Be Ruthless

Monica once told me a problem she had while reading Fight Club. It was the fact that while she was reading the novel, the movie kept coming to mind. The actors' voices were dubbing over the dialogue upon the pages. Many times this happens while reading a novel after watch its adaptation - it happened with me while reading No Country For Old Men. And it happened to me while reading Shauna Cross's in-your-face, young adult novel, Whip It. The whole time I was reading the novel, Ellen Page's voice - along with that of Drew Barrymore and Kristen Wiig. It didn't make the novel hard to read, but did distract me from it while I made notes in my head, comparing the two. 

Now I wrote a post earlier about watching the film, which was originally published on Tumblr, whatever. I loved the film and I didn't expect the book to be any different. Normally, I don't reading Young Adult fiction because it's burdensome. It sparks up old memories from my junior high days when we were forced to read bad literature because teachers thought it would get us to read more books. Little did they know they were dealing with a book hunter. Truth be told, teens who don't like to read won't read the book regardless; while those who do like to read, will be reading a something a little more challenging. Or something that really interests us. Whatever. 

But there's hope at the end of the tunnel and it's book like Whip It and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist that are shaping it. I swear, if there were more books like these when I was in junior high and the teachers put them on their lists, we definitely would've read them - or at least, I would've. Izzy had to read The Lightning Thief, which, I hear from her, wasn't really that great. She was a little moody about having to read it. I'm the one who purchased the book for her; I made good by later purchasing a copy of Candy for her, as well.

Anyway, enough with praising the nouveau young adult lit. The book opens up in the most mild manner way - Bliss Cavendar talking about how she assumes that she is really adopted - there is no way she is the daughter of pageant mom, Brooke, or the non-confrontational father, Earl. Born and being raised in Bodeen, Texas - and hour's drive from Austin, yet vastly left behind in the modern age - Bliss thinks of nothing but escape. Her best friend Pash, a straight-A honor student, also dreams of escape in different ways. Together they wreck havoc - as much as is possible in Bodeen. During a family shopping trip, however, Bliss picks up a flier for a Roller Derby match. Begging Pash to take her, the two encounter a world full of misfit girls and hot boys. Heaven for the achingly different Bliss Cavendar, an absolute hell on earth for mother Brooke. 

The book is written with true knowledge of the subject, toned down just a tad. Just a tad. Having met and seen Roller Derby girls - women - in action while reporting on The South Texas Rolleristas, I know how completely intimidating these people can be, but how awesomely sweet they are in reality. It makes sense since Cross has partaken in the sport where no man is woman enough to play - see what I did there? The book offers little challenge as an adult - it took me a few days to read because I made an attempt to pace myself with it - and I imagine it wouldn't be too hard for its target audience to knock it out of the park. But it's still an in depth look of how teenagers felt, feel and will probably always feel in the future. So lace up those skates, amigos, you're in for a ride. 

God, that was such a horrible way to end that. Seriously. Until next time, keep on huntin'.