Carolina Munhóz’s Keeping up with Magic feels a lot like when you are watching a TV show and you need to wait for the next episode to know what happens after the cliffhanger. Writing about a reality show seemed perfect for this author, especially because this one has a fairy as its main character, her favourite fantastic creature.
In Munhóz’s third book, we meet Violet Lashian, a very different kind of fairy. She has bright purple hair and is fascinated by human beings and their behaviour, especially those related to pop culture like Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga. Because of that, she has always been a victim of bullying and could never count on anyone from Ablach, her land. Showing us that any being can fall, the author gets her to reach rock bottom. When she is (literally) doomed, the fairy sees that the only way of turning things around would be doing what she always wanted to do: coming to the human world, the city of Los Angeles, intending to find a place among Hollywood stars.
On Earth, few minutes were enough for her to face many of the difficulties of living here. And this is shown with an unexpected humor that makes you laugh out loud. Violet is amazed by Coke, calling it “black water”, and is annoyed by the sound of a clock ticking, thinking it was some kind of animal. One of the best scenes is set at Hooters, when the fairy tries to give money to a waitress hoping she could stay at her house – can you imagine how puzzled and offended that waitress is? Even though things like that keep happening, Violet continues to pursue her dreams, and what a better way to reveal herself to humanity if not in a worldwide famous reality show?
Imagine yourself sitting on your sofa, ready to watch your favourite contestant sing and suddenly you get proof that we are not alone in the universe. The buzz is instantaneous, of course, and, in order to feed it, Violet Lashian wins her own TV programme so humans can know what she is up to. She then gets everything she always wanted: we see the fairy partying, dating millionaires, being interviewed, making loads of money, being the face of every major brand across the world, conquering power and doing everything else fame can bring.
When you read a synopsis like that, it is common to think this book is about a TV show and, oh, trifles only. But you are wrong!
With a similar structure to the Slumdog Millionaire, we keep up with her story through an interview she gives in a talk show much like the famous American ones we are familiar with. In each question we discover a bit more of Violet’s journey.
Like her character, Carolina has always been fascinated by reality shows and even participated in the Brazilian version of American Idol to see the behind the scenes. Today she is also a screenwriter in Hollywood after being considered an “Alien of extraordinary abilities” by the US government. She tried to convey to us everything she learned there and being friends with celebrities. Reading this novel I could totally feel the “UnREAL” TV show vibe. Watching these programs can be addictive, but producing them is a completely different reality. Nothing is what seems when glam is involved. Fake relationships arranged by agents, celebrities that are not allowed to expose their sexuality because of their careers, you name it.
The narrative has a Disney Channel/CW vibe, but the author talks about some taboos that need to be discussed with the young adult audience and are usually underrated. All in all, Violet discovers all our sins in a painful way.
Keeping up with Magic is funny, controversial and educational. Everything that a good reality show can be.
