Special Opinion to the Mirror by Tim Donovan
No Joke, out of town business writer Joe Coccarro moved to Cape Charles and then decided to use the local scene as his cheap way to write his first novelletta. It’s called “Woo Woo: A Cape Charles Novel” and it has as much to do with Cape Charles as Cape Canaveral. It’s a cheap media method to make a name for himself, on the name of this proud town…I’m not sure its giving him the desired results.
Woo Woo in the online free dictionary is “derogatory slang based on or involving irrational superstition”. He used this as a tag line for Cape Charles; gee thanks Mr. Coccarro.
But worse still is the way he used Cape Charles in describing women. Evidently he hasn’t read the news that objectifying women by people in the media is not tolerated. His book using Cape Charles’ scene is wall-to-wall with trashy descriptions of women’s anatomy; describing women by their lips, their hips and their —-s. It sounds like Coccarro’s got a serious issue with size or dominance or both.
This out of town and out of luck former newspaper writer who moved here sought fame on the name of Cape Charles. This is already in paperback, but spend the money instead on something important like a mop or a dust pan. I’d wait until Coccarro puts this out on Facebook.
Jane Homeowner says
Having read only about 30% of Mr. Coccarro’s book thus far, I can nonetheless agree with this reviewer’s assessment. While the story is mildly entertaining ( like most, I purchased the paperback version to see if I could identify the characters’ real-life versions), the author’s descriptions of the women are fairly juvenile, their physical attributes seemingly the most important aspect of them. My biggest complaint, however, is how the town locals are portrayed: barely literate rednecks who cannot pronounce even simple words correctly, have no understanding of correct grammar, and who apparently don’t believe in dental care or personal hygiene. Now, I understand that every community has a few of these types, but really? The author makes Cape Charles sound like its native populace ( as opposed to the much more sophisticated come-heres) is more suited to the setting of Deliverance than the picturesque diamond-in-the-rough village he describes in his book. All in all, I am finding it mildly entertaining yes, but also frankly patronizing. It’s doubtful if I finish it.
Nioaka Marshall says
When making comments, unless one is making up things, one should use a real name. Own that comment!! Or, are you afraid of what the ~Native Populace~might think?
Gene Kelly says
Folks….it is a NOVEL! It is fiction…..get a grip, please! This one of the biggest problems with the general public in 2018! You have no sense of humor! There used to be, when I was growing up, Irish jokes, Polish jokes, Italian jokes…God forbid Black jokes! We laughed at them and in turn at ourselves!
I know Joe, he is a bright, intelligent, funny guy! I found the book to be entertaining and well written! You folks need to lighten up….have a drink it might help!
Tim Berdot says
Singing in the rain!
Stu Bandon says
The humor in the book is small, predictable and treats locals like trash.
The letter written by the owner of a bar mentioned in the book is better fiction and funnier than all the pages in the book.
David Gay says
Gene maybe you should have a reading up in the book loft above the bar. Serve Everclear. I am sure after a few glasses everyone will enjoy the book.
Peter Helck says
One of my favorite books as a kid was “By Rocking Chair Across North America”. It was a very amusing take-off on the travel book genre, and in the preface the British author observed that “too many travel books are written by people who only spend a few month in-country; this book is different- the author has never actually been to the USA at all.”. Notwithstanding the claimed ignorance of the author, I found his book to have been both quite absurdly dead-on and very funny.
I have not read Woo Woo, I expect it is a rather harmless summer book, but if I do pick it up I will be sure to warm up my sense of humor first, and cut the (probably not very famous) author (another dreaded come-here) a little bit of slack.
Mike Kuzma, Jr. says
Errr, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
God forbid, this book may entice people to come see for themselves and then the whole town will be full of……….oh noes!!!! not the dreaded………..COME HERE’S!!!!!!
Paul Plante says
Woo Woo in the online free dictionary is “derogatory slang based on or involving irrational superstition?”
What is there to be irrationally superstitious about in Cape Charles?
Ghosts of pirates lurking in the night, or something like, that?
(That sounds like a surefire tourist draw to me for some enterprising Chamber of Commerce dude in Cape Charles to give a good goose to the local economy through increased tourism,)
Also sounds like a real good book to be truthful, why somebody would be irrationally superstitious about Cape Charles, along the lines of an Agatha Christie novel.
Of course, it also could be cast as a sci-fi thriller, which would result in a movie and Geraldo Rivera TV Special, and the next thing you know, you’ll have a casino and bus tours come to town.
Sounds like a real good, future investment to me, so you people ought to milk this irrational superstition WOO WOO business for all it is worth.
Maybe Cape Charles as WOO WOO Capital of the World.
Or in anticipation of copy cats, and there always are those, we all know that, Cape Charles, the ORIGINAL WOO WOO Capital of the World.
That will draw them in in droves, so go with that one and you can’t lose!
Now, if only I can get my broker to dial me in on some of this action, why goodness, I’ll be on easy street for sure, and I’ll owe it all to the WOO WOO’s in Cape Charles, Virginia.
By the way, just curious, but how do the WOO WOO’s and the Deliverance types in town get along?
Are they sympatico?
Or clannish?
Some cultural anthropologists here to the north of you are curious to know, and frankly so am I.
Stu Bandon says
This chamber of commerce thing is idiotic.
The 1st opinion writer nailed it, the writer hurt us, look at what’s happening right now online.
Most people who move to a town don’t make it a joke, this guy did it for the almighty dollar.
Based upon the bar’s owners review I guess he drinks in Kelly’s.
Paul Plante says
It’s tongue-in-cheek, Stu, a figure of speech used to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended, and it should not be taken at face value.
But you can, if you wish.
Personally, I think it is too-doo over nothing, but I don’t live there, so my sensibilities haven’t been stepped on here.
If you think the town has been hurt, so be it.
Then it has, but how much by a book that only a handful of people in Cape Charles will ever read?
And if this guy did it for the almighty buck, which he probably did if he has a book for sale, it sounds like he might clear enough to buy himself a meal or two at the local McDonald’s.
However, if you feel so strongly, and you perhaps should, then do this, go to Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Woo-Cape-Charles-Novel/dp/163393554X and write out a review of the book.
Tell people why it is trash.
Debunk it.
Let people know who the real Cape Charles people are.
I have written book reviews on Amazon and I can assure you that it is a painless process, so go for it.
Justice for Cape Charles!
Mike Kuzma, Jr. says
Sheesh, Paul……between you in New Yahk, and me in Joisey we can tell these folks a thing of two about being mocked relentlessly and SURVIVING.
Man up, Cape Chuck!!!! Laugh about it!!
And get a drink at Kelly’s………and a burger……..wink wink.
Note: Cape Charles, not Cape Chuck…please.
Paul Plante says
Surviving is the key word there, for sure.
That comes before anything else, so far as I can see.
And when writing Amazon reviews, if you are going to do any skewering, skewer the author’s works, not the author him or herself.
This is the United States of America, afterall, you know, land of the brave and home of the free and all that kind, of stuff, so this out of town business writer Joe Coccarro who moved to Cape Charles and then decided to use the local scene as his cheap way to write his first novelletta called “Woo Woo: A Cape Charles Novel,” which has as much to do with Cape Charles as Cape Canaveral has a God-given right to mistake Cape Charles for Cape Canaveral and then write a noveletta about it, whether anyone likes it or not.
So attacks on the author for being an author, however trashy or misinformed his or her work, is considered bad form.
Going after the author’s work product, on the other hand, is good form.
So go for it, people!
Save Cape Charles from the ravages of this out of town business writer Joe Coccarro who moved to Cape Charles and then decided to use the local scene as his cheap way to write his first novelletta called “Woo Woo: A Cape Charles Novel,” which has as much to do with Cape Charles as Cape Canaveral.
Explain to people that Cape Canaveral is in Florida, and Cape Charles is not, and that should go a long way towards clearing up the controversy here, because that is the American thing to do!
Remember that Beach Boys song “Be True to Your School?”
You know:
When some loud braggart tries to put me down
And says his school is great
I tell him right away
Now what’s the matter buddy
Ain’t you heard of my school
It’s number one in the state
So be true to your school now
Just like you would to your girl or guy
Be true to your school now
And let your colors fly
Be true to your school
end quotes
So this is a corollary of that – be true to your town!
When some loud braggart tries to put Cape Charles down
And says his town is great
Tell him right away
Now what’s the matter buddy
Ain’t you heard of my town
It’s number one in the state!
That’ll settle the dude’s hash for him, alright.
Tim Donovan says
Important note to locals; the book has recently been edited and translated into English, is available on Facebook, in braille and on the thirty-five cent shelf at the Dollar Store.
Mr. Plante is obviously a “plant”, but more like an invasive species from New Jersey whose seedlings could have been passed in morning guano by a long-winded king-fisherman while in flight.
Paul Plante says
Dude, you have got a real talent for the use of words in phrases to convey some real vivid images there.
I especially like your mood-setting phraseology in this powerful yet thought-provoking line: an invasive species from New Jersey whose seedlings could have been passed in morning guano by a long-winded king-fisherman while in flight.
Now, that is lyric poetry, alright, and in grand style, to boot!
It’s quite rhythmic you know, and it reveals to the casual reader your love and knowledge of the forces of nature around us, although the serious scientist might quibble with you that technically, guano is the excrement of seabirds and bats, used as fertilizer, and the king-fisher is not really a sea-bird.
Research into the habitat of the king fisher reveals this nugget of knowledge:
Where do kingfishers live in the world?
While they are often associated with rivers and lakes, over half the world’s species are found in forests and forested streams.
They also occupy a wide range of other habitats.
The red-backed kingfisher of Australia lives in the driest deserts, although kingfishers are absent from other dry deserts like the Sahara.
end quotes
See what I am saying here?
The king fisher is not a seabird, and hence to be rigorous here, you can’t associate king fishers with guano.
But hey, if that WOO WOO author dude can play fast and loose with the facts about Cape Charles, so can you about king fishers.
Mike Kuzma, Jr. says
Now Paul and I will NOT be inviting each other to our kids weddings but gee mister do you not see the irony of bashing New Jersey in a thread on bashing Cape Charles?
Cognitive. Dissonance.
Cripes, Paul..by the time we get done here I’ma be buying you a bean burger and you can buy me a scallop dinner!!!!!!
Paul Plante says
That bean burger sounds fantabulous, Mike, the thought of it alone is making my mouth water!
Mike Kuzma, Jr. says
And I over the scallops……….if you’ve never had Kelly’s Jameson cream sauced scallops, try ’em.
Paul Plante says
And if being superstitious is not rational, can there really be such a thing as irrational superstition?