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Given that MTV's "The Real World," now in its seventh season, is advertised as the "true story" of its seven strangers, a memoir of the experience may seem redundant.
But in "Livin' In Joe's World," the first memoir written by a former cast member, Joe Patane has taken a shot at it.
Patane, a member of "The Real World's" Miami cast two years ago, has crafted an unlikely amalgam, a kind of "1984" meets "The Road Less Traveled." In the end, his book reveals more about the short, business-minded mensch with the Amazon girlfriend than it does about the show.
"It is not an expose. It's actually in some bookstores under self-help and actualization," says Patane, who clawed his way through MTV red tape for eight months before getting clearance to write it. (For the record, MTV in no way endorses the book.)
MTV viewers have become addicted to "The Real World," and many long to be a part of its seemingly exciting and glamorous world. More than 10,000 young adults a year try out to fill the Gen-X soap opera's seven slots.
But for those who hang on "The Real World's" every plot and personality twist, Patane's effort may be disappointing. It's not the juicy tell-all tome they might hope for.
"Most publishers would want that MTV book, that expose," says Patane, 28. "Let's...