B-list celeb distorts great book

It's an excellent read if you're like me and like to catch tiny glimpses into how "the other half" lives. Not to mention Wilsey is a wonderful writer and manages to make a heartbreaking situation interesting and, at times, amusing. Wilsey is also a contributor to the hilarious online magazine, "McSweeney's," which was created by David Eggers. Eggers is the author of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," one of my all-time favorite books and another perfect summer read.

The reason I mention all of this, though, is not to convince you to read Wilsey's memoir (although I do recommend it). Rather, I came across something quite annoying the other day while I was reading a magazine and it involved this book.

A reporter had asked various celebrities what books they were reading over their summer vacation, just as they would inquire into what brand of mascara they like best. I really don't understand why they asked about books. I suspect because people are influenced by their favorite celebrity's reading material. Well, in any case, as long as they are promoting reading, I'm all for this tactic.

One actress, whose name I will not mention as I would feel terribly responsible if this article were to ruin her career, mentioned that she was reading Wilsey's new novel. I assume the reporter then asked her to give a brief summary of the novel. I do not have her exact quote, as I have since thrown the magazine away, but it went a little something like this: "The book is about a young boy growing up in the high society of New York."

New York?! I couldn't believe my eyes. The entire story revolves around San Francisco - the places, the people, The City. She obviously had not read the book - or even the back cover. I was devastated. Poor Sean Wilsey. His book had been terribly misrepresented, and by some lousy B-list celebrity for that matter. If she was trying so hard to come off as intelligent and well read, why didn't she pick an author held in higher regard like Tolstoy or Maughm? Who does she think she is trying to pass herself off as a Wilsey fan? I mean, come on - at least get the city right. I'll never believe one of those celebrity polls again.

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I've never really considered San Mateo to be a hip, trendy place. But apparently I'm totally wrong. As far as H&M is concerned, our city's cool enough to have its own T-shirt.

Yes, that's right. Put us on the list with Miami, London, New York and Paris. H&M, the popular clothing store similar to Hillsdale Shopping Center's new "Forever 21," has T-shirts that read "San Mateo," just as they would other famous places around the globe.

Unfortunately there are no H&M stores in this area, although there is one opening soon in San Francisco. But my Barnard sister, Jessica, who lives in New York City and spends her summers on the Jersey Shore, informed me she spotted a guy wearing one over the Fourth of July weekend.

Recognizing the city name, she ran up to him and asked him if he was from San Mateo. According to her, he shot out a confused look and asked her what she was talking about. She pointed down to his T-shirt and said her friend Grace is from San Mateo. He told her he didn't even know where San Mateo was, or that it was even a real place. He had bought the shirt just a few days earlier from the H&M store in New Jersey.

Jessica laughed. I have told her about San Mateo and she was able to recognize how strange it was that San Mateo had its own T-shirt in a national clothing store. Nonetheless, I told her to buy one and send it out to me as soon as possible. Only someone truly worthy of the T-shirt should enjoy it.

Grace Kallis is a graduate of Aragon High School. She is currently attending Barnard College in New York City. Her column, Graceland, appears every other Tuesday. If you have some news you'd like to send Grace's way, e-mail her at gkallis5@hotmail.com.