Book Jacket

 

rank 3297
word count 11390
date submitted 15.08.2010
date updated 19.08.2010
genres: Fiction, Popular Culture
classification: moderate
incomplete

Sweet Tooth: The Ballad Of Kola Kubes

Mark Staniforth

How a buck-toothed, flat-chested kid from a North Yorkshire village sets out to become the most notorious porn star on the planet.

 

Born to an alcoholic mother and a father she never comes to know, Trisha grows up on a ramshackle caravan site where she dreams of being a Playboy Bunny and hitting the big time. 'Sweet Tooth' - narrated by her older brother Bobby in his own uniquely blunt and unflinching style - is the story of Trisha's journey from impoverished beginnings to a kind of fame and fortune - and the inevitable crash back to earth. Stretching the stereotype of the small-town-girl-made-good to its most extreme, ‘Sweet Tooth’ seeks to challenge deep-seated prejudices in our celebrity-obsessed age.

 
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tags

celebrity, fame, porn, reality, sex, trash, vegas, village, yorkshire

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40 comments

 

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AlexClay wrote 575 days ago

Some stylish piss-taking in here. That's what I got from this - it's a very good piss take - especially that killer line about the nipple blob of tomato ketchup with the double D cones. That's imaginative and very amusing.
Some vivid description. Might do with a bit of editing here and there. One sentence towards the end definitely left me puzzled.....it starts with the words...'it might not be any kind of classic'....it needs changing. Apart from that, this is a novel idea, the intrigue is well-established as you present us with the legend of the dead woman, who i am sure the readers want to know about, not least how she met her (untimely?) end.

Gail_M wrote 627 days ago

I like this! It's gritty and honest and very evocative, and with some editing (punctuation, etc) and some work on presentation (breaking up the long paragraphs) it will make an excellent book which I'm sure will sell well.
Backed for potential, and I wish you every success
Best wishes
Gail
NEW BEGINNINGS

GK Stritch wrote 636 days ago

Mark Staniforth,

First, you captured me with the title and cover of Sweet Tooth. Ah, senile me thought, a nice light little read in between the dark thrillers and vampires. Wrong, it’s a story of a naked stripe entirely, and, honestly, I was going to pass by until again, the last line of your pitch snared me. Curiosity propelled me to take a look because we’re all drowning in this “celebrity-obsessed age.” Mr. Staniforth, you pull no punches.

Best and backed.

CBGB Was My High School
(Celebrity saturated but if you read closely, it’s secretly disdainful.)

Kid A wrote 639 days ago

Your pitch caught my attention. Since then I've read the first two chapters. I like Bobby's voice best. I like that you've written your story as if he's speaking, the nuances of his language make this stand out from the crowd. Clever stuff. Kola Kubes is an awesome name for a porn star.

Kid A wrote 639 days ago

Your pitch caught my attention. Since then I've read the first two chapters. I like the Bobby's voice best. I like that you've written your story as if he's speaking, the nuances of his language make this stand out from the crowd. Clever stuff. Kola Kubes is an awesome name for a porn star.

CarolinaAl wrote 640 days ago

You provide us a raw, quirky story with colorful characters. Vivid imagery. Evocative narrative. Spot on storytelling. A compelling read. Backed.

Nythawk wrote 641 days ago

Great book. Backed

Jason
Gateway to the World of Light and Shadow

Barry Wenlock wrote 642 days ago

Hi Mark, the voice is great. It doesn't have to be grammatically correct -- that's not how we speak, so it's fine for first person work. Bobby's voice is unique ad precious to the telling of the tale, its feeling and harshness, as well as its humour. It's carried by him, so please don't tone him down. Not too much, anyway, if at all.
Backed with real pleasure. An excellent start.
Barry
LITTLE KRISNA AND THE BIHAR BOYS

markstan wrote 643 days ago

Thanks. That's a very interesting comment. To some extent I'm trying to be deliberately grammatically incorrect, in order to give the impression of a raw, uneducated narrator who's just spewing out the story as it is. But your comment will make me go back and consider whether that really works. Thanks for yor time. I like the premise of your book. I'll take a look.

Brad wrote 643 days ago

Enjoyed what I read. It is full of promise.
There is a need to tidy the grammar but it does not deter from the read.
Yes, really good, backed the book.
Regards
Michael G Bradley

TalulaJane wrote 643 days ago

Quite shelf-worthy. I love the idea of chronicaling the life of someone who experiences two very polar extremes!
Carrie
The Darkwood Tales: Demouri's Defeat

Andrew Foley Jones wrote 643 days ago

immense cover title and content
brave and compelling
will read on

Beval wrote 644 days ago

Not a comfortable read, but a compelling one. As each stage of Trisha's life unfolded I found myself being drawn more and more to her. There is an innocence about her totally at odds with her way of life. I found this both disturbing and touching.
The narrator is equally complex, at once fully aware that what is going on around him isn't right, but unable to do anything about it. His obvious care for his little sister and deep anger for the way she used and then forgotten is wonderfully well handled and quite heart breaking.

Niobrara Kardnova wrote 644 days ago

Returning your read, Mark.
This is pretty grim, gritty and jaded stuff, but I liked it. I liked the format, with alternating narrations from Bobby and Kola's--biography was it? Sadly, I can imagine multitudes of young Kolas coming from this same sort of background and having the same aspirations and outcomes--very realistic. Backed.
Niobrara Kardnova (Family Irregulars)

klouholmes wrote 645 days ago

Hi Mark, Tricia’s birth and childhood are really funny. The narrator voice is what makes this an incredible portrait. Every sense fits the story and the setting; his tone is keyed to the ridiculous yet he’s appropriately low-key. The details and his slang are interesting to read, especially the farmhand scenes. Liked their becoming seasick in their mother’s caravan – just one of the many amusing anecdotes. It’s uproarious. Easily shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

KW wrote 645 days ago

I like this very much. "Well, sex tickles mine, and I've never been ashamed to admit it." Kola Kubes is a great name. Frydale is the "birthplace of the of the late glamour model and adult actress Kola Kubes." "It's the truth, take it or leave it." The voice of Bobby is a great way to tell this story of small-town girl to makes it in the "big" time. Backed for now.

Elizabeth Wolfe wrote 645 days ago

Hi Mark,
Interesting premise. It's straight forward and without pretense. Take it or leave it - perhaps too common a phrase, but it does fit the sentiment perfectly. To a tee!

BACKED
Elizabeth Wolfe (MEMORIES OF GLORY)

missyfleming_22 wrote 645 days ago

I loved this, such an awesome premise! It's going to be interesting to see how this goes, such original characters too. Shows how you can get anything you want if you try hard enough. There isn't much out there like this and I think that makes your book special. I love the narrative voice, it's real and gritty and gives us a great view of the world around her.

Missy

paperbat wrote 645 days ago

Had not to back this after reading your into. In fact have already started reading the second chapter. A word of warning. It will be hard to keep up the very clever pace / story - so redouble your efforts, as the reader starts to get really impressed as he/she reads this.
Backed.
Jerry [paperbats] A childrens' book -do you know of any?

Hi,
You have a great talent. Keep it up.
All the best.
Backed with wishes.
S> vinay kumar,
the ark and the aroma of peril

Owen Quinn wrote 646 days ago

great pitch and a prime example that shows nyone can be whatever they want to be, well written, engaging, fun

Rusty Bernard wrote 646 days ago

Hi Mark,

I have backed your book because I was hooked by the pitch, loved the introduction and read on. How much more I read depends on time and commitment.

Enjoy everything and good luck.

Rusty Bernard
The Mental Pause

crystalline wrote 646 days ago

haha this is an absolutely delight! The writing is amazing and flows perfectly for such a quick paced story.
Happily backed
Please tak e a look at Crystallyn when you have the chance.

Anna
Crystallyn

Tari wrote 646 days ago

What an opening. Grabs the reader by the throat and holds on tight. This is fun, exciting and compelling reading.
The characters are so vivid and fairly leap off thepage. The description strengthens the plot and grounds the characters.
The narrative is slick and smooth. The first person tense gives intimacy just right for the book.
Dynamic.

Backed with pleasure,

Katy,
Phobic Dawn.

C W Bigelow wrote 647 days ago

Mark, simply a lot of fun mixed with a little sadness so far - the descriptions are done so well and the whole cast is crazy and entertaining. Backed. CW (To Save the Sun)

drachat wrote 647 days ago

I love your writing style; very fresh and different. You certainly grab the reader in the first sentence, and paragraph thereafter.

This is most definitely worthy of my backing
Denise

Would you mind taking a peek at "Road to Redemption: From Cop's Daughter to Convicted Felon?"

andrew skaife wrote 647 days ago

Well, if you set out to shock you chose exactly the right tone of first line but this is superceded by your writing skill. I love the langauge that you choose to describe; "...tossed handful of houses..." is excellent use of language. You have a fun, free spirited narrator and a set of characters that are vivid and direct.

BACKED

Andrew Burans wrote 647 days ago

Your Prologue sets the tone for your book perfectly. You have finely crafted a most unique and interesting storyline. I really like your choice to use the first person narrative voice and having Bobby tell his sister's story. This is very well done. As well, your descriptive and gritty writing style makes your work a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

name falied moderation wrote 647 days ago

Dear Mark
wow what a read. even the pitches, well
Your short pitch took me to your long pitch which is very well crafted and promises an interesting original read. I I am amazed as I see the books on this site, with the minds, and the talent which produce writtings with such skill. How characters can be depicted to vividly using words as colors, and at how a story can be told and it depicts a movie on the mind. I do wish to congratsulate you on your book. I have not read all your writing but I do wish to back this book so it may asssit you

BACKED BY ME FOR SURE.
Please take a moment to look, comment which is important to me, and back my book. if not that is OK also

The VERY best of luck to you

Denise
The Letter

eurodan49 wrote 647 days ago

The prologue sets the pace for an unconventional fun read.
Your first chapter "tells" the beginning of the story....wished it was more "show" and dialogue.
Backed for its voice and pace.
Dan
PS. Could you pls look at mine?

Burgio wrote 647 days ago

SWEET TOOTH
This is an interesting story: an analysis of what growing up with an out of control alcoholic mother would be like. The writing style is rough but that’s okay because it fits the character who is narrating this. If I had a suggestion it would be to not tell your reader in the beginning that Trisha is dead; gave the opening a “down” feel that doesn’t match the rest of the story. Either way, this is an unusual but good read. I’m happy to add it to my shelf. If you have a moment, would you look at mine (Grain of Salt)? I’m in 3rd place but only holding on by my teeth. Burgio

lizjrnm wrote 647 days ago

Very unique and well written. Easy to back.

Liz
The Cheech Room

SusieGulick wrote 648 days ago

Dear Mark, I love that I didn't grow up this way - as you'll see in my memoirs, I had it bad, but through your story, I see it could have been much worse, so praise the Lord, it wasn't. :) What a life!!! Thanks for telling it like it is. :) I've backed your book :) - hope you'll take a moment to back my 2 memoir books. :) Thanks. :) Love, Susie :)


This is information from authonomy (so beware of any other untrue information you may receive that is spam & not quotes of authonomy):
"When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved"
"Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs."

PATRICK BARRETT wrote 648 days ago

Highly readable and it should do very well for you. Well done. Paula Barrett (Cuthbert-how mean is my valley)

fh wrote 648 days ago

SWEET TOOTH
Dear Mark,
I was immediately drawn to the short pitch - how could I fail not to? The story is interesting from the very beginning. Pithy and down to earth. It's probably not my genre but others will definately enjoy it. Good writing and excellent descriptions. Good luck. I f YOu get a chance pleas etake a look at my novel - thanks. bACKED
Faith
THE ASSASSINS VILLAGE

BJ Otto wrote 648 days ago

Interesting story line, haven't seen one like this on here. Only read a couple of chapters so far, but enjoying. Will comment again if I have anything constructive to add. Backed

markstan wrote 648 days ago

Thanks. Good point. Lots for me to read later!

Jared wrote 648 days ago

I'm unable to add to my previous comment for some reason so will have to add as a separate comment - I'd question the 'literary fiction' tag, 'popular culture', very much so, but the literary tag may work against you for a wider readership. An engaging story, good to see something a little bit different.
Jared.

Despinas1 wrote 648 days ago

Dear Mark,
Great synopsis, good writing, backed with pleasure for its potential.
Helen
The Last Dream

Jared wrote 648 days ago

Interesting opening sentence! Strong pitches that work very well and an intriguing premise here, I'm certainly interested enough to read more. Best of luck.
Jared.

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