Kardashian, K., Kardashian, K. and Kardashian, K. (2011). Dollhouse. NY: William Morrow.
While this novel doesn't technically qualify as a work of young adult literature, its likely YA readership, combined with its "privileged YA" plot, makes it a reasonable addition to this blog. Also, when I saw the Kardashian sisters' novel on the "new books" shelf of my library, I just had to read it. Ostensibly written by all three Kardashians (the authors thank their "collaborator," a person I presume actually put pen to paper here, in their acknowledgements on the novel's final pages), Dollhouse follows the exploits of a blended family featuring three gorgeous sisters whose names all start with "K" (here, the girls are called Kamille, Kassidy, and Kyle) and headed by a former sports star patriarch. After Kamille is discovered my a model scout, she quickly ascends the ladder of fame and the trio of sisters must now deal with Kamille's crazy schedule and accompanying paparazzi. Still angry over her father's death, Kyle specializes in being a general fuck-up. When her parents mandate tutoring by her stepbrother, sparks begin to fly. Kassidy, meanwhile, struggles to keep up her grades at USC while managing the family restaurant, never mind that she hasn't had a date in years. A new beau for Kamille, a shocking hookup for Kassidy, a forbidden pregnancy and a wedding follow.
I must say, I don't believe that this book was actually written by the Kardashians. Whoever did write it is certainly not a poor author, and the book reads like any other mid-range chick lit. Of course, the fun here is in guessing which aspects of the fictional sisters' lives mirror the lives of the real Kardashians. It goes without saying that Kamille = Kim; Kassidy = Kourtney, and Kyle = Khloe. The major departure from reality seemed to be in the characterization of Kassidy/Kourtney; in the novel, Kassidy is a smart and successful college student, and dowdy to boot. That certainly doesn't sound like the Kourtney we all know and love! For those looking for an inside scoop on Kardashian life, the novel offers little in the way of celeb secrets. It does, however, offer an in-print depiction of the trio whose lives–as they play out on TV, anyway–pretty much resemble chick lit already. In other words, for chick lit fans and fans of the sisters K, this narrative is not new.
