Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit

Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit by Ashley Mears

There is a "super rich people" party circuit that goes around New York and other key areas of the world. To help run this, promoters help bring "girls" into the clubs. The girls must be young, tall, skinny and good looking. They should preferably be models, though occasionally "civilians" that meet the criteria are ok. Having a lot of girls help the clubs attracted more rich men. The men are encouraged to engage in ridiculous conspicuous consumption. The clubs usually have an "it" lifespan of only a few years. Though they may stay around afterwards basking on their past glory and attracting tourists. The promotors get to schmooze with the rich and famous and think of them as friends. However, the rich think of them as service staff. For the girls, they are typically provided some reciprocal benefits by the promoter (such as free meals, club entry, and even places to live and rides.) Models are typically independent contractors and this party circuit is one of the few ways they can make ends meet. They get some opportunities to hob nob with the rich and sometimes travel the world. However, their life is not super great, and their expiration date usually comes in the late 30s, with most having little long term relationship. They don't want to get paid for what they do because that makes it feel more like a job. The prostitutes and those that are paid occupy a lower level in this whole rent-a-friend culture. I guess if people like partying, getting involved in a way to do it for free may feel nice as long as they know what they are getting into.

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis: Complete Collection

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis: Complete Collection by Lydia Davis

Often with short story collections, I will try to list the titles of the stories. However, that would go on for pages with this collection. There a lot of stories in here. Some are long, while many are just a few words long. For the short ones, the overhead of the audiobook is distracting. The story and narrator are announced. The few words of the story are read. Then it is announced that the story is complete. There is more "overhead" than story. I feel reading would work better for these.

The long stories can also be fairly unconventional. One "story" is a detailed analysis of letters written to a young classmate who has been injured. The different closings for the letters are tabulated. The length of letters are compared and grouped by gender. Other various components and mechanics are analyzed in detail. It seems a long exercise in something that is not typically analyzed.

While there are some duds, the super short stories do often hit their mark. Why go on for pages, if you can get the same thought out in a few words? Some of the stories feel at least partially autobiographical. Others have inspiration from some everyday event or correspondence. Some of the Kafka influence can be seen. 

I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863: I Survived, Book 7

The I Survived series looks like it would be a blast to write. As an author, you research historical events, and try to experience them yourself. The characters need to survive the event, but also see all that takes place around them. For the Battle of Gettysburg, the story is of two runaway slaves who end up with the Union Army at the battle. I wonder how reasonable it was for former slaves to be that accepted by the Union. (Is there perhaps a little too much of a modern viewpoint in place?) The audiobook is short, and there is just about as much commentary as actual audio. There is plenty of discussion of the Gettysburg address and the "short", yet memorable speech that Lincoln had made.