i’ll be there for you

Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era – Saul Austerlitz

Friends, television series, nonfiction.

Rating

Many failed ideas finally led to a good one, Friends, was a huge risk and took a lot of time just producing the show idea. Creating the premise as well as the plot of the show was complicated and involved a lot of rewriting. The producers of the new show were given a green light to write a pilot script and later be screen tested with network companies to see if Friends was going to be a good investment for television broadcasting. Casting the perfect actors to portray the six friends wasn’t easy either, there were many actors to consider the roles of each character. These risks that they took had a great outcome. They still had to figure out tweaks and kinks in the characters and the plot, but they all put in a lot of effort. As time goes on, the show grows as well as the actors who played these iconic characters that are to be remembered by many audiences. From the iconic catchphrases and scenes, the show producers and cast created an incredible nostalgic show to be enjoyed by the masses.

I love the television show and my boyfriend knows very well of my unhealthy strange addiction to the show. I could find nothing new ever and somehow yearn to rewatch another Friends episode. My best friend and her family got me into this obsession, and I can’t say much other than I love them for introducing me this great television show. After reading this production like book I have a more appreciation for the show. This show, like many other shows, had gone through a long and strenuous process. Casting wasn’t easy either and I am intrigued by the process of making a show. I do recommend reading this if one is a fan of Friends.

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Learned Something New Here

The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World – Sarah Weinman

Sally Horner, kidnapping, United States, Case Studies, Child Abuse, captivity, Nonfiction.

Rating 10/10

In this examination case study of Sally Horner, this is a timeline of her life from beginning to her untimely end. Sally Horner was a young schoolgirl trying to impress her friends and was caught by a person. That person told her she should meet his requests, so she doesn’t end up in jail. Horner was given instructions and asked her mother for permission to leave to do some business in another neighboring city. The man had kidnapped Sally Horner and took her far away from home. From eyewitness accounts, one had said that the little girl claimed the man to be her father. This man went by the name of Mr. Warner, but he was Frank La Salle by the FBI. Frank Le Salle is a child molester and he was sent to prison for a while but was released. During the time of Sally Horner’s disappearance, her mother didn’t expect nothing much of the disappearance at all and was merely indifferent about it. Eventually it was six weeks before any serious actions were taken place and even then, Sally Horner was long gone from that city. During this time, Sally Horner’s family was devastated, and investigators were doing research as well as using whatever they had to try to find Sally Horner. Frank Le Salle had made lies, acclaiming that Sally Horner was his daughter but the truth was kept from the light for so long. It wasn’t until a woman by the name of Ruth to help Sally Horner in the dire time. Frank Le Salle was imprisoned, and Sally Horner was saved. After all the trauma, it is seen that Sally Horner had a passion to live and thrive. Not long after, Sally Horner was killed in a car accident. This is not a fiction story. This was a story of a girl who faced horrors beyond the imagination. When Vladimir Nabokov learned about this case, he was already currently writing the novel Lolita which is eerily like this case. When he published Lolita, the case of Sally Horner was pushed from the minds lest was forgotten.

I typically do not read nonfiction literature, but I had to make an exception with this one because of how the title captured my attention. I had vaguely known about Lolita, but I had no clue that there was an actual case study that did happen at the same time. My heart broke when I read the synopsis and the introduction. As I had continued to read this case study, I had found myself wanting to know more about what happened to Sally Horner and I wished that she didn’t die prematurely the way she did. The details that the author goes in depth left me astonished and amazed. The way Weinman constructed and wrote this felt like a fictional novel, except it really wasn’t all fiction. This was all facts with evidence and eyewitnesses. I hate pedophiles and honestly the way this guy was sent to prison for a long time satisfied that part of the case. However, the lesson remains is that always be safe and stay safe. I enjoyed learning about this case and made me want to read more nonfictional literature.

Women Empowering Other Women

Good Luck with That – Kristin Higgins

Self-acceptance, women, self-esteem, body image, empowerment, fiction.

Rating 10/10

Three women, as little girls, made a promise together about losing weight and doing activities that skinny women would do. A decade later, Georgia and Marley hear from Emerson and she is practically on her deathbed. Georgia and Marley come to Emerson’s side and Emerson hands them a letter they ought to open at her funeral. A day later Emerson passes away. Distraught and in mourning, the two women attempt to complete the list but rather instead of losing weight, just embracing their curvy selves and doing the list anyways. Marley and Georgia find that they can be empowered by their image and not care about what others think. Along the journey each Marley and Georgia do go through some problems but in the end, they overcome any challenge that they face, together.

I really love this book because it is so empowering. It sends a message that it is okay to be curvy but not overweight like how their friend was. I highly would recommend this book as a read and to think critically about one’s own life. Embrace your body image, man or woman. It is okay. If one is not obese and or overweight, one’s curves are something to be proud of. Just like Marley and Georgia did. If one is to diet, be sure to do it in a safe way.