LynnNChicago Book Club – Skinnydipping By Bethenny Frankel
Official Live Book Club Discussion -
Tuesday May 29, 2012 7pm / 6pm Central
A smart, beautiful woman tries to find her place in the world. She finally settles in New York, and as she starts her rise and settles into the career she loves, she agrees to be part of a realty TV program that can make or break her future empire. No, this is not Bethenny Frankel’s memoir; it’s her first go with penning fiction. They say the best authors write what they know, and I’m really glad Bethenny has followed this advice because what is better than Bethenny on TV? Fictional Bethenny being allowed to be fully outspoken and snarky.
We are proud to announce Skinnydipping by Bethenny Frankel as our next Book Club read. It’s our first turn at fiction, and I am looking forward to dissecting the characters, plot, and writing. I’m also looking forward to guessing which fictional accounts we can assume came from reality. This is the perfect start to the spring and summer–a funny beach read about our favorite topic!
Hosted by: Stephanie
I am so excited to discuss Bethenny’s new book. I loved it and even though it is clearly fiction, I am still wondering if she dropped many, many hints of the behind the scenes.
Will be back later to chat about the book, thanks Lynn for this book club.
Okay, I started my dinner early so I’ll be here on time. Glad the day was moved because I totally forgot the first time! Now just hoping I’ll remember what was in the book ’cause I’ve read a few since then!
See y’all at 7
Hi guys! Let’s talk Skinnydipping!
I thought it was a fun read. I really liked it.
I could only imagine Faith was Bethenny though! I pictured her voice and everything.
I totally saw Faith as Bethenny and could hear B’s voice.
So what if we start guessing who the characters in the book where?
I start with Brooke being Bonita, Bobby’s second wife.
Did any of you thought of Kyle as the niece of Carol?
BTW is carol Kathy Hilton?
i dont think so.
i dont remember the name of the characters, but i kept thinking she was talking about the Hiltons, but it was the wife of a director. i wondered if she mixed both ladies in one though.
Maybe so, I thought it was Kathy because Bethenny took care of her two daughters.
Hey guys so sorry I’m late – horrible traffic,…so what did you guys think? Bethenny’s life story, right?
Is anyone here to discuss??? *pout* lol
I’m here!
SURPRISE!!!
Me! Just falling asleep at my computer.
Yes, I totally think it was her life. I do love that she made the TV show a competition instead of RHONY. That made it different so it was interesting but the same themes she dealt with in real life.
But she did the Martha Stewart contest show before HWs. Reading the book made me wish I’d seen it!
She did?!?!??! Man, I wish I had seen that too!
Martha Stewart’s Apprentice, or something like that. So the Perfect witch in the book must be MS.
That I guessed for sure.
Let me know if you want the links for the msca Dee, you will realize that she did include some of the contestants in the book
That would be GREAT! Thanks!
Lynn can I post the links for the youtube video here?
I have them in a word document and there are several per episode and I don’t know how to post videos, I am afraid that I will post them as videos and it will slow down the whole site
You can email them to me (pleeeeeze!)
cpdena@msn.com
Dee, I will e-mail you the whole season, but just posted the last two episodes
Ok, thanks!
I thought so – up to the HWs. I figure if she had a 3 (fiction) book deal then parts 2 and 3 would be further along in her life.
Of course I could be tottaly wrong
I’m hoping for a whole new genre of fiction…Reality TV. Then I could read it when it’s not on!
I have a problem…..
LOL. Ditto!
I’m waiting for the HWs Tell All, even better if it’s disguised as fiction.
did I miss it? What is the problem? Other than its the middle of the night where you are? LOL
My addiction to Reality TV….which is not a problem here though…
I’m here too! Bethenny’s first non cookbook/health/life book was not bad! She may not be a “flowery” writer but she can tell a story.
That’s what I wondered if you guys thought she was a good author besides it being absolutely about her life story, is it something you’d read if you didn’t know the author??? Keep in mind she had a ghost writer too
she did? i thoight she wrote it.. i guess she wrote it and someone helped her put it together.
I don’t know. That’s a great question. I probably wouldn’t have gotten too far because it started rough. I didn’t like Faith at first. But knowing she was Bethenny helped.
I thought the personality of each housewife and each contestant of the Apprentice came through and through, there is no way a ghost writer could have capture that.
I’d read it even if I didn’t know who wrote it. I’m LESS inclined to read a “Celebrity” book. What sucked me in was the free preview, I wanted to know the rest of the story.
Surprised she had a ghost writer ’cause I “heard” the whole book in B’s voice!
I would not have read it if I didn’t know who Bethenny was! It wouldn’t have caught my attention and I while I watch reality tv I am not inclined to read about it – except on Lynn’s blog! lol
I thought it was a really fun read. Light and easy.
OMG. I am so tardy for the party and I apologize for it. I wish I had seen Bethenny on the Martha Stewart Apprentice also. I remember when Donald Trump was not happy about it and he said her show would not compare to his. I think he was correct. I’m not sure it got the ratings his did. I think Bethenny is an OK author. I would like for her to try something that is not so close to her real life. I don’t think she expects to be the next great writer or anything.
BB, I have all the links for the youtube videos for the MSCA but don’t know how to post just links. I have requested permission to Lynn to post them here but I am thinki ng that maybe I can e-mailed them to her and she can post them correctly.
The most important episodes are the 8th and the last, some of those characters are on the book
Try one. Heres how you do it. Go to the youtube picture. Below it there is a box that says “share” Hit that box. It will highlight the link right below the share box. Then go up to the edit button on your computer and hit copy. Then come here and use your right click buttonon your mouse or laptop and paste. It should past only the link.
Let me see if this works, if not I hope Lynn can delete it
Episode 12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTi0tgVY1OI&feature=relmfu (12-1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NR-xhR1cRU&feature=relmfu (12-2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCH4D0Fkq78&feature=relmfu (12-3) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jsb8gz4oOA&feature=relmfu (12-4) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvREBVmhaPE&feature=relmfu (12-5) F
Episode 13 (Finale)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fYYec8cCWI&feature=relmfu (13-1) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVhMN-WnO6I&feature=relmfu (13-2) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyI6NmNBTiI&feature=relmfu (13-3) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYww4AtMNTA&feature=relmfu (13-4) F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyYDjt5hrAI&feature=fvwrel (13-5) F
A funny line in Skinnydipping, and I can’t quote it exactly, but it was something like as little girls we spend a whole lotta time picking our underpants out of our cracks and then as adult women we wear thongs. Lol. Sounds just like something B herself would say.
lol – i found that funny too
I thought the funniest was the quote about how no one wants to watch a show about Housewives.
hi you guys…
I read it and liked it. she did focus a lot of the actual jobs she did. like being the assistant on a tv show, then for the wife of a producer or director, and then the poject on the apprentice. basically she really did write abou he knew
… work.
i was susprise to learn that the movie she trew a party for was Pirates of the caribbean.
Okay so here is my list of characters, you can agree, disagree or maybe even suggest another person:
Carol= Kathy Hilton
Friend Victoria = Veronica the glammy
Muffin= Cookie
Stefan= friend Jack (minus being ex-lovers)
who is Jack? the partner?
No Jack is her best gay friend, they used to be former partners in business just like in the book.
ah! i am thinking it is his partner now.
I don’t think they are partners anymore, I think they are just friends but I did see on RHNY1 that Jack was introduced as B’s partner.
ah ok, well i do remember from the place of yes book, that she mentioned that friend. i dont think thay was jack. so if not this partner, it was someone else.
Ugh! I already forgot the names of the characters in the book! Except Muffin
Me, too! I was going to re-read the book, but with a bunch of house guests, it was impossible!
I am cheating, I have the book in front of me and the charcaters of Domestic Goddess are at the beginning of chapter 21, lol
Not fair! I was going to do that but it’s on my Kindle and I’m playing Words w/Friends with my Mom on it right now.
LOL, I am a cheater, LOL
It’s hell gettin old, isn’t it? Plus, I’ve read about four books since Skinnydipping.
Yes it is! My retention skills aren’t what they used to be!
Contestant of Domestic Goddess
Katie Swindle = Kelly Bensimon
Sharri = Jill Zarin
Nadine LaCharlotte= Luann
Mikki Winn= Alex McCord
Monica Reynolds = Ramona
Christopher Valentine= Simon
Am I completely off?
Which character was in the finals with Faith?
Bethenny= Faith
Jim Bozzini= Andy
Jill Zarin= Shari
I think based on their personalities on screen.
Now for the ones that were on the MSCA
Chuck Soldano= Chaz (actually the only one who was invited to Bethenny’s wedding)
Jim Bozzini= the crazy chef Andy Spencer, the one who is part of the final three
Carrie Gugger= Jodi Sue, she in the real apprentice was awful to Bethenny even though she chose her as part of her team and she sabotage Bethenny all the way.
I posted the links for the last two episodes that have the finale but it is awaiting moderation so I hope Lynn allows them to get posted
Thanks!
Does anybody thinks that Harris is Jason?
Yes, I wasn’t sure sure, and thought that breakup would hurt her, but will free her to meet Jason. Then I was sure it is Jason because, she gets pregnant from him
I am wondering why Bethenny didn’t just write an autobiographical – between apprentice, RHNY, Skinnygirl creation and sale, her whirlwind pregnancy and marriage and becoming a mogul….she has an amazing story to tell!
I’m sure there’d be legal issues involved. Besides, in fiction she can embellish the characters, lol.
One of the parts that I found most telling was how Faith found out that while she was a loyal friend to Shari, Shari had been badmouthing her with the other contestants all the while pretending to be nice to her face.
Is it possible that this is what truly happened between Bethenny and Jill and the sabotaging e-mails where just the straw that broke the camel’s back?
I thought of Jill right away while reading about Shari-the back stabbing and all that…maybe it is the way things went down????
I thought so too, and it is telling that in the book the first one to give her a warning was Mikki (Alex) , I wonder if in fact Alex was the first one to blow the whistle about Jill’s machinations.
That’s what I thought. Speaking of Zill, I bet she poured over every word of the book looking for clues!
LOL, the shameless way that Shari peddle her flowers had written Jill all over it. LMAO
I was going to ask if anyone thought Jill read the book…she-Im sure recognized herself!!
OMG, you know she read it, I hope she felt really bad , just the way Faith felt when Shari turn on her after Bethenny had given her her support for the finale.
I wonder if Bethenny was as shocked as Faith when she found out the magnitude of the betrayal?
The firs part of the book when she talks about her arriving to LA, if it is true that her biological father was so distant and Bethenny had so many hopes to have some sort of relationship with him, it broke my heart to realize how much Bethenny really wanted for her father to accept her and love her.
I thought that was really telling about her real relationship with her dad.
Reading that part and knowing about Bethenny’s (non)relationship with her dad was sad. I did like the girlfriend, lol.
Brooke? I thought she was Bonita Bobby’s second wife.
Yes, Brooke in the book. I don’t know anything about Bobby Frankel except that he’s Bethenny’s dad.
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