The Fame Game

by Charles Casillo

Book Overview

When Mikki Britten and Carla Christaldi first met, they realised that they could help each other climb the ladder of fame - one has the looks, the other has the connections. Together with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 0739476351
• ISBN13: 9780739476352
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: n/a
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Terrific blend of grit, glitz, ambition and pathos!

I feel obliged to start by saying that I was totally prepared to dislike this book. I am not a fan of the Collins/Steele/Weisberger genre of chick lit, and the jacket blurb of this book had all of the hallmarks of more of the same. A (female) friend raved about it so much that I eventually broke down and bought a copy. Boy, was I wrong! Yes, there are the obligatory glimpses behind the scenes of the fashion and film worlds, and yes, there is the obligatory vulnerable heroine battling every obstacle thrown in her path. But hey, this is popular fiction and these elements sell books. However, all of that is just the scenery for a superb chamber piece of character development and interaction. Each of the three main characters is drawn larger than life, and I felt myself pulled deeply into a world that was far different than the one I live in. The page turner plot was a terrific tool to instill a sense of urgency and desperation into the characters' lives. To call this book a "great beach read" does it a huge disservice and woefully understates the literary power of this novel. I also feel obliged to rebut some of the negative comments regarding the book's editing. In the modern publishing industry, only the largest and wealthiest publishing houses can afford an army of editors. If you want superb editing, type Clancy, Grisham or Patterson into the search bar and buy one of their books. I myself am grateful to smaller presses like Alyson Books for bringing works like this one to my local bookstore. Personally, I thought the occasional grammar slip added yet another layer of reality to the novel.

Casillo's THE FAME GAME is a winner!

The phrase "I couldn't put it down" has become a cliche when describing novels nowadays. But, my God, this book, this novel, this FAME GAME really breathes new life into that old saying. Although the story is compulsively readable and enjoyable--with a Jackie Collins type, behind-the-scenes show business plot--only an idiot would read this novel in a superficial way and dismiss it. There are surprisingly "real" and moving moments and startling anecdotes and turns of phrase. Charles Casillo layers the book and structures it so that "The Fame Game" becomes a satire about a satire--a comic and savage commentary on a satirical world of garish pop culture, reckless wannabes, narcissists, sleazy agents and fading movie stars--and the obsessive fans who long to be a part of that world. Along with a gallery of grotesques, the novel follows the careers of a gorgeous model/actress on the verge of movie stardom, a male prostitute with writing talent who can't get ahead because of his sordid background and--with a poisonous nod to nepotism--a famous director's daughter without a lick of talent. Their dirty deals and double-crosses are what keep the reader turning pages--but there is a beating heart behind each character--each confused and sensitive behind their indefatigable pursuit of fame. With harrowing insight Casillo paints these characters with humor, brutality, compassion and sensitivity, exposing the loneliness behind the desperate ambition. Even when they are doing the most destructive and self-destructive acts--you understand them. I highly recommend this book. It has bite. It's funny. It's thought provoking. It's sad. But most of all it's entertaining. Let's resurrect the phrase: You simply can't put it down.

"The Fame Game": A wonderful new book from Charles Casillo

I received Charles Casillo's "The Fame Game" a couple of days ago, and just finished reading it. It is, in every respect, a remarkable piece of work, and I very much enjoyed it. At times, I actually winced from the undercurrent of loneliness and pain that pervades the novel. No one can write so convincingly and realistically about loneliness unless he has experienced more than his fair share of it. I hope that Casillo has exorcised that particular demon from his life. Reading the book, I kept thinking of the Harry Chapin song, "A Better Place To Be." Casillo summons up the same sense of the desolation that comes from loneliness. Last year, I read Alan Hollinghurst's "The Line of Beauty." Although that was a very good book, in my opinion, "Fame Game" beats it, hands down. The characters are real, and utterly convincing -- sometimes frighteningly so. At times over the last couple of days, I almost felt myself falling in love with Mario, because the author's portrayal of him is so masterful. I wanted to take him in my arms, to protect and comfort him, to heal his aching loneliness. Casillo did a superb (yet understated) job with Mario's character. I wanted to know more about Mario DeMarco, and that's the sign of a good character portrayal -- to leave the audience wanting more. I did a Master's in English and I know better than to read too many autobiographical details into a work of fiction, yet I can't help feeling that the author has more than a few pieces of himself in Mario, Mikki, and Carla. In particular, I noticed that Carla's name is a feminine form of Charles - and that they both have the initials "C.C." Coincidence? To sum up, Charles Casillo is a very talented young writer. I have a feeling the world's going to be hearing a lot more from him. Do yourself a favour - buy "The Fame Game," and buy it now.

The fabulous Fame Game

I am not usually a fan of this genre, but on the advise of a friend, I bought this book and have to tell you, I simply LOVED it. Really, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in a record (for me) single sitting! The Fame Game is a real page turner, filled with such luscious bitchiness and twisted animosity that it is simply spell-binding. Casillo's three dimensional characters leap off the page and offer us unique and mesmerizing peek "behind the curtain" that separates the hoi polloi from the famous. Exposing the seamier side of fame he brings life a host of deliciously superficial denizens of this demimonde. A must read. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

The Fame Game - Brilliant and Intense

WOW! I just finished reading THE FAME GAME, I couldn't put it down and polished if off in 2 days, which was bitter sweet as I was kinda sad I finished the book because I was enjoying it so much. I couldn't help having a knot in my stomach while reading it though, because the emotion felt so real and so very raw it was painful, and I kept thinking the author must have experienced that kind of hurt at times to be able to capture that emotion so eloquently! It made my heart ache for him. My husband insists that's just because Casillo is soooo good an author that he manages to capture the depth of emotions. I know we all face heartache of varying degrees throughout our lives and all have a mask we show the world to cover our insecurities, but this book is intense. Brilliant and Intense. I loved it, a superb story. What an awesome movie that would make!! Casillo is definetely my new favorite author and I will be anxiously waiting to see what he comes up with next!