The Millennial and the King is not the book I thought it
would be. From the title, it could be an awesome fantasy. When I found out
about the actual content, I was ready as well.
As a late Gen-Xer, I can relate to the time period. Although
Michael Jackson was not at the top of my preferences, I had one of his albums,
which says a lot for a broke teenager who could only afford a few cassette
tapes throughout the years. The quality of his music was mostly undeniable, and
he was the greatest showman.
The book starts out great, but unfortunately, it goes
downhill halfway for me. I like the parallel and how the author relates to her
experience in life and as a fan. It was on par at first, but the book drags on
for too long, making it feel forced and out of focus as it gets into 200+
pages. The out-of-focus is the one that doesn’t do it well for me. I think I’d
be more prepared if this were categorized as part of an autobiography, because
it focuses much more on the author. There are many relevant ones (and they are
good), but there are many distracting ones that contribute nothing to the
‘plot.’ It makes me forget what I was reading. The author herself acknowledges
this, but I have to agree with the unnamed beta readers. Two boring books are
not a good option, but one solid, compact one is much better. I draw the number
from the air, but maybe 35% of the book can be streamlined. The Screenplay
chapter is an unnecessary filler, especially because it’s a mock screenplay.
The first AI interview was okay; it tells many unspoken feelings, but the
second one, although the last part is a good way to end the book, is also a
very questionable filler, in my humble opinion. It blurs the facts and fiction.
I’m not sure what the message is here. The other one that is absolutely out of
focus is the political rants. Does the book really need this? Again, it
distracts too much and weighs on the credibility, which is a pity because I’m
sure a lot of efforts were put into making this.
Having said that, others might enjoy the book more. I admire
the research, the sources, the details, and the experience of reliving the time
again. It is nostalgic, and I reminisce about my own experience. That is the
best part of this book. It is also raw and honest, which I appreciate.
3 out of 5 stars
