I Say Tomato: 07/09/17

I Say Tomato by Katie Wall is the story of the struggles of an Australian actress in Hollywood. Sunday "Sunny" Triggs is trying to land the big roll on a television series if she can just get the accent right (American with a hint of Australian) and if she can get the chemistry right with the leading man.

And it's the chemistry part — the old casting couch trap — that takes the bulk of this short book. As long as Sam likes her, her chances of getting the part are good. But it's obvious from this reader's point of view that Sam is stringing along naive Sunny.

In tone, the book reminds me of Angels by Marian Keyes. In both books, Los Angeles, and more precisely, the entertainment industry piece of it, is scrutinized for its excesses and its coldness.

But in both cases, Los Angeles is only shown in bits and pieces. There are shady deals and crazy parties and sex and drugs, but there is a quieter side too of people working long hours for small parts and big parts. Hollywood is often portrayed as an all or nothing, or set up, as I Say Tomato, is a modern retelling of the Icarus legend.

Three stars

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