Review - Candy Girl: A Year In The Life Of An Unlikely Stripper

Synopsis
Decreed by David Letterman (tongue in cheek) on CBS TV's The Late Show to be the pick of "Dave's Book Club 2006," Candy Girl is the story of a young writer who dared to bare it all as a stripper. At the age of twenty-four, Diablo Cody decided there had to be more to life than typing copy at an ad agency. She soon managed to find inspiration from a most unlikely source— amateur night at the seedy Skyway Lounge. While she doesn't take home the prize that night, Diablo discovers to her surprise the act of stripping is an absolute thrill.

This is Diablo's captivating fish-out-of-water story of her yearlong walk on the wild side, from quiet gentlemen's clubs to multilevel sex palaces and glassed-in peep shows. In witty prose she gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at this industry through a writer's keen eye, chronicling her descent into the skin trade and the effect it had on her self-image and her relationship with her now husband.

Review
Candy Girl – A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper is a hilarious romp through the world of amateur exotic dancing. One day while walking past a local strip club, Cody Diablo wonders what it would be like to become a stripper. Most people would think about this and then continue on their way, however Cody Diablo does more than just daydream – she signs up for the clubs amateur night! From there on out exotic dancing becomes a mission for Cody, a mission she is determined will be a success. Through her narration we experience all that comes along with the stripper's lifestyle, including buying the right clothes, getting along with unfriendly Russian girls and learning the secrets to pole-dancing.

Although Candy Girl seems at first glance to be just another book about stripping, it is much more than that. This memoir takes the "exotic" out of exotic dancing. Cody Diablo is a normal, everyday girl. She does not look like Barbie and her life outside of dancing is just like everyone else's. She relates information about her husband and stepdaughter, how much she dislikes her boring day job and just how badly your feet hurt and your legs bruise after shaking your thing all day. Cody Diablo is laugh out loud funny and very down to earth which makes this memoir a fantastically fun read.

After writing Candy Girl, Cody Diablo went on to write the Academy Award winning screenplay Juno. A pilot TV program and various other screenplays she has written are also in production for the future. Despite Cody Diablo's rather dubious choice to become a stripper, she has proven herself to be a very successful and talented writer, who has earned her place in the spotlight.

Published by Gotham Press


© 2008-2010 Joanne Mosher of The Book Zombie. All rights reserved.

6 comments:

Andi said...

I've wanted to get my hands on this one for a while. I still have a B&N card burning a hole in my pocket, so this might be a good way to spend it!

Joy said...

Hi Joanne! Is the author's name Diablo Cody or Cody Diablo? "C" Author or "D" Author?

Melsy626 said...

I have this book on it's way to me through a book ring and I am really looking forward to reading it!!! :) Thanks for the great review!! :)

Joanne ♦ The Book Zombie said...

joy - oh shoot it is Diablo Cody so its a "C" author. I guess I will need to change it to my "C" title for the A-Z challenge. Sorry about that.

Joy said...

It's not a problem. I was just confused. :) Glad you were still able to use the book for the challenge.

Melissa said...

I really liked this one too! I thought it was honest and funny.