Book Review: The Last House Party

By Jami Denison

When I was in high school in the eighties, a rumor went around about a popular senior girl: that she’d gone to a party with the football team, gotten drunk, and had sex with all of them. What a scandal! I was a junior, so I never spoke to her directly, but I remember being equally impressed and horrified. I wondered if it was true, but I never wondered if it was rape. We didn’t have the vocabulary back then.  

Today, I would never assume that a seventeen year-old girl would willingly engage in group sex. "Me Too" has given us a new lens to look back on these stories; girls are less likely to keep quiet about football teams and fraternities. 

Kelly Simmons’s latest novel, The Last House Party, reminded me of that girl and those rumors. Taking place in 1983, it’s about a mother who finally learns what happened at a party in her home 10 years ago. Will her curiosity lead to the people she loves the most?

Lily Knight is the mother, and in 1973, she was fighting cancer. Her three teenage daughters took advantage of her illness to run wild. It’s the first thing we learn when we pick up the book, and for that reason, it was hard for me to feel sympathetic toward Jane, Penelope, and Faith. Eventually, the girls acknowledge that they were jerks (with a stronger word), but it takes a while to get there.

The book starts in 1983, and Faith, the youngest at twenty-two, has just announced her engagement. She wants to have the wedding at her parents’ lovely home in upper crust Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Philadelphia. This leads Lily to a cleaning frenzy that results in the discovery of compromising photos of Faith, and a class ring belonging to Jordy, a teenage boy who’d committed suicide. Jane tells Lily that Faith had had a crush on Jordy, and had been devastated by his death—please don’t bring it up to her.

It's not true. The two older sisters reveal that a drunken Faith had been taken advantage of during their last house party, in her own bedroom. The photos were proof. And Jordy’s death was no suicide. As the women try to keep their mother from finding out the truth or telling Faith (she has no memory of the event), Lily becomes friendly with the teenage boy who has just moved next door, who’s heard rumors about the parties that used to happen on the street. 

The book is written in close third-person from Lily, Jane, and Penelope’s points of view. Ironically, Faith, the golden girl around whom the novel revolves, is not a point-of-view character, and seems like a minor character in her own life story. As the women deal with the ramifications of what happened ten years ago, they’re also forced to confront their own casual racism, sexism, and the excuses they’ve made for people in their social circle. 

Amazon has categorized the book as historical fiction due to its 1980s time period (GULP for those of us who grew up then), but it really defies categorization. It has elements of mystery and thriller, but the relationships are truly what is front and central here. The interior monologues are crafted at a level I’ve rarely seen; the setting is meticulously described. The story almost seems secondary.

I did have one quibble; Simmons never really describes exactly what happened the night of the party. She leaves hints and clues, but they don’t quite add up. A Rashoman-style series of flashbacks might have served the story well. 

Thanks to Kelly Simmons for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Kelly Simmons:

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Viola Shipman gets into the groove...plus a book giveaway

Today we are thrilled to have Wade Rouse back at CLC to talk about his latest novel, written as Viola Shipman. The Clover Girls published last week and it's such a fun and nostalgic story that you will all enjoy. Check out Melissa's review. Wade's post will make you want to dig out your 80s mix tapes (we know you have at least one) and watch John Hughes films. He has a signed copy of The Clover Girls and some jelly bracelets for one lucky reader!

Wade Rouse is the internationally bestselling author of ten books, which have been translated into nearly 20 languages. Wade chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction.

Wade’s novels include The Charm Bracelet, a 2017 Michigan Notable Book of the Year; The Hope Chest; The Recipe Box, The Summer Cottage, and The Heirloom Garden.

Library Journal writes that Wade has “hit upon the perfect formula to tell heartwarming, intergenerational family stories by weaving together the lives, loves and history of family through cherished heirlooms.” 

Wade's books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, featured in the New York Times and on Chelsea Lately and chosen three times as Indie Next Picks by the nation’s independent booksellers. His writing has appeared in a diverse range of publications and media, including Coastal Living, Time, All Things Considered, People, Good Housekeeping, Salon, Forbes, The Washington Post, Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly.

Also a noted humorist of four memoirs, Wade was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor (he lost to Tina Fey) and was named by Writer’s Digest as “The #2 Writer, Dead or Alive, We’d Like to Have Drinks With” (Wade was sandwiched between Ernest Hemingway and Hunter Thompson).

Wade earned his B.A. from Drury University and his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. He divides his time between Saugatuck, Michigan, and Palm Springs, California, and is also an acclaimed writing teacher who has mentored numerous students to become published authors. (Bio adapted from Viola's website.)

Visit Viola online:
Website * Wade's website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:

Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily met at Camp Birchwood as girls in 1985, where over four summers they were the Clover Girls—inseparable for those magical few weeks of freedom—until the last summer that pulled them apart. Now approaching middle age, the women are facing challenges they never imagined as teens, struggles with their marriages, their children, their careers, and wondering who it is they see when they look in the mirror.

Then Liz, V, and Rachel each receive a letter from Emily with devastating news. She implores the girls who were once her best friends to reunite at Camp Birchwood one last time, to spend a week together revisiting the dreams they’d put aside and repair the relationships they’d allowed to sour. But the women are not the same idealistic, confident girls who once ruled Camp Birchwood, and perhaps some friendships aren’t meant to last forever… (Courtesy of Amazon.)

The Clover Girls-Word Up!
by Wade Rouse

“How do you explain your childhood to your children? How do you explain what John Hughes movies meant to you growing up? It’s like explaining rotary phones, TV antennas, Walkmans, mood rings, typewriters and handwritten directions. 

They meant everything. And even more now.”

So begins my new novel, The Clover Girls, about four very different girls who meet and become best friends at summer camp in the 1980s. It’s an ode to our forever friends, forgiveness and the fragility of life. It’s also an ode to the 1980s.

I came of age in the 1980s, and I owned it!  If you were an ’80s kid like me and The Clover Girls (Emily, Veronica, Rachel and Liz), then you remember all the fashion do’s and don’ts: Feathered hair (that’s ME in the photo!), permed hair, Aqua Net, popped collars, jelly bracelets and jelly shoes, friendship pins, Drakkar Noir, Love’s Baby Soft, Gunne Sax prom dresses, Jordache and Calvin Kleins, deck shoes, Vans, Dynasty, MTV, The Facts of Life, John Hughes movies, malls, Orange Julius, Chess King, Spencer’s … shall I go on?

But music reigned supreme. It was the soundtrack to my life, just as it is to The Clover Girls, who – as girls and women – have an ’80s song to match every emotion and mood. 

Do you remember making mix tapes? 

I used to spend endless hours in my bedroom – staring at the posters of Rick Springfield and Cyndi Lauper on my wall – creating mine. I made them for friends to play in their own bedrooms, or to blast in their cars. I made them for myself to channel my own happiness, sadness, angst, unrequited love. 

I found an old mix tape while writing The Clover Girls. It was squirreled away in an old crate, along with some high school yearbooks, jelly bracelets, a bunch of friendship pins I used to wear on my shoelaces and buttons I used to wear on my favorite jean jacket. I called a friend and listened to it with her, and I nearly cried listening to Whitney and the Cure. All the teen emotions were still there! 

So I decided to make my own mix tape for The Clover Girls (most of the songs are featured in the book). I know I missed a lot of favorites, but I think it’s pretty darn Pretty in Pink memorable. Here’s mine. 

*"Open Arms"-Journey (I sang it for the longest time, “Oh, now you come to me…with broken arms…!”

*"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"- Wham!

*"Holiday"-Madonna

*"Take on Me"-A-ha

*"Total Eclipse of the Heart"-Bonnie Tyler 

*"Walk Like An Egyptian"-The Bangles 

*"Billie Jean"-Michael Jackson 

*"Don’t You (Forget About Me)"-Simple Minds 

*"I Wanna Dance with Somebody"-Whitney Houston

*"Hungry Like the Wolf"-Duran Duran 

*"The Safety Dance"-Men without Hats 

*"Blister in the Sun"-Violent Femmes

*"Addicted to Love"-Robert Palmer 

*"Love Is A Battlefield"-Pat Benatar

*"Word Up"-Cameo

*"Don’t You Want Me?"-The Human League 

*"I Want to Know What Love Is"-Foreigner

*"Don’t Stop Believin’"-Journey

What would your ‘80s mix tape sound like?

BONUS: For everyone who orders a copy of The Clover Girls this week, I will, as a thank-you, mail you a complimentary, personalized bookplate for your copy PLUS some jelly bracelets (to channel the ‘80s nostalgia and to wear while you dance to your jams)! Just email gary [at] violashipman [dot]com. 

I truly hope you love The Clover Girls and that, like a true friendship and the music of the ‘80s, it will remain in your soul forever. 

Thanks to Wade for visiting with us and for sharing Viola's book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

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Giveaway ends June 2nd at midnight EST.

Sara and Melissa talk about...Movies

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. This month we're talking about movies.

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them.

Sara Steven:

My first day of Spring semester at Arizona State University starts today, and one of the “fun” courses I decided to enroll in had been an American Film Musicals class. Given the heavy workload of the other three classes I’m enrolled in, I figured watching musicals wouldn’t be too difficult. I enjoy them immensely, so it wouldn’t be torture, and summarizing or giving my opinion on the dance moves of Fred Astaire or trying to decipher Audrey Hepburn’s quirkiness in My Fair Lady would be a pretty easy task. 

Well, lesson learned: a three credit college course is still a three credit college course. There will be two MLA-formatted papers in my future, as well as a research paper and summaries/reviews of every movie we see this semester--eighteen in total! But, if I had to do it for any genre, I can’t think of a more fun genre. 

The first musical ever for me had been Gigi. It’s still a favorite of mine. My grandmother introduced me to it when I was in elementary school, and to this day, if I ever encounter a dress like the one Leslie Caron wore as Gigi to Maxim’s, it will be mine! 

It’s more than the dress, though. I love all the outfits. I love the Parisian backdrop. I know all of the songs by heart, even now, and just the other day I thought of the legendary Maurice Chevalier remarking on the fact that he’s “glad he’s not young anymore” when I heard my children fighting over something that consequently, didn’t matter too much and would quickly blow over if given another minute or two. 

Gigi opened the door to so many other musicals, and I’ve discovered that while I’ve seen quite a few that are required viewing for my class, there are still quite a few I haven’t seen! 

Some of my favorite film musicals:

Gypsy: Who wouldn’t love Natalie Wood, who goes from tomboy to sexpot while dealing with deep mommy issues with her momager mother?

Mary Poppins: This was a constant while growing up, and I’ve seen it recently after we acquired Disney + for our Roku. While I love Julie Andrews, my favorite character is Bert, played wonderfully by Dick Van Dyke.

The Sound of Music: Another Julie Andrews classic. My favorite song is “So Long, Farewell.”   

Xanadu: Admittedly, it has been nearly four decades since I’ve seen Olivia Newton-John in roller skates. My young parents brought me with them to the movie theater when I was only three, and I can barely remember much of it, other than vibrant colors and the music. I still remember “Magic,” and I get to reacquaint myself with it all this semester, since it’s one of the musicals we’ll be working with.

The Wizard of Oz: I made it a point to watch it every single holiday for several years, when it would air on television.

Grease: Another classic that I have seen several times over the course of my life. Friend and relatives at odd times over the years will break into famous lines and song and phrases, out of the blue. It wasn’t until later in life when I realized what Rizzo meant when she said, “I feel like a defective typewriter. I skipped a period.”    

(Links above are to trailers.)

What are some of your favorite film musicals?

Melissa Amster:

Today I am sharing ten of my favorite movies. Please note that these are just ten movies I love out of many, many more. It's hard to just pick only ten, which is why I don't want to say that these are my only favorites. (Links are to trailers.)

1. Where the Heart Is: I read the book (by Billie Letts) in 1999 and loved it. Then the movie came out in the spring of 2000 and I was excited to see it. The first time, I enjoyed it enough. Then I watched it again when it came out on video (yes, I said video) and fell in love with it. After that, I couldn't stop watching it and it became one of my all time favorite movies. I love James Frain as Forney, with all the curls. 

2. Sing!: I am talking about the film that came out in 1989 (not the animated animal movie). I had read a book called Sing in middle school about a musical competition and someone told me it was a movie, so I knew I just had to watch it. The first time I saw it, I started in the middle where this girl was auditioning for a show by singing "Like a Virgin" really bad. Then I kept watching and knew I had to see it again from the very beginning. After that, I saw it more times than I can even count. I still love it and it makes me smile (and cry) every time I see it. 

3. The Princess Bride: It is inconceivable to me that anyone has NOT seen this movie by now. It's such a classic! Oddly enough, I didn't like it the first time I saw it, when I was eleven years old. I thought some parts were scary. Then I saw it in college and fell in love with it. I watched it all the time and still quote from it a lot. I even have a Westley Funko pop and I read Cary Elwes' movie memoir As You Wish a while back and loved that too. 

4. Girls Just Want to Have Fun: I basically grew up on this movie. My sister and I watched it countless times. We always thought it was hilarious when they were giving everyone invitations to Natalie's party and then all these random people showed up and ruined everything for her. (Natalie was mean to them, so I don't feel guilty about that.) I also thought Jeff was so cute and I was sad that he wasn't in anything else. I will still watch this movie as an adult and I listen to the soundtrack in my car.

5. Dirty Dancing: I fell in love with Dirty Dancing when I first saw it during the summer I turned eleven. I was obsessed after that and watched it all the time. I got the soundtracks, posters, etc. I had such a crush on Patrick Swayze at the time. I still think I look like Jennifer Grey did in that movie. 

6. Wreck-It Ralph: You may be wondering why this is the Disney movie that made it to my list. It's just so funny and clever, with great characters and an interesting plot. I love it every time I see it and I always get teary-eyed at the end. My daughter dressed as Vanellope for Purim one year and I had fun putting together her costume.

7. Ten Things I Hate About You: One of the best teen movies from the nineties. I didn't know what to expect with this one and ended up adoring it the whole way through. I cry every time Kat reads her poem. This was also an introduction to Heath Ledger, who was fabulous as Patrick, not to mention hot! I also enjoyed Bianca's part of the story. 

8. Legally Blonde: Elle Woods was so inspiring to me in this movie and I am not ashamed to admit how much I cried at the end. I also love the Broadway musical version of this movie. Great lines too!

9. 50 First Dates: Find someone who will treat you the way Adam Sandler treats Drew Barrymore in this movie. While it's goofy at times, it's so completely romantic that it's impossible to have dry eyes by the end. 

(Yes, I like movies that make me cry when I least expect them to...)

10. The Shawshank Redemption: Another movie where I'm shocked if someone tells me they haven't seen it yet. I saw it freshman year of college and was so moved by Andy's resolve to escape prison and the lives he impacts while he is there. It's just so well told and the casting is fantastic. I never read the book, but I don't really need to after seeing the movie so many times. 

Tell us about your favorite movies!

Tracy Krimmer takes us back in time....plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to welcome Tracy Krimmer back to CLC today. Her latest novel, The (Un)fortunate Fall published today and it's the second in the Rewind series. While it can be read as a standalone, it may contain spoilers for The Mash-Up Summer (reviewed here). Fortunately, Tracy has an e-book of The Mash-Up Summer for a lucky reader!

Here's what Sara had to say about The (Un)fortunate Fall: “It doesn’t take a fortune teller to predict how incredibly funny and charming The (Un)fortunate Fall is. I appreciated the unconventional manner in which Vivienne finds herself within a new potential romance, but what I love even more are the tight-knit relationships she has with her friends, the kind of friendships we all aspire to have in our own lives.”

In honor of this publication, Tracy has a fun guest post for us about all things nostalgic. 

Tracy Krimmer loves coffee, books, and naps, and not necessarily in that order. She's convinced Drew Barrymore is her best friend--Drew just doesn't know it yet. Besides reading, she loves 80s and 90s music and binge-watching a great show on Netflix or Hulu.

Visit Tracy online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:

Vivienne James loves going to the mall, but she's not there to spend her own money. As a personal shopper and owner of her own business, Exquisite by Viv, she's on the prowl for the latest and greatest items for her most exclusive clientele. When she bumps into Cal McDonald, Vice-President of a local bank, she's intrigued by his smile and charm. But she doesn’t expect him to offer her a job as his personal assistant, especially when an adult toy she purchased for her client comes flying out of her bag.

Vivienne's business means the world to her, but Cal's offer is so tempting. Unsure of what to do, her best friend makes her a paper fortune teller to guide her. The result is a promising future where all her dreams come true. Though she’d rather focus her efforts on individual clients and building a portfolio, Cal’s proposition ticks a lot of boxes and is in line with her fortune teller. It seems like a no-brainer.

But right when Vivienne’s decision is made, her family becomes caught in the middle of a heated political campaign with an unexpected opponent. Everything is falling apart, and Vivienne needs to pull together her life and her family before her business falls apart. Can Vivienne succeed at both or will her fortune teller lead her to ultimate failure? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

Tracy Krimmer’s Top Five Things From the 80s & 90s
If there is anything I love more than a great book, it’s a throwback to the eighties and nineties, which is one reason I love The Goldbergs so much. The ABC show takes us back to 1980-something in every episode. Each time I watch the show, there is always a reminder of those days. I love it. 

I tend to clump the two decades together. I view the eighties and nineties as one in the same. There is so much to love about them both. Honestly, a top-five list of my favorite things from those decades is impossible. I’ll share some of my favorites, but know that the list is more like one-hundred items long! If you follow me on Facebook, I often post some of my favorites.

Jelly Shoes. They were squishy and came in many colors. I loved these shoes and thought they were so cool, and I was, too, for having them. I wasn’t if you haven’t guessed.

Riding my bike everywhere. Wow, have times changed. I’d tell my mom I was going to ride my bike and disappear for hours. That doesn’t happen anymore. 

Magazines. I loved Teen Beat and Bop. In the “old days,” we decorated our rooms by tearing out photos from magazines and hanging them all over the walls! I can still picture Corey Haim on my wall.

Roller Skating. This was one of my favorite things to do with my cousins. My aunt would drop us off for an afternoon of skating. Once I got into high school, I started attending All Night Skates!

The music. Honestly, there is nothing like music from the eighties and early nineties. I was obsessed with Debbie Gibson, New Kids on the Block, and Madonna. I had all their cassette tapes (yes, tapes!)

I could go on and on listing Trapper Keepers, after-school specials, slap bracelets, and more. There was so much to love about that time period. I miss those simpler days. 

I’m in my forties now, and I wonder if the time I grew up in was simpler or just the innocence of childhood makes it seem that way. Either way, whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed by today’s technology, political debates (ahem, arguments), and life in general, I know I can always look back on that time fondly.

Thanks to Tracy for visiting with us and for sharing her book with our readers.

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Giveaway ends November 1st at midnight EST.

Chick Lit Cheerleader: Where's the popcorn?

Introduction by Melissa Amster

I recently saw a post about movies that came out 30 years ago and got all nostalgic. I can't believe Dirty Dancing, The Princess Bride, Adventures in Babysitting, Overboard, and Spaceballs are all included!

Our Chick Lit Cheerleader is here today to make us feel even more nostalgic about movies.

Movies That Shape Us

When I was eight years old, I wanted to be Olivia Newton-John. The hot pants and stilettos she wore in the hit musical Grease might’ve been a little much for me to wear as a second grader, yet I have the blonde hair going for me, which is nice. In the mid 1970’s, that was enough to win the coveted role of Sandy Olsson when playing Rydell High with the girls in my Naperville neighborhood. Some didn’t think that automatically made me Danny Zuko’s girlfriend (point taken), but that’s when I pulled the “I’m older than you so I’m making the rules” clause.  

Movies shape us—the ones we love and ones we loathe. The flicks we quote on cue. The ones we immediately freeze the T.V. on when flipping channels. The ones we wouldn’t watch again if you paid us—cough—Last Action Hero—cough. Since we’re amid awards season, let’s keep the red carpet rolling with the Films Jen Loves from Her First Twenty Years of Life category. Wouldn’t it make a stellar Jeopardy category? Probably more fitting of an SNL sketch. Probably.

• The Natural (1984)- I grew up watching my dad play baseball in a league with his engineering cohorts. A rabid Detroit Tigers fan, my mom made sure I knew coach Sparky Anderson chewed sunflower seeds, not tobacco. And then there’s the movie’s lead, Robert Redford—swoon! He plays an extremely talented player who comes to the game at an age when most are hanging up their cleats. It’s not just about baseball; you’ll find love, mystery, and some dastardly devils as well.  
• Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)- This doesn’t require an explanation, right? It’s chocolate and Gene Wilder magic when a down-on-his-luck yet ever hopeful boy wins the equivalent of the 1971 HGTV dream home and an Undercover Boss career of a lifetime!
• The Accidental Tourist (1988)- Kooky Muriel Pritchett (Gina Davis) woos a travel guide writer (William Hurt) who’s mourning the loss of his son while his marriage unravels. The frailty and strength of these characters has stuck with me for almost 30 years, as well as, “Muriel. Muriel Pritchett. Remember, Muriel Pritchett.”
• Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope (1977)- A princess, a Wookiee, a suave yet cocky pilot, and a Jedi-in-training walk into a battle station… Sounds like the beginning of a joke, right? I had never seen anything like this sci-fi, cinematic masterpiece before it premiered in 1977. Let’s talk about badass princesses for a minute—Princess Leia was a rebel in the best way possible and her action figure became my favorite go-to toy, besting Barbie, for a long time. At my house, Leia commanded the Millennium Falcon, not Han Solo. Just saying.  
• The Bad News Bears (1977)- Heh-heh. Beer chugging Coach Buttermaker and his merry band of little leaguers, who swear like sailors, team up to take us out to the ballgame. Don’t tell my parents, but I saw this movie with my cousins when it was released. Even though I’m 46-years-young, they’d be mortified.
• Animal House (1978)- Speaking of movies that would make my mother gasp that I watched with my cousins, let’s add Animal House to the mix. Oh, the tale as old as time of a fraternity trying to escape double-secret probation. My husband has laid down the law with our son, a high school senior, that this movie is a college prerequisite. I’m so proud of his parenting choices…sometimes.    
• Caddyshack (1980)- If you didn’t catch the earlier “Carl” reference about the time he shared space with the Dali Lama, then you just might need to watch Caddyshack. A coming of age, teen-angst comedy starring heavy hitters Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield, and the iconic Bill Murray—who have their own issues—show us the other side of country club living in the 1980’s. I never ate a Baby Ruth candy bar before seeing this film, and I still maintain that perfect record.  Ew!
• Dumbo (1941) - I sobbed, and I sobbed, and I sobbed the first time I watched Dumbo as a little girl. I still do. Much like Dorothy had the power to leave Oz and return home to Kansas the entire time, Mrs. Jumbo’s baby-mine had the power to fly without Timothy Mouse’s feather. You know that one thing you feel like you can’t accomplish? If Dumbo can fly, you can fly, too!
• St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)- “It’s not easy being me.” If you’ve ever heard me say this phrase, now you know its origin. Recent college graduates attempt to find their place in the world after graduation. In other words, adulting is hard. The ties that bind them are also the same bonds that drive wedges between these friends. And then there’s sweaty, pretty, and timeless Rob Lowe playing the saxophone. It’s a not a bad thing.
• Herbie The Love Bug (1968)- The reason I’ve always wanted a Volkswagen Beetle. The good news is my friend, Nikki, just bought one and I plan on living vicariously through her. This slug bug had heart and soul, plenty of spunk, and seemed to always find a way to fight through the toughest of situations to cross the finish line. A nice transferable sentiment to real-life from reel life.
• Back to The Future (1985)- Who’d a thunk you could make a time machine out of a DeLorean! Michael J. Fox takes the epic journey we’ve all been curious about. If we could travel back in time, what future occurrences might we disrupt in our lives or the lives of others? For better or for worse? “You are my density.”   

It’s difficult for me to keep the list abbreviated yet must for editorial reasons. I’m hoping you’ll chime in with some of your favorites! Mainstream or obscure, I want to hear all about those one-liners you know and love, and the flicks you feel defined a specific time in your life. Remember, what makes us all amazing is our diversity. It’s OK if you don’t have the same passion for Jaws, The Wizard of OZ, Weekend at Bernie’s, or Nightmare on Elm Street that I do. I hope you’ll mention some flicks I’ve forgotten about—my grey matter isn’t what it used to be.

You heard Jen! Please comment about your favorite films. We'd love to hear from you.

Jen Tucker is the author of the funny and true stories, The Day I Wore My Panties Inside Out and The Day I Lost My Shaker of Salt. In September 2012, she had her children's book, Little Pumpkin published as an e-book. She also blogs monthly for Survival for Blondes. She currently lives in Indiana with her husband, three kids and two dogs. You can find her at Twitter, Facebook, her blog and on her website. And in case you missed them. check out her previous Chick Lit Cheerleader posts here.

'80s vs '90s with CLC!

This was such a fun theme that some of us decided to share our lists!

Favorite things about the '80s

Melissa A:

Movies: Soooo many to name...Back to the Future, Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Moving Violations, The Princess Bride, Sing!, Annie, Sixteen Candles, Spaceballs, Little Shop of Horrors, Lucas, Overboard, etc.

V.C. Andrews novels: Some may have originated in the '70s, but I started reading them in the late '80s and couldn't get enough.

Full House: It started in the '80s and went through part of the '90s. I loved having a show where there was a character around my age through whom I could live vicariously. And Uncle Jesse was definitely eye candy!



Music: Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Wham, Billy Joel, Toto, Debbie Gibson, and, of course, New Kids on the Block!

Cabbage Patch Kids: My sister and I had a bunch of them and we would play house.

Melissa S:

Punky Brewster: I used to love this show and couldn't wait for it to come on every week. My favorite part about it was her bedroom! It was so cool and different.



John Hughes movies: Who didn't dream of being a character in one of his movies? The breakfast club always made me excited to be a teenager and get to high school.

Garbage Pail Kids: I had so much fun collecting these when I was in grade school. We would trade them with friends for the ones we still needed and line them all up and laugh at the silly (and gross) names and pictures.

Croonchy Stars cereal: I always loved the Swedish chef from the Muppets and when this cinnamon cereal came out, I would always beg my mom to get it for us!



Herself the Elf doll: I had the record that went along with this whimsical little doll. She was always my favorite and I still say that if I were to have a little girl, her room would be decorated in a Herself the Elf theme.


Jami:

Soap operas: The 1980s were the heyday of ABC soaps. Ryan’s Hope, All My Children, One Life to Live, Edge of the Night, and of course record-breaking General Hospital made it hard to leave your house in the afternoon for most of the decade.

Teen movies: Thanks to John Hughes, the '80s were best known for high-school based gems like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Amy Heckerling’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High also came out in this decade. With no movies like these since, even today’s teenagers can quote Ferris Bueller as well as their parents can.

Madonna-inspired fashion: I couldn’t pull it off, but I admired those who could!

The Washington Redskins: They were in three Super Bowls and won two of them.

Dirty Dancing: My all-time favorite movie. No one puts Baby in a corner. Not even Emily Gilmore.




Favorite things about the '90s

Melissa A:

RENT! Need I say more? "When you're living in America, at the end of the millenium..."



Friends: No matter how much I loved TV in the '90s, Friends was an icon!



Music: Nirvana, Alanis Morissette, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Jewel, Counting Crows, No Doubt, Green Day, Natalie Imbruglia, Collective Soul, Jill Sobule, Better than Ezra, 10,000 Maniacs, Live, Barenaked Ladies, etc. Check out my blog series about the fabulous music from this decade.

Disney animated films: Since teen movies didn't start up again until I was in college, I had Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King to keep me entertained when I was in high school (and a bit beyond). I also love Hercules and I somewhat count The Little Mermaid since I didn't see it until it came out on VHS in 1990. (These two movies are similar in a lot of ways.)

Bridget Jones's Diary: My introduction to chick lit. I was laughing out loud and getting looks from people when I read it.

Melissa S:

Beverly Hills 90210: My friends and I watched this religiously every Wednesday night and would order pizza and sodas while awaiting the drama that was sure to unfold.



Michael Jordan: Growing up in Chicago, almost everyone was obsessed with him. Enough said.

Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill: This album came out when I was in high school and epitomized the 1990's teenage angst every girl has felt at least once in high school.



Gameboy: I loved playing Tetris on my Gameboy after school.

Christopher Pike's "Remember Me" trilogy: These books drew me in and I couldn't wait to start the next one in the series.

Jami:

AOL: Don’t laugh, but I still have my AOL email address. AOL helped change the internet from something only wonks and professionals used, to the consumer-driven service it is today. I met some of my best friends for the first time online, and keep in touch with everyone I know that way. Those free computer discs will forever have a place in my heart.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards: The retro-looking baseball field opened in 1992 and quickly became a model for every new baseball stadium since. Plus they have crab-topped pretzels.

Y2K mania: Who could forget the fun of living in a year where everyone thought society was going to collapse due to a few lines of computer code that were too short?

If you have about 20 minutes, take a trip back...


The Clinton Administration: Eight years of peace and prosperity, headed by a self-indulgent baby boomer, the wife who’d married beneath her, and the Vice President married to the woman who invented warning labels for record albums. Oh for the days when the biggest thing we had to worry about in politics was a stained blue dress. (Here is our reviewer Denise's post about it.)

Harry Potter: I read mostly adult fiction, but no series has captured my attention the way Harry Potter did-- especially the first three books, which were released in the '90s.

What are some of YOUR favorite things from the '80s and '90s? Did anything on this list stand out to you?

Go-to-Gay: Waxing (on and off) Nostalgic

This post really needs no introduction from us. Keith, take it away!

Oh, 1980s and 1990s, how I miss thee! I was born in 1970, so by the time I was ready to be a real kid, let alone a teenager, the '80s were my jam. Life changed so fast in the 1990s the decade could be split into three distinct eras for me: college, first marriage, coming out of the closet.

There are so many things I miss about these decades narrowing down a list of five items from each is HARD, but my editor wouldn’t allow my “1,000 things I Miss About the '80s and '90s” post, so I narrowed my choices down to a more reasonable post-sized register.

Let’s start with the 1980s

Generra Clothing Hypercolor Shirts

This space-age, totally rad, and unbelievably cool clothing technology rocked my core when it was introduced. The shirts would actually change color based on your body heat. It was tie-dye for the modern age. It was like nothing I had ever seen, and I had to have one.

CBS Special Presentation Announcement

When this fast paced, 10-second jewel of percussion and horns came blaring into your living room from the television, you knew you were in for a treat. Most likely, the Wizard of Oz or A Charlie Brown holiday special was getting ready to air. And the thing was, THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME YOU COULD SEE IT. It was only aired once a year. You couldn’t just buy it at the local TG & Y (or whatever store your town had pre-Walmart). I remember always having to have had my bath and be in my pajamas before that lead-in came on so I could be sure to enjoy all of the special, which in the case of The Wizard of Oz always ran past my bedtime.



The Trapper Keeper

Quite possibly, the best organizing tool ever invented. I would have never made it through school without a Trapper Keeper. In fact, I could use one right now. Are these still made?!

Plaque Indicator Tablets

These ingenious torture devices were always the true test of your tooth brushing ability. I am pretty sure dentists slipped these pink tablets to parents while we unsuspecting kids were still in the examination chair. In case you’ve forgotten, you would chew the tablet, then spit it out. The pink would cling to the parts of your teeth that had not been properly brushed and were still plaque-ridden. I hated it then, but now, I would love to have some.

Mix Tapes

I can’t tell you how many countless hours I spent listening to my local radio station in hopes of catching that one song that I needed to complete the mix tape I was making. If you have done this, you also know the horror of the cassette tape running out of room in the middle of the recording and having to start waiting all over again. Thankfully, I called the radio station so often to request songs in the 80’s, my favorite DJ, the Lizard, would often throw the song in question back on the turntable fairly soon as a favor to me. Loyalty matters, kids.

Now, moving on the 90’s. A different decade, a different time.

Computer Labs

No one had his own computer back in the early 90’s. If you had a project or paper due for a class in college, there was only one place to go: the computer lab. There you would sit and insert your ginormous floppy discs and do your work. The best part of the lab was the diversity of the people there. It was like a real-life Breakfast Club. There was always a jock who was basically trying to get someone else to do his paper for him. There was the nerd who did her campus work-study as the computer lab attendant, and would help you insert your floppy into the drive while rolling her eyes. It didn’t matter what category of student you fell into, you eventually ended up in the computer lab the day before your deadline.

Blue’s Clues

OK, give me this one. I know some of you are parents who probably had to watch this show over and over and over and over. I don’t have kids. I do have nieces and nephews who grew up with Blue and Steve, and I LOVED to watch the show with them. I just loved everything about it. Steve was so cute and funny. He should have never left the show. I don’t want to know what he is doing now, but I am sure I would be disappointed. I just want my fond memories of good, curious Blue and cute, adorable Steve.

AOL

Was there anything more exciting or more frustrating than the noise of trying to connect to America Online through your telephone line? And once you finally connected, WOW! You could chat with people from all over the world. You could look up anything that you wanted and have the answers immediately. Mind. Blown.

I will also admit that my main email account is still an AOL account. Don’t judge me. I am happy with it.

Meg Ryan Movies

I loved Meg Ryan movies so hard. OK, technically When Harry Met Sally came out in 1989, but then followed Sleepless in Seattle, Joe Versus the Volcano, Prelude to a Kiss, You’ve Got Mail.... The list goes on and on. She was my 1990’s sweetheart.

Alt-Angsty Rock

I’m the first to tell you that I am a pop music kinda guy. I don’t care. I like it. BUT, some 90’s artists tapped into something deep inside me that needed released. When I get in certain moods today, I still go to Alanis Morrisette, The Verve, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Bens Fold Five, and R.E.M. I mean, sometimes you just have to let out that demon.




What have I missed? What do you miss most about the two decades that shaped so much of our lives? Let me know!

Keith Stewart is the author of Bernadette Peters Hates Me – True Tales of a Delusional Man. A native of Appalachia, he splits his time between his hometown of Hyden and nearby Lexington, Kentucky. His blog is www.astrongmanscupoftea.com . You can find him on Twitter at @Shiglyogly and Facebook at @AMSCOT (A Strong Man’s Cup of Tea). He is a regular contributor to HumorOutcasts.com and the GoodMenProject.com. He lives with his husband, Andy, and their two dogs, Duke and Dudley.

Tracy Krimmer's Decadent Decades...plus a book giveaway

We're glad to have Tracy Krimmer back at CLC today. This time, she's talking about our theme topic, '80s vs '90s. Her latest book, Lipstick & Lattes recently came out on Kindle and we're excited to read it, given how much we enjoy her other novels!

To celebrate her visit, Tracy has TWO e-books of Dating For Decades (reviewed here) to give away, since this is a "decades" post.

Visit Tracy at her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Synopsis:
Whitney only needs two things to survive -- a steaming cup of coffee and the opportunity to create art with makeup. But until her big break comes along, she's stuck selling makeup at the mall.

While out at a nightclub dancing her cares away, Whitney catches a fleeting glance of a man she's convinced is Prince Charming himself, but she misses her chance to talk to him. How will she find him now? Taking a wild chance, she places an online ad and her dreams come true when he appears.

Only fairy tales aren't what they seem. As Whitney struggles to deal with the vast amount of changes in her life, her Prince is up against some losses in his, widening the gap between them. The only answer to their problems lies right in front of their faces. Can they figure it out before it's too late? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

I love the '80s and '90s—does anyone remember those shows on VH-1, or is it only me? Melissa has asked me to name five of my top things from the '80s and five from the '90s. Only five! There is no way to narrow this down. I’ll give you five, but trust me...there are a ton more!

Five Favorites from the '80s

1. New Kids on the Block – I was seven years old when they exploded onto the scene and Joey stole my heart. I never got to see them live. My cool, young aunt took all my cousins, but my mom said I was too young. I’m still mad about that.



2. The tire jungle gym—When I was a kid, we didn’t have these outrageous play sets at school. We either hid in the tires in the big tire gym, used the swings, or sat on the big, green box in the middle of the playground.

3. Making up dances—When my friend Josie came over, we would always make up dances in the basement. I was a horrible dancer, but we passed so much time choreographing, and at times, pretending we were in a music video.

4. Charm Necklaces—These were awesome. Bright colored gems, like roller skates, guitars, or whistles filled your chainlink necklace.

5. Double Dare—This was the coolest show ever. Families competed against other families in a question like format and then were challenged in a messy obstacle course.



Five Favorites from the '90s

1. Scholastic Book Fair—Once I was reading novels, I didn’t stop. When the book fair came to my school, I found every reason to go multiple times a day and after school.

2. Recording from the radio—Back when iTunes or Spotify didn’t exist, we were forced to sit in front of our boombox and press record when the DJ played our favorite song. The worst part was when the DJ talked during the song, ruining it!

3. Fitness TV—When my brother started high school, I was in seventh grade. When he attended summer school before his freshman year, I spent two hours watching fitness shows and exercising. I miss swimsuits with tights and leg warmers!

4. Jerry Springer—We all loved to watch this train wreck unfold. It’s probably a tie with Springer and The Ricki Lake Show. I rushed home from school to watch these.

Watch at your own risk:


5. Texting, or as it was back then, notes. After writing a note to a friend you would fold it into a weird triangle format that you could easily shove into your pocket or a locker.

This is a short list of everything. Some honorable mentions combining the '80s and '90s: Chinese Jump Rope, Cat’s Cradle, Trapper Keepers, cheesy scary movies, Swan’s Crossing, corded phones.

Thanks to Tracy for chatting about the decades with us and for sharing Dating for Decades with our readers!



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