October Oooh
from MineTime
OOP Retrospective
An in-depth exploration of story, characters, and themes of an OOP favorite. Limited series.
Sean Penn appears in the coming movie One Battle After Another with Leonardo DiCaprio, but as a young actor, he starred in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Based on a book by Cameron Crowe that came out in 1981, this is one of a string of movies that present a version of the lives of high school students coming of age with scrapes and bruises.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High presents a more comedic view, while John Cusack in Better Off Dead portrays a darker, weirder take, and the musical Grease gives some songs, some dances, some fun, some Romeo and Juliet, some reality, even some change.
These movies contain necessary elements for the high school novel, like the Bonfire of the Vanities set, starting with Strike. The cool guy(s), popular girl(s), the conflicts and interactions between students, and the pecking order of different groups all show, only this story also contends with the tragedy of mysterious student deaths.
Despite the 30 years that have passed since the teen classic, Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone, the mainstay of teen stories has not changed. The guy and girl from different worlds who belong together but their friends and circumstances keep them apart--this story never gets old.
Go back to Romeo and Juliet, or think of the far more recent movie, Valley Girl, starring a punk rocker Nicholas Cage. This movie got a refresh in 2020 by none other than Alicia Silverstone. Then there is Can't Buy Me Love, the classic with young Patrick Dempsey, and She's All That, which finds Freddie Prinze, Jr. reversing the typical roles by turning the unpopular girl into a baddie. This movie later got a double reversal with He's All That.
The Bonfire of the Vanities trilogy can't escape this beloved story element any more than most teen movies. Perhaps because of an odd truth of life for young people who are still developing and understanding who they are and what they want. And these characters face that more than most because the situation their school environment creates leads to more fronting and fabricating identity than any should.
Apparently, one never loses the killer instinct.
Where some of the roles played by Jennifer Lawrence are concerned, this truth is self-evident. While she'll soon star in Die, My Love, and that death probably won't be a natural one, she famously starred in The Hunger Games trilogy of films. Death never strayed too far from the center of those films and the books they brought to life.
Along with all the death, particularly from young "gladiators" in the first movie, we saw factions. This group against that, that region against this, and eventually the expectation that someone would rise to the top of the kill-or-be-killed heap. Tamer versions of this appear in other movies for teens as well.
Can't Hardly Wait featured the popular girls who were catty among themselves, the football player guys, the nerdy guy who wanted revenge, and so on. The classic, The Breakfast Club fell along similar lines: the wrestling jock, the loner girl, the popular girl, and the defiant anti-authoritarian, and the high-achieving nerd. High School Musical made room for theater kids and dancers and musicians, along with the usual athletes and nerds.
Why do factions figure into the teen tale more than any other? Few experiences ring as true as the cliques and groups that tend to rule school. They definitely rule the school and the students in Bonfire of the Vanities, to a degree that few novels or movies have captured. And while dystopian Hunger Games may seem a little extreme a comparison to the other three movies and to this novel series, Bonfire also involves a deadly game. With Bonfire, however, the players may not even realize that they are playing.
Talk about a freaky Friday.
Lindsey Lohan recently returned to body swapping in a new installment of Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis. The orginal movie may have handed her the break-out role of her young career, but her smash came shortly after with Mean Girls. Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried formed the titular girl group.
Who doesn't know that girl? She has everything, or think she does and everyone else does as well. She/they were immortalized (but not really) in the movie Heathers, led by young Winona Ryder and Shannen Doherty (both of whom managed to make it out alive!). A newer movie with a comparable premise, Jawbreaker, took it to another level in some ways. Not to be forgotten, Pretty In Pink did nothing if it did not remind us that guys get mean too.
They are the "In-crowd", loved and hated, envied and despised, unbeatable yet replaceable. They don't always take the same exact form but who can leave them out?
In fact, they sit in the center of the Bonfire of the Vanities: Strike story and the entire series. They don't have a nice name like in-crowd or the popular ones. They call themselves by one name and the rest of the school call them The Vanities.
Fic Fash
Fiction and fashion combine when readers of all ages come together to pull style off of the page. Limited series.
Fic Fash, Episode 1: Starting Pretty Fall, preview summary
Erica, Polly, and Amanda style the characters from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, a coming-of-age story about a girl developing into a woman in relationships.
Erica: As the adult reading this book targeted to somewhat younger readers, and a lover of more mature fashion, I'll start and give the floor to you young ladies. Starting with best friend Taylor, I see an accessory girl. Purses, chain jewelry, fancy glasses frames, and maybe leggings all the time.
Polly: No, definitely not. I see Taylor in a lot of cut-out clothes and sheer. But faux sheer, not totally sheer. She's a pink girl. Has to be.
Amanda: I can see that, sort of. I see her in swimsuits all of the time with cover ups, probably sheer, like Polly said.
Erica: Well, I feel old. Okay, which character next?
Fic Fash, Episode 2: The Style Friend, preview summary
Cheryl, Fannie, and Jennie style the characters from The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances, a thriller about a mother dealing with her son and his new, sus girlfriend.
Cheryl: Okay, there is a TV show based on this book, but none of us have seen it. This is pure and original. Okay, starting with the son character,
Daniel. This character is a medical resident, so I want him in scrubs most of the time. Green scrubs for him and always neat. When he's not in scrubs, I see cardigans. I don't know why.
Fannie: Cardigans? Okay, I agree with the scrubs, naturally. But he is a blazer guy. I think he might even wear ones with elbow patches.
Jennie: Did we read the same book? Daniel would be in motorcycle jackets. I mean, it's all about the occasion but he would wear brown leather, not even black!
Fic Fash, Episode 3: Coffin Nails, preview summary
Teri, Lorraine, and Inez style the characters from Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron, the first tale in a series about a brash investigator, pulled this time into a dark web while investigating an explosion and a missing girl.
Teri: I cannot wait for this show to start! Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson? Binge-watch is written on my calendar! But we are talking fashion and which character should we do first?
Lorraine: We have Sarah Tucker, Zoë Boehm, the investigator, and Michael Downey, and then another investigator. I didn't focus on him. I'll start with Sarah. She would wear Lululemon, maybe the travel clothes. She is the type to have a closet full of the same thing. And always a ball cap or a visor.
Inez: Yes, so Sarah. I would dress her way more structured. Blazers, I would even put her in matching shell and cardigan. Gold jewelry, classic, conservative. Even a headband.
Teri: That is so interesting, both of those styles. Despite how the book describes her, I just think of her in mom-wear. White shirt, comfy jeans, probably a quilted jacket. No jewelry. Definitely no headband.
Fic Fash, Episode 4: Faultless and Flawless, preview summary
Sonia, Dawn, and Arlene style the characters from All Her Fault by Andrea Mara, a mystery that finds the mother of a kidnapped child desperate for answers.
Sonia: Can we start with the character Jenny? She would wear muted colors like navy, plum, various gray colors. She wears skirts a lot, long skirts, somewhat flowing, maybe dresses also. But always understated. She has a tattoo that almost no one has ever seen. She wears a necklace that she never takes off.
Dawn: Alright. That is way more specific than mine. I'm with you on the colors. I see her style being mostly hidden, like the tattoo thing. She wears colorful underwear and toenail polish. What she wears on the outside doesn't matter as much.
Arlene: I didn't think she would be a drab person. I thought she would be very showy. I see bright colors, or brighter than navy anyway. She would appear cheerful, I think. Maybe pastel colors. Maybe Starburst or Skittles colors inspire her outfits! But I'm not too sure about Marissa's style, though. Any ideas?
Fic Fash, Episode 5, finale preview summary
Lydia, Patty, and Tamia style the characters from The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, a psychological thriller that unfolds when a woman goes missing from a luxury cruise.
Lydia: Ladies, I have seen reviews that are all over the place for the film version of this one! We're talking about the book's characters Lo, Anne, and Heidi. Let's start with Heidi.
Patty: Yes, let's start there. She's a rich influencer and I see her as beyond trendy. I picture her in see-through dresses all the time and the over-sized sport coat with no skirt look.
Tamia: I don't necessarily disagree with that, but on a cruise? Is she going to wear that on a cruise? I want her dressed for black-tie all the time, breakfast, lounging on the deck, everything. She's always going to the Met.
Lydia: (laughs) I will sound crazy but she made me think of Flo's sister from the commercials. Heidi would dress and act just like her. Only British, I guess.
Big Game
Bay must stop the high school football team's suddenly dangerous behavior, including her younger brother and her crush. Limited series for teens.
High school senior, Bay, watches her very first football game in support of her first-time player younger brother, Dan, and her crush, Russ. After the team wins, she waits to drive Dan home and witnesses other players inhaling what looks like a cloudy substance. Russ interrupts with playful banter and walks her to her car, but erratic behavior from the same sniffing guys reminds her. Dan, happy over the team's win, laughs her question off. Bay learns the next day at school that a train accident nearly killed multiple football team members.
Russ calls Bay after the near train accident expressing anxiety and reveals that he and her younger brother, Dan, left just before it happened. Dan admits to sneaking out of the house to hang out with his teammates. Bay keeps his confidence but warns their parents to watch his behavior. Later in the week, during class, a football player sniffs loudly and passes out. Bay visits the school counselor, compares what she saw after the game to what happened to her classmate, and asks for advice. The counselor flatly tells Bay that she did not see anything before the school learns that the passed out player has died.
Bay and Russ hang out together during school, pretending to help with homecoming decorations. During a private moment in the empty halls, she tells Russ that she saw what happened before his teammate died and asks about the sniffing. Russ reacts angrily but she begs him to tell her if her brother, Dan, is in danger. Within minutes, Bay receives a call to go to the school's administrative office, where the counselor accuses her of spreading rumors and threatens to suspend her. Bay, on slow burn, pulls her brother out of his class and leaves the school. On the drive home, they both receive messages to their phones that they are not allowed to return until their parents meet with the principal.
Date Auction
Daters are on the auction block and any interested in bidding for the chance for a date must be ready to commit to a reading list. Limited series.
Letitia's dewy face and soft features will surely bring big bids! She recently started an omnibus of Mark Twain writings and her request is for bids to begin there. Bidders commit to her request and add additional readings to up the ante.
Auctioneer: We'll begin with a bid from Perry, the very handsome, eligible lover of science fiction in the back with the Mark Twain omnibus bid. Any higher bids?
Shane: Mark Twain omnibus and A Tale of Two Cities.
Auctioneer: Shane, our dashing literary reader bids an intriguing bid. Any others?
Jones: Mark Twain omnibus and A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Bleak House.
Auctioneer: A bid from Jones, a fetching writer and avid reader of any and all genres. Any others?
Crashed Glass
If time runs out on Byron and Nia and their dreams, it's over for everyone. Everyone. Limited series.
Character Cap!
Teens identify real people they connect with characters from their school required reading lists. Limited series.
Character Cap, Episode 1: Withering Plights, preview summary
Character Cap, Episode 2: Grate Expectations, preview summary
Character Cap, Episode 3: The Out-sighters, preview summary
Character Cap, Episode 4: Horde of the Flies, preview summary
Character Cap, Episode 5: Celsius 451, preview summary, finale
Unearthed
Friends preparing to depart on their individual college or career paths stumble onto buried stash containing a quandary that threatens their future. Limited series for teens.
Fiction-Reader's Roundtable
Readers discuss the book blurbs of newly published fiction to decide what they should read next. Limited series.
Request full read Fiction-Reader's Roundtable
Interior MO
MO has an eye for decorating homes and a head for solving crimes. She'll have to use all of her tools and talents when her latest client and case go sideways. Limited series.
Dear Author
If you like advice columns, you'll enjoy this text-based series featuring the questions of advice seekers and answers from advisor-expert, Author.
Dear Author, Episode 1, preview summary
Dear Author, Episode 2, preview summary
Dear Author, Episode 3, preview summary
Dear Author, Episode 4, preview summary
Dear Author, Episode 5, preview summary, finale
More Rolling Reads
Stay the Course
Carmen receives the invite of her life, to join an adventure in her own backyard. This text-based limited series reveals the ever-present excitement in every day life.
OOP vs The News
This text-based limited series, highlights overlap between recent news and stories from the out-of-print vault of FDP Reads (now defunct).
Reading Roundtable
In this text-based limited series, actors discuss stories that have made their way into books and onto film.
Host -- Rea D., master reader
A dinosaur, a monstrosity, and a robot show up for the party
Arm yourself with your choice of visor, bow and arrows, or video camera and press play!
Is it a work of magic, nothing more than manipulation, or more like psychopathy?
We love their work but do they also inspire fear?
It happened through a board, through a book, or through a person
Out-of-Print and Pastry
A story and sugary snack interlude, with stories from the OOP vault of FDP Reads (now defunct). Two friends will play a game, one has read the story while the other has not. The one unfamiliar with the story will ask ten questions to try to determine the story concept. After each correct guess, each will get a bite of dessert. Ten correct guesses will win both parties a prize!
Read full Out-of-Print and Pastry
Tough As Nails
This text-based limited series police drama finds two complex women on the force racing against the clock to thwart the twisted games and nail designs of a mysterious criminal.
Belle of the Halls
Text-based limited series chronicles one teen's quest to match up classmates looking for connections.
Blind Date Tales
This text-based series features unsuspecting daters meeting their blind dates, characters from well-known stories. Will each man and woman successfully identify the character name and story title?
Defining With the Stars
The text-based podcast that defines terrific vocabulary words with not-quite-celebrities.
Host -- Merriam W., word-phile and not-quite-celebrity-interviewer
Episode 1: The C Word
Episode 2: The Big Con
Episode 3: At the End of the Day
Episode 4: Oh, Oh, Oh
Episode 5: Dog Eat Doggy, finale
Get Set 1 of Defining With the Stars
Reads Excerpts
Cash Out, preview
"You've got it, Lela. Roll 'em."
June said those words, and blew on the dice in Lela's hands. For Lela, time seemed to stop.
They'd both had their contracts come up but neither of them had earned the necessary numbers to win their freedom. They'd been dragged to wherever they'd been dragged. They thought they were going to meet their end. Well, Lela thought that. June seemed incapable of understanding what was at stake.
Even that, at the very moment, June seemed not to realize what was happening.
Big Dough, the one calling the shots, upon seeing them seemed to grow a heart. No, not really. He just like to play with people. He liked to pretend to give a chance when he knew they had no chance. Instead of handling it quickly, he gave them a chance to play for their lives.
But Lela had to roll for the both of them. Only one of them would go free. "Free." Whatever that would actually mean.
June said, "I don't know if blowing like that helps but I've seen people do that before in the movies."
Despite the noise, the jitters, the threat of death that caused her to want to pee, time seemed to stop.
Lela could barely see past June, the dealer, and the crowed around the table.
They had no way out.
Swallowing a glob of nervous spit and blinking her eyes, Lela made a decision.
Read Cash Out, a MineTime Discovery
Dinner Or Death, preview
Kwan artfully slid the bills to the other man. Smiling and nodding, he started to speak but was cut off.
"Just remember, if anything happens, I don't know you, never seen you."
Sighing, Kwan felt a brief moment on uncertainty. He couldn't do that. He almost put a grin on his face but went serious instead.
"I've got this, cousin. Always had it."
Kwan's cousin thumbed the money. When he was satisfied, he headed for the kitchen door. "Good luck."
Scoping the dining area, Kwan wondered at how he'd so soon gone from "No doubt" to "I hope so." But he kept moving. He saw the table and he saw his target. Then he moved, trying to be swift but without a care, not wanting to attract any attention.
"Helio," he said, dropping a hand on the man's shoulder.
Helio's shoulder felt stiff as stone. His head turned with the precision of a machine, at a painstakingly slow speed, and his eyes fell on Kwan with the fear of God.
"Helio," Kwan repeat, slightly shaken, "Kwan, P-Pause, haven't seen you in a while, man. I thought I'd come over..."
Helio's tension released instantly and he glanced toward every entrance.
"Right, P-Pause," said Helio. "Well, look, I'm expecting someone."
Read Dinner Or Death, a MineTime Discovery
Let's Play, preview
Arily felt sweat run down into her eyes. She flicked it away. The sauna had just become less confortable and the other two ladies had already exited, leaving her there alone.
She breathed deeply, wondering what her test results might reveal. Something unexplainable had taken over her body. She needed answers.
The sauna door opened. Arily paid no mind until she caught a male figure in her peripheral vision and saw the towel drop. Arily sighed.
"Feels great in here."
Arily recognized the voice of Doctor Robinson, Le Med's medical director. She kept her eyes on her feet. The doctor was handsome and helpful--he'd agreed to run tests for her privately. But if this was the payment he expected... She was in no mood.
"Yes. I think I'll leave soon before I over-heat."
"Before you do that, I got the results of the test. Everything looks fine. Care to tell me what you expected to find?"
Arily did not care to tell him.
"Maybe once I've showered and dressed. Thank you again."
Arily allowed herself to look over the naked doctor's body where he laid out on the platform. She shrugged, impressed. Then she stood.
"That's an excellent idea. Dinner this evening?"
Read Let's Play, a MineTime Discovery
Delwyn In Wonderground, preview
In a dark place, somewhere few people could ever identify, or find, or escape, a man's motionless body lays out like the dead. Until his arm strikes out without warning to reach for something that he does not find. Then he freezes. Then he jumps up and flies into a rage.
"Let me out!" he shouts.
"Mr. Delwyn," responds a voice immediately, "let's calm down, shall we? Anger won't get you out of here. Why don't we just discuss what will?"
Delwyn looks feverishly around himself. Where is the exit? Where is person attached to the voice? Where is the--
"Mr. Delwyn please. Can we just get down to business? You've been resourceful and creative and you've escaped all of this for many years but you are here now. You won't be released until we get what we need."
Delwyn takes a deep breath. He sits back down on the cot he sprang up from. He sees his prison, a low-lit, sparse room with a large, dark window in one wall and little else.
He says, "And what do you need?"
"The pole shift is here," says the voice. "Certain geographic locations require protection."
Delwyn's head falls to his chest. He closes his eyes. He feels the rage welling up before he slows his breathing. Delwyn lifts his head.
"Okay."
Read Delwyn In Wonderground, a MineTime Discovery
Plain Twain, preview
Because May dropped the phone, she did not hear the ranting woman on the phone and her frantic words.
"May," the voice distantly squeaked, "I want you to come in for an evaluation. You don't sound well. Your thoughts are scattered, you are drawing wild connections, and frankly I don't know what to say. You think that you may have been cloned without your knowledge and that this identical twin of yours has been out to get you? I don't want to scare you but this kind of talk can be very dangerous if clients get wind of any of this."
"Why don't I get that for you."
The woman who only recently entered the room, reached down and picked up the phone. Without a word, she disconnected the call with a smile.
She said, "Hello, May."
Shocked into silence, May stared at the very one the caller had referred to, the clone, the identical twin, the one out to get May. The same one she'd felt stalking her.
"Who are you?" May asked.
The other woman frowned. "You mean to tell me that you don't know?"
Read Plain Twain, a MineTime Discovery
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