“Commie Girl in the OC”: a Review

I’ve been a reader of OC Weekly since moving here in 1997; outstanding writers, outstanding features and great investigative journalism make it something I’m happy to read whenever I get my hands on it.  Seems like much of the books I’ve been reading these days are from people I actually know (for example, Sid Gardner’s excellent book, “Like a Single River,” which ends at the El Toro base is a Jim Gilchrist nightmare scenario waiting to happen).

Last Christmas, Gustavo Arellano’s book “Ask a Mexican” was a popular gift to my friends, family and clients.  I love the book and still refer to it to get my Mexican cuss words down correctly. I polished off my friend Howard Bryant’s (of ESPN) book, “Juicing the Game” about steroids and baseball not too long ago and the best novel I’ve read lately was an unpublished tome by former OC Register business reporter Chris Farnsworth about an environmental/business scandal in Idaho. 

I’m only sorry I didn’t review Gustavo’s book for this site, but I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.

Last week, my copy of “Commie Girl in the OC” arrived courtesy of Amazon.com and I’m happy to post the first review.

I have always been a big fan of Rebecca Schoenkopf’s writing.  I still am. 

The book is a great collection of her work that points out the many parts of the OC and the paradox faced by those who live here.  Rebecca’s interviews with the Real Housewives of Orange County, porn-star Candy Apples and her pursuit of an interview with Governor Scwartzenegger in Sacramento are gut-bustingly funny. 

But where Rebecca, like Gustavo, truly suceeds is with making a real connection with her readers.  I loved the stories of Rebecca’s buttercup of a boy, her conservations with her mom and boyfriend (same guy or different ones?), and her party gal friends.  Rebecca lets you into her life and you feel as though not only do you know her, but that she knows you too (good luck with the “Talk” Rebecca; its coming sooner than you think.  Don’t screw it up.)

It’s a great book – perfect for the beach or a flight, and ideal for that end of the day “I’m reading until I am too sleepy to go on” reading I do before I turn out the light.  I woke my wife up after a few fits of audible laughter,which earned me a “shut off the f*#king light” look.  I’m having trouble putting it down.  I have a couple of more chapters to go and I hate to see it end.  You will too.

All I want to know now are two things: who’s going to play Rebecca in the Movie? And, when the hell is Moxley’s book coming out?