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 Spin: A Novel by Robert Rave

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Hardcover Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN13: 9780312544362
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Taylor Green is a corn-fed young man from the Midwest who stumbles into New York without a clue, a contact, or a proper wardrobe. Through true serendipity (or possibly misfortune), he is hired by the outrageous, Jennifer Weinstein, the sleepless city’s most notorious public relations diva. Quickly morphed into her most trusted assistant and confidante, Taylor is sucked into a whirlwind of restaurant openings, gossip columnists, and fashion shows. Suddenly Taylor is in the core of a world he never knew existed, a world of sex, greed, power, and fame, that's ruled by Jennie Weinstein herself. Under Jennie’s guidance, Taylor quickly discovers that there isn’t a catastrophe, betrayal, or person that can’t be spun to suit the client’s needs. The perks are sweet: rubbing elbows (and other appendages) with big-name celebrities, the sudden opening of velvet ropes, and thousands of dollars worth of free designer duds. But like all swag, it comes at a price, and Taylor struggles to balance his own definition of sanity with that of Jennie’s drug-fuelled, high-intensity world.
The stakes only get higher as Taylor rapidly climbs New York's social ladder and Jennie's assignments become increasingly bizarre. Finally, when his relentless pursuit of “spin” threatens to spin his own life totally out of control, Taylor is forced to decide whether the cutthroat ends of a top public relations business justify the diabolical and often hilarious means to a successful career. Funny, sexy, and irresistibly dishy, Spin is a shocking look behind the scenes of the glittering celebrity world.
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Get it! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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If you're looking for a book that will keep you reading and that you won't want to put done until you're finished----pick up Robert Rave's "Spin." You won't want to put down. It's an inside look at the NY public relations business-and celebrity "news" will never the be same.
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| Blind Item Betty |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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As a girl that has lived in both NY and LA and works in the "industry" I loved the "dish" aspects of the book. I've run across MANY of these characters and it's nice to read a book that shows that their lives are messed up as their personalities. I also have a new found respect for PR people. In a society where we think celebrities are gods this book showed me that they would be NOTHING without at PR team behind them. The dirty work and damage control specialists really know how to make a star and reading Spin will teach everyone a few tricks that you can apply to your daily life (you will never have to wait in line at a club anymore) As an avid reader I loved the pace, style, and emotional attachments the reader develops with all the characters (even the "evil" ones) I wasn't expecting to become so invested in the success of Taylor (the main character) and his co workers. What I was expecting was great summer read. Now that I'm finished not only do I miss their world I'm left wanting so much more. I hated The Devil Wears Prada (the book) I thought it was poorly written and not very developed. The movie was much better. This book isn't written like some students creative writing essay or a Conde NastY interns journal with a cover it's a novel and it's absolutely wonderful
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| Couldn't put it down! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Spin was probably my favorite book of 2009 hands down. If you love reading US Weekly and Perez Hilton you'll absolutely get a kick out of reading Spin. It's a quick, fun read but definitely different from other novels of the "chick lit" genre. The fact that the protaganist is male sets Spin apart right away (nice change to see a male point of view). I also loved that you never know whether or not Taylor will choose the right path - even the ending leaves things a bit open.
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| Spin |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Not knowing much about the PR business, this book pretty much blew my mind. I knew that a lot of stuff goes on behind the scenes, but I didn't know to what extent. Spin is a shocking and hilarious look at the shifty world of fashion, film, and celebs and a book that I won't soon forget!
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| A terrific debut novel from a very promising young writer. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I have to admit, I initially harbored deep reservations about reading "Spin: A Novel". I was never a fan of the "Boss from hell" subgenre, and what little open-mindedness I'd possessed had already been sapped by the collective (not to mention bitter... and whiney) sense of entitlement spewing forth from the pages of such precursors as "The Nanny Diaries" and - most egregiously - "The Devil Wears Prada". (Trust me - the movie was far superior.) But, on the recommendation of not one, but two friends, I decided to give "Spin" a... well, spin.
I am happy to report that I was completely and pleasantly surprised. The book follows a familiar premise - protagonist (in this case a male who is appropriately named Taylor Green) miraculously lands highly coveted job, ends up working for the personification of Satan who ironically is the gatekeeper to the protagonist's idea of Eden, gets metaphorically seduced by new boss and the lifestyle she represents and eventually reaches a moral fork in the road, at which point the protagonist must decide whether or not to battle for or relinquish his soul.
What makes "Spin" different is two things: First, author Robert Rave has a distinctive voice: sardonic and breezy, knowing and insightful, but never facile or glib. As he self-assuredly guides us through the highs and lows (Oh, the lows!) of Taylor's misadventures in the crass world of public relations, the character never loses his dignity or the reader's sympathy, even at his most cringe-worthy moments (and trust me, there are many). The drama is always tinged with a touch of humor and the humor is never without a hint of pathos. And while Mr. Rave has clearly logged real time hours in this world, the book never comes off as pandering or vengeful and in turn his lead character avoids reading as a victim. It's a tricky balancing act, but one the author pulls off beautifully.
More importantly - and this is what sets "Spin" apart from its forebears - is the novel's serendipitously timely message: no matter what your circumstance, you and you alone are responsible for your destiny. It doesn't matter who you work for or what you do, the only person who can hold you back, corrupt your soul or allow you to fly is your own self. It is a very powerful message, one I feel the other books in this subgenre, in their rush to blame everyone or everything else in this world, miss entirely.
All that aside, "Spin: A Novel" was a fun, terrific read, a book I was loath to put down even as I was bracing myself for Taylor's next soul-compromising assignment. Not only do I highly recommend "Spin: A Novel", I also find myself eager to see what wickedly poignant confection Mr. Rave publishes next.
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