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 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.
Author of two novels SPIN: A Novel; WAXED from St. Martin's Press. First non-fiction CONVERSATIONS AND COSMOPOLITANS from St. Martin's 11/11
From my official bio: Robert Rave is a former publicist who worked on numerous public relations campaigns and high profile special events in the lifestyle, fashion, nightlife and entertainment industries. Before heading up his own boutique firm, Robert began his career as a publicist at some of New York's most best known and prominent agencies. Robert currently lives in Los Angeles, CA and has retired from the sort of “spin” he writes about in SPIN.
From my real life bio: Robert Rave stares at the computer for hours before writing. He can be found on any given weekend watching marathon reality TV programming on Bravo. Robert has a major thing for chocolate chip cookies (although now they're vegan). He falls asleep every night to the sound of 2 snoring French Bulldogs. Robert Rave also has started talking about himself in the third person. Uh oh.
If there was a 3.5 I would of probably given it that, however as that is not possible this book was more of a 3 than a 4.
I felt this book was very similar to both The Nanny Diaries, and Devil Wears Prada with the protagonist being a fish out of water employee trying to deal with their awful boss. However unlike the other stories where I was rooting for the main character, I just couldn't really get behind Taylor. It is hard to root for someone when they only pick up bad habits through the course of a story, and instead of trying to better them self, they end up following a path similar to the one the awful boss is on.
Aside from the issues I had with the character of Taylor, there were many enjoyable things in the book. Jennie's antics were amusing, and I couldn't wait to find out what she pulled next. The character of Mia was also very well written and likeable. Adam was also a great character and his story with his roommate seemed like it would be interesting, however it really never got developed much.
In all I'm very torn on this book. There were things I really liked, but at the same time it's hard to really enjoy a story when you aren't a fan of the main character. Hopefully the sequel to this story will see Taylor doing some more positive growing, rather than picking up bad habits.
Do not read this book if you're looking for something insightful or meaningful. Spin is fun, but that's about all it is. I found myself 3/4's of the way through not caring about what happened to any of the characters. The hero takes no initiative or stand against anything. He plays the game and ends up the same way as the people who he judges in the beginning of the story. I gave this book away when I was finished as I know that I will never read it again.
Taylor Green has lived a sheltered life. He is taken by surprise when he moves to the Big Apple and gets hired on as a Junior Account Executive at the notorious public relations company of Jennifer Weinstein. Jennifer is the biggest diva. She just may be bigger than the clients she represents. It isn’t long before Taylor gets swept up into the catty world of backstabbing, rumors, parties, and the all around kookiness that is the pr world of celebrities.
Spin is Mr. Rave's debut novel. Spin is a combination of Friends and Sex in the City. It had that witty humor that I love, in addition to fabulous clothes and lots of juicy gossip. There were times when it felt like the characters were having weird acid trip moments. Which they probably were as it is easy when you are famous or hang around famous people to have access to all kinds of stuff. Though those times made for some very interesting moments…like the time when Taylor came walking out of a woman’s bathroom stall in high heels. I did find some of the characters to be a little too much into themselves for me. Taylor seemed like a likeable guy but I wanted to see him emerge more and stand up for himself. He did do this towards the end. I hope in the next book that he is as big as a persona as Jennifer, even though Ms. Weinstein is a b*tch.
Even though I’m not in the chick-lit age group, I have to admit, I enjoy these type of books. Entertaining and juicy, SPIN took me from my ‘mom, baby boomer world’ into the highfalutin, glamorous and cut-throat world of New York’s elite. If you liked SEX AND THE CITY (the series - never read the book) and DEVIL WEARS PRADA, you’ll probably enjoy SPIN. A fun, easy and fast read.
Robert Rave, Author Spin St. Martin’s Press, ISBN 978-0-312-54436-2 Fiction Humor, 342 pages Marnie Black-Publicist marnieblack@yahoo.com August 2009 Review for Bookpleasures Reviewer-Michelle Kaye Malsbury, BSBM, MM Review Robert Rave, author of Spin, was previously a publicist based out of New York City. He has worked extensively in the field of public relations and helped pull together many high-brow events from political campaigns and fundraisers to fashion shows and nightclub openings. The vast majority of those events involved an array of entertainment personalities and/or sports professionals. This is his first novel, but I hope not his last. For more information about the author please log on to his personal web site www.robertrave.com.
Taylor Green and Jennie Weinstein are the two most prominent characters of Spin, but not the only two to totally captivate and entertain you. Taylor hails from the Midwest and is the product of a single parent family where his mother worked almost non-stop to keep the family going and his grandmother, Ethel, raised him. He is greener than his name implies (in so many ways), but also a quick study which so works to his advantage. He lands in New York City working for a friend of his grandmothers’ in a small-time, two person, public relations firm that deals primarily in small-time, ho-hum affairs.
Taylor’s grandmother, Ethel, has told him tales about New York City and all of the glitterati there. Clearly she was more than enamored with New York. Ethel had once high hopes of making it into the big time as a dancer or actress on Broadway, but fell short of making her mark there. Now it’s Taylors’ chance to live her dream and make his mark on that stellar city. One day at an unlikely venue Taylor is offered his dream job---working with Jennie Weinstein Public Relations. It all happened so fast and caught him so off guard that he almost has to pinch himself to be sure this is really happening.
Taylor has gotten the chance of a lifetime, but it is not all Krystal and daisies. Jennie Weinstein is a real witch of a human being, but also a force to be contended with as she makes the stars in New York City and elsewhere rise or fall at her command. She is petulant, underhanded, non-repentant, devious, rude, over the top, and more. However, Jennie Weinstein is also widely thought to be the biggest and most influential public relations firm in the Eastern USA. She is driven to perfection and expects (no demands) the same from her employees. She has no qualms about calling any of her employees to do her dirty work at any hour of the day or night. All oblige her ever whim.
Taylor is one of the newer people at this swanky and prestigious firm, but he makes friends with the others fairly easily and even manages to find an office romance. One evening Taylor catches Jennie in some rather compromising circumstances. Naturally she is furious and out for blood. He manages to turn this event and that critical information to his advantage. Before long he is her right hand man and privy to all of her highest and most cherished clients, as well as, Jennie’s darkest secrets.
This zany novel presented all of the necessary ingredients for non-stop reading and entertainment to the max (i.e., drugs, sex, insider celebrity profiles, scandal, and more). I was honestly sad to see it end. As a first novel this was better than superlative! I look forward to watching this book rise up the charts and gain recognition and accolades for author Robert Rave. Congrats on a job well done!
I first heard of Lizzie Grubman in 2001 in a feature in the mediaguardian which reported on her being charged with second degree assault after she drove her car into a crowd of people outside a nightclub. Grubman was THE PR lady in New York and had referrals from the creme a la creme including Madonna who Grubman’s hot shot entertainment lawyer father represented. Madonna famously quoted that if LIzzie has as many balls as her father then she was a real tough cookie. Love her or hate her (and most people do seem to hate her) Grubman is indeed a very colourful lady who is loose, brash and forceful. This takes me to Spin which is the story of Taylor Green, a midwestern boy who moves to NYC and gets a job with Jennie Weinstein, the city’s most prolific and notorious PR guru who is loose, brash and also forceful. There is huge speculation that Jennie is based on none other than Lizzie Grubman who Robert Rave worked for but he strongly denies this. Anyway back to the book, well needless to say Taylor does a cock a doop and begins to congratulate himself in landing such a plum job but sadly he is unaware that his nightmare us about to begin. For as well as writing press releases, organising press conferences and handling lucrative PR accounts, Taylor has to run the odd errand such as buying drugs for his boss and bribing high profile journalists into dropping salacious stories about his clients in replace of exclusive stories. However, the majority of his time is spent shielding from Jennie’s tyrannical rages. Part of him wants to leave and put Jennie’s abuse behind him but his severe upgrade in lifestyle ie the lure of restaurant openings, fashion shows, close access to celebrities as well designer clothes prove too much.
Spin’s comparison with The Devil Wears Prada is inevitable hence slogans such as ‘The Devil Dubs Prada’ and ‘The male version of The Devil Wears Prada’. Except that while The Devil Wears Prada was a complete and utter snore of a book, Spin is utterly captivating. The characters are extremely well developed and I am talking about supporting ones as well as leading. Jennie’s complete and utter wickedness is irresitable in a kind of peverse way and the character of Taylor does the thing that the main protagonist is supposed to do in a book – he talks to you. Taylor is ambitious, hard working, clever, compassionate but also at times weak, lacking in judgement, power hungry and greedy but he lives and breathes in this book which makes you root for him. Overall Spin is a great read and gives you a superb insight into the dirty dealings that go on in the world of PR. There are plans for Spin to be made into a film with Robert Rave endorsing Zac Effron to play Taylor, nothing has been confirmed as yet but well you know Hollywood.
Czy PRówka mogła nie przeczytać książki o “fascynującym świecie PR”? Ech…
Czytaliście “Diabeł ubiera się u Prady”? No to… macie powtórkę z rozrywki. Gdyby pisał to PRowiec, stwierdziłabym, że się mocno zainspirował, ale dziennikarz? Mamy tu wredną szefową (jakoś podobne, młodsza tylko) z uwielbianym elementem (cóż – chustki Hermesa zamieniły się w małą czarną Prady nomen omen), młodego naiwnego bohatera, który kiepsko się ubiera, ale z czasem uczy się korzystać z “próbek” od firm (nie przypomina Wam to czegoś). Mamy nawet dziwne wymagania i zlecenia jak zakup filmów porno dla klienta, czy wyprawę po narkotyki (obie w środku nocy). A oprócz tego – gwiazdy, przyjęcia i sex.
Taylor (główny bohater) to ciapa z prowincji, która marzy o wielkim świecie. Ta ciapa jest jednak dość sprytna – wkręca się na przyjęcie, a tam – ma dużo szczęścia (i pecha zarazem) znajdując się w odpowiednim miejscu w odpowiednim czasie. I tak – kompletnie zielony – dostaje pracę w jednej z najprężniejszych agencji PR, u szefowej z głębokiego piekła rodem. Najpierw dostaje najgorsze prace – porządki, kiepscy klienci, obsługa imprez po nocach. Sypia po kilka godzin na dobę, jest wiecznie zmęczony. Jeden przypadkowy wieczór odmienia jego los, acz nie do końca i nie zawsze…
Całość czyta się dość sprawnie, przyjemnie nawet i szybko, jest też zabawna, ale jednak także wtórna. Choć zawiera pewne przebłyski realnej pracy PRowców (te obdzwonki, czarowanie dziennikarzy, czarowanie potencjalnych klientów…), ale generalnie mamy standardowe podejście w typie PR=imprezy. Ale może po prostu reszta naszej pracy jest tak nudna, że nie warto o niej pisać ;)
Na koniec – mały prztyczek do wydawnictwa. Czy gdyby książka była umiejscowiona w świecie medycznym, nie poprosilibyście speca (np. lekarza) o konsultację językową? Albo tłumacza znającego terminologię? W przypadku PRu też jest specyficzna terminologia, a w tej książce widać, że tłumacz nie miał o niej pojęcia, a nikt nie przeprowadził korekty. Dlatego mamy wstawki angielskie (niekoniecznie potrzebne), drobne przejęzyczenia, ale i to duże, jakim jest sam tytuł. SPIN to oczywiście przede wszystkim wirowanie, kręcenie, ale w przypadku PR to po prostu PR, a także snucie opowieści. Nakręceni to akurat nie najszczęśliwszy wybór…
This book started off in a very cool way, then went back to the beginning to bring the reader up to the present day and beyond. However, once things got going, the pace slowed way down; I expected this to be a Max(x) Barry sort of book, and it let me down. Perhaps my expectations were too high? Certain little details really threw me off, like the fact that the Taylor moved up in Jennie's PR company, but was still stuck in the "cloffice" - what was that all about? Don't waste your time on this book - if you want funny and ironic mixed in with pithy wit, read all of the books by Max(x) Barry instead.
It should be a relief to read a book with a male lead who is as awkward and unsure of himself and his abilities with the opposite sex as the typical female character. But it just wasn't. It frustrated me. I wanted him to know what he wanted, what he stood for. To not be that guy.
But he was.
And I was annoyed.
It wasn't annoying exactly. Just disappointing. I don't think any girl wants to think that the guy in her life is a neurotic as she is.
A funny "spin" on chick lit...written from a male point of view. Taylor Green is a fresh faced Midwestern guy that lands a job at a New York PR firm ruled by the formidable Jennie Weinstein. This book is NOT rated G or even PG, but it is a fun glimpse into the world of PR. I'd give this 3.5 stars- light, funny, an easy- mindless read.
I certainly appreciated this book's honesty, but it felt almost too real! I was looking for an entertaining peek into this world, and instead got a brutal reality. Still, definitely an interesting read!
The book was ok. I was in to it for most of the book, but I kept thinking the main character was somehow going to become more likeable. However, I just kept disliking him even more. There wasn't much of a story arc and the ending was awful!
I love the scandals! Spin was a book that I enjoyed beginning to end. Oh the fabulous ( and sometimes not so fabulous) New York life of a PR agent. I loved the way it was written- easy and enjoyable!
Poorly written, unbelievable characters, and a weak story line. It was a train crash I simply couldn't stop reading in hopes that it would redeem itself in the end. It didn't.
This was a fun, quick read. It gives you a glimpse into the slightly childish world of PR and the fame game. It's basically a "The Devil Wears Prada" of the PR world, which is always a good thing!