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next_to_normal) wrote2011-08-17 08:22 pm
next_to_normal) wrote2011-08-17 08:22 pm
Entry tags:
Book reviews
I swear, I am almost caught up with these! We're back to fiction, which means I'm done with the books for school.
Making Movies by Sidney Lumet
Okay, last assigned reading. This one distinguished itself from the other movie-related books I read in that it's a lot more about the craft and less about the business. The chapter on writing has some excellent advice for writers of any sort, and if you are interested in the creative process of movie-making - different filming and editing techniques, how to handle actors, what all those weirdly-named jobs like "Best Boy" and "Dolly Grip" actually do - it's an essential guide. Granted, Lumet is very old-school, so the technology he talks about is almost entirely outdated, and a lot of the principles he espouses aren't what make blockbusters these days - not that that's necessarily a bad thing, haha. It's also a fabulous read if you're a Lumet fan, because you get the insider's commentary on a lot of his movies, since all of his advice is interwoven with anecdotes from his experiences. Not gonna lie, I added a bunch of movies to my Netflix queue after reading this book.
Fire Watch by Connie Willis
Fire Watch is a collection of short stories, most with a sci-if, fantasy, or supernatural twist to them. The titular story is part of Willis' time travel series, which I've reviewed in the past, and deals with a character briefly mentioned in Blackout/All Clear (though this is actually the first story she wrote in that 'verse and pales in comparison to the depth of the novels). Overall, I thought it was much stronger than her Christmas collection, perhaps because it was less burdened by sappy sentimentality. On the contrary, these stories are incisive and often dark (though also darkly humorous). One of her incredible strengths is in world-building, and here she manages to craft twelve distinct ones with the brevity required of a short story, without sacrificing the clarity of the plot.
A Hidden Affair by Pam Jenoff
This is the sequel to Almost Home, which I read a while back, and unfortunately, it doesn't live up to its predecessor. The plot is rather sloppy (and overly complicated, presumably because otherwise there wouldn't be enough story to make a whole novel out of), and the characters are unconvincing. It's hard to believe that a CIA-trained former intelligence officer would have such poor judgment when it comes to trusting strangers who may or may not be trying to kill her. Also, you really do need to have read the first book, or you'll be quite lost.
Making Movies by Sidney Lumet
Okay, last assigned reading. This one distinguished itself from the other movie-related books I read in that it's a lot more about the craft and less about the business. The chapter on writing has some excellent advice for writers of any sort, and if you are interested in the creative process of movie-making - different filming and editing techniques, how to handle actors, what all those weirdly-named jobs like "Best Boy" and "Dolly Grip" actually do - it's an essential guide. Granted, Lumet is very old-school, so the technology he talks about is almost entirely outdated, and a lot of the principles he espouses aren't what make blockbusters these days - not that that's necessarily a bad thing, haha. It's also a fabulous read if you're a Lumet fan, because you get the insider's commentary on a lot of his movies, since all of his advice is interwoven with anecdotes from his experiences. Not gonna lie, I added a bunch of movies to my Netflix queue after reading this book.
Fire Watch by Connie Willis
Fire Watch is a collection of short stories, most with a sci-if, fantasy, or supernatural twist to them. The titular story is part of Willis' time travel series, which I've reviewed in the past, and deals with a character briefly mentioned in Blackout/All Clear (though this is actually the first story she wrote in that 'verse and pales in comparison to the depth of the novels). Overall, I thought it was much stronger than her Christmas collection, perhaps because it was less burdened by sappy sentimentality. On the contrary, these stories are incisive and often dark (though also darkly humorous). One of her incredible strengths is in world-building, and here she manages to craft twelve distinct ones with the brevity required of a short story, without sacrificing the clarity of the plot.
A Hidden Affair by Pam Jenoff
This is the sequel to Almost Home, which I read a while back, and unfortunately, it doesn't live up to its predecessor. The plot is rather sloppy (and overly complicated, presumably because otherwise there wouldn't be enough story to make a whole novel out of), and the characters are unconvincing. It's hard to believe that a CIA-trained former intelligence officer would have such poor judgment when it comes to trusting strangers who may or may not be trying to kill her. Also, you really do need to have read the first book, or you'll be quite lost.