Shelf Life: Richie and Famous

So we're reading Nicole Richie's novel, The Truth About Diamonds, and it's a curious thing indeed. Firstly, it's highly, swiftly readable. Smart, smooth, natural, and conversational, with quirky twists that don't seem forced (she calls the pre-renovation poolside bar at the Roosevelt "cabana non grata" and describes someone wearing "a tie-dyed onesie and a tutu"). Secondly, although she swears – and writes – up, down, and sideways that the book is fiction through and through, the book's narrator is named Nicole, was adopted at a young age, has a famous father, and is on a reality show called The Simple Life. So: Um. Also, Paris and company are easily recognized through their thin veils. And she gets the going-out, rich-kid indulgence thing right, right down to its mundane core. Oh, and for some reason there's a multi-page insert of surrealistically glam color shots of Richie that are so styled and super airbrushed that they appear to be oil paintings. Thirdly, and most remarkably, the book reads like it was written last week. It's so current that songs mentioned in the text are still rotating on MTV, events that actually happened recently are witnessed by the narrator, and there are references to TomKat and websites like Pink Is the New Blog. We wouldn't be surprised if Richie stopped by our house to pencil some updates in the margins. Uh, yes we would.

Related entries:

1. Of Interest: Monkey See Edition: Sarah Jessica Parker in a PhilipTreacy topper...
2. Quote Unquote: "I have never been so shocked, hurt,...
3. Jodie Foster Outs Self, Dumps Partner: In December, at a Women in Entertainment...
4. Sean Penn Opens Cannes of Worms: France, once the smokingest country in the...
5. Quote Unquote: "I don't have a candidate I'm supporting...