If Children’s Books were R-Rated Movies

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Book Club Babe

Just popped in to share some laughs, courtesy of CollegeHumor. Using movie posters from action and horror flicks, they’ve re-imagined eight of our favorite kid’s books. Check out a few below, and then click the link to see the rest!

Any other stories you’d like to be edgier? What if The Giving Tree decided to take back what’s hers? How would you like to find out Where the Wild Things Are or Where the Sidewalk Ends? And whatever you do, don’t get caught in Charlotte’s Web! The possibilities for little league mayhem and destruction are endless!

Book Review: Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Book Club Babe

Cover of "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, ...

Image via Amazon

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Earlier this week I finished listening to the audiobook Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (2009). Narrated by the author Chelsea Handler herself, it was great to compare the audiobook to Tina Fey’s Bossypants and Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? All three women are outstanding comedians in their own rights, but Handler is certainly an acquired taste.

I’ve seen Handler’s talk show “Chelsea Lately” a handful of times, so I knew what I was getting into. She is unafraid to discuss the most politically incorrect of situations, from her DUI and night in jail to her obsession with little people. If you’re easily offended, back away from this read. No race or religion escapes her mockery, and if she’s willing to insult her closest friends and family members, you know no topic is safe.

While I didn’t laugh out loud as much as I did during Bossypants, Handler has her hilarious moments. Some of the stories are funnier than others, but since they were narrated chronologically, it was interesting to see her progress from an elementary student lying about being in a movie with Goldie Hawn to win popularity with her classmates into a woman dragged on a Costa Rica vacation by her father who pretends to be her husband to fly first-class.

My only issue with the novel was I wasn’t sure just how autobiographical it was. Even as a child, Handler writes with an adult vocabulary and perspective, so the early scenes weren’t as believable. She gets herself into some crazy situations, including starting a brawl with some high school Latinas, so it’s up to you to determine fact from fiction.

Granted, she has filled in some details in various interviews, so I was already aware of her teenage abortion and her hatred of Angelina Jolie. While she often described herself as poor and unpopular when she was young, clearly that’s not the case now. Ignore the “I’m just like you” mentality that many celebrities like Handler perpetuate, and just enjoy the outrageous anecdotes as semi-fiction.

Again, if you’re uncomfortable reading about a woman who revels in drinking, drugs, and one-night-stands, then this book’s not for you. But if you think Handler’s more entertaining than obnoxious, then you’ll probably get quite a few chuckles from Are You There, Vodka?

Favorite Quote: “I rolled over and picked up Us Weekly magazine off the floor. The cover had a picture of Angelina, Brad, and their little Eskimo son, Maddox. I saw staring at the photo, wondering why this little boy looks so pissed off in every picture. At first I thought he was just pissed about his Mohawk, but then I realized he’s probably furious. Maddox must have thought he hit the jackpot when some A-list celebrity rescued him from third-world Cambodia, only to discover that she was going to shuffle him back and forth to EVERY other third-world country in the universe. He’s probably like, ‘When the f*** are we gonna get to Malibu, b****?”

“Community” is Officially the Best Comedy on TV

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Book Club Babe

So if you haven’t experienced the wonderland that is “Community,” then you are missing out–big time! This show about an eclectic study group at Greendale Community College has some of the wittiest jokes I’ve ever heard on TV. Instead of the slapstick nonsense that normally gets aired, “Community” has become a beloved cult classic for its rapid-fire one-liners, political incorrectness, and meta-entertainment that appeals to the hipster masses.

The latest episode, “Digital Exploration of Interior Design” (yes, all episodes are named to sound like college classes!), elevated the humor to a new level by parodying George Orwell’s 1984. Take a look at this clip:

In this episode, Shirley and Pierce are upset that their cafeteria sandwich shop idea has been stolen and sold to Subway. Because of a loophole which allows individuals to become physical representations of their corporations, Subway can sell its food to Greendale’s students. Britta falls in love with the face of Subway (real name Rick), despite her resistance to corporate capitalism.

My favorite part of that clip is when Subway thinks that students should be “forced” to read 1984. While I agree that the novel is one that everyone should experience, forcing them would be doing exactly what Big Brother does in the story. Needless to say, I was downright giddy with the “Community” writers this week for coming up with such irony!

And the 1984 references don’t stop there! In a sideplot, best buds Troy and Abed find themselves feuding over whether they’re going to break a world record by building the largest blanket or pillow fort. They come to a standstill when they run out of room in the school, and Greendale must choose sides, creating a battle for no reason whatsoever.

Blankets v. Pillows…Oh, the humanity!

Fans of 1984 will notice the similarities between this fort war and the wars between Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The entire world fought over arbitrary land boundaries simply to keep the military-industrial complex alive. Luckily, in the show, the battle ends with zero casualties, but I greatly enjoyed this subtle comparison to Orwell’s masterpiece.

All in all, “Community” is TV’s most underrated show, suffering low ratings while mind-numbing junk like “Jersey Shore” and “Dance Moms” manages to gain publicity. Some people are just too dense to appreciate real, well-thought-out comedy that exists in this diamond in the rough.

Do yourself and “Community’s” staff a favor by watching this show and saving it from cancellation. Forcing you would be very Orwellian, but trust me, it’s for your own good! Mwahaha!