Book Review:The Great Gatsby

Let me preface my review by saying that filmmakers are VERY good at making trailers. Sometimes. I keep seeing the trailers for the upcoming film version of "Gatsby" starring Leonardo DiCaprio (whom I really enjoyed in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Catch Me If You Can") and it looks exciting and flashy and I began thinking I would like to see it. My son expressed an interest, too. I suggested we read the book beforehand so we can get a feeling for what to expect. I'm glad I did. 

I did read this book some 20-plus years ago when I was in High School, but memory being what it is, I didn't remember much about it. So I went into reading it a mostly blank slate. Be aware there are spoilers in this review. I'm assuming you also had to read it for school. 

The book moves along quickly and is compelling enough, I suppose. It's told from the point of view of Nick Carraway, a neighbor-by chance- of the title character. I was struck early on in the story by how bland Carraway's character is. His storytelling is without passion, without emotion and flat.

Justified Season 4: Better and Better

I've talked about Justified (a very modern take on the old western shoot-em-up) here before, and I will begin this time with this: many of my friends would probably not enjoy it. It is a very violent show, with some swearing and a bit of sexuality and normally I would not even watch a show like this, but these stories and these characters and the moral conflict and the good vs. evil is all SO good and so effective and so powerful that I keep coming back for more. The performances are top-notch, the scripts are clever, witty, exciting, suspenseful, gritty, and just amazing. 

Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens

Having been raised as I was, I find myself able to watch Justified with a certain critical detachment that I don't always have. I'm able to put on my analytical critic's-daughter hat and appreciate the incredible talent and quality of the work and dismiss the less desirable elements of the show. It's strange, because I wouldn't watch an R-rated movie with similar content, but this show, which would seriously push the boundaries of a PG-13 type rating, is tolerable. Enigma much? 

I Really, Really Like Lemony Snicket

In 1999, Lemony Snicket crept onto the scene with what was to be a 13-book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" about the Baudelaire orphans, their wicked "uncle" and various other characters-- friends, foes and depressingly tongue-in-cheek adventures. (The movie did not capture the spirit of the books very well... surprise, surprise.)

I liked these books a lot, not because the stories were uplifting-- they're not, and not because the adventures are unique, though they are, and not even because the characters are charming, though many of them are. I liked them mostly because of the way Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler) plays with the English language.

3 Reasons Twilight Doesn't Suck

Re-reading "The Host" prior to seeing the movie has reminded me of Twilight and prompted this deep, thought-provoking post. (sarcasm...)

Please understand I am referring to the Twilight BOOKS here (by Stephenie Meyer, of course). I will make a note later about what I think of the films...

Book Review: The Uncommon Reader

My sisters and I are beginning our own little private book club. We are all readers, some of us enthusiastically avid readers, and one sister suggested we start out with a little book called "The Uncommon Reader". 

Photo courtesy of Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads: "A deliciously funny novella that celebrates the pleasure of reading. When the Queen in pursuit of her wandering corgis stumbles upon a mobile library  she feels duty bound to borrow a book. Aided by Norman, a young man from the palace kitchen who frequents the library, Bennett describes the Queen's transformation as she discovers the liberating pleasures of the written word. With the poignant and mischievous wit of The History Boys, England's best loved author revels in the power of literature to change even the most uncommon reader's life."

After reading the first chapter, I thought I would really like it, but overall the book was disappointing. I wanted to like it more than I did. There were dozens of references to various authors and books that I had never heard of nor read, and it's packed with jargon specific to Britain, the Royalty and British politics, which I also did not understand, nor did I have the patience to go look it all up. 

And there are a couple of shockingly crude sentences, which are completely out of place in a book that, almost entirely, follows around the Queen, who is proper and classy throughout. One such is a completely unnecessary f-bomb, uttered by one of her advisors (outside her hearing), and the other is a vulgar statement said over the phone by some other leader-type person to an advisor. I was suprised and, frankly, annoyed that an otherwise mild read was peppered with trash. 

The crudity aside, though, the book just doesn't have a lot going for it. The story, while charming at first, grows tedious. I am as into reading as the Queen becomes in the story, so I totally related to the descriptions of her feeling like neglecting everything else, and wanting to read more than complete her tedious dutiful daily schedule. 

Her experiences as a reader, and her evolution into a more thoughtful, in-touch Queen was fine, and moderately interesting, but there just wasn't enough story to keep me interested.

Luckily, it is a short book and I was able to plow through it in two afternoons. If it hadn't been selected for a book club, though, I would never have finished it. 

Too bad. 

Book Review: "Ruins"

I jumped right into this second book in the "Pathfinder" books by Orson Scott Card, after only a couple of days had passed since I finished the first book. I still think Card is an incredible author, but this one wasn't as good as the first. Good, not great. The story moves forward slowly, as Rigg and his companions travel to a couple of new "wallfolds" on their planet, and there was an awful lot of whining and complaining and speculating and just a lot of blah-blah-blah about their feelings and their worries and their thoughts. The first book had some such, but not quite to the extent of this one. I will read the next one, and I do still think this is a compelling series-- in spite of my criticisms, I couldn't put it down-- but I am hopeful the next one will have more action and less bickering and useless chatter.

Book Review: Pathfinder

Oh man, is my mind blown. Again. By Orson Scott Card. Again. Writer of the innovative modern classic "Ender's Game", Card has written some very good books over the years. I love a good WOW book, and Card certainly delivers!

The Triple Spooky TV Tour

The other morning, on the way to work, a local entertainment reporter was doing a bit on the radio about “gateway” episodes to TV shows you may have missed or not thought you would like. These episodes, supposedly, were universal enough that you could get a feel for the show without taking the time to get to know the backstories and characters and such.

Two Adorable Children's Books

These two books are just too awesome NOT to share. Or... to NOT share... something like that. It is grammar day, I think I heard somewhere, and if my brain wasn't so tired from the Mondayness of it all, I might know the correct phraseology. In the meantime...

Unexpected Art Pleasure

Tonight we finally watched the Blu-Ray of "Hotel Transylvania" and while the movie is amusing and has a few good laughs, it's predictable stuff in the same vein as "Monsters, Inc"-- humans are rumored to be terrifying and cruel to monsters, one comes into their world and mayhem ensues, after which they learn that not all humans are horrible beasts. It's cute, formulaic but entertaining enough. And it was nice to finally have a movie the whole family could watch again-- it's been a while since there was something all of us could sit down for together.

But the very best part of the entire showing was the concept art featured during the end credits. Some of the pieces are absolutely breathtaking! I wish I could buy prints to hang in my someday-will-have office. I loved them! My favorites are those that do not feature the characters, with the exception of a couple with silhouettes. Incredible!