Cheap Star Struck: An American Epidemic (Book) (Kim L. Dulaney) Price

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Customer Reviews of Star Struck: An American Epidemic

Same Script Different Cast
Star Struck, An American Epidemic follows the rocky friendship of publicist Lela Valentine and Hip Hop icon, Benjamin "Beemo" Moore. The story is in the form of Lela's personal writing journal. Moore is everything you would expect a young hip hopper to me. Unfortunately he also has a voracious appetite for sex, sex with young girls to be exact. Knowing the dangers that her friends "habits" can lead to Lela tries to reason with him on the traps that lay ahead. Beemo is stubborn and believes that he has everything under control when he really doesn't. He doesn't hear anything that she tells him. Lela realizes that she can't do anything for her friend but love him from a distance and hope for the best.

Star Struck is a fiction novel but Beemo was a characterization of RB singer Robert Kelly. Once realizing this fact the novel became uninteresting for me. Descriptions of acts with young girls, including the infamous urination allegation made the book totally predictable. The media has given us enough facts about the famous case without a book being written to chronicle it too. Although I wasn't moved by the storyline I felt the book was well written. Ms. Dulaney has a mastery of the English language and her commentary on the inner workings of the music business are entertaining.

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Right or Wrong?
Everyone dreams of being a star, knowing a star, or maybe being "with" a star. Kim L. Dulaney boldly tackles the topics of celebrity success and takes a stand for what's right in her sophomore effort, STARSTRUCK: AN AMERICAN EPIDEMIC. Written in a journal type format, the story flip-flops from past to present, as the author draws a tale of love and loss, friendship and betrayal, and right and wrong.

Lela Valentine is an urban socialite who shares with us her story of meeting and befriending an R&B superstar, Benjamin "Beemo" Moore. She gives a sneak peek inside the lives of the rich and famous at things we may think happen, but aren't really true. As Beemo climbs up the celebrity ladder, things around him start to shake loose and Lela is there to pick up the pieces, make him look good, and get him past his dilemmas. Yet, there comes a time when she must open her eyes; seek the truth and face it head on.

Dulaney seems to ride a very thin line with this fictionalized account of her own friendship and involvement with superstar R. Kelly. Since I'm not overly into television or music, I could've easily read this story without relating it to real people. In fact, it would've actually been better had it not been pointed out that this book was written to help a friend unable to see the pit he's fallen into. In spite of this, the messages ring clear; the implications of wrongdoing, standing up for what you believe in, and challenging the moral standards of those we've placed on pedestals.

STAR STRUCK makes us question our values system and realize just how commercialized our society has become. Dulaney holds nothing back in exposing America in all her glory; the good, the bad, and the ugly. While I understand the need to get the message out, I'm still not sure I agree with ousting a friend in such a public forum--that just doesn't sit well with me. Yet, her words are powerful and passionate, while at the same time protective and pensive.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers