Are You There, Vodka?

Curl up with a cocktail, readers. “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea” by Chelsea Handler

First of all, let’s take a moment to laugh at the title. What a funny spin on Judy Blume’s “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Okay, now on to the review.

It is a collection of memories and experiences of her younger life. Topics include sex, red-headed men, sibling rivalry, her short stay in prison, obsession with midgets and the effects of drinking vodka. Hilarious! There are very few books that make me laugh throughout, and this one hit the jackpot.

You probably know Chelsea Handler from her late night show on the E! network,”Chelsea Lately.” Honestly, her live acts and shows never really caught on with me since I’m more into dry humor (Alexa Chung and Demitri Martin, anyone?). For whatever reason, however, her offensive, racial and often harsh jokes in her novel translate better for me through print than through her acts. Well, bring it on! She really lets loose in words, yet her novel doesn’t rub off as trying too hard. Chelsea Handler does have a way with words.

-Vania Myers

Craving for More: ‘The Hunger Games’

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

If you thought you couldn’t get any more post-apocalypse, screw-big-government than “1984” or “Brave New World,” then Jerks, I introduce you to “The Hunger Games.” FYI, this is not your typical teen trilogy. Yes, the days of Judy Blume and “The Baby-sitters Club” are over. Death and violence amongst kids take the win.

A civil war has resulted in a new nation, Panem. It is divided into 12 districts, which are controlled by the Capitol. To remind the districts of their defeat in the war, the Capitol devises the Hunger Games. Every district must send two teen contestants, where they backstab and kill each other to win. Katniss’s sister, Prim, is drawn on her first and only ballot. Determined to protect her sister, Katniss then does the unthinkable: she volunteers to take Prim’s place.

Okay, “The Hunger Games” is not terribly gory, but it’s up there. Personally, I don’t think it should be in the same category as “Twilight,” “The Vampire Diaries” or other works of teen fiction; they can’t even compete. Of course, every popular teen fiction book must have a film-version counterpart. The film adaptation fo “The Hunger Games” is coming out next year. Don’t mind me, I’ll just be drooling over Gale. If only the actor wasn’t previously in a Miley Cyrus movie…

-Vania Myers