Chris mentioned in new book?

[Betsy]

(Note -- I am a former English teacher, so I have my own biases.)

When Chris is mentioned in the book, she ususally has a drink in one and and a cigarette in the other. The drink of choice is always vodka.

The image is, that she is a hard drinking, swearing, maculine individual and basically "nobody's gonna mess with Chris." She is kind and ocassionally comes up to Carol Ann and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder when Carol Ann feels like a fish out of water, (amongst the press & Warner Execs. etc.) So, she is also seen as the mother who keeps an eye out. Julie Ruebens (later McVie?) is the one that Carol bonds with.

Chris also doesn't know how to dress and has to learn the finesse of wearing attractive clothing, because it doesn't come natural to her. She is more "one of the guys". If there is something hard or requiring an iron fist approach, they have Chris do it, and Mick and John are in the background looking wimpy.

The reader gets a sense that part of this is the British vs. American culture and Carol Ann generally sides with the American side. There does seem to be a lot of tension due to the stoic - no feelings allowed - British approach, whereas the Americans are more "touchy feely" etc.

Last night while reading, it occurred to me that this book resembles a Shakespearean play....Lindsey is the misunderstood Hamlet, John and Chris are the supporting characters in the background, John is talkative, warm and inclusive, Mick is a sexual buffoon, a kind of earthy character, and Stevie is the comic relief. Stevie....well...if for no other reason, you gotta buy the book for Stevie. The descriptions of her and her girlfans, are like the wtiches in MacBeth...they often slink into the shadows of the room. Stevie comes on stage and you bust up laughing. Part of this are the snide remarks made by the author about how Stevie acts, dresses and the things she says. She basically is the brunt of the author's jokes and brings it on herself. (Not being a great Stevie fan, I found it comical. Don't get me wrong, I am a Stevie fan, but a mild one.)

The author really isn't subjective, unless it is the passages about John, Christine , Mick and the rest of the inner circle. If she talks about herself, Lindsey or Stevie, the tone changes and takes an immature bias. She is not the causal observer, no, she gets in the dirt and kicks up gravel. I enjoy the book because of that fact...it gets humorous. I also enjoy the book because if you can read between the lines and focus on the other people *not the love triangle* it is interesting. I just wish there were more passages about the other people.

Alas, with that being said, I got bored with the book last night...for me it is hard to read...because I keep getting this Disney heroine cartoon in my mind....so .... I skipped and read the last chapter to see if I will stay with this thing. I was saddened. The tone and voice of the writer is much different, almost like someone else is writing it. Because of this change I wil continue reading it.