Carolyn Hinsey is a popular soap columnist for a reason; She doesn't hold back with her opinions. In her dishy new book "Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter" the same voice she uses on herFacebook page and in her uber-popular column in Soap Opera Digest is being used for the book, to great effect. I read the book in just under 4 hours and was very impressed.
Carolyn begins by discussing the history of the soaps, going all the way back to the beginning when Irna Phillips created the radio serial and then moved them to TV. There were tidbits in the book that I had no idea about, including the aforementioned one. However instead of beating you over the head with it, Carolyn shares and moves on. One of the things that endeared Carolyn to me is that she never treats her audience as less than her equal.
When it comes to the chapters about All My Children and One Life To Live's cancellation you can literally feel her heart break all over again. That is a sign of not only a good writer but also a loyal and true fan of the genre. When she gives advice on how to save this beloved institution, it makes you wonder why in the world no one has hired her to be head of a soap.
My one quibble comes from the chapter on gay characters, and I expressed as such to her. However I will not get into that here (see the Royal Rant for my take) because the chapter makes the argument well for what she says, even though I know for a fact that there are better arguments. Anyways, she devotes part of the chapter to the still popular KISH and reveals some good dirt without naming names. While I still miss the couple, especially me beloved Scott Evans the light that was shed makes me understand the decision a bit more.
If you are or ever were a soap fan, you must go out and buy this book!!! To paraphrase Carolyns legendary tag line : "That's not only my opinion!"
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