BOOK REPORT for The Tribes of Palos Verdes by Joy Nicholson
cover story: no shame bff charm: eventually swoonworthy scale: 0 talky talk: straight up raw bonus factors: point break, mommie dearest relationship status: my crazy ex
cover story: no shame
Even though this book came out in 1997, the cover doesn't feature any dead giveaways like high-waisted jeans or flower print baby doll dresses. In other words, it's pretty timeless, so you don't have to worry about reading it in public. Which is good, because the story will require all of your anxiety.
the deal:
Is there anyone out there who doesn't think that surfer girls are the coolest? As I already made evident in my Raw Blue review, I wish I was ballsy enough (and, you know, actually coordinated) to grab a board and get my ass kicked by waves, and I sincerely salute the gals who do it by raising my frozen adult beverage from beneath the shade of my beach umbrella. I especially applaud Medina Mason, the heroine of this story, because not only does girlfriend teach herself to surf amidst a crowd of sexist haters, she also has to deal with her batshizz crazy family. And I don't mean that in a funny way. I mean that in a really bad, creepy, does-anyone-else-smell-incest kinda way. Medina's mother is convinced that her rich surgeon husband is cheating on her, so she handles it in the best way possible: by gaining 200 pounds and showering Medina's brother and best friend, Jim, with special (and I do mean special) attention. Faced with an absentee dad, a crazycakes mom and a brother who is slowly being turned against her, Medina seeks refuge in the ocean and, eventually, in the backseats of guys' cars. Lost and lonely, she must find her own strength and consequently discover her value.
bff charm: eventually
GAH-damn, Melina, you really put this bff charm through some shizz. First of all, you're totes a Katniss, all prickly and private and super moody, and you have NO idea how to talk to girls. Mostly because they're too busy calling you a slut and whore, so I get it. But how much better would your life be if you had a gal pal like me to tell you that you're worth something, and you don't need to let boys use you to feel good about yourself. Oh yeah and also YOUR MOM IS INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE and that's totally not yr fault. So even though it might take a while, I really do hope we can be friends. You've been through a lot, and you need someone you can trust. And in exchange, I only ask that you teach me to surf without looking like a a huge doofus. P.S. About your brother, Jim? There's a book you might wanna read. It's called Flowers in the Attic. Have you heard of it?
swoonworthy scale: 0
There is a few sweet moments towards the end, and they're the only reason that this score isn't in the negative because SO MUCH CREEPINESS. I mean, where shall I begin? With the nasty ratty surfers trying to get a piece of Medina? Or the time she gets drugged and loses her virginity? Or maybe I can point you to the development that I'll simply refer to as: Mrs. Mason making Jim the Man of the House. Don't get me wrong, we're not in full on VC Andrews territory, and the plot, aside from a few melodramatic moments, is far less ridiculous. And it's that realism that makes these incidents all the more haunting.
talky talk: straight up raw
Joy Nicholson's plain, honest style packs quite an emotional punch, and Medina's voice rings incredibly clear and true. All of her feelings are expressed succinctly, so that you catch glimpses of her pain and sadness like fish darting under the ocean waves. The text is disarmingly simple, with Medina expressing both her joys and her horrors in the same flat, yet strangely poetic tone.
bonus factor: point break
So I decided to re-read this book because Raw Blue left me with a hankering for surf action. And there is definitely enough of it in Palos Verdes to make you feel like a total Bohdi badass. Medina teaches you all about the types of waves, the juicy rivalries, and the danger of looking like a Val (surfer from the Valley). Since she's a girl, I thought about using Blue Crush or Soul Surfer, but the former just wouldn't do Medina's fierceness justice, and the latter... just no.
bonus factor: mommie dearest
Even though elements of the book are truly disturbing, I have to admit that I totes enjoyed the insanity of Mrs. Mason. She's crazy cakes with icing on top, from removing Medina's door so that she and her brother can't have private conversations to committing massive credit card fraud to hoarding fast food wrappers in her bedroom. (I'm assuming she's fine with wire hangers, though.) This shizz is sick, y'all. And also MASSIVELY ENTERTAINING.
casting call:
Medina isn't really pretty, but she's interesting, and I think Saoirse could capture her complicated layers as well as her badassery (I mean, have you seen Hanna?!!).
"Saoirse Ronan as Medina"
"Jeremy Sumpter as Jim"
Jeremy played JD McCoy on Friday Night Lights, and he was totally convincing as a handsome, complete dick. Thus, he is Jim.
relationship status: my crazy ex
When I met this book back in 1998, I thought it was dark, complex and amazing. I was drawn to its juicy drama and enchanted by its tragic past. Our relationship was brief, intense and gave me LOTS of stories to tell people when I get drunk at parties. I was looking forward to catching up, and I'm glad I did. This book is still haunting, although as an adult I find some of its drama to be a little... much. I'm not tempted to get back together with it, but I am definitely thankful for knowing it.