Rice Cakes and Starbucks

790 Words4 Pages
Rice Cakes and Starbucks 1) A summary of Rice Cakes and Starbucks by Ester Freud, 2009. Along with his wife, Beth, and their three children, Dan Linden has come to America from England in pursue of his dream in show business. His TV-show is being broadcasted on BBC America with good reviews. His American manager, Finola, has put his show reel on the market, and he is having a meeting with a casting woman from CBS. It was actually Beth’s idea to leave London for six months, and to give Dan’s dream a shot. So they rented a small house with a swimming pool in the hills of Los Angeles, California, well knowing that if he was unsuccessful, they would have to fly back to England and for a while live with his mother in Epping. On the day of the interview in West Hollywood, Beth and the children come along, waiting for him at Starbucks. Shortly after the meeting Dan gets a phone call from Finola. They want to cast his 7-year old daughter and not him. 2) Characterize Dan and Beth. Dan is an actor who apparently has done well in some series and TV-shows. He sees himself as the main provider to the family of five, thinking that three children are more than he had bargained for. One child would suffice, not being too much of a problem in regards to his career. In his mind he blames Beth for holding him back, almost forcing him to stay at home. Reluctantly he temporarily moves to LA with his family, when Beth urges him to take a chance in Hollywood. As the story unfolds it is clear, that he is not too happy with his situation, regarding his wife and three children as a burden. In some cases his self-confidence seems somewhat shattered, and in the end he is perplexed by his interview and appalled by the casting request of his daughter, giving his ego a low blow. Beth is a devoted wife and mother living her life through Dan, pushing him forward in pursuit os his acting
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