March 3, 2010

The Help and The Bachelor

My book club just read The Help. At first I thought, Oh, no, not another book about oppressed blacks. I mean, I grew up in LA where people mainly oppress the Mexicans, so black oppression is not a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Plus I was afraid it would be sad and I'm all about happy down time.

Still, both my book clubs (California and Germany) are reading this book so it was like a twofer and I dutifully ordered it and started reading. And it was AWESOME. What a fine, well-written book. I highly recommend it. That's all I'm saying.

Last night I watched The Bachelor at my friends' house. It was the final episode where Jake chooses Verruca over Placenta, or whatever their names were. After several clearly scripted dates, the main point of which was to show off three sets of oversized fake white teeth, we were treated to a drawn out taking leave of Placenta, during which she wept and thanked Jake for showing her how to love again. After Verruca got her ring and recited a touching speech about soul mates there was a talk show to discuss why on earth Jake prefered Verruca over Placenta.

The talk show host actually said, 'America is talking about this,' and I thought, 'Yeah, right, people don't have anything better to talk about.'

Little did I know. This morning in the car Jake's controversial choice actually was the big topic on every radio station I tried.

I feel so current.

21 comments:

  1. Hey, worlds apart, and yet we're on the same page! I finished reading The Help just a couple of days ago... And I watched The Bachelor (for the first time in years) last night!

    What's next on your book list? We've just finished Sarah's Key and Prayers for Sale...

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  2. Who cares about health care? It's The Bachelor!!!

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  3. We will probably only see that episode of The Bachelor in 2014! It takes a while to get down here, oh well...

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  4. I think their names were SyPHILLis and GoNORrea.

    Sorry, I couldn't resist.

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  5. I want to read the Help. I heard it was great and bought it for my mother in law for Christmas but I still haven't read it. I was waiting for it to come out in paperback bc my hubs gets on me for spending so much money on books. I joined the Amazon Prime deal and get next day free shipping from amazon.de so I tend to go a bit overboard on the book ordering!

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  6. I have The Help and plan to read it on the plane back to visit in the U.S. in a few weeks. Glad to know you reommend it. I love reality shows (my guilty pleasure). Heard this was a controversial choice by reading about it on the TMZ blog (another guilty pleasure.

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  7. Forget that film.. and go back to The Help. I finished it today and am at a total loss! Fabulous fabulous read with oh so many layers!

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  8. When I say I'm at a total loss, I mean I just don't know what to read now!

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  9. I may take your recommendation on "The Help" but pigs are gonna have to be flying before I watch an episode of the Bachelor.

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  10. If it wasn't for reading blogs I wouldn't have a clue what was going on in The Bachleor. I can't stand women fighting over men:) lol

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  11. My next book is This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathon Tropper. I've heard it's great.

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  12. "I grew up in LA where people mainly oppress the Mexicans"...made me laugh. I grew up in LA in a family of Mexicans.

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  13. Just had to share this link of Katie Couric's interview with Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help.


    http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6259944n

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  14. I've never watched the Bachelor and I feel like I'm so behind on my pop culture knowledge.

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  15. I haven't watched the bachelor in years, and yet i see it everywhere. Really? Ick! Read a book, huh? Maybe I'll check out yours! I have a list a mile long!

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  16. I've loved Placenta as a name since your first suggested it. gag! hee!

    I could not be more disinterested in the bachelor. Though I have seen a pic and he's not bad lookin'.

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  17. I can't wait to read The Help. My sister said it was absolutely fantastic.

    RE the Bachelor -- would you believe I set his brother up on a blind date? Yaay, finally I'm current.

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  18. I decided to read The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Riveting and thrilling!

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  19. Every time I read your twist on their names here, I couldn't help but giggle. You crack me up. And now I want to read The Help.

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  20. Verruca over Placenta.....ROFL!!

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