Foxy is a memoir of the actress Pam Grier's life.  Many members of my generation probably know Pam Grier best as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown. Those who be a bit "wiser" than me would better recognizer Grier from one of the most renowned blaxpoitation films, Foxy Brown.  The book is just a general description of her life, 99% of which I did not know. A few things I learned from reading was her serious relationship with Kareem Abdul Jabar, as he changed his religion to Muslim.  They clashed on the role that women play as Muslims and therefore split up.  Grier also dated Richard Pryor while he was addicted to cocaine and also split from him.  I also learned that Grier was diagnosed with cancer but is know in remission after a long battle. I think the most informative portion of this book was Grier's description of her youth.  Her father was in the military and was passing as white.  However, his family was definitely black, and he was punished for … [Read more...]

The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark is a modern take on My Fair Lady and, therefore, Pygmalion.  Lucy Ellis is a struggling fashion designer living in Manhattan.  She has just had the worst night of her life when Wyatt Hayes plucks her off the street and decides she'll be his project - he'll make her into a Manhattan socialite.  Of course, the usual pattern ensues, but I don't want to completely ruin the entire thing for you.  Suffice it to say, there are obviously a few differences from the original story, enough to change it up a little. I liked this book.  I played my little game of not reading the book description again so was unaware of what the book was really about.  I'm once again glad that I didn't know what I was heading into because I think that made the book better for me.  If I had known that this was based on the same story as My Fair Lady (which lame-o here has never seen), I would have been bored with the book.  Of course, after reading a bit, I figured it … [Read more...]