The Book:

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends–her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she wants.

She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.

This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

The Reviews:

“Scott’s prose is spare and damning, relying on suggestive details and their impact on Alice to convey the unimaginable violence she repeatedly experiences. Disturbing but fascinating, the book exerts an inescapable grip on readers–like Alice, they have virtually no choice but to continue until the conclusion sets them free. — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“Scott gives the phrase emotionally wrenching a whole new meaning in this searing book… the ending itself will leave readers gasping.” — Booklist (Starred Review)

“Scott, best known for such chick-lit pleasers as Bloom (2007), breaks the mold with this harrowing tale of abuse leavened only by lyric writing a la Adam Rapp (33 Snowfish, 2003, etc.). When Alice was ten, Ray kidnapped her; five years later, Alice wishes only to escape by dying, as the last Alice did. But her freedom comes at a price–a new girl for Ray. Bit by bit, Alice reveals the depths of psychological and physical terror that hold her captive. Her voice is convincingly naive yet prematurely aged; vivid but never graphic, details of the sexual abuse perfectly capture the way in which she has normalized her situation while still recognizing the truth. Ray is a complex abuser, perhaps a bit too psychotic but terrifying nevertheless; he himself was abused, and the logic of how his own past has shaped his present and his treatment of Alice never falters. Choosing Ray’s next victim does not provide a re-entry into empathy, a bold but believable choice. Scott provides neither easy answers nor a happy resolution, although the ending provides a grim sense of release.” — Kirkus

Just send an email to freestuff@popgurls.com by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT and we’ll select 5 names at random to win.

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+ 90210 — Deja Vu All Over Again?
This is not a recap. This is not really a review. These are simply our reactions. Shame and sanity were left at the door.
CLASS DRAMA, IN-LAW DRAMA, and ALCOHOLISM. All these important issues must be in caps — otherwise the very special-iality of these issues wouldn’t be as apparent.

+ A Quickie With Renee Loux
The host of Fine Living Network’s It’s Easy Being Green talks about easy ways to go organic, relax and how it’s really a small world after all.

+ A Quickie With Author Sara Zarr
She talks about her writing process, step-parents in literature and, of course, potatoes.

Get it all at PopGurls.com

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There is no dialogue, only a voice-over by Danny Ocean, yet Bernie Mac makes it one of the most memorable scenes from the movie. He makes puppy-dog eyes, even the beginnings of a pout, and it’s just magic.

Bernie Mac created magic in so many more ways, but that’s the one that created a lasting memory of him in my pop-culture overloaded brain. I always found it a fantastic comedic scene, never pushing it too far as it easily could have been. Now, it’s a bittersweet reminder of what we have lost.

Comedian, South Sider Bernie Mac dies at 50

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Here’s one of my favorite clips — Sophia and Dorothy as Sonny and Cher, and a very freaked out Rose:

Golden Girls may have gone off air in 1992 (my god, 16 years ago?), but the ladies have never been far from our hearts. And our collective minds — a few select quotes from Overheard in New York:

Frantic hipster: Please tell me you have The Golden Girls on DVD!
Employee: Nope, we are all sold out.
Frantic hipster: Dammit! It’s sold out everywhere! What am I going to do?
–Barnes & Noble, Chelsea

Girl: You know, the first time my boyfriend and I had sex, it was because of Golden Girls.
–Columbia University

Quasi-thug #1: So if I got the first season, you would watch it with me?
Quasi-thug #2: Fuck yeah. It’s the fucking Golden Girls, yo.
–Port Authority

Join me in the kitchen for some cheesecake around midnight, yo. We got plenty of forks and tissues for all.

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As Project Rungay said, “We officially don’t get the marketing plan this year.”

Sure, they usually let you know makes the cut to compete on the Project Runway before the season premiere — but I think someone screwed up and decided to make live a page that should have remained dark for the next 14 or so weeks.

Want to know what all the challenges are, broken out by episode and guest judge? Check it out here.

Revisit the Season 1 drama with our interview with Vanessa Riley.

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For those following the casting news of the new 90210 spin-off, the latest gossip is that my favorite and (better be) yours, Shannen Doherty might INDEED be back to reprise her role as Brenda Walsh. My heart honestly did a little joyful flip when I read that this morning, and my co-workers and I have been all aflutter.

It seems that money is a sticking point here, but if the producers want ratings gold they need to give Doherty what she wants. She will be worth every dollar in her pocket as fans who tuned in 18 (my god!) years ago will tune-in in droves.

I’m so embarrassingly excited about this possibility!

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In high school, I came across my mother’s copy of George Carlin’s FM & AM album and pretty much had it memorized in about a week. I loved him, his brilliance and his humor, so much. When I found out that he had died, I immediately flashed back to my old living room, lying on the floor for hours listening to his routines over and over.

There’s far better eulogizers than me out there, and a lot of people have been quoting Carlin’s infamous “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” today in honor of his passing, but my favorite routine will always be my first introduction to him. It was his HBO special, What Am I Doing in New Jersey?… I wore that VHS tape out and most of that routine is still burned into my brain. To this day, I keep his advice on how to keep people alert close to my heart.

There is never a day that I drive through the tollbooth and want to say “I’ve got no more money, I’ve spent it all on pussy and beer.” (see 3:14 mark)

RIP George, you will be missed more than I can say.

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For those who have been under a rock for the past few weeks — A family relocates from the Midwest to Beverly Hills, bringing their two kids along to chart the rocky waters of high school in the notorious zip code. Yes, it’s 2008, don’t check your calendar.

The CW posted a new clip from the show, primarily consisting of interviews with the cast. This worries me a little bit as I play “count the cliches” (taking it to the next level, Silver is a “free spirit”! ). But I’m open to embracing the utterly amazing trainwreck to come…

Just try and tell me you didn’t get a bit nostalgic with that opening song! Anyway, Lori Laughlin plays the new mom and Silk Stalkings’ Rob Estes was just cast as the dad. Which, honestly, is a brilliant, brilliant move. I can’t think of a better dad, and certainly a much hotter one than Jim Walsh.

There’s a bunch of new kids, but let’s face it — most of us just care about which of the old crew will be back. The count as of now:

Kelly “I Choose Me” Taylor (Jennie Garth): recurring character as a guidance counselor at West Beverly High

Donna Martin Graduates (Tori Spelling): angling for a role and it’s looking good

Brandon “Do-Gooder” Walsh (Jason Priestly): worried he won’t be asked back

David “DJ and Speed Freak” Silver: currently hanging his hat on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Steve “Never a Good Shirt in His Closet” Sanders (Ian Zierling): after hosting Lifetime’s Your Mama Don’t Dance, he’s producing a series on MySpace

Dreamy Dylan McKay (even with those ridiculous overalls) (Luke Perry): no word yet, which is fine if he’s off playing house-husband to Brenda

And speaking of my beloved Brenda “Bitch and a half” Walsh: no word yet. But man, that would get people back in droves.

While discussing the spin-off at work, one idea came up that is the best thing this show could do — give it the Heather Locklear treatment. Have Brenda come back mid-way through the season and save the show from the inevitable bad ratings. You thought Amanda Woodward was a bitch? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

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