[****] ISBN: 9780805069921
If this isn't the first book you read about writing a script, it ought to be the second. The author has very pointed and practical advice about all of the phases of the process of getting a script actually made into a movie. He starts with the concept (the hook) and follows it all the way through to the rewrite and then shopping it around. Every step focuses on making sure that the script you have will capture the attention of a producer that will pay money to make it.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
My Stroke of Luck (Kirk Douglas)
[****] ISBN: 9780060081416 (audio) 9780060009298 (hardcover)
I really enjoyed this book. Who would have thought that Kirk Douglas was so poetic, so thoughtful, so inspirational? While this short volume does focus in on the changes a minor stroke brought to his life, he also manages to give some insights into his life, his family, and his soul. Anyone with older parents struggling with health issues (stroke or otherwise) will benefit from reading this book.
I really enjoyed this book. Who would have thought that Kirk Douglas was so poetic, so thoughtful, so inspirational? While this short volume does focus in on the changes a minor stroke brought to his life, he also manages to give some insights into his life, his family, and his soul. Anyone with older parents struggling with health issues (stroke or otherwise) will benefit from reading this book.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life (Steve Martin)
[****] ISBN: 9781416553649
Sometimes I think of Steve Martin like an older cousin I never met. We both lived in Garden Grove, California (I even performed on the stage of the theater at Garden Grove High School, which he attended) and we both worked at Disneyland (albeit 20 years apart). It's been fun watching him make good and this book does a good job chronicling that process, up through the beginning of his film career.
What works is that he doesn't sensationalize anything, but he doesn't shrink away from emotional issues, either. He really does seem to want to tell it like it was, successes and failures. What also comes through is the amount of persistent hard work it took to be an overnight success. He seems to personify the saying the luck is being ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it comes.
For any fan of Steve Martin, this is a must read.
Sometimes I think of Steve Martin like an older cousin I never met. We both lived in Garden Grove, California (I even performed on the stage of the theater at Garden Grove High School, which he attended) and we both worked at Disneyland (albeit 20 years apart). It's been fun watching him make good and this book does a good job chronicling that process, up through the beginning of his film career.
What works is that he doesn't sensationalize anything, but he doesn't shrink away from emotional issues, either. He really does seem to want to tell it like it was, successes and failures. What also comes through is the amount of persistent hard work it took to be an overnight success. He seems to personify the saying the luck is being ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it comes.
For any fan of Steve Martin, this is a must read.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Voyagers (Ben Bova)
[*] ISBN: 9780786154289 [audio] 9780385148900 [hardcover]
An alien encounter novel that probably felt outdated when it was published. It is full of descriptions of technology and behavior that was probably not even real at the time. Both felt clumsy and misunderstood. Perhaps the story was not quite as boring back then, which is why it still gets good marks from other reviewers.
This tries to be a reality-based account of humanity's reaction when an alien spacecraft suddenly arrives in our solar system. Odd radio signals are found to emanate from Jupiter. Then a powerful telescope spots the spacecraft orbiting that planet and watches it turn toward earth. The story follows a motley group of scientists and others, falling in and out of bed with each other, using computers that take minutes to program and hours to do calculations, as they jockey for power.
None of the characters ever really sprang to life for me. All were there to serve the plot and not vice versa. I liked the overall premise of the story. It's too bad much of the book felt like padding. Five pounds of potatoes in a ten pound bag. I won't be picking up the next books in the series to see what happens.
An alien encounter novel that probably felt outdated when it was published. It is full of descriptions of technology and behavior that was probably not even real at the time. Both felt clumsy and misunderstood. Perhaps the story was not quite as boring back then, which is why it still gets good marks from other reviewers.
This tries to be a reality-based account of humanity's reaction when an alien spacecraft suddenly arrives in our solar system. Odd radio signals are found to emanate from Jupiter. Then a powerful telescope spots the spacecraft orbiting that planet and watches it turn toward earth. The story follows a motley group of scientists and others, falling in and out of bed with each other, using computers that take minutes to program and hours to do calculations, as they jockey for power.
None of the characters ever really sprang to life for me. All were there to serve the plot and not vice versa. I liked the overall premise of the story. It's too bad much of the book felt like padding. Five pounds of potatoes in a ten pound bag. I won't be picking up the next books in the series to see what happens.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Sins of the City: The Real Los Angeles Noir (Jim Heimann)
[***] ISBN: 9780811823197
This is a concise portrait of Los Angeles during the noir period (1930s to 1950s) as captured by various news and other photographers. A short essay at the front sets the stage, but it's the photos that tell the story of a city growing up.
This is a concise portrait of Los Angeles during the noir period (1930s to 1950s) as captured by various news and other photographers. A short essay at the front sets the stage, but it's the photos that tell the story of a city growing up.
The Little Sister (Raymond Chandler)
[**] ISBN: 0375415025
I read this while writing a first-person novel set in the same time period and setting, early 1950s Hollywood. It was a great help for kickstarting that process, and there is some genuinely inspired prose in this book, but I ultimately found the story lacking. The connections between characters and the leads the detective follows were a bit too tenuous. Marlowe's observations of other characters is very penetrating, but he came across as a bit too morose and unmotivated. But that may have been part of the point of the book.
This is not considered one of Chandler's strongest stories by many critics. I can't recommend it, but I liked it enough that I will definitely read some more of his work. I may even pick up a copy of this omnibus volume, in order to have it on hand for future reference.
I read this while writing a first-person novel set in the same time period and setting, early 1950s Hollywood. It was a great help for kickstarting that process, and there is some genuinely inspired prose in this book, but I ultimately found the story lacking. The connections between characters and the leads the detective follows were a bit too tenuous. Marlowe's observations of other characters is very penetrating, but he came across as a bit too morose and unmotivated. But that may have been part of the point of the book.
This is not considered one of Chandler's strongest stories by many critics. I can't recommend it, but I liked it enough that I will definitely read some more of his work. I may even pick up a copy of this omnibus volume, in order to have it on hand for future reference.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
American Pastoral (Philip Roth)
[***] ISBN: 9780395860212
On the opposite end of the spectrum from In Cahoots is this Pulitzer Prize-winning book. While I did not finish reading this title (yet), I found that I liked the smooth and subtle prose and the rich character landscape created by the author. I understand why it won. Why didn't I finish it then and why didn't I give it more stars? Because it got pushed aside for some different reading I needed to do during NaNoWriMo and it became due at the library. Because I didn't finish it, I can't say that I recommend it yet, either. I may come back and try it again, mainly because I want to work my way through several Pulitzer books to see what make them tick.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from In Cahoots is this Pulitzer Prize-winning book. While I did not finish reading this title (yet), I found that I liked the smooth and subtle prose and the rich character landscape created by the author. I understand why it won. Why didn't I finish it then and why didn't I give it more stars? Because it got pushed aside for some different reading I needed to do during NaNoWriMo and it became due at the library. Because I didn't finish it, I can't say that I recommend it yet, either. I may come back and try it again, mainly because I want to work my way through several Pulitzer books to see what make them tick.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
In Cahoots: A Novel of Southern California, 1953 (Malcolm Cook MacPherson)
[*] ISBN: 9780679422044
If this book weren't so darn encouraging to me, as an aspiring author, I would have never finished reading it. I figure if this book can be published by a major publisher, someday, something I write can get published, too. Well, maybe I would have finished it just because it's set in approximately the same time and place (pre-Disneyland Orange County, CA) of the book I'm writing for National Novel Writing Month. This doesn't mean that I intend to steal ideas from it, just that I found some clues for coloring the world I'm creating.
What worked: the characters were sweet and kooky, some passages were pleasantly evocative of time and place, the overall idea of California as a land of dreams.
What didn't work: the author started right off throwing bits of localized jargon at the reader without explaining it and never looked back, most of the kooky characters were never really fleshed out into individuals that we actually cared about - they seemed to be just place holders and cogs in the plot - what they did never really jelled into funniness, and the plot was convoluted enough for an amazing mystery or spy novel but was not well drawn enough to overcome the other faults of the book.
As another reviewer noted, if you're a big fan of Disney or Disneyland, you might enjoy skimming through this. Otherwise, it's just another excuse for you to say to yourself, "I could write a book better than that."
If this book weren't so darn encouraging to me, as an aspiring author, I would have never finished reading it. I figure if this book can be published by a major publisher, someday, something I write can get published, too. Well, maybe I would have finished it just because it's set in approximately the same time and place (pre-Disneyland Orange County, CA) of the book I'm writing for National Novel Writing Month. This doesn't mean that I intend to steal ideas from it, just that I found some clues for coloring the world I'm creating.
What worked: the characters were sweet and kooky, some passages were pleasantly evocative of time and place, the overall idea of California as a land of dreams.
What didn't work: the author started right off throwing bits of localized jargon at the reader without explaining it and never looked back, most of the kooky characters were never really fleshed out into individuals that we actually cared about - they seemed to be just place holders and cogs in the plot - what they did never really jelled into funniness, and the plot was convoluted enough for an amazing mystery or spy novel but was not well drawn enough to overcome the other faults of the book.
As another reviewer noted, if you're a big fan of Disney or Disneyland, you might enjoy skimming through this. Otherwise, it's just another excuse for you to say to yourself, "I could write a book better than that."
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side Of Everything (Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner)
[****] ISBN: 9780060776138 (audio) ISBN: 9780060731328 (hardcover)
Steven Levitt has a warped mind. He is the rogue economist of the title, and he manages, by having such a unique perspective about so many things, to really make you think about how you see the world. And it's not just that he's just being contrarian in his world view. He applies genuine science, mathematics, and statistics to answer hard questions about the world. The unique part comes from the questions he is asking, the way he asks them, and the way he applies the science, etc. to answer them. I came away convinced that the so-called common wisdom is obviously wrong in many cases and so very easy to subvert. With the other Stephen (of the New York Times) joining in to help with the writing, these two are essentially the Mythbusters of economics (and, by implication, sociology).
Steven Levitt has a warped mind. He is the rogue economist of the title, and he manages, by having such a unique perspective about so many things, to really make you think about how you see the world. And it's not just that he's just being contrarian in his world view. He applies genuine science, mathematics, and statistics to answer hard questions about the world. The unique part comes from the questions he is asking, the way he asks them, and the way he applies the science, etc. to answer them. I came away convinced that the so-called common wisdom is obviously wrong in many cases and so very easy to subvert. With the other Stephen (of the New York Times) joining in to help with the writing, these two are essentially the Mythbusters of economics (and, by implication, sociology).
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom (Phil Rosenthal)
[***] ISBN: 9781597771436 (audio) ISBN: 9780452288782 (paperback)
This book is an almost perfect resource for anyone who is trying, or considering trying, to break into television scriptwriting, especially for sit-coms. For them it's really a four-star book. It's loaded with keen insight into the world of television production and writing.
It's also a four-star book for anyone who is a fan of the show Mr. Rosenthal created, Everyone Loves Raymond. It's loaded with hilarious behind-the-scenes stories about how the show came to be and the people involved.
For everyone else, it's worth at least three-stars, especially the audio edition where you get to hear the author, in his very ethnic New York voice, tell all the stories and do the voices and play some recordings. It's just plain funny.
This book is an almost perfect resource for anyone who is trying, or considering trying, to break into television scriptwriting, especially for sit-coms. For them it's really a four-star book. It's loaded with keen insight into the world of television production and writing.
It's also a four-star book for anyone who is a fan of the show Mr. Rosenthal created, Everyone Loves Raymond. It's loaded with hilarious behind-the-scenes stories about how the show came to be and the people involved.
For everyone else, it's worth at least three-stars, especially the audio edition where you get to hear the author, in his very ethnic New York voice, tell all the stories and do the voices and play some recordings. It's just plain funny.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Thanks for Tuning In (Richard Ruelas)
[***] ISBN: 9780975282212
There is a sure-fire test to find out if someone grew up in Arizona any time between 1955 and 1998. Do they remember Wallace and Ladmo? I do. So does Stephen Spielberg. This is the story of Wallace, the driving force behind It's Wallace? and The Wallace and Ladmo Show. The latter is the longest running children's television show ever.
Actually, this starts out as the story of Bill Thompson, the sparky son of a successful New York stockbroker. This early history is fascinating and tells us much about how Bill became and remained Wallace. He just never grew up.
I'm glad the author managed to get all of this information out of Wallace and his family and friends and then got it put into a structure that works. He doesn't hide any of the realities of the long and colorful life of this permanent cut-up. But he doesn't dwell on them either. The result is a lovely portrait of a beloved man behind a beloved character.
There is a sure-fire test to find out if someone grew up in Arizona any time between 1955 and 1998. Do they remember Wallace and Ladmo? I do. So does Stephen Spielberg. This is the story of Wallace, the driving force behind It's Wallace? and The Wallace and Ladmo Show. The latter is the longest running children's television show ever.
Actually, this starts out as the story of Bill Thompson, the sparky son of a successful New York stockbroker. This early history is fascinating and tells us much about how Bill became and remained Wallace. He just never grew up.
I'm glad the author managed to get all of this information out of Wallace and his family and friends and then got it put into a structure that works. He doesn't hide any of the realities of the long and colorful life of this permanent cut-up. But he doesn't dwell on them either. The result is a lovely portrait of a beloved man behind a beloved character.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Forty Signs of Rain (Kim Stanley Robinson)
[***] ISBN: 9780553803112
This is a well-written, straight-ahead novel about a possible near future of global environmental catastrophe. There are times when it feels like the author is hitting you over the head with a two-by-four of science facts. But these can be excused because they are relevant and interesting.
The characters are well-drawn, charming, and down-to-earth. The author even manages to draw the Bush-like President in a likable, if not flattering way. The settings are mundane, yet evocative. The reader is always present in the places and the weather becomes another character.
The ending of this book is really the set-up for the next book, which makes it a bit unsatisfying. But I will definitely read the next two volumes to see where the story takes me.
This is a well-written, straight-ahead novel about a possible near future of global environmental catastrophe. There are times when it feels like the author is hitting you over the head with a two-by-four of science facts. But these can be excused because they are relevant and interesting.
The characters are well-drawn, charming, and down-to-earth. The author even manages to draw the Bush-like President in a likable, if not flattering way. The settings are mundane, yet evocative. The reader is always present in the places and the weather becomes another character.
The ending of this book is really the set-up for the next book, which makes it a bit unsatisfying. But I will definitely read the next two volumes to see where the story takes me.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Lisey's Story (Stephen King)
[***] ISBN: 9780743289412
It's hard for me to give this book three stars - 'well worth reading'. But it ultimately deserves it, as long as I can qualify the rating. This book is worth reading if you enjoy this sort of thing, or if you want to experience some unique storytelling (and haven't read much by this author, apparently). I fall in the latter camp.
The author truly took some chances here. And he largely pulled it off. Much of the story takes place inside the titular Lisey's mind as she remembers, or is forced to remember, bits of her life with her deceased husband of 25 years, the author Scott Landon. In order to do this, the story needs to jump between the present, Lisey's past with Scott, and Scott's childhood. The mechanism that King uses to do this seemed unique and mostly worked for me. The story also has to jump back and forth between the real world and an alternate world that isn't quite imaginary, but is made of the stuff of dreams and nightmares. This also worked somewhat. The widow's state of mind, along with that of other characters, is often reflected by the language used. As a whole, this worked, too. As an inspiration for how to tell stories, I found this to be a pretty rich experience. It's not your typical novel.
On the other hand, some other reviews I've seen of the book say that many of these elements, and others, are typical King. I'll have to take their word on that. My problem with the book was not that he'd done this all before, but that he did so much of it. This book did not need to be 600 pages long. I got very close to putting it down at several points. We were spending so much time with Lisey's internal monologue that I was convinced she was simply insane, would not get sane, and that the entire story was ultimately just her own fantasy. When it became clear that this was not entirely the case, that real, albeit unbelievable, events were unfolding, I was able to hang in there. But because the story turned out to be so simple, I wish the author would have stripped away about a third of the words.
This might be the sort of thing you'd like, if you like this sort of thing.
It's hard for me to give this book three stars - 'well worth reading'. But it ultimately deserves it, as long as I can qualify the rating. This book is worth reading if you enjoy this sort of thing, or if you want to experience some unique storytelling (and haven't read much by this author, apparently). I fall in the latter camp.
The author truly took some chances here. And he largely pulled it off. Much of the story takes place inside the titular Lisey's mind as she remembers, or is forced to remember, bits of her life with her deceased husband of 25 years, the author Scott Landon. In order to do this, the story needs to jump between the present, Lisey's past with Scott, and Scott's childhood. The mechanism that King uses to do this seemed unique and mostly worked for me. The story also has to jump back and forth between the real world and an alternate world that isn't quite imaginary, but is made of the stuff of dreams and nightmares. This also worked somewhat. The widow's state of mind, along with that of other characters, is often reflected by the language used. As a whole, this worked, too. As an inspiration for how to tell stories, I found this to be a pretty rich experience. It's not your typical novel.
On the other hand, some other reviews I've seen of the book say that many of these elements, and others, are typical King. I'll have to take their word on that. My problem with the book was not that he'd done this all before, but that he did so much of it. This book did not need to be 600 pages long. I got very close to putting it down at several points. We were spending so much time with Lisey's internal monologue that I was convinced she was simply insane, would not get sane, and that the entire story was ultimately just her own fantasy. When it became clear that this was not entirely the case, that real, albeit unbelievable, events were unfolding, I was able to hang in there. But because the story turned out to be so simple, I wish the author would have stripped away about a third of the words.
This might be the sort of thing you'd like, if you like this sort of thing.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Charles Lippincott)
[****] ISBN: 9780345477613
This is an amazing book documenting the amazing story of an amazing film. The big revelation for me was that George Lucas really didn't have the whole story of all of the episodes mapped out before he began the process of making the film (which is what SW lore would have you believe). Amazingly, he didn't even have the entire plot of this first film mapped out until after he started shooting (something that is not that uncommon, but I did not really comprehend) and didn't really finish it off until the end. I think I learned more about story development from following this saga than from reading any other texts on how to do it.
This is an amazing book documenting the amazing story of an amazing film. The big revelation for me was that George Lucas really didn't have the whole story of all of the episodes mapped out before he began the process of making the film (which is what SW lore would have you believe). Amazingly, he didn't even have the entire plot of this first film mapped out until after he started shooting (something that is not that uncommon, but I did not really comprehend) and didn't really finish it off until the end. I think I learned more about story development from following this saga than from reading any other texts on how to do it.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Frank Miller)
[****] ISBN: 9781563893421
This is a 5-star graphic novel, but only a 3-star book. I split the difference. The problem I have in being more enthusiastic about this book is that by now, twenty years after it was first published, this ground has been thoroughly covered and trampled to the point where it's hard to turn new dirt. It's obvious why it was considered groundbreaking at the time, but there are ways in which it doesn't wear well (Reagan and the communists are gone, you know). That makes it difficult for it to stand up as a true 'classic' piece of literature.
That being said, I do give it high marks for fresh story telling (especially for the time) and for overall endurance (it still is a decent read).
This is a 5-star graphic novel, but only a 3-star book. I split the difference. The problem I have in being more enthusiastic about this book is that by now, twenty years after it was first published, this ground has been thoroughly covered and trampled to the point where it's hard to turn new dirt. It's obvious why it was considered groundbreaking at the time, but there are ways in which it doesn't wear well (Reagan and the communists are gone, you know). That makes it difficult for it to stand up as a true 'classic' piece of literature.
That being said, I do give it high marks for fresh story telling (especially for the time) and for overall endurance (it still is a decent read).
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Lost in Space: Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul (Bill Mumy, Michal Dutkiewicz)
[***] ISBN: 0976543605
This is Bill Mumy's long unfinished epic graphic novel of the Robinson family finally reaching Alpha Centauri. I'm very glad to finally read the whole thing, after having it interrupted when Innovation went out of business over 10 years ago. I liked the story, swiftly read the entire thing in a couple of sittings, and was pleased with the ending. But I have to report some disappointment in the execution.
The good: the story was interesting, true to the characters and held my attention; the preface material by the creators that outlined the history of the book and their history with the franchise was almost the best part
The bad: the storytelling was a bit stiff in spots; the art struck me as varying from lush and beautiful to mushy and awkward; several misspellings in the text
I would recommend this to fans of the series.
This is Bill Mumy's long unfinished epic graphic novel of the Robinson family finally reaching Alpha Centauri. I'm very glad to finally read the whole thing, after having it interrupted when Innovation went out of business over 10 years ago. I liked the story, swiftly read the entire thing in a couple of sittings, and was pleased with the ending. But I have to report some disappointment in the execution.
The good: the story was interesting, true to the characters and held my attention; the preface material by the creators that outlined the history of the book and their history with the franchise was almost the best part
The bad: the storytelling was a bit stiff in spots; the art struck me as varying from lush and beautiful to mushy and awkward; several misspellings in the text
I would recommend this to fans of the series.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty (Ronnie Sellers, ed.)
[**] ISBN: 9781569065907
Yes, this is the birthday I had this year. But this book didn't tell me much I didn't already know. It may be enlightening to someone who was caught completely unaware of their age. But I think most folks hitting this milestone will realize that they aren't kids anymore and will have started thinking these issues through.
That's not to say there isn't good stuff here and that I didn't learn anything. It's just that the essays are all rather short and most of them are very predictable (change your eating habits, exercise, rethink your portfolio, try a new hobby, give something back). I would recommend this as a book to skim through and use as a jumping off point to topics that might need more attention one's life.
Yes, this is the birthday I had this year. But this book didn't tell me much I didn't already know. It may be enlightening to someone who was caught completely unaware of their age. But I think most folks hitting this milestone will realize that they aren't kids anymore and will have started thinking these issues through.
That's not to say there isn't good stuff here and that I didn't learn anything. It's just that the essays are all rather short and most of them are very predictable (change your eating habits, exercise, rethink your portfolio, try a new hobby, give something back). I would recommend this as a book to skim through and use as a jumping off point to topics that might need more attention one's life.
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down (Colin Woodard)
[***] ISBN: 9780156034623
I listened to the audio edition of this for a couple of weeks. In some ways, I wish that there had been an edited version, instead of having to listen to 383 pages worth of "the 300 ton sloop this" and "the 400 ton frigate captained by Bob Smith" over and over again. But then again, there is an awful lot of ground to cover when discussing pirates in the eighteenth century and the author does an admirable job of focusing on the key players and taking the reader through the events and politics of the time and region. This is a real eye-opener for anyone interested in the subject.
I listened to the audio edition of this for a couple of weeks. In some ways, I wish that there had been an edited version, instead of having to listen to 383 pages worth of "the 300 ton sloop this" and "the 400 ton frigate captained by Bob Smith" over and over again. But then again, there is an awful lot of ground to cover when discussing pirates in the eighteenth century and the author does an admirable job of focusing on the key players and taking the reader through the events and politics of the time and region. This is a real eye-opener for anyone interested in the subject.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Disclosure (Michael Crichton)
[**] ISBN: 9780345391056
I'm torn on this one. The story finally sort of paid off. But I actually set it aside for a couple of weeks to read The Golden Compass. It's not that it was bad, the writing was OK. I just didn't care for the characters that much, one of the scenes actually made me very uncomfortable (and not just in the way the author intended), and some of the action hit too close to home (high-tech company politics). That last point could be a little disingenuous on my part, since it's one of the things that attracted me to the book in the first place. I guess I found that I wasn't quite over my recent encounter with that sort of thing (not the sexual harassment stuff per se, just politics).
Anyway, after I picked it up again, the story finally seemed to click and I enjoyed the mystery angle of it all. And I think this type of story will help with the one I'm currently writing, so that's good. But I think there were just a few too many characters, there was a genuine deus ex machina character at the end (someone that had been given one previous scene and then conveniently brought back out of the blue to provide critical information at the critical moment), and I lost a little respect when the author didn't quite get his local facts straight. There is no "Queen Anne's hill" in Seattle. It's simply Queen Anne hill. Wish I could give this three stars, but it only gets two.
I'm torn on this one. The story finally sort of paid off. But I actually set it aside for a couple of weeks to read The Golden Compass. It's not that it was bad, the writing was OK. I just didn't care for the characters that much, one of the scenes actually made me very uncomfortable (and not just in the way the author intended), and some of the action hit too close to home (high-tech company politics). That last point could be a little disingenuous on my part, since it's one of the things that attracted me to the book in the first place. I guess I found that I wasn't quite over my recent encounter with that sort of thing (not the sexual harassment stuff per se, just politics).
Anyway, after I picked it up again, the story finally seemed to click and I enjoyed the mystery angle of it all. And I think this type of story will help with the one I'm currently writing, so that's good. But I think there were just a few too many characters, there was a genuine deus ex machina character at the end (someone that had been given one previous scene and then conveniently brought back out of the blue to provide critical information at the critical moment), and I lost a little respect when the author didn't quite get his local facts straight. There is no "Queen Anne's hill" in Seattle. It's simply Queen Anne hill. Wish I could give this three stars, but it only gets two.
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (John R. Erickson)
[**] ISBN: 9780877191209
I like children's books. Sometimes it's fun to put one in the mix and read something with a simpler point of view. This isn't a bad one, but I don't think it's a good one. There are some cute concepts, starting with the title character and his 'job'. And there are some interesting supporting characters here. But I think the book falls short on a couple of points.
First, a good children's book doesn't talk down to it's audience. In the most subtle of ways, I think that's what this one does. It's OK to have some rough language in a book about life on a ranch or a farm. But I think the writing here goes a bit too far in an attempt to let kids be in on the joke of a curmudgeonly dog that doesn't take any guff and has a problem with 'eye-crosserosis'.
Second, a good children's book simply shouldn't promote fighting as a way to solve problems. At least not one written in the last twenty years. This one does. OK, 1983 is a bit outside the time window. But I still wouldn't have read it to my kids, if I'd have encountered it back then. This may reflect how dogs act, especially those living on a ranch. That doesn't mean this behavior should be encouraged.
That all being noted, it's not a horrible book. Just disappointing. Perhaps most disappointing was that in a book about a 'cow dog', there were no cows (or other cattle). They're sort of implied by the setting, and maybe the first book in the series had some, but they are not visible in this story.
I like children's books. Sometimes it's fun to put one in the mix and read something with a simpler point of view. This isn't a bad one, but I don't think it's a good one. There are some cute concepts, starting with the title character and his 'job'. And there are some interesting supporting characters here. But I think the book falls short on a couple of points.
First, a good children's book doesn't talk down to it's audience. In the most subtle of ways, I think that's what this one does. It's OK to have some rough language in a book about life on a ranch or a farm. But I think the writing here goes a bit too far in an attempt to let kids be in on the joke of a curmudgeonly dog that doesn't take any guff and has a problem with 'eye-crosserosis'.
Second, a good children's book simply shouldn't promote fighting as a way to solve problems. At least not one written in the last twenty years. This one does. OK, 1983 is a bit outside the time window. But I still wouldn't have read it to my kids, if I'd have encountered it back then. This may reflect how dogs act, especially those living on a ranch. That doesn't mean this behavior should be encouraged.
That all being noted, it's not a horrible book. Just disappointing. Perhaps most disappointing was that in a book about a 'cow dog', there were no cows (or other cattle). They're sort of implied by the setting, and maybe the first book in the series had some, but they are not visible in this story.
Friday, August 10, 2007
The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman)
[****] ISBN: 0440238137
It was very refreshing to read a straight ahead story of fantasy and adventure like this. It's quite a feat for an author to make just about anyone identify with a young girl hero. But that seems to be what Pullman has done here. I keep reading and hearing good things about this series every where.
What worked for me was the powerful prose, the breakneck pace, the engrossing (if ultimately unsatisfying) story, amazing places and colorful characters. What didn't really work for me was where the story wound up. In a way it was inevitable, except I didn't quite accept the convergence of the two adults. But it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
It was very refreshing to read a straight ahead story of fantasy and adventure like this. It's quite a feat for an author to make just about anyone identify with a young girl hero. But that seems to be what Pullman has done here. I keep reading and hearing good things about this series every where.
What worked for me was the powerful prose, the breakneck pace, the engrossing (if ultimately unsatisfying) story, amazing places and colorful characters. What didn't really work for me was where the story wound up. In a way it was inevitable, except I didn't quite accept the convergence of the two adults. But it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The Life And Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir (Bill Bryson)
[***] ISBN: 9780739315231 (audio) ISBN: 9780375434303 (hardcover)
Bill Bryson grew up in the fifties in the mid-west. This is his story. I grew up in the sixties in the mid-west and west. A bunch of this is also my story.
In some ways, this is everyone's story. The whole idea of 'kidworld', with its own rules. The inexplicability of adults, especially relatives, and their world. The wonderfulness of creating your own entertainments, followed by television and popular culture taking over and defining our lives.
This is also the story of a disappearing way of life. Neighborhoods full of children playing outside, unchaperoned - vanishing. Cities full of distinctive neighborhoods, stores, and restaurants - homogenized by corporations.
I listened to the author reading his own work, and in this case, he pulled it off. Of course, it's his reminiscence. Even beneath the reading, the words were crafted with poetry and care. The book makes the people and places come alive again, in a distinctive and funny way. I do mark the book down a little (I took away a star) because there are several spots where the author turns a bit preachy on a subject or two, diverting the otherwise delightful stream of memories. Otherwise, I'd recommend this book to anyone that wants a flavor of growing up in the fifties.
Bill Bryson grew up in the fifties in the mid-west. This is his story. I grew up in the sixties in the mid-west and west. A bunch of this is also my story.
In some ways, this is everyone's story. The whole idea of 'kidworld', with its own rules. The inexplicability of adults, especially relatives, and their world. The wonderfulness of creating your own entertainments, followed by television and popular culture taking over and defining our lives.
This is also the story of a disappearing way of life. Neighborhoods full of children playing outside, unchaperoned - vanishing. Cities full of distinctive neighborhoods, stores, and restaurants - homogenized by corporations.
I listened to the author reading his own work, and in this case, he pulled it off. Of course, it's his reminiscence. Even beneath the reading, the words were crafted with poetry and care. The book makes the people and places come alive again, in a distinctive and funny way. I do mark the book down a little (I took away a star) because there are several spots where the author turns a bit preachy on a subject or two, diverting the otherwise delightful stream of memories. Otherwise, I'd recommend this book to anyone that wants a flavor of growing up in the fifties.
Labels:
***,
audio,
biography,
history,
non-fiction
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Orange County Choppers: The Tale of the Teutuls (Senior, Paulie, Mikie)
[***] ISBN: 9780446528016
This is a good tie-in with the show. Supposedly in their own words, the Tuetuls ('tuttles') and some of their cohorts, describe their pasts, their bikes, their show (American Chopper) and their future.
This isn't really a tell-all book. It's all been told before. But it is comprehensive and colorful, though a bit repetitive (how many times do we need to read that Senior shouts and likes old-school bikes and Paulie is mellow and likes new-school bikes?). The one fact that is not really a surprise, but is under-emphasized elsewhere is the claim that the family makes of being born-again Christians. This does ring true in many ways (they won't do bikes with booze, naked girls or devils). But sometimes the way they act makes you wonder. Then again, who says Christians are perfect (yet)?
All-in-all, a fun read for fans of the show or anyone wondering what it's all about.
This is a good tie-in with the show. Supposedly in their own words, the Tuetuls ('tuttles') and some of their cohorts, describe their pasts, their bikes, their show (American Chopper) and their future.
This isn't really a tell-all book. It's all been told before. But it is comprehensive and colorful, though a bit repetitive (how many times do we need to read that Senior shouts and likes old-school bikes and Paulie is mellow and likes new-school bikes?). The one fact that is not really a surprise, but is under-emphasized elsewhere is the claim that the family makes of being born-again Christians. This does ring true in many ways (they won't do bikes with booze, naked girls or devils). But sometimes the way they act makes you wonder. Then again, who says Christians are perfect (yet)?
All-in-all, a fun read for fans of the show or anyone wondering what it's all about.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks (James Robert Parish)
[****] ISBN: 9780471752677
I didn't realize that Mel Brooks took his work quite so seriously. I also didn't know how hard he had to work to break into show business. I suppose I should have. Most entertainers are only overnight sensations after they put in years of hard work and paying dues.
I learned a few things about screenwriting and writing comedy, in particular. After writing a script in 30 days myself, working mornings and weekends, I thought someone that devoted full time to it would be able to knock one out in a few months. This especially seemed true of Mel Brooks movies, which seem so unrehearsed at times. But no, he took years to write most of them. And he usually did it with a writing partner or two. Comedy is probably easier to write when you have another sense of humor around to fill in your blind spots.
The biographer himself found a good structure for Mel's story and usually writes well. The text is full of attributions, but doesn't come off as a dry academic exercise. The one disappointing spot I found was the very sparse treatment given to developing Blazing Saddles. This is especially puzzling given the importance of this work in bringing Mel into the national spotlight. No matter, I recommend this to anyone that wants to learn more about this great talent.
I didn't realize that Mel Brooks took his work quite so seriously. I also didn't know how hard he had to work to break into show business. I suppose I should have. Most entertainers are only overnight sensations after they put in years of hard work and paying dues.
I learned a few things about screenwriting and writing comedy, in particular. After writing a script in 30 days myself, working mornings and weekends, I thought someone that devoted full time to it would be able to knock one out in a few months. This especially seemed true of Mel Brooks movies, which seem so unrehearsed at times. But no, he took years to write most of them. And he usually did it with a writing partner or two. Comedy is probably easier to write when you have another sense of humor around to fill in your blind spots.
The biographer himself found a good structure for Mel's story and usually writes well. The text is full of attributions, but doesn't come off as a dry academic exercise. The one disappointing spot I found was the very sparse treatment given to developing Blazing Saddles. This is especially puzzling given the importance of this work in bringing Mel into the national spotlight. No matter, I recommend this to anyone that wants to learn more about this great talent.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Blink: The Power Of Thinking Without Thinking (Malcolm Gladwell)
[****] ISBN: 9781586217198 (audio)
Blink is a fascinating survey of how the human mind perceives the world, especially in the first two seconds of an encounter. The author balances examples of the mind's incredible power to almost instantly and unconsciously thin slice a situation and reach amazingly accurate conclusions on the slimmest of evidence against it's own tendency to fool itself by semi-consciously over analyzing and yielding to irrelevant input.
Gladwell is a journalist, not a scientist. But that allows him the freedom to wonder far afield to bring together amazingly varied and seemingly unrelated research to build his case. When viewed together, the studies and anecdotes create a tantalizing glimpse of what seems to be happening inside our heads.
Oh, and this is one of the few times when having the author read the audio book works.
Blink is a fascinating survey of how the human mind perceives the world, especially in the first two seconds of an encounter. The author balances examples of the mind's incredible power to almost instantly and unconsciously thin slice a situation and reach amazingly accurate conclusions on the slimmest of evidence against it's own tendency to fool itself by semi-consciously over analyzing and yielding to irrelevant input.
Gladwell is a journalist, not a scientist. But that allows him the freedom to wonder far afield to bring together amazingly varied and seemingly unrelated research to build his case. When viewed together, the studies and anecdotes create a tantalizing glimpse of what seems to be happening inside our heads.
Oh, and this is one of the few times when having the author read the audio book works.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Oscar-Winning Screenwriters on Screenwriting (Joel Engel)
[***] ISBN: 9780786886906
This book gives some insight into the grit, heart and soul of writing for film. Mr. Engel interviewed 11 Oscar-winning writers about their craft and edited the result into 11 monologues that often provide zesty insight into the life of a screenwriter. A common lament is the lack of recognition that the writers get in the industry (and by film fans). A common bond is the love of storytelling. Here and there the reader can also pick up some tips on how to write and sell a good script.
This book gives some insight into the grit, heart and soul of writing for film. Mr. Engel interviewed 11 Oscar-winning writers about their craft and edited the result into 11 monologues that often provide zesty insight into the life of a screenwriter. A common lament is the lack of recognition that the writers get in the industry (and by film fans). A common bond is the love of storytelling. Here and there the reader can also pick up some tips on how to write and sell a good script.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (Syd Field)
[****] ISBN: 9780385289153
This book is very solid stuff. It's exactly what someone (like me) getting started writing screenplays needs in order to get started and not fly off in the wrong direction. Syd tells you about structure. He tells you about character. He tells you about emotion. This book even gives you a peek at what it will take to market your screenplay (except I haven't read that section because I'm doing Script Frenzy and needed to do more writing). There's a reason why this book is almost always mentioned as a resource to people that want to write for film. I will probably have to get a (more up-to-date) copy of this for my writing bookshelf.
This book is very solid stuff. It's exactly what someone (like me) getting started writing screenplays needs in order to get started and not fly off in the wrong direction. Syd tells you about structure. He tells you about character. He tells you about emotion. This book even gives you a peek at what it will take to market your screenplay (except I haven't read that section because I'm doing Script Frenzy and needed to do more writing). There's a reason why this book is almost always mentioned as a resource to people that want to write for film. I will probably have to get a (more up-to-date) copy of this for my writing bookshelf.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Screenwriting for Hollywood (Michael Hauge)
[***] ISBN: 9781880717608 (audio only)
These are three hours of highlights of a seminar that Mr. Hauge gives over the course of a weekend. It's a fabulous jumpstart for someone that wants to understand how to write a script. It's not quite as invaluable as a good book on screenwriting (like Syd Field's). But it's well worth a listen and easier to access while commuting to work.
These are three hours of highlights of a seminar that Mr. Hauge gives over the course of a weekend. It's a fabulous jumpstart for someone that wants to understand how to write a script. It's not quite as invaluable as a good book on screenwriting (like Syd Field's). But it's well worth a listen and easier to access while commuting to work.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Incredible Journey (Sheila Burnford)
[***] ISBN: 0385322798
I've actually given this one more star than I really got out of it. That's because I can tell it's a good book. It just didn't do anything for me at this point in time. I like reading more junior material from time to time. And I got this one thinking it would be good research for a story I was considering in about the same genre. But I've put that project on the back burner and the story didn't otherwise click with me.
The animals are genuine characters, even though they don't talk. The situations are realistic, interesting, exciting and well told. I think where the author lost me was on the overall motivation of the animals to just take off on the journey. That may be part of the realism--how do you really know what an animal is thinking? But it made it hard for me to stick with it. Maybe I'll pick it up again sometime.
I've actually given this one more star than I really got out of it. That's because I can tell it's a good book. It just didn't do anything for me at this point in time. I like reading more junior material from time to time. And I got this one thinking it would be good research for a story I was considering in about the same genre. But I've put that project on the back burner and the story didn't otherwise click with me.
The animals are genuine characters, even though they don't talk. The situations are realistic, interesting, exciting and well told. I think where the author lost me was on the overall motivation of the animals to just take off on the journey. That may be part of the realism--how do you really know what an animal is thinking? But it made it hard for me to stick with it. Maybe I'll pick it up again sometime.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Until Proven Guilty (J.A. Jance)
[**] ISBN: 9781556864148 (audio)
My overall impression of this book is that I didn't like it. I've decided I really don't like the 'hero' J.P. Beaumont. He's not a very good detective and he shows he's much too passive here. He was too easily seduced by the woman in red and I never really quite believed her character at all. Unfortunately, she turned out to be even more key to the story than I was led to believe.
That being said, the writing is not too bad. The settings are vivid. The supporting characters and plot are interesting. And the overall plot was imaginative and surprising. I just won't be spending any more time with detective Beaumont.
My overall impression of this book is that I didn't like it. I've decided I really don't like the 'hero' J.P. Beaumont. He's not a very good detective and he shows he's much too passive here. He was too easily seduced by the woman in red and I never really quite believed her character at all. Unfortunately, she turned out to be even more key to the story than I was led to believe.
That being said, the writing is not too bad. The settings are vivid. The supporting characters and plot are interesting. And the overall plot was imaginative and surprising. I just won't be spending any more time with detective Beaumont.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Stardust (Neil Gaiman)
[****] ISBN: 9780061142024
I should have guessed that a 'fairy tale for adults' was going to wind up being a love story, but I really didn't know what to expect (other than a good story) when I picked up this book. All I knew was the generally positive vibe about the author from the comic book world and the jaw-dropping world creation, storytelling and characterizations in the movie MirrorMask. I wanted to see what else he could do.
The magic in this book isn't just in the story. It is also in the storytelling. Somehow, Mr. Gaiman weaves the tale in such a way that the magic seems perfectly plain and natural and the reader simultaneously feels they are aware of all the facts, but knows there is another level, another turn coming. And the reader is correct, there is always another turn. And when the end comes, there is an extra twist. Yet even this feels completely natural and fitting.
The hero is well formed, likable and easy to identify with. He definitely grows up and grows on you. A few characters sort of show up and then disappear. But even they are well drawn.
I'd recommend this to anyone that wants a few hours of completely charming reading.
I should have guessed that a 'fairy tale for adults' was going to wind up being a love story, but I really didn't know what to expect (other than a good story) when I picked up this book. All I knew was the generally positive vibe about the author from the comic book world and the jaw-dropping world creation, storytelling and characterizations in the movie MirrorMask. I wanted to see what else he could do.
The magic in this book isn't just in the story. It is also in the storytelling. Somehow, Mr. Gaiman weaves the tale in such a way that the magic seems perfectly plain and natural and the reader simultaneously feels they are aware of all the facts, but knows there is another level, another turn coming. And the reader is correct, there is always another turn. And when the end comes, there is an extra twist. Yet even this feels completely natural and fitting.
The hero is well formed, likable and easy to identify with. He definitely grows up and grows on you. A few characters sort of show up and then disappear. But even they are well drawn.
I'd recommend this to anyone that wants a few hours of completely charming reading.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Knight Life (Peter David)
[**] ISBN: 9780441010776
This got much higher ratings from readers on Amazon.com than I can justify giving it. I guess after reading several of Peter's later works (all based on licensed properties) and after reading the preface he added about all of the work he put into 'improving' this book, I was expecting 300+ pages of intrigue, fun and giggles. The concept certainly seemed to be there. I just don't think this book executed it.
My problems with the story are several: (1) The plot is pedestrian. It never really engaged my interest. It was pretty obvious that Arthur would become mayor of New York. There were too few surprises in how he got there. (2) The characters were stereotypical. We already know Arthur is tragic and heroic and that Morgan Le Fey is wicked. But shouldn't we (or they) know more about why after a thousand or more years? (3) The comedy implied by the situation was never really given a chance to pay off. Either it was far too subtle for my feeble brain, or I was in a bad mood, or it just wasn't there.
Even so, I was glad to read one of Peter David's earlier works (even though it is updated). I did read it all of the way through. I won't stop looking for and reading his other works.
This got much higher ratings from readers on Amazon.com than I can justify giving it. I guess after reading several of Peter's later works (all based on licensed properties) and after reading the preface he added about all of the work he put into 'improving' this book, I was expecting 300+ pages of intrigue, fun and giggles. The concept certainly seemed to be there. I just don't think this book executed it.
My problems with the story are several: (1) The plot is pedestrian. It never really engaged my interest. It was pretty obvious that Arthur would become mayor of New York. There were too few surprises in how he got there. (2) The characters were stereotypical. We already know Arthur is tragic and heroic and that Morgan Le Fey is wicked. But shouldn't we (or they) know more about why after a thousand or more years? (3) The comedy implied by the situation was never really given a chance to pay off. Either it was far too subtle for my feeble brain, or I was in a bad mood, or it just wasn't there.
Even so, I was glad to read one of Peter David's earlier works (even though it is updated). I did read it all of the way through. I won't stop looking for and reading his other works.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Here's Johnny! (Ed Mcmahon)
[**] ISBN: 159859088X (CD) 9780786285785 (hardcover)
This was enjoyable, but I was hoping for so more. Over the course of four-plus hours, Ed regales the listener with memories of Johnny Carson. Often these are new and funny (which is what I expected), sometimes only one or the other, all too often they are neither.
It's obvious that Ed Mcmahon has a high regard for Johnny Carson and he wants to make a convincing case for us to like him, too. Here and there, there are genuine insights into the man that was our late-night master of ceremonies for thirty years. Ed also shares some interesting background on his own journey into television and how he and Johnny were thrown together. Most of the time, however, we are left bobbing on the surface wishing we could see beneath the water line.
How many times must Ed remind us he was a side-show barker? A marine? A mini-celebrity in Philadelphia local television? Why must he tell us the well-known Ed Ames "hatchet throwing story" at all, much less two times or more?
I still have fond memories of Johnny and Ed. They were the "forbidden fruit" of after-bedtime television when I growing up. In this audio book, Ed adds a few more good memories. I just wish he would have added more.
This was enjoyable, but I was hoping for so more. Over the course of four-plus hours, Ed regales the listener with memories of Johnny Carson. Often these are new and funny (which is what I expected), sometimes only one or the other, all too often they are neither.
It's obvious that Ed Mcmahon has a high regard for Johnny Carson and he wants to make a convincing case for us to like him, too. Here and there, there are genuine insights into the man that was our late-night master of ceremonies for thirty years. Ed also shares some interesting background on his own journey into television and how he and Johnny were thrown together. Most of the time, however, we are left bobbing on the surface wishing we could see beneath the water line.
How many times must Ed remind us he was a side-show barker? A marine? A mini-celebrity in Philadelphia local television? Why must he tell us the well-known Ed Ames "hatchet throwing story" at all, much less two times or more?
I still have fond memories of Johnny and Ed. They were the "forbidden fruit" of after-bedtime television when I growing up. In this audio book, Ed adds a few more good memories. I just wish he would have added more.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)
[****] ISBN: 9780590353403
More catching up for me. I suppose I must concur with the rest of the world and declare that this is a highly entertaining and readable book. It is definitely incredible that this is the first effort by the author. She hit so many notes just right. Almost as incredible is the fact that she's apparently sustained it through many more volumes.
More catching up for me. I suppose I must concur with the rest of the world and declare that this is a highly entertaining and readable book. It is definitely incredible that this is the first effort by the author. She hit so many notes just right. Almost as incredible is the fact that she's apparently sustained it through many more volumes.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
[***] ISBN: 9780684801520
Yes, it's really that Gatsby. I probably read this back in high school, but I have no strong memory of it. I think I probably enjoyed it more this time around. Yet was also disappointing.
The writing is evocative and beautiful. The plot is spun out in an interesting and charming manner, even though it is ultimately quite simple. The characters are richly drawn, if mostly unsympathetic, misguided and tragic. The settings appear sketchy, with only major features and no minor details. This is a book to which to return, in order to learn poetic, lyrical and emotional storytelling.
Yes, it's really that Gatsby. I probably read this back in high school, but I have no strong memory of it. I think I probably enjoyed it more this time around. Yet was also disappointing.
The writing is evocative and beautiful. The plot is spun out in an interesting and charming manner, even though it is ultimately quite simple. The characters are richly drawn, if mostly unsympathetic, misguided and tragic. The settings appear sketchy, with only major features and no minor details. This is a book to which to return, in order to learn poetic, lyrical and emotional storytelling.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Richard P. Feynman)
[***] ISBN: 9780393019216
This was quite entertaining to listen to. It's not so much a biography, or even a memoir, as a bunch of personal anecdotes. These happen to be more interesting than the personal anecdotes of most people, even most celebrities. And somehow, Mr. Feynman (and his co-author) manage to organize them in such a way that they actually do say quite a bit about the life of this well-loved and quirky physics professor (there are even some references to the physics he did). Along the way, he manages to say or imply quite a bit about what it means to live life to the fullest. However, I was a bit taken aback (and somewhat disappointed) by some of the more colorful adventures and his free-wheeling attitude toward sex and drinking.
This was quite entertaining to listen to. It's not so much a biography, or even a memoir, as a bunch of personal anecdotes. These happen to be more interesting than the personal anecdotes of most people, even most celebrities. And somehow, Mr. Feynman (and his co-author) manage to organize them in such a way that they actually do say quite a bit about the life of this well-loved and quirky physics professor (there are even some references to the physics he did). Along the way, he manages to say or imply quite a bit about what it means to live life to the fullest. However, I was a bit taken aback (and somewhat disappointed) by some of the more colorful adventures and his free-wheeling attitude toward sex and drinking.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A Day With Wilbur Robinson (William Joyce)
[***] ISBN: 9780060229672
Saw the film (Meet the Robinsons); had to read the book, even though it's a slim volume for young children (ages 4-8). It's easy to see why someone thought this was charming. But it also must have been a chore adding a real story to what is essentially just a collection of humorous vignettes. Apparently, there is a second edition that adds a few more scenes, but is still not exactly what is in the film. Fun!
Saw the film (Meet the Robinsons); had to read the book, even though it's a slim volume for young children (ages 4-8). It's easy to see why someone thought this was charming. But it also must have been a chore adding a real story to what is essentially just a collection of humorous vignettes. Apparently, there is a second edition that adds a few more scenes, but is still not exactly what is in the film. Fun!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1965 (Robert Silverburg, ed.)
[****] ISBN: 0765305364
I got this in order to read the short story that inspired the current move The Last Mimzy. The story is "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett (1943). It's pretty good, and indicative of the era. It raises interesting questions about nature verses nurture, sparingly told and barely framed within a time travel context. It will be interesting to see what the film makers have done with it.
As to the collection itself, if I didn't already have a couple of solid collections of short science fiction stories, I would be tempted to obtain a copy for my own library. These were chosen (a while ago) by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America as a way to honor stories that were written before the society began bestowing the Nebula awards. I would love to, and probably should, read through the entire thing. But that will probably have to wait.
I got this in order to read the short story that inspired the current move The Last Mimzy. The story is "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett (1943). It's pretty good, and indicative of the era. It raises interesting questions about nature verses nurture, sparingly told and barely framed within a time travel context. It will be interesting to see what the film makers have done with it.
As to the collection itself, if I didn't already have a couple of solid collections of short science fiction stories, I would be tempted to obtain a copy for my own library. These were chosen (a while ago) by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America as a way to honor stories that were written before the society began bestowing the Nebula awards. I would love to, and probably should, read through the entire thing. But that will probably have to wait.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
From Sawdust to Stardust: The Biography of DeForest Kelley, Star Trek's Dr. McCoy (Terry Lee Rioux)
[***] ISBN: 0743457625
This is a pretty decent account of the life of the actor that brought to life one of the great cultural icons of my time. After having read the autobiographies of many of the actors behind the other major characters of Star Trek, I had always wished that DeForest had written his as well. Since he did not, I was glad to find someone did it on his behalf.
There's plenty here to like. There are many details about his formative years and pre-Trek career in cowboy films and television. There's also an appropriate amount of detail about his later illness and passing. I really like how the author was able to elicit plenty of memories and opinions from De's neighbors and friends. Oh yeah, she also includes plenty of anecdotes about making the Star Trek television shows and movies.
What didn't work is expecting the reader to always remember the cast of unknown characters surrounding the Kelleys in their private life. I've never heard of these people, so it was hard to keep them straight. I needed a bit more structure so I could remember how they fit into the picture (was that someone he met at the Long Beach theater or is it the mail man?). One other annoyance for me was the occasional lapse into editorial by the author, as she waxed poetic about the meaning of Star Trek or DeForest Kelley's career. But this was usually excusable.
Recommended for anyone who loves Star Trek, or cowboy movies.
This is a pretty decent account of the life of the actor that brought to life one of the great cultural icons of my time. After having read the autobiographies of many of the actors behind the other major characters of Star Trek, I had always wished that DeForest had written his as well. Since he did not, I was glad to find someone did it on his behalf.
There's plenty here to like. There are many details about his formative years and pre-Trek career in cowboy films and television. There's also an appropriate amount of detail about his later illness and passing. I really like how the author was able to elicit plenty of memories and opinions from De's neighbors and friends. Oh yeah, she also includes plenty of anecdotes about making the Star Trek television shows and movies.
What didn't work is expecting the reader to always remember the cast of unknown characters surrounding the Kelleys in their private life. I've never heard of these people, so it was hard to keep them straight. I needed a bit more structure so I could remember how they fit into the picture (was that someone he met at the Long Beach theater or is it the mail man?). One other annoyance for me was the occasional lapse into editorial by the author, as she waxed poetic about the meaning of Star Trek or DeForest Kelley's career. But this was usually excusable.
Recommended for anyone who loves Star Trek, or cowboy movies.
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers (Ayn Rand)
[**] ISBN: 0786188847
This is a frustrating work. It's filled with wonderful thoughts and ideas about how fiction works, how to make characters live and breath with emotion and how authors can enhance their own creative process. On the other hand, it's also full of preposterous ideas about the purpose of fiction, what makes a book worth writing or reading and her own philosophical invective.
To top off my frustration, I watched the film version of her book The Fountainhead, in order to get a flavor of her writing. As I feared, it's full of the same melodramatic, selfish, intellectual drivel. I felt like Ayn (who wrote the book and the screenplay) was constantly pounding the sides of my head with a philosophical two-by-four using her completely ridiculous dialog (this stuff might work in some sorts of books, but it never works in film). It ruined what could have been a fascinating film with amazing directing and acting (very evident when no one was speaking). Whatever inclination I might have had to actually read some of her fiction has been squeezed out of my brain.
My hope is to remember and use the more practical and reasonable ideas that Rand puts forward in The Art of Fiction. I also hope to forget the crap (and never again hear the word bromide). It's too bad that's unlikely.
This is a frustrating work. It's filled with wonderful thoughts and ideas about how fiction works, how to make characters live and breath with emotion and how authors can enhance their own creative process. On the other hand, it's also full of preposterous ideas about the purpose of fiction, what makes a book worth writing or reading and her own philosophical invective.
To top off my frustration, I watched the film version of her book The Fountainhead, in order to get a flavor of her writing. As I feared, it's full of the same melodramatic, selfish, intellectual drivel. I felt like Ayn (who wrote the book and the screenplay) was constantly pounding the sides of my head with a philosophical two-by-four using her completely ridiculous dialog (this stuff might work in some sorts of books, but it never works in film). It ruined what could have been a fascinating film with amazing directing and acting (very evident when no one was speaking). Whatever inclination I might have had to actually read some of her fiction has been squeezed out of my brain.
My hope is to remember and use the more practical and reasonable ideas that Rand puts forward in The Art of Fiction. I also hope to forget the crap (and never again hear the word bromide). It's too bad that's unlikely.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The Skystone (Jack Whyte)
[****] ISBN: 0812551389
I believe I first got tipped off about this series by reading a rave on Orson Scott Card's blog. I'm glad I followed up on it.
The Skystone is the first volume of many in a retelling of the legend of King Arthur and Camelot (according to the reviews and the cover blurb). You wouldn't know it from reading the story (until you start getting clues in the latter half of the book). This story is set years before Arthur, when Britain was still under the rule of Rome and the Roman legions. It follows Plublius Varrus, one of those Roman soldiers, through well-staged bloody battles, intriguing political feuds and troubling personal demons. This is quite an adventure.
I found the writing and plotting to be first-rate overall. I read the book straight through in a week (it helped to be sitting in airports and on planes). A few things keep me from giving it a full four stars: (1) Secondary characters seem to be either fully trustworthy and noble or not. It's way too easy to identify allies and enemies. Where are the turncoats? (2) Life in ancient Britain comes across as a bit too idyllic. Although some difficulties are described, the author glosses over many of the harsh realities of everyday life in this period. (3) Typical of most secular books, the Christian themes are very muted and easily confused with simple morality.
I will definitely find and read the rest of the books in this series.
I believe I first got tipped off about this series by reading a rave on Orson Scott Card's blog. I'm glad I followed up on it.
The Skystone is the first volume of many in a retelling of the legend of King Arthur and Camelot (according to the reviews and the cover blurb). You wouldn't know it from reading the story (until you start getting clues in the latter half of the book). This story is set years before Arthur, when Britain was still under the rule of Rome and the Roman legions. It follows Plublius Varrus, one of those Roman soldiers, through well-staged bloody battles, intriguing political feuds and troubling personal demons. This is quite an adventure.
I found the writing and plotting to be first-rate overall. I read the book straight through in a week (it helped to be sitting in airports and on planes). A few things keep me from giving it a full four stars: (1) Secondary characters seem to be either fully trustworthy and noble or not. It's way too easy to identify allies and enemies. Where are the turncoats? (2) Life in ancient Britain comes across as a bit too idyllic. Although some difficulties are described, the author glosses over many of the harsh realities of everyday life in this period. (3) Typical of most secular books, the Christian themes are very muted and easily confused with simple morality.
I will definitely find and read the rest of the books in this series.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Cryptid: The Lost Legacy of Lewis & Clark (Eric Penz)
[***] ISBN: 158348485X
Somehow I stumbled across this author's web site and got excited because he lived nearby, worked full time and had still managed to get something written and published. More dots connected because I had recently read (er, listened to) a history of Lewis and Clark and was also starting to work on a novel revolving around a fictional creature and a cover-up. Thankfully, Cryptid is both completely different than what I have in mind and proves that the concept can work.
The early chapters of the book worked the best for me. They draw vivid pictures of convincing characters in dire situations and create a fascinating world of paleontology, anthropology and history in which the creature (bigfoot) can exist, along with the cover-up. But then the story bogs down even as the pace picks up. The middle of the book, filled with thrilling scenes, turns into a muddle -- a seemingly endless chase through the dark (underground and in the forest), filled with nasty people, malevolent beasts and a rising body count. This was not at all what I expected or wanted. And then the end wraps it all up (just like that).
That being said, I found the book hard to put down. The prose is clear and compelling. The dialog is true. Events follow each other pretty logically (though I did find I lost track of a few things). I hope my story turns out at least this well.
Somehow I stumbled across this author's web site and got excited because he lived nearby, worked full time and had still managed to get something written and published. More dots connected because I had recently read (er, listened to) a history of Lewis and Clark and was also starting to work on a novel revolving around a fictional creature and a cover-up. Thankfully, Cryptid is both completely different than what I have in mind and proves that the concept can work.
The early chapters of the book worked the best for me. They draw vivid pictures of convincing characters in dire situations and create a fascinating world of paleontology, anthropology and history in which the creature (bigfoot) can exist, along with the cover-up. But then the story bogs down even as the pace picks up. The middle of the book, filled with thrilling scenes, turns into a muddle -- a seemingly endless chase through the dark (underground and in the forest), filled with nasty people, malevolent beasts and a rising body count. This was not at all what I expected or wanted. And then the end wraps it all up (just like that).
That being said, I found the book hard to put down. The prose is clear and compelling. The dialog is true. Events follow each other pretty logically (though I did find I lost track of a few things). I hope my story turns out at least this well.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! (Bob Newhart)
[***] ISBN: 1401384862 (abridged CD) 1401302467 (hardcover)
I love Bob Newhart. My dad shared his humor with me, so I shared this book with him for his birthday and then downloaded the audio version from the library. It had me giggling in the car. Even routines that are as old as I am (since both my life and Bob's career started in the 1950's) brought at least a smile. They're no longer fresh. But they are still funny.
What's richer is hearing Bob tell them in the context of the story of his career. Sometimes he let's us in on where the idea came from, or how much work it was to create or how someone stole his material. His life has been interesting, but not overly so (other than being a celebrity). He's just this guy from Chicago.
There's nothing shocking here. Yes, he smoked and quit. Yes, he drank and still does. But, thank God, neither has led to real tragedy. He courted and stayed married. He raised kids. He has not renounced his faith or church. He kept working and still does. I still like Bob Newhart.
I love Bob Newhart. My dad shared his humor with me, so I shared this book with him for his birthday and then downloaded the audio version from the library. It had me giggling in the car. Even routines that are as old as I am (since both my life and Bob's career started in the 1950's) brought at least a smile. They're no longer fresh. But they are still funny.
What's richer is hearing Bob tell them in the context of the story of his career. Sometimes he let's us in on where the idea came from, or how much work it was to create or how someone stole his material. His life has been interesting, but not overly so (other than being a celebrity). He's just this guy from Chicago.
There's nothing shocking here. Yes, he smoked and quit. Yes, he drank and still does. But, thank God, neither has led to real tragedy. He courted and stayed married. He raised kids. He has not renounced his faith or church. He kept working and still does. I still like Bob Newhart.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Tyrannosaur Canyon (Douglas Preston)
[**] ISBN: 0765311046
I thought this would have everything I could want in a thriller: a mysteriously missing moon rock sample (which is ignored between the prologue and the last few chapters), an indecipherable treasure map, a murder, a trail of mystery with more questions than answers, men and women at odds with nature and each other - plus dinosaurs and a moon landing (!). Based on his track record, I guess the author should have been able to pull this off. He didn't.
Much of the story is admirable enough and full of suspense. The first few chapters had me really going. And for a while the mystery was somewhat interesting. But then it turned into a simple kidnapping story on the one hand and an oversimplified "CSI:Cretaceous" on the other. Followed up by the return of the moon rock by way of a rogue NSA black op.
On top of that, the storytelling was not up to my expectations of a best-selling author. I do not expect a potboiler like this to also be a piece of fine literature But I would like the story to move forward by means other than structure and inertia. I don't want the story constantly chopped up with irrelevant detail, description and storytelling (rather than showing). And I'd like chapters to be more than a half a scene, chopped up just for the sake of creating suspense.
While the characters were more than cardboard cutouts, they were fraught with cliché (the murderer is an ex-con, his boss is a fop, the ex-CIA monk is grizzled, etc.) and convenient coincidences (the wife knows how to handle guns as well as horses, the ex-CIA monk is a cryptographer, the geologist is also skilled at paleontology).
This is not a complete disaster. In many ways it was a fun read (er... listen). But I learned just as much about how not to tell a story than how to do it.
I thought this would have everything I could want in a thriller: a mysteriously missing moon rock sample (which is ignored between the prologue and the last few chapters), an indecipherable treasure map, a murder, a trail of mystery with more questions than answers, men and women at odds with nature and each other - plus dinosaurs and a moon landing (!). Based on his track record, I guess the author should have been able to pull this off. He didn't.
Much of the story is admirable enough and full of suspense. The first few chapters had me really going. And for a while the mystery was somewhat interesting. But then it turned into a simple kidnapping story on the one hand and an oversimplified "CSI:Cretaceous" on the other. Followed up by the return of the moon rock by way of a rogue NSA black op.
On top of that, the storytelling was not up to my expectations of a best-selling author. I do not expect a potboiler like this to also be a piece of fine literature But I would like the story to move forward by means other than structure and inertia. I don't want the story constantly chopped up with irrelevant detail, description and storytelling (rather than showing). And I'd like chapters to be more than a half a scene, chopped up just for the sake of creating suspense.
While the characters were more than cardboard cutouts, they were fraught with cliché (the murderer is an ex-con, his boss is a fop, the ex-CIA monk is grizzled, etc.) and convenient coincidences (the wife knows how to handle guns as well as horses, the ex-CIA monk is a cryptographer, the geologist is also skilled at paleontology).
This is not a complete disaster. In many ways it was a fun read (er... listen). But I learned just as much about how not to tell a story than how to do it.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (Cory Doctorow)
[***] ISBN: 0765304368
It was interesting reading this book right on the heals of Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge. Both books cover some of the same territory: in the not too distant future (a century or two) on Earth, medical technology is extending and enhancing life (indefinitely, in the case of Doctorow's Bitchun Society), computing and networking has become even more ubiquitous (to the point that most or all folks 'wear' or have implanted devices). But the two books are quite different. I liked them both.
Whereas Mr. Vinge went for depth and detail and epic sweep, Cory went for outrageousness, fun and personal intrigue. This is emphasized by the first-person perspective and locating most of the story in and around Disney World. Cory's rendering is much more approachable and fun to read, as well. I was able to jump right into the story and enjoyed almost every single page. Then again, I'm also a Disney-phile and probably have at least as much knowledge about the park (well, at least Disneyland) as the author. It's likely that those without such background or leanings would not be able to fill in as much detail and not enjoy it as much. For them, perhaps Mr. Doctorow could have spent a bit more time coloring in the whole picture. But that might have slowed things down to much.
I am looking forward to reading more stories by Cory Doctorow.
It was interesting reading this book right on the heals of Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge. Both books cover some of the same territory: in the not too distant future (a century or two) on Earth, medical technology is extending and enhancing life (indefinitely, in the case of Doctorow's Bitchun Society), computing and networking has become even more ubiquitous (to the point that most or all folks 'wear' or have implanted devices). But the two books are quite different. I liked them both.
Whereas Mr. Vinge went for depth and detail and epic sweep, Cory went for outrageousness, fun and personal intrigue. This is emphasized by the first-person perspective and locating most of the story in and around Disney World. Cory's rendering is much more approachable and fun to read, as well. I was able to jump right into the story and enjoyed almost every single page. Then again, I'm also a Disney-phile and probably have at least as much knowledge about the park (well, at least Disneyland) as the author. It's likely that those without such background or leanings would not be able to fill in as much detail and not enjoy it as much. For them, perhaps Mr. Doctorow could have spent a bit more time coloring in the whole picture. But that might have slowed things down to much.
I am looking forward to reading more stories by Cory Doctorow.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Rainbow's End (Vernor Vinge)
[***] ISBN: 0312856849
I'm torn about this book.
On the one hand, the ideas presented about the cyberfuture and medical utopia are compelling, truly futuristic, solidly grounded in the present and completely developed. Mr. Vinge has extrapolated a networked near future full of technological miracles and complications. Anyone working or playing in the field of computers, gaming and networks, as I do, can easily start to believe in the inevitability of the vision. The reader loses track of the here and now, living entirely in that other world. Several main characters are full of life and motivation, I found myself yearning to learn what they would do next and why. They often surprised me.
On the other hand, getting there was somewhat laborious. The novelty and virtuality of the invented future, the mystery surrounding several characters and their motivations, and the obscure nature of many fantasies within the fantasy made some scenes difficult to wade through. Even at the end of the book, not everything or everyone is explained. On the one hand, I believe this is intentional. Hats off to Mr. Vinge for not spoon feeding the reader and allowing us to fill in the blanks with our own imaginations. On the other hand, I know there are potential readers that will be left completely at sea.
This is thought-provoking, challenging science fiction at its finest. If you want to know where our technology and entertainment choices are taking us, this might be it.
I'm torn about this book.
On the one hand, the ideas presented about the cyberfuture and medical utopia are compelling, truly futuristic, solidly grounded in the present and completely developed. Mr. Vinge has extrapolated a networked near future full of technological miracles and complications. Anyone working or playing in the field of computers, gaming and networks, as I do, can easily start to believe in the inevitability of the vision. The reader loses track of the here and now, living entirely in that other world. Several main characters are full of life and motivation, I found myself yearning to learn what they would do next and why. They often surprised me.
On the other hand, getting there was somewhat laborious. The novelty and virtuality of the invented future, the mystery surrounding several characters and their motivations, and the obscure nature of many fantasies within the fantasy made some scenes difficult to wade through. Even at the end of the book, not everything or everyone is explained. On the one hand, I believe this is intentional. Hats off to Mr. Vinge for not spoon feeding the reader and allowing us to fill in the blanks with our own imaginations. On the other hand, I know there are potential readers that will be left completely at sea.
This is thought-provoking, challenging science fiction at its finest. If you want to know where our technology and entertainment choices are taking us, this might be it.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Callahan's Con (Spider Robinson)
[**] ISBN: 0786183470
I had some fun listening to this book. But I have to hold back on giving it a very high rating. Even knowing that one has to suspend disbelief for this sort of book and that this book is meant to be over the top, I thought the characters, situation and plot were a bit too contrived. The denizens of "The Place" are too varied, too goofy and too understanding to be remotely believable. It's hard enough to get four or five people to agree on anything, much less a hundred or more. The whole mob plot was much too stereotyped. And Mr. Robinson violated some of his own rules of time traveling when it came right down to carrying out the con.
To top it off, I found the prose to be somewhat forced. And the humor was off the mark. I will probably try another Callahan book. Perhaps the earlier volumes that actually include Mike Callahan, where the story is just getting started are better.
I had some fun listening to this book. But I have to hold back on giving it a very high rating. Even knowing that one has to suspend disbelief for this sort of book and that this book is meant to be over the top, I thought the characters, situation and plot were a bit too contrived. The denizens of "The Place" are too varied, too goofy and too understanding to be remotely believable. It's hard enough to get four or five people to agree on anything, much less a hundred or more. The whole mob plot was much too stereotyped. And Mr. Robinson violated some of his own rules of time traveling when it came right down to carrying out the con.
To top it off, I found the prose to be somewhat forced. And the humor was off the mark. I will probably try another Callahan book. Perhaps the earlier volumes that actually include Mike Callahan, where the story is just getting started are better.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Writing Mysteries: A Handbook by the Mystery Writers of America
[****] ISBN: 1582971021
Back in October, I read and reviewed Writing the Mystery. It was not all it advertised itself to be. In contrast, Writing Mysteries is everything it claims to be (a handbook) and more, including everything that the previous book touted. I think one reason this volume is so much more successful is that it is written by a collection of successful, published mystery writers. They bring a variety of viewpoints and tips such that the total exceeds the sum of the parts. Each essay also stands on its own, available as a reference on a particular topic. Any author, beginning or experienced, writing a mystery or other genre, can find help or encouragement in this book.
Back in October, I read and reviewed Writing the Mystery. It was not all it advertised itself to be. In contrast, Writing Mysteries is everything it claims to be (a handbook) and more, including everything that the previous book touted. I think one reason this volume is so much more successful is that it is written by a collection of successful, published mystery writers. They bring a variety of viewpoints and tips such that the total exceeds the sum of the parts. Each essay also stands on its own, available as a reference on a particular topic. Any author, beginning or experienced, writing a mystery or other genre, can find help or encouragement in this book.
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