Jaclyn's "101" Review

The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: How Characters of Fiction, Myth, Legends, Television, and Movies Have Shaped Our Society, Changed Our Behavior, and Set the Course of History by Allan Lazar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let’s be honest – I am so glad to be done with this book.  I love the randomness and the obscure facts.  I do not love how enamored the authors are with themselves and their damn dog.  I think this is a good book to peruse when you’re waiting for someone or when you’re looking for something to talk about at a dinner party.  This is not a book that I would recommend reading from cover to cover. 

A few things that I found thoroughly entertaining from my read:

*Still cracking up from the Prince Charming section.  The Velazquez idea that Prince Charming can’t recognize the love of his life so how is he going to be a good father is especially funny.

*Robinson Crusoe inspired the idea of “my man Friday” which, of course, led to “my girl Friday.”

*When the book was written, there had never been a president or vice-president or secretary of state Joe.  I actually agree with the authors on this one – GI Joe sounds great.  Vice President Joe – not so much.  Do you think that’s why the Obama administration hardly lets him out to play?

*Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde was on the forefront of psychology. And who said writers make things up?  We’re brilliant, well at least, Robert Louis Stevenson was. Not sure about the writers that are perpetuating vampire series books in every era possible.

*Any reference to the Mary Tyler Moore show makes me happy.  I love that she is a symbol of women’s liberation.  I never thought of that when I was watching her as a little girl on Nick at Nite (yes, that’s how they spelled night). 

*Buffy?  REALLY?

*The Barbie information is so interesting.  Ironically, they reference Barbie and Ken separating in 2004.  I passed a display in Target a couple days ago that “Barbie & Ken – Back Together!” I guess the famously beautiful plastic dolls have reconciled just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

[For more see, other posts and their comments.  Happy reading!]