TSS: Holidazed!

This week I finished reading The Gargoyle and, with luck, will be reviewing it before next Sunday. I'm now halfway through Madapple, which is totally irritating me with its back-and-forth between the trial scenes and the flashbacks. Every time I get interested in what's happening in the flashback chapters, new evidence comes up in the trial which gives away what's going to happen next. It's like watching a movie with someone who's seen it before and feels compelled to tell you, "This guy bites the dust later." Only, you can tell that person to knock it off. If it's the author giving the spoilers, what can you do?

Today I did no reading, but I did have a terrific literary experience--I got to preview a new play written by Marc Acito (I posted about his book, Attack of the Theater People, not long ago) and Cynthia Whitcomb. Holidazed is about an overwhelmed working mother of three, who gets more than she bargained for when she takes in a homeless girl in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

I'm even less of a theater critic than I am a professional book reviewer, so all I'll say is, I loved this play. My kids, who were roped into coming for logistical reasons, loved it too. We were watching a dress rehearsal with a photographer all over the stage snapping pictures the whole time: it didn't matter. The only time the play didn't have us laughing or grinning was the few scenes when we were snuggled close together trying not to cry.

If you're in the Portland area, go see it! It opens with previews this week and will run through December 28th. Artists Repertory Theater recommends it for high school and up--if you're considering taking children younger than that, talk to me. I'll be happy to give you the full Kids-in-mind-style rundown.

Attack of the Theater People--Marc Acito (Book Review)

Having enjoyed Marc Acito's first book,How I Paid for College, I'd been meaning to read Attack of the Theater People since it came out in April. I finally picked it up a few weeks ago and laughed my way from cover to cover, then I started thinking about reviewing it.

And came up with: who am I kidding? Even with the best of intentions I can't possibly write an objective review of this book.

Marc leads a writing class I'm taking this fall. If I had criticisms, would I have to heart to write them for all the world to see one day, and the next day go discuss plotting techniques with the man? (I might, actually. Hey, if he can dish it out, right? Sheesh, it's not like he can fail me in novel plotting.)

But what if I loved the book? Could you, dear reader, come away from a glowing review of my teacher's work feeling I was anything but a total suck-up? (In the same vein, I'll refrain from carrying on about how great the class is. But if you're a writer and you have the opportunity to take a workshop with Marc Acito? I'd suggest going for it.)

Trashionista gave it 5 stars, Pop Culture Book Review loved it. If you've reviewed it, let me know and I'll add your link. If you haven't read it, why not read Chapter 1 and see for yourself? And while you're over there, check out Marc's blog, a chronicle of 365 days of doing something he's never done thing every day, from hot air balloon rides to race car driving to wearing clothing made of paper bags. I suspect that life with Marc is the same combination of wise and goofy as his books are.

Soundtrack: Marc highly recommends that fiction writers choose music that brings out the atmosphere of their novel and listen to it while writing. For Attack of the Theater People it was Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits. If he had to pick one song, it'd be Hungry Heart.