Vicious Art

Art work and a list of songs made by the late Sid Vicious.

Goodnight Steve McQueen

“If you liked High Fidelity, you’ll love Goodnight Steve McQueen.” – Sunday Times magazine (London)

This quote pasted on the book cover caught my attention not to mention Steve McQueen’s name on the title that might serve as a guarantee of an off-beat, cool story. I first saw this book two years back but was priced unreasonably high that I let it go. But now, I got it for a song.

"Goodnight Steve McQueen" by Louise Wener, a singer of a band and not just a pretty face, is not actually a story of THE Steve McQueen but a certain Danny McQueen borne out of his mother’s obsession with everything Steve that she even married a McQueen. Danny is a 29 year old band member who works in a video rental shop to make ends meet while waiting for that rock stardom.

The story transpired when his corporate girlfriend Alison gave him an ultimatum to shape up or ship out of the band if nothing substantial happens in the next six months. It was during these times when his rollercoaster journey of fate, luck (good and bad), and hard work to achieve his realization came into being. With his band mates and a cohort of interesting characters, Danny McQueen dove into that quest of finding his true self. The challenges and situations that affected his decisions are quirky bringing the story into its crazy end.

A book about music, band, and the pursuit of true love never fail to interest me. At the end of the day, it is all about love and pursuing what is really important to oneself. Goodnight Steve McQueen is a good book with lots of good odds and ends that will make the reader smile and feel good in the end.

All you need is love, so the Beatles says, and that I have to agree.

Flavor of the Week

Lovely. Flavor of the Week is just lovely. It brought back memories of first crush, first love, childish jealousy, and love’s redemption. I hit the jackpot when I got hold of this book by Tucker Shaw about a nice guy named Cyril who was described as chubby, if not downright fat. Girls in school loves him, as a friend, and that is bad news for would be playas. Not that nice guy Cyril dreams of being a playa but his greatest love, Rosie, feels that way towards him, a great pal.

There is however one thing that separates Cyril from the rest of the field. He is a very good cook who dreams of entering a prestigious culinary academy. But by some dumb predisposition, his character wants to keep his talent a secret. His bestfriend Nick used Cyril’s cooking prowess to the hilt to get Rosie with Cyril’s consent just because he feels he does not stand a chance with good pal Rosie, who I imagine looks like Lisa Loeb as described by the writer. And while Cyril knew that Rosie is crazy over boys who can cook, his shyness prevailed.

So Nick claimed the cooking shit that impressed Rosie and as a coup de grace, asked Cyril to prepare something really special for Rosie’s birthday, which Nick prayed to God, would be the time he gets to score with Rosie big time. But at the end of the day, God had plans for good old Cyril and Rosie. Not that Cyril went on and got a chance to score with Rosie or French kissed her or caressed her boobs like preparing bread dough. He won her heart then passed the entrance test of a famous culinary arts school. The story is so sweet like leche plan with plenty of syrupy sugar under the aluminum gallinera.

I am so hi-hi-hi (kilig) with the book because it is very easy to read and it is a love story. The inclusion of recipes and putting food and cooking as an integral part to the whole story added flavor to the romance. In the end, it is still the simple comfort food that defined what the girl is looking for. Like love, you must be comfortable with your partner, isn’t it? Hi-hi-hi.

I believe it is a YA book. YA is Young Adult, I think. A jargon used by book addicts. It is not Yarian Agad (YA) normally seen in triple x films. Hi hi hi.