Fame (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 1)
by Karen Kingsbury
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Book Summary Information
Author: Karen KingsburyNarrator: Sandra Burr
Edition: Audio Cassette
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2005-06-01
ISBN: N/A
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Book Reviews of Fame (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 1)
Book Review: HORRIBLE writing and sterotypical characters
Summary: 1 Stars
I am always shocked at how Karen Kingsbury receives such high reviews... but I am most shocked that her writing actually makes it to publication. This is BAD writing. It is objectively bad writing; it's the kind of writing any freshman comp teacher would scribble all over. This book is speckled with lines like "She did a shrug" (as opposed to "she shrugged"), and another of her books says "she made a low breathy noise" (as opposed to "she sighed")
This book is about Hollywood, it's about the movie industry and movie stars, and it reads like the author has done research by reading "US Weekly" and "Tiger Beat" and now feels like she can paint an accurate picture of what it must be like to be a movie star. If you want to suspend intelligent thinking and read for an escape from reality (and common sense, and believable characters) then this sure is the book for you!
I read this book about a month ago, but these are a few of the things I had a problem with:
-the dozens of references to "there was a sparkle in her eyes"-- which, of course, is supposed to be the light of Jesus! and "He looked into her soul!" and "she felt it in that quiet place in her heart" I promise, non-Christians don't look at Christians and think "There's something different about his eyes... the way they sparkle"
-the idea that A-list movie stars spend all their time by themselves, consumed with tabloids and never going out
-the idea that if Katie reaaalllly was passionate about acting... you act for the love of the craft, it's what drives you. Katie never says anything about loving to act. She is driven by fear ("What if I move to Hollywood? OH NO! There will be drugs and paparazzi!!"), when, if God is on her side, wouldn't she be able to avoid temptations? Furthermore, does she not realize the good she could do as a Christian in the limelight? How many people she could minister to? What a good role model she could be? No. She just runs home to Bloomington, where it is safe. (that might be a spoiler, but it's nothing a 9-year-old wouldn't have been able to figure out was going to happen after the first chapter)
-this is a romantic comedy that Katie is slated to star in with this 'leading man!' and she says there is nothing objectionable in it at all! riiiight... how many modern, box-office hit, romantic comedies have no swearing, no making out, and no pre-marital sex?
-actors do not hand-pick their co-stars. there are casting directors and panels
-A-list stars do not come in for auditions; they are offered the parts, begged to do the movies. no one turns them down.
-when it comes to the contract, Katie would have a lawyer and the contract/business side would not go through her potential co-star. are you kidding me?!
mostly, the writing is really, really, really bad. To the point that there are sentences that are just plain gramatically incorrect. The characters are all stereotypes (Sweet, quiet midwestern Christian girl who always does the right thing. Go Team Jesus!) and are not at all developed. Karen Kingsbury just writes about things she has no knowledge of, but she likes to imagine how they are... thus, her stories are based on stereotypes, misconceptions, and ignorance.
My favorite author is Jodi Picoult. Her writing is breathtaking, and her characters are so developed that reading about their heartaches makes your own chest tighten, and her storylines are complex, non-formulaic, and not predictable. My Sister's Keeper is my favorite book by her. There is zero comparison between authors like Picoult and Janet Finch (White Oleander) and Curtis Sittenfeld (Prep) and Karen Kingsbury.
I can't say enough what a bad writer Karen Kingsbury is. She writes series because that's where the money is, and she is in the Christian market, because there's no way her writing would cut it mainstream. I've read two and a half of her books (I couldn't get through the last one because the poor quality of writing always puts me in a bad mood), and in the world of literature, they're complete jokes
Summary of Fame (Firstborn Series-Baxter 2, Book 1)
Fame is the first book in the soul-stirring new Firstborn series from Karen Kingsbury. As Dayne Matthews returns to Hollywood after his shocking discovery in Karen's best-selling novel Reunion, he faces the dangerous world of fame and paparazzi. Meanwhile, Katy Hart receives the offer of a lifetime--starring opposite Dayne in a Hollywood film. Dayne and Jamie's choices will change their hearts and lives forever.General Books
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