I firstly have to say (you''ll get why soon enough...) I hate reality TV. Not so much competitions. They have a proper purpose, like singing, dancing or making clothes or something like that. I wouldn''t necessarily watch them, but they make more sense to me.However big brotherey type television just cracks me up. Pure and simple. This book pokes total fun at reality tv AND the art of celebrity, all wrapped up in a very funny and satirical murder mystery.Doesn''t that description just grab your attention. It''s written by a comedian called Ben Elton, now I have read several of his books but this is one of his best (and funnily enough I highly recommend it).Its really a social commentary on how times have changed and how you can become famous for doing absolutely nothing (I''m sure, even if you never read gossip mags, you can think of someone).This books starts off with the murder having been committed, and watched by millions, but you have no idea who has been murdered. As the police investigate, you get slowly introduced to the characters and the plot lines. As the investigation goes on, through the video tapes provided by the production company (appropriately called Peeping Tom), you get inadvertently hooked on this fictional show.
I personally loved this book. Its really gripping stuff, and written in a way it''s almost impossible to put down. If you know Ben Elton, you will recognise some of his stand up style in his writing. If you don''t know any of his work, this is a truly great introduction, and one you shouldn''t regret.It is a quick witted and satirical look at how our society currently views celebrity, but how fickle fame really is. It is a book that really does prove that people will watch anything, and that we are usually very glad it''s other people and not us.... However I reckon we''d all still love to be famous (and probably for doing nothing) we just don''t want to be seen squirming with people on TV we are pretending to like.