to make sure they are still interested in participating.
6. PM the next person in line after you have actually mailed the book.

Shipping order:

skcreader - Virginia (can ship anywhere) mailed August 30, 2006
yvensong - Nevada (US only)

tried again to read this book but just couldn't - too many others to read ....sending on to yvensong.

This took a bit to get to me, but it has finally arrived! Thanks for sharing this, GorgeousGlo I have 2 other books to read before this one, but since this is a ray that shouldn't be too much of a problem.