Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Body Shop Review and Giveaway...

The Body Shop:Parties, Pills, and Pumping Iron-Or, My Life In the Age of Muscle
Author:Paul Solotaroff
Category: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY, SPORTS & RECREATION
Format: HARDCOVER BOOK
Publish Date: 7/26/2010
Price: $24.99
ISBN: 9780316011013
Pages: 304
Size: 6" x 9-1/4"

Synopsis:
As a scrawny college freshman in the mid-1970s, just before Arnold Schwarzenegger became a hero to boys everywhere and Pumping Iron became a cult hit, Paul Solotaroff discovered weights and steroids. In a matter of months, he grew from a dorky beanpole into a hulking behemoth, showing off his rock hard muscles first on the streets of New York City and then alongside his colorful gym-rat friends in strip clubs and in the homes of the gotham elite. It was a swinging time, when "Would you like to dance?" turned into "Your place or mine?" and the guys with the muscles had all the ladies--until their bodies, like Solotaroff''s, completely shut down. But this isn't the gloom-and-doom addiction one might expect--Solotaroff looks back at even his lowest points with a wicked sense of humor, and he sends up the disco era and its excess with all the kaleidoscopic detail of Boogie Nights or Saturday Night Fever. Written with candor and sarcasm, THE BODY SHOP is a memoir with all the elements of great fiction and dazzlingly displays Paul Solotaroff's celebrated writing talent.

What we thought:
I was an 80s baby, so I don't recall any of the disco-era, but oh, my what a fun and crazy time it must have been! This book describes perfectly what I imagine that time was like and you really get sucked into it. I had to keep reminding myself it was based on a true story, because seriously, the author's life plays out like fiction! It definitely reminded me of Boogie Nights:) Paul Solotaroff has a very colorful and descriptive style of writing and keeps you interested with his vivid imagery, wit and sarcasm. ABCD Diaries gives The Body Shop an A!

Buy It: You can get your hands on your very own copy of The Body Shop at your local book store or online book seller:)

Win It: Hatchette Book Group has generously offered two ABCD Diaries readers a copy of The Body Shop!! To enter, comment below telling us whether or not YOU remember the 70s:)

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Giveaway ends Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 11:59cst. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US residents 18+:)

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a copy of this book for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

31 comments:

  1. Okay, so I wasnt around in the 70's... BUT! I have heard of Paul Solotaroff and my fave books are bio! So I want to try to win it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was a little kid in the 70's so I remember a few things.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't. I wasn't born until 84. ;) All the same I'd love to read this.

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow on gfc.

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a little young to remember the 70's, because I was born in the 80's, but I learned a lot from my parents!!!
    orangeaugust@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was already following you on google friend connect.
    orangeaugust@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I subscribe through google reader feed
    orangeaugust@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I follow on google reader
    orangeaugust@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I follow you on twitter
    aprilpachuta
    orangeaugust@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I entered your Mederm giveaway
    orangeaugust@yahoo.com

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  11. I entered the Maggie's Laundry giveaway.
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  12. I entered the Yum YUm Pendants giveawayh
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  14. I entered Bath Luxe giveaway
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  15. I was not born until the 80's!

    frugalsciencegal [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Follow you on GFC

    frugalsciencegal [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Follow you on twitter @FrugalScience

    frugalsciencegal [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Entered into Digital room giveaway

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  23. Entered into Yumyum pendants

    frugalsciencegal [at] gmail [dot] com

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  24. I was only around for a year of the 70's so what I remember is from what I heard about it from relatives

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Tweeted

    http://twitter.com/parkerozgood/status/20249662884

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I do not because I did not enter until the 80s eaglesforjack@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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