Greetings,
Reviewing something like this is really hard for me. I have a history with the source material, that of the 1980's cartoon, Jem and the Holograms. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I have an emotional attachment to it. When I was a kid, this was one of the things that made me love music. Yes, I know those songs could be very much drenched in 80's cheese, but that was okay. They were still good. The whole show just really was a great escape for my otherwise unhappy childhood, and I am quite grateful for that.
So, I am tasked, in this case, with discussing this film on its merits without getting too distracted by what they changed from the cartoon. Which was a lot. A LOT! And I went in knowing that was going to happen. That first trailer did set us up for the story. It didn't reveal everything, but I think we all knew what to expect. Thus, I will give my account. And I will have to make some comparisons to the show. It's inevitable.
Now be warned. I will be talking more in depth than I normally do, which means I may be giving a few spoilers. As I never want to ruin a movie for anyone, do not read my review if you intend to see this. Go see it, then come back and decide if you agree. However, if you want my basic opinion, scroll down for my final thoughts in the last paragraph. The point is, I need to talk about this, being specific about what I liked, what I didn't and what they changed. And yes, I did like quite a few things. Okay, let's discuss Jem and the Holograms. (Again, SPOILER ALERT!)
We begin with seeing videos of a bunch of people on You Tube. Get used to that. Anyway, the framing device is Jerrica Benton, our heroine, making a video to tell us the story of what will happen in this movie. All of which happens in the span of about a month. Yeah. Jerrica is played by Aubrey Peeples, who I absolutely love and who I think is so adorable. She is a teenager living under the roof of her Aunt Bailey, played by the legendary Molly Ringwald, along with her sister, Kimber, played by Stephanie Scott, and Bailey's two foster daughters, Aja and Shana, played by Hayley Kiyoko and Aurora Perrineau, respectively. Of course, they all just refer to each other as sisters, as you do.
Okay, I'm gonna stop and talk about the "Holograms" for a moment, and what was done with them. I'll get to Aubrey later, individually. First off, these young actresses are great. They had fantastic chemistry with each other, which is very important. As far as matching up with the cartoon, they did give them some similar attributes. Shana does fashion, Aja is a tough girl with a juvie record, which is kind of like the tomboy that I remember...I guess. And then, there's Kimber. Poor, sweet Kimber. She does not get as much love as she should have, from a character standpoint, I mean. They say in passing that she wrote a song, which was her thing on the show, but not so much here. Bottom line, they should have used her more. But, yes, big thumbs up to these young ladies.
So, the girls all sing together, even to the point where Bailey uses it to put a stop to arguments, and they want to make a video. Enter them dressing up in 80's fashion, crazy hair colors included. But Jerrica is painfully shy and keeps backing out. Eventually, she films herself with her guitar and a song, dressed up as "Jem", her dad's nickname for her. Kimber finds it and uploads it where it goes viral, attracting the attention of Starlight Enterprises, which is run by Erica Raymond. Yeah, Eric Raymond is a woman now. We all knew this from the trailer, and some of us were either upset or confused about that choice. Still, as much I will always hear the voice of Charlie Adler in my head when I think of Eric Raymond, Juliette Lewis was pretty awesome as a female counterpart. I mean, of course, she was. But there was no need for this. Especially in a movie that is supposed to be based on a cartoon that had about a 20 to 1 ratio of female to male characters.
Anyway, Jerrica hesitantly takes up Erica on her offer to come to Starlight and get a full on career started, mostly because she can bring her sisters and get some money to help save Bailey's house and business. When the girls get to L.A., they immediately get pushed into creating their image, or re-creating it. Here's where we get some glam and fashion and more crazy hair. Good times. Oh, and we also get Rio, played by Ryan Guzman. He wasn't bad at all, and frankly, I think this Rio is less whiny than cartoon Rio. Probably because Jerrica keeps fewer secrets from him. More on that later. However, there is something about Rio's personal life that will make old school fans say "WHAAAAATTT?!?!?" Again, major spoiler. Rio is Erica's son. Yeah, if you watched the show, this might make you feel weird. Also, no purple hair for him. What the deuce was up with that decision? Moving on.
So, Jerrica, now officially known as Jem, must do three pop-up shows in a month in order to get paid, and here's where I can give the film some credit. First, the music is rather good. Now, of course, I wish they would have used my idea of updating old songs from the show, but whatever. Second, the concert scenes are shot extremely well. I expected that, as the director, Jon Chu, is very skilled and experienced at shooting musical performance scenes for his films. I thoroughly enjoyed those scenes. Props for that.
All the while that the music stuff is going on, we have a subplot involving Synergy...ish. Okay, as old school fans will know, Synergy is the computer built by Jerrica's and Kimber's dad, which makes holograms, transforming Jerrrica into Jem. Here, she is a little robot person that kind of looks like...Remember that movie, Wall_E? She looks kinda like Wall_E's girlfriend. Turns out, that the father left them clues to find pieces which will complete Synergy, pieces that include the infamous Jem Star earrings...which are now pink. Not red, as they should be. Pink! I'm sorry, but I must give a thumbs down on that. Point is, they are basically scavenger hunting, and that actually seems like something they would do on the cartoon. Sort of. And Rio is involved here. So, he knows about Synergy the whole time. Well, that's a little different from the show, and the reason why Jerrica is keeping fewer secrets, as I mentioned.
But as the story progresses, it becomes a little predictable. Many people are comparing this to the plot of Josie & the Pussycats, and...yeah. It is quite similar, and the conflict we come across is resolved way too fast. So, sadly, that is my major complaint. The story could have been a stronger one, but unfortunately, that is where I find the film is at its weakest. Oh, except for one more thing. Remember how I said to get used to seeing YouTube videos? Well, they did this thing where they cut them into the movie. Like, you're watching a scene in the film and then you see a You Tube video. Okay, I think they were trying to integrate the music from them into scenes that had no dialogue, and THAT aspect worked, the audio, I mean. But the video being put in is completely jarring. And they do this in other areas as well. I understand what they were trying to do, especially using this to hit home their message in some places, but it did not work for me. I mean, we get it. Jem got famous because of You Tube. Next.
So, anything else that I liked about this movie? Why, yes, there is! As I said, I love Aubrey Peeples, and I thought she was wonderful. She almost reminds me of a more talented and WAAAAYYY nicer version of Kristen Stewart. I say "almost" because she truly is something special. Between the singing and the acting, I think Aubrey has a promising future ahead of her. So long as she stays on track and behaves! Let's see. What else? Well, even though I thought I would roll my eyes at it, I kind of chuckled at them throwing rather infamous lines from the show into the dialogue. It was cute. Also, Zipper was there, who we know as one of Eric Raymond's henchmen. I liked the guy in the movie, but I wish he was a little more...vicious. Amusingly vicious, actually. And I wish he used that voice we heard in the cartoon as well. What can you do though? I liked what they did with the Starlight logo. Nice throwback. Oh, and they had some great cameos, the funniest of which was Ryan Hansen, who we all remember as Dick Casablancas from Veronica Mars. He was HILARIOUS! And we get to see some women who I love dearly: Samantha Newark, original talking voice of Jem, Britta Phillips, original singing voice of Jem, and Christy Marx. Yeah, let's talk about her for a moment.
For those of you who don't know, Christy Marx is pretty much the person who made Jem. Now, granted, the initial idea and concept came from Hasbro, since the dolls came first, and she has made it clear that she does not own the property known as Jem. That is owned, still, by Hasbro. But Christy Marx is the one who wrote the characters into life. She was the one who fleshed them out and gave them backstories and personalities. She took names and images and brought them to life. Think of it this way. You know how Michael Jackson, now his estate, technically owns the Lennon-McCartney catalog, but we all know who really created those songs? It's kind of like that. So, they let her have a cameo, but she had nothing to do with the creation of this film. From what I heard, someone didn't want her to be a part of it, even though she was the one who had been trying for years to bring the show to the big screen. Even though the whole thing is her baby. Yes, why would we want the woman who knows these characters backwards and forwards to have anything to do with this? I just hope she felt all the love from the original fans, because it was and is out there. Let me blunt when I say that, if Christy Marx had been involved in this...oh, heck, in charge of this, we would have had a very different film. One that would have appealed to the new fans, as well as giving the older fans their fix of nostalgia. We didn't get exactly that. In fact, a lot of this movie was straight up insulting to the fans.
Look, I've talked about this enough, so I will wrap up now. As a movie, in and of itself and the "Jem" aspect aside, it is not that bad. And as I said, what's good about it, like the music and the acting, is pretty good, I think. But one must keep in mind who the demographic was that they were aiming at. That demographic is clearly "tweens". Specifically, "tweens" of today. Yes, even though I can give this credit where it's due, this was not made for me or any of the older fans. They did give us a little something here and there, but that's the word - little. I think we deserved more, and that's kind of sad, because this could have been something special for everyone. It really could have, but I feel like maybe someone didn't care enough about the people who have been waiting years, even decades, for this. I'm not saying they didn't care at all; I'm saying they didn't care enough. This seems like something I would see on the Disney Channel, which, again, isn't bad for the "tween" market. I can definitely see some youngsters really loving this, and happily, there is nothing offensive or inappropriate, so parents can relax. By the way, parents, if you were a Jem fan in your youth and you have little ones, they might like this movie. Just promise me that you will expose them, any way you can, to the cartoon show. Let them know things. Bottom line, I do wish that the Jem and the Holograms movie had more of the Jem and the Holograms that I know and love.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Straight From the Theater Review - Crimson Peak
Greetings,
You know how some movies get a massive amount of hype and when they come out they may or may not live up to all of it? Yeah, so let's talk about Crimson Peak.
I, like many people, have been looking forward to this movie for quite a while, for a lot of reasons. First of all, I really like Guillermo del Toro as a director, and he has great and original ideas as a writer, something I practically have to beg for these days. Put his story ideas alongside his visual...vision, and I was seriously ready. And, second, of course, Tom Hiddleston. Yeah, I'll give anything he's in a chance. For crying out loud, I've even seen Marvel movies for him. But I digress. Let's get to this movie. And I won't give too much away passed the set up.
Crimson Peak, first, and probably still, assumed to be a horror film, is actually a Gothic Romance. At least, that's what the cast and crew keep telling me. Sure, why not? The movie begins with the Universal logo being altered to suit the story ahead. They turn it red, or rather crimson. Because...title. Oh, and I hope you like that color, because it is flipping EVERYWHERE! Look, I like symbolism as much as anyone, but...come on. Anyway, our heroine is a young woman named Edith Cushing, played by Mia Wasikowska. We see, in a flashback, that her mother died when she was very young, which led to her first experience seeing a ghost, which leads us to a jump scare within the first five minutes. Oh, really, Guillermo? A flashback AND a jump scare so soon? I'm gonna let it slide, because it's you. We go forward several years, to her and her father, played by Jim Beaver, living in Buffalo, of all places. Random. Well, at least, it isn't Maine. Edith is pursuing a career as a writer, and she is, shock of all shocks, a very forward thinking woman, who doesn't want to only write romances. No, she prefers to write about ghosts. She also turns up her nose at the news of a new stranger arriving from England, a Sir Thomas Sharpe, who is, according to the ladies, charming, handsome and a wonderful dancer. Who could it be? Yes, you guessed it, Tom Hiddleston.
Anyway, Thomas is visiting America looking for funds to build some kind of clay retrieval mechanism. Red clay, of course, that is beneath his house. Well, his house and his sister's. Lady Lucille Sharpe, played by Jessica Chastain, has also accompanied him. Some people are fond of the pair; others are not. If you ask me, these two make me reminiscent of a Creepy Donny and Marie fan fiction I once came across. Make of that what you will. Anyway, Thomas begins to charm Edith, much to the chagrin of her father, as well as the local doctor, Alan McMichael, played by Charlie Hunnan, who fancies the young woman. But nothing doing. Once the Sharpe siblings finish their business in America, to say nothing of a few...events that take place. they return to their grand-ish home across the pond. And, as it is evident by the trailer, Edith accompanies them as Thomas's new wife. Oh, and did I mention that the first thing that attracts Thomas to Edith is the fact that she is a writer? Hmmm... I sure hope that life imitates art on that one, because I, in case you were not aware, am a writer. Holy smokes. This clearly would mean that if Hiddleston found out that I write, and that I write poetry, which he claims to love, he'd be putty in my paws. O-kay, then... Stalker Mode Off. Moving on.
Once we arrive in England, we begin to enjoy some elevated ghostly shenanigans, as well as a bit of a mystery that must be solved. I sure didn't see that one coming after the blatant Sir Arthur Conan Doyle name drop. Actually, one cannot blame Edith for feeling suspicious, as pretty much everyone in this movie is, at the very least, kind of unsettling. It's at this point where the mood and atmosphere that del Toro is known for truly begins to shine. This film does have an uneasy feel to it, and there are some moments of real tension. A few. Yeah, to be fair, I was hoping for more. Honestly, despite the fantastic set up, I felt that things moved rather slowly, and I found myself just waiting for things to happen. However, the moments that were supposed to grab you really did. The good parts were very good. Also, the effects were pretty darn cool. It's like what the 1999 remake of The Haunting could have been...if anyone gave a crap.
Now, I will say that there were a few interesting twists and turns in the story, but some of it was a tad predictable. There were some things that we find out about certain characters, and you would have had to have been asleep, or dumb, to not have guessed it. Also, the reasons for the actions of the characters made me just think, "Wow, really? Wanna add a mafia subplot, too? It worked for Moment By Moment. Or not." In the very, very end, though, things do pick up enough that it made it all rather exciting. Also, a bit gruesome, but, again, del Toro.
So, there are good things I can say about Crimson Peak. As expected, it looks absolutely stunning, from the costumes to the sets to the effects. It is quite a feast for the eyes, as they say. And, of course, the acting was wonderful. As mentioned, I certainly enjoyed myself some Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain gets a stamp of "Mission Accomplished" for her job of freaking me the heck out. Even Mia Wasikowksa wasn't as...um...Alice in Wonderland-y with her acting as she tends to be. Except for that vampire movie where she was just annoying, but I think that was the point of her character there, so hats off.
Bottom line, I would say that Crimson Peak is worth a view on the big screen, if for nothing else than just the visuals. It will certainly draw you in. If you want to go see it, go ahead. I certainly won't tell you not to do so. I know I had a few complaints, but it wasn't bad. It was actually quite good, just not as much as I let myself be "hyped" into believing. But I still think Guillermo del Toro is a brilliant film maker. I still hope he is the one to take the helm if we decide to give The Island of Dr. Moreau another shot. And I can't be mad at Tom Hiddleston ever. Although, when he said he preferred Star Wars to Star Trek, I could have slapped him. What? He would have earned that one!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
You know how some movies get a massive amount of hype and when they come out they may or may not live up to all of it? Yeah, so let's talk about Crimson Peak.
I, like many people, have been looking forward to this movie for quite a while, for a lot of reasons. First of all, I really like Guillermo del Toro as a director, and he has great and original ideas as a writer, something I practically have to beg for these days. Put his story ideas alongside his visual...vision, and I was seriously ready. And, second, of course, Tom Hiddleston. Yeah, I'll give anything he's in a chance. For crying out loud, I've even seen Marvel movies for him. But I digress. Let's get to this movie. And I won't give too much away passed the set up.
Crimson Peak, first, and probably still, assumed to be a horror film, is actually a Gothic Romance. At least, that's what the cast and crew keep telling me. Sure, why not? The movie begins with the Universal logo being altered to suit the story ahead. They turn it red, or rather crimson. Because...title. Oh, and I hope you like that color, because it is flipping EVERYWHERE! Look, I like symbolism as much as anyone, but...come on. Anyway, our heroine is a young woman named Edith Cushing, played by Mia Wasikowska. We see, in a flashback, that her mother died when she was very young, which led to her first experience seeing a ghost, which leads us to a jump scare within the first five minutes. Oh, really, Guillermo? A flashback AND a jump scare so soon? I'm gonna let it slide, because it's you. We go forward several years, to her and her father, played by Jim Beaver, living in Buffalo, of all places. Random. Well, at least, it isn't Maine. Edith is pursuing a career as a writer, and she is, shock of all shocks, a very forward thinking woman, who doesn't want to only write romances. No, she prefers to write about ghosts. She also turns up her nose at the news of a new stranger arriving from England, a Sir Thomas Sharpe, who is, according to the ladies, charming, handsome and a wonderful dancer. Who could it be? Yes, you guessed it, Tom Hiddleston.
Anyway, Thomas is visiting America looking for funds to build some kind of clay retrieval mechanism. Red clay, of course, that is beneath his house. Well, his house and his sister's. Lady Lucille Sharpe, played by Jessica Chastain, has also accompanied him. Some people are fond of the pair; others are not. If you ask me, these two make me reminiscent of a Creepy Donny and Marie fan fiction I once came across. Make of that what you will. Anyway, Thomas begins to charm Edith, much to the chagrin of her father, as well as the local doctor, Alan McMichael, played by Charlie Hunnan, who fancies the young woman. But nothing doing. Once the Sharpe siblings finish their business in America, to say nothing of a few...events that take place. they return to their grand-ish home across the pond. And, as it is evident by the trailer, Edith accompanies them as Thomas's new wife. Oh, and did I mention that the first thing that attracts Thomas to Edith is the fact that she is a writer? Hmmm... I sure hope that life imitates art on that one, because I, in case you were not aware, am a writer. Holy smokes. This clearly would mean that if Hiddleston found out that I write, and that I write poetry, which he claims to love, he'd be putty in my paws. O-kay, then... Stalker Mode Off. Moving on.
Once we arrive in England, we begin to enjoy some elevated ghostly shenanigans, as well as a bit of a mystery that must be solved. I sure didn't see that one coming after the blatant Sir Arthur Conan Doyle name drop. Actually, one cannot blame Edith for feeling suspicious, as pretty much everyone in this movie is, at the very least, kind of unsettling. It's at this point where the mood and atmosphere that del Toro is known for truly begins to shine. This film does have an uneasy feel to it, and there are some moments of real tension. A few. Yeah, to be fair, I was hoping for more. Honestly, despite the fantastic set up, I felt that things moved rather slowly, and I found myself just waiting for things to happen. However, the moments that were supposed to grab you really did. The good parts were very good. Also, the effects were pretty darn cool. It's like what the 1999 remake of The Haunting could have been...if anyone gave a crap.
Now, I will say that there were a few interesting twists and turns in the story, but some of it was a tad predictable. There were some things that we find out about certain characters, and you would have had to have been asleep, or dumb, to not have guessed it. Also, the reasons for the actions of the characters made me just think, "Wow, really? Wanna add a mafia subplot, too? It worked for Moment By Moment. Or not." In the very, very end, though, things do pick up enough that it made it all rather exciting. Also, a bit gruesome, but, again, del Toro.
So, there are good things I can say about Crimson Peak. As expected, it looks absolutely stunning, from the costumes to the sets to the effects. It is quite a feast for the eyes, as they say. And, of course, the acting was wonderful. As mentioned, I certainly enjoyed myself some Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain gets a stamp of "Mission Accomplished" for her job of freaking me the heck out. Even Mia Wasikowksa wasn't as...um...Alice in Wonderland-y with her acting as she tends to be. Except for that vampire movie where she was just annoying, but I think that was the point of her character there, so hats off.
Bottom line, I would say that Crimson Peak is worth a view on the big screen, if for nothing else than just the visuals. It will certainly draw you in. If you want to go see it, go ahead. I certainly won't tell you not to do so. I know I had a few complaints, but it wasn't bad. It was actually quite good, just not as much as I let myself be "hyped" into believing. But I still think Guillermo del Toro is a brilliant film maker. I still hope he is the one to take the helm if we decide to give The Island of Dr. Moreau another shot. And I can't be mad at Tom Hiddleston ever. Although, when he said he preferred Star Wars to Star Trek, I could have slapped him. What? He would have earned that one!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Possession by A.S. Byatt - Book Review
Greetings,
You know what I like? Letters. Good, old-fashioned, handwritten letters. Like, on paper. Go ahead and Google those things, kids. I'll wait. You know what else I like? Poetry. I mean, I have published three books of it, so I better like it. So, what better than a book that has both of those things as its center? Not much. Therefore, today I will be discussing Possession by A.S. Byatt. Oh, and FYI, I know that Halloween is approaching, but this "possession" is not the kind associated with the scares of said holiday. I assume. Unless I missed something in the text. Anyway, let's get started.
Possession was released in 1990 and falls right about in the middle of the writing career of A.S. Byatt. Some people, apparently, refer to this as her masterpiece. Sure, why not? It is pretty good, and it is what I would call a reader's book. You know, not messing around here. And hardcore readers know what I'm talking about. So, how about that plot?
Well, I'm happy to say that we actually have two plots, intertwined through time and space. Oh, the joy. In present day, we follow Roland Michell, who is investigating letters he found written by a Victorian poet, Randolph Henry Ash. Of course, he's looking into them, since they hint at a hidden romance. What could be more intriguing? He suspects they may be written to another poet of the day, Christabel LaMotte, which leads him to Maud Bailey, an expert and distant relative of LaMotte. The two set out to reveal the secrets of these past writers, as are others in the field, and they end up finding out far more than they ever imagined possible.
Meanwhile (I love a good "meanwhile") we also follow the mysterious relationship of Ash and LaMotte. It is a relationship that not only affects them, but many people that surround them. As they tend to do. And being that they are in the Victorian era, there may be a few or more things about this pairing that the public at large would take issue with. Oh, who am I kidding? Some of us would still find problems with it. But their initial secrets leads to more secrets and a legacy which takes a winding road to the future.
And when the two timelines make their way to each other, we begin to find out things that neither we, as the audience nor the characters themselves ever would have known. Frankly, this book is a mystery novel. Just a poetic one, which certainly makes it stand out in the crowd.
Good times, indeed!
So, what is it about this book that I really like? Remember how I said that it centers around letters and poems? Well, all of those are within the text of the book. Yes, the author does not just talk about the poetry and say nothing more than it exists, and also does not give us Cliff's Notes versions of what is in the letters. It's all in there, my friends. This is actually something that Possession has been much praised for, and a lot of the richness of the writing comes from what is in those poems and letters. It's rather amazing to commit to the characters, as well as their stories and feelings, so fully.
I must say, even though in the grand scheme of literature, Possession is fairly young, it feels more classic than it actually is. I think that's a good thing. It makes it far more timeless than books written by "authors" who clearly don't care as much about the words. Just the words themselves. This is a book that reminds us exactly how valuable they are to all of us.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
You know what I like? Letters. Good, old-fashioned, handwritten letters. Like, on paper. Go ahead and Google those things, kids. I'll wait. You know what else I like? Poetry. I mean, I have published three books of it, so I better like it. So, what better than a book that has both of those things as its center? Not much. Therefore, today I will be discussing Possession by A.S. Byatt. Oh, and FYI, I know that Halloween is approaching, but this "possession" is not the kind associated with the scares of said holiday. I assume. Unless I missed something in the text. Anyway, let's get started.
Possession was released in 1990 and falls right about in the middle of the writing career of A.S. Byatt. Some people, apparently, refer to this as her masterpiece. Sure, why not? It is pretty good, and it is what I would call a reader's book. You know, not messing around here. And hardcore readers know what I'm talking about. So, how about that plot?
Well, I'm happy to say that we actually have two plots, intertwined through time and space. Oh, the joy. In present day, we follow Roland Michell, who is investigating letters he found written by a Victorian poet, Randolph Henry Ash. Of course, he's looking into them, since they hint at a hidden romance. What could be more intriguing? He suspects they may be written to another poet of the day, Christabel LaMotte, which leads him to Maud Bailey, an expert and distant relative of LaMotte. The two set out to reveal the secrets of these past writers, as are others in the field, and they end up finding out far more than they ever imagined possible.
Meanwhile (I love a good "meanwhile") we also follow the mysterious relationship of Ash and LaMotte. It is a relationship that not only affects them, but many people that surround them. As they tend to do. And being that they are in the Victorian era, there may be a few or more things about this pairing that the public at large would take issue with. Oh, who am I kidding? Some of us would still find problems with it. But their initial secrets leads to more secrets and a legacy which takes a winding road to the future.
And when the two timelines make their way to each other, we begin to find out things that neither we, as the audience nor the characters themselves ever would have known. Frankly, this book is a mystery novel. Just a poetic one, which certainly makes it stand out in the crowd.
Good times, indeed!
So, what is it about this book that I really like? Remember how I said that it centers around letters and poems? Well, all of those are within the text of the book. Yes, the author does not just talk about the poetry and say nothing more than it exists, and also does not give us Cliff's Notes versions of what is in the letters. It's all in there, my friends. This is actually something that Possession has been much praised for, and a lot of the richness of the writing comes from what is in those poems and letters. It's rather amazing to commit to the characters, as well as their stories and feelings, so fully.
I must say, even though in the grand scheme of literature, Possession is fairly young, it feels more classic than it actually is. I think that's a good thing. It makes it far more timeless than books written by "authors" who clearly don't care as much about the words. Just the words themselves. This is a book that reminds us exactly how valuable they are to all of us.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, October 9, 2015
Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral - Book Review
Greetings,
I'm on a bit of a kick after having reviewed a book that was a bit unique, a little less wordy and a little more artsy, the other day. So, I thought, why not talk about another one of those? One that's much more cohesive and actually does tell a story, though it tells that story in a very interesting way. And the book is called Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral.
I had no idea that this book even existed, until I came across it whilst I was browsing in the book section of a store that also sells other things. Because I live in an awful place that has no bookstores. No, I'm not kidding. Anyway, I noticed it because it was much larger than the other books, and I could tell just by looking that this was probably not going to be a typical read. I was right, and I was glad.
Chopsticks tells the story of Glory, a young piano prodigy, who finds solace in her music when her mother dies. But it is her father who taught her to set her goals very high, as he wants her playing to huge crowds around the world. Though Glory is extraordinarily gifted, she is also very lonesome. She begins to seek solace with, Frank, the boy next door (oh, really?!) who is also artistic, but in a different way. As time goes on, it remains to be seen whether or not Glory's relationship with Frank will help her or harm her, both concerning her music and her life.
Okay, so this is obviously one of those classic "boy meets girl" stories, right? Maybe a little, but if you think you're going to open this book only to be face to face with the black and white vision of words on a page, you would be wrong. Interestingly enough, this story is told mostly in pictures, all kinds of pictures. Yes, there is some reading material in it, but it's pictures of notes and text messages and articles and all sorts of things that just give clues as to what is going on and pushing the "narrative" forward. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this method, but after I made my way through it, I realized that this was almost something of an interactive book. At least, that's how I saw it, and after reading the reviews of others, I don't think I'm exactly alone.
Turns out that different people had different interpretations of what was actually happening in the book. Was only Glory a real person and making up Frank? Was only Frank a real person and making up Glory? Was there a third party observing their lives from the outside? It could probably be any of these things, depending on how you see it. And since this is so open to interpretation, apparently, I have a suggestion for it to be even more fulfilling to those who get their hands on it. If I may be so bold as to say, this book might actually be a good tool for a writer who is experiencing the dread of being blocked but doesn't want to stop working every day. You know, if you don't use it, you lose it and whatnot. Hear me out.
Obviously, there is not traditional writing in this book, but would it be a bad idea to get your daily practice by making that up yourself? I don't think it would be any different from those books full of pictures that are specifically designed to prompt writers to write, except USE THIS FOR PRACTICE ONLY!! Don't be going and stealing other people's stories. But it's a thought. And as a writer, there are few things I enjoy more than being able to inspire other writers. Maybe these authors feel the same way. Again, though, say "NO" to plagiarism! I cannot stress this enough.
Bottom line, I found Chopsticks to be quite a unique experience, and I love when people find a way to create something special. It's overwhelming how images can evoke emotions and tell a tale just as easily and as well as words can do. Don't get me wrong, words rule and all. But if someone can combine the two to share a story, I'm all for it. So, many hats off to Anthony and Corral on a job extremely well done. I hope they have more to come.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I'm on a bit of a kick after having reviewed a book that was a bit unique, a little less wordy and a little more artsy, the other day. So, I thought, why not talk about another one of those? One that's much more cohesive and actually does tell a story, though it tells that story in a very interesting way. And the book is called Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral.
I had no idea that this book even existed, until I came across it whilst I was browsing in the book section of a store that also sells other things. Because I live in an awful place that has no bookstores. No, I'm not kidding. Anyway, I noticed it because it was much larger than the other books, and I could tell just by looking that this was probably not going to be a typical read. I was right, and I was glad.
Chopsticks tells the story of Glory, a young piano prodigy, who finds solace in her music when her mother dies. But it is her father who taught her to set her goals very high, as he wants her playing to huge crowds around the world. Though Glory is extraordinarily gifted, she is also very lonesome. She begins to seek solace with, Frank, the boy next door (oh, really?!) who is also artistic, but in a different way. As time goes on, it remains to be seen whether or not Glory's relationship with Frank will help her or harm her, both concerning her music and her life.
Okay, so this is obviously one of those classic "boy meets girl" stories, right? Maybe a little, but if you think you're going to open this book only to be face to face with the black and white vision of words on a page, you would be wrong. Interestingly enough, this story is told mostly in pictures, all kinds of pictures. Yes, there is some reading material in it, but it's pictures of notes and text messages and articles and all sorts of things that just give clues as to what is going on and pushing the "narrative" forward. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this method, but after I made my way through it, I realized that this was almost something of an interactive book. At least, that's how I saw it, and after reading the reviews of others, I don't think I'm exactly alone.
Turns out that different people had different interpretations of what was actually happening in the book. Was only Glory a real person and making up Frank? Was only Frank a real person and making up Glory? Was there a third party observing their lives from the outside? It could probably be any of these things, depending on how you see it. And since this is so open to interpretation, apparently, I have a suggestion for it to be even more fulfilling to those who get their hands on it. If I may be so bold as to say, this book might actually be a good tool for a writer who is experiencing the dread of being blocked but doesn't want to stop working every day. You know, if you don't use it, you lose it and whatnot. Hear me out.
Obviously, there is not traditional writing in this book, but would it be a bad idea to get your daily practice by making that up yourself? I don't think it would be any different from those books full of pictures that are specifically designed to prompt writers to write, except USE THIS FOR PRACTICE ONLY!! Don't be going and stealing other people's stories. But it's a thought. And as a writer, there are few things I enjoy more than being able to inspire other writers. Maybe these authors feel the same way. Again, though, say "NO" to plagiarism! I cannot stress this enough.
Bottom line, I found Chopsticks to be quite a unique experience, and I love when people find a way to create something special. It's overwhelming how images can evoke emotions and tell a tale just as easily and as well as words can do. Don't get me wrong, words rule and all. But if someone can combine the two to share a story, I'm all for it. So, many hats off to Anthony and Corral on a job extremely well done. I hope they have more to come.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 8, 2015
The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle and Sidney Paget - Book Review
Greetings,
Hey, remember yesterday when I talked about a book inspired by the work Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Well, today, I am going back to basics, back to where it all started, back to how things looked to the first people to ever lay eyes on Sherlock Holmes, both by way of words and pictures. Now, I normally wouldn't review a book based on the particular packaging, but I kind of have no choice to today with The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes. Also, short review this time, but you'll see why.
Okay, we all know that the Holmes stories are wonderful and have been so for over a hundred years. What you may not know is that a lot of them were published in a magazine called The Strand. That's where people got a good look at Sherlock Holmes. And I do mean "look" because the text of Mr. Doyle was accompanied by the illustrations of Sidney Paget. They are beautiful drawings that added so much to those stories, especially for those readers who have little skill at mind drawings. Yeah, that's what I call them.
Now, I am not a person who buys multiple copies of books I already have because something got a new cover or came out in paperback. No, I'm happy to have one copy and read it until it falls apart. Then, I get a new one. However, if I can find something legit special about a version of something I already have, I'm usually in. In this case, I was thrilled to find a collection of the Holmes stories along with all of those original illustrations. I believe in painting pictures with your imagination by way of words. That's what they're supposed to do, after all. But when a writer and an illustrator can be so in sync, it takes things to a different level. When I looked at these drawings, they are exactly how I pictured Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and all of their side characters and villains. Even though we've had a few live action versions, I always go back to these images. I feel like a lot of the hardcore fans feel the same way.
So, it's hard to review this in a way that hasn't been done before. I mean, what can I say? These stories are amazing. Always have been; always will be. And everyone knows that. But, as I said, finding them put into a collection where we can also have the artwork was major for me. Yes, I happen to think finding great books is major. I can't be the only one. So, I know this review is pretty short, as I warned, but if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes and you find this special edition, get it. You'll be able to see these legendary tales in a whole new way.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Hey, remember yesterday when I talked about a book inspired by the work Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Well, today, I am going back to basics, back to where it all started, back to how things looked to the first people to ever lay eyes on Sherlock Holmes, both by way of words and pictures. Now, I normally wouldn't review a book based on the particular packaging, but I kind of have no choice to today with The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes. Also, short review this time, but you'll see why.
Okay, we all know that the Holmes stories are wonderful and have been so for over a hundred years. What you may not know is that a lot of them were published in a magazine called The Strand. That's where people got a good look at Sherlock Holmes. And I do mean "look" because the text of Mr. Doyle was accompanied by the illustrations of Sidney Paget. They are beautiful drawings that added so much to those stories, especially for those readers who have little skill at mind drawings. Yeah, that's what I call them.
Now, I am not a person who buys multiple copies of books I already have because something got a new cover or came out in paperback. No, I'm happy to have one copy and read it until it falls apart. Then, I get a new one. However, if I can find something legit special about a version of something I already have, I'm usually in. In this case, I was thrilled to find a collection of the Holmes stories along with all of those original illustrations. I believe in painting pictures with your imagination by way of words. That's what they're supposed to do, after all. But when a writer and an illustrator can be so in sync, it takes things to a different level. When I looked at these drawings, they are exactly how I pictured Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and all of their side characters and villains. Even though we've had a few live action versions, I always go back to these images. I feel like a lot of the hardcore fans feel the same way.
So, it's hard to review this in a way that hasn't been done before. I mean, what can I say? These stories are amazing. Always have been; always will be. And everyone knows that. But, as I said, finding them put into a collection where we can also have the artwork was major for me. Yes, I happen to think finding great books is major. I can't be the only one. So, I know this review is pretty short, as I warned, but if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes and you find this special edition, get it. You'll be able to see these legendary tales in a whole new way.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The Sherlockian by Graham Moore - Book Review
Greetings,
So, over the past couple of years, I have gotten really into reading the stories of Sherlock Holmes. I might give credit to my watching the show, Sherlock, but I no longer enjoy that show...because of reasons. Therefore, I will hand credit over to Elementary. I still respect you, Jonny Lee Miller. Anyway, whilst I was browsing through the shelves of my local library, this title, The Sherlockian, stood out to me. At first, I was concerned that it was going to be nothing more than some high end Sherlock fan fiction. Not the case. Actually, this book has less to do with Mr. Holmes and more to do with the man who created him, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. So much for "death of the author". Anyway, let's get to this story. Or...stories. Gasp. Yeah, wait for it.
The Sherlockian is a 2010 novel by Graham Moore. It tells the story of a man named Harold White, who is invited into an exclusive group known as The Baker Street Irregulars. They are - let's just say it - Sherlock fanboys. Not that I'm judging. Okay, maybe a little. As luck would have it, Harold is suddenly dropped in the midst of a search for a very sought after possession of Doyle's. At the same time, he tasks himself with also solving the murder of the man who is the top expert on the author. In a way, Harold is forced to turn into Sherlock himself to solve both of these mysteries.
Meanwhile, more than a hundred years earlier...Oh, yeah. This book goes there. Indeed, not only are we following the adventures of Harold White, but also a story about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Which actually comes first, but whatever. For those of you who don't know, in 1893, Doyle made the unexpected and, I think, brave decision to kill off Sherlock Holmes, the character that had become beloved by so many. So beloved, in fact, that people were devastated, some to the point of wearing black arm bands in mourning. Wow, really? And we think the girls distraught about that one guy whose name I don't know leaving One Direction were crazy. Apparently, this behavior is nothing new. Back to Doyle. After eight years of silence on the Holmes front (heh, heh!), he decided to bring the detective back to life. He never told people why he did this, but what he did do during this time was keep a diary. And that is the possession which is being looked for in present day.
So, The Sherlockian jumps back and forth between these two time periods and stories, and it takes some skill to be able to write a book in this manner. Write it well, I mean. Trust me. I've come across some authors who do not have that skill. It does not yield pleasant results. I enjoyed getting into both of the stories as they helped to propel each other farther along. It seems like these two halves of the story, the past and the present, combined for the author to both emulate Doyle a bit, but to also pay homage to his life and work. I've said before that I am not a fan of fan fiction, and like I said a few paragraphs ago, this is not that. However, I feel like this book could be the result of a "fanficcy" idea turned into something that can actually be taken seriously. Talk about a rarity.
I suppose I should take this time to address something that a few of you may be wondering. Do you have to be an avid reader of the Sherlock Holmes stories in order to follow what's going on in this book, references and whatnot? Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to know a few things, and I assume that the primary, but not the sole, audience to whom this was aimed would be fans of Sherlock Holmes. However, it really isn't necessary. You can just read the book without having to study other books in advance. I mean, this isn't a Marvel movie. Ooh, burn! Still, I would never deter anyone from reading those Holmes stories.
Now, I happen to be a fan of mysteries as well as historical fiction, so I enjoyed The Sherlockian. I even liked reading the author's notes, which is not usually something I recommend, in particular, but I do here. This book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd say to give it a chance. And then go watch Elementary. If, for nothing else, only to see Clyde the Tortoise!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, over the past couple of years, I have gotten really into reading the stories of Sherlock Holmes. I might give credit to my watching the show, Sherlock, but I no longer enjoy that show...because of reasons. Therefore, I will hand credit over to Elementary. I still respect you, Jonny Lee Miller. Anyway, whilst I was browsing through the shelves of my local library, this title, The Sherlockian, stood out to me. At first, I was concerned that it was going to be nothing more than some high end Sherlock fan fiction. Not the case. Actually, this book has less to do with Mr. Holmes and more to do with the man who created him, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. So much for "death of the author". Anyway, let's get to this story. Or...stories. Gasp. Yeah, wait for it.
The Sherlockian is a 2010 novel by Graham Moore. It tells the story of a man named Harold White, who is invited into an exclusive group known as The Baker Street Irregulars. They are - let's just say it - Sherlock fanboys. Not that I'm judging. Okay, maybe a little. As luck would have it, Harold is suddenly dropped in the midst of a search for a very sought after possession of Doyle's. At the same time, he tasks himself with also solving the murder of the man who is the top expert on the author. In a way, Harold is forced to turn into Sherlock himself to solve both of these mysteries.
Meanwhile, more than a hundred years earlier...Oh, yeah. This book goes there. Indeed, not only are we following the adventures of Harold White, but also a story about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Which actually comes first, but whatever. For those of you who don't know, in 1893, Doyle made the unexpected and, I think, brave decision to kill off Sherlock Holmes, the character that had become beloved by so many. So beloved, in fact, that people were devastated, some to the point of wearing black arm bands in mourning. Wow, really? And we think the girls distraught about that one guy whose name I don't know leaving One Direction were crazy. Apparently, this behavior is nothing new. Back to Doyle. After eight years of silence on the Holmes front (heh, heh!), he decided to bring the detective back to life. He never told people why he did this, but what he did do during this time was keep a diary. And that is the possession which is being looked for in present day.
So, The Sherlockian jumps back and forth between these two time periods and stories, and it takes some skill to be able to write a book in this manner. Write it well, I mean. Trust me. I've come across some authors who do not have that skill. It does not yield pleasant results. I enjoyed getting into both of the stories as they helped to propel each other farther along. It seems like these two halves of the story, the past and the present, combined for the author to both emulate Doyle a bit, but to also pay homage to his life and work. I've said before that I am not a fan of fan fiction, and like I said a few paragraphs ago, this is not that. However, I feel like this book could be the result of a "fanficcy" idea turned into something that can actually be taken seriously. Talk about a rarity.
I suppose I should take this time to address something that a few of you may be wondering. Do you have to be an avid reader of the Sherlock Holmes stories in order to follow what's going on in this book, references and whatnot? Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to know a few things, and I assume that the primary, but not the sole, audience to whom this was aimed would be fans of Sherlock Holmes. However, it really isn't necessary. You can just read the book without having to study other books in advance. I mean, this isn't a Marvel movie. Ooh, burn! Still, I would never deter anyone from reading those Holmes stories.
Now, I happen to be a fan of mysteries as well as historical fiction, so I enjoyed The Sherlockian. I even liked reading the author's notes, which is not usually something I recommend, in particular, but I do here. This book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd say to give it a chance. And then go watch Elementary. If, for nothing else, only to see Clyde the Tortoise!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
The 1000 Journals Project by Someguy - Book Review
Greetings,
A few years ago, as some of you may recall, I reviewed a documentary called 1000 Journals. It was all about a guy who sent 1000 journals into the world to try and reawaken the creativity of whomever may come across them. It seemed to work quite well, and I gave this documentary much praise. You may go ahead and read that review if you don't believe. I could use the views. Anyway, in that review, I mentioned that the creator of the project, Someguy (yes, that's what he calls himself. I'm fine with that.), decided to put some of what people gave to those journals into one book to be published for all to see. That is the book I will be speaking about today, The 1000 Journals Project.
One of the things I liked about the 1000 Journals documentary was how I got to see so many different people and the way they chose to express themselves artistically, even if they never would classify themselves as artists. The entire project proved that, while not everyone can be the next Rembrandt, we all have the ability to use art to share things about ourselves, if only we are given the motivation to do so. It was so interesting seeing the pages that this huge, diverse group of people from all over the world were putting into these formerly blank books. All the while I was watching, I was thinking how amazing it would be to get some of that art, some of those words and expressions, in a book that I could own. Thankfully, in 2007, that is exactly what happened.
Now, I must warn you that this is not a typical book. As you may have suspected, there is much visual art in it, but that's not to say there is no writing. There is, so you can say that it's not technically a picture book, if you get caught reading it. You can, however, refer to it as an art book. And it happens to be a very interesting one, as well. When you think about it, you are literally reading the journals of other people. You can even say you're reading their diaries if you want to sound more devious and old school. That's how I do it. And frankly, if there's something that makes me like the book even more than the movie, it is the mystery involved. And there is a mystery...so long as you steer clear of the last few pages of the book. Let me explain.
With the documentary, you see many of those people as they are putting things into the journal, or you can see pictures of what they did whilst they talk about it and themselves. With the book, you don't know who did what. As I said, so long as you keep out of the end of the book. Because that's where they list names and match them with the pages. But I suggest you stay away, only if you want to keep said mystery alive. That way you can continue really not knowing these people. Again, it is like finding a stranger's journal and taking a very detailed glance into their head and heart, their life and soul. I believe that makes it far more intriguing. It could be anyone in the world who put those words, those images onto those pages. It could even be someone who you know, or used to know. It could be someone you may know in your future. That is fascinating to me, and it lets the creativity of the original idea become even more of a legacy than even Someguy intended. But you can look at the names if you want. I can"t tell you what to do.
So, I really do suggest that you check out The 1000 Journals Project, the book, as well as the movie, if you can. Or if you're more of a movie person. I like to think that those movie people will see it and not be able to help getting a hold of the book as well. Now that is a testament to the power of creativity.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
A few years ago, as some of you may recall, I reviewed a documentary called 1000 Journals. It was all about a guy who sent 1000 journals into the world to try and reawaken the creativity of whomever may come across them. It seemed to work quite well, and I gave this documentary much praise. You may go ahead and read that review if you don't believe. I could use the views. Anyway, in that review, I mentioned that the creator of the project, Someguy (yes, that's what he calls himself. I'm fine with that.), decided to put some of what people gave to those journals into one book to be published for all to see. That is the book I will be speaking about today, The 1000 Journals Project.
One of the things I liked about the 1000 Journals documentary was how I got to see so many different people and the way they chose to express themselves artistically, even if they never would classify themselves as artists. The entire project proved that, while not everyone can be the next Rembrandt, we all have the ability to use art to share things about ourselves, if only we are given the motivation to do so. It was so interesting seeing the pages that this huge, diverse group of people from all over the world were putting into these formerly blank books. All the while I was watching, I was thinking how amazing it would be to get some of that art, some of those words and expressions, in a book that I could own. Thankfully, in 2007, that is exactly what happened.
Now, I must warn you that this is not a typical book. As you may have suspected, there is much visual art in it, but that's not to say there is no writing. There is, so you can say that it's not technically a picture book, if you get caught reading it. You can, however, refer to it as an art book. And it happens to be a very interesting one, as well. When you think about it, you are literally reading the journals of other people. You can even say you're reading their diaries if you want to sound more devious and old school. That's how I do it. And frankly, if there's something that makes me like the book even more than the movie, it is the mystery involved. And there is a mystery...so long as you steer clear of the last few pages of the book. Let me explain.
With the documentary, you see many of those people as they are putting things into the journal, or you can see pictures of what they did whilst they talk about it and themselves. With the book, you don't know who did what. As I said, so long as you keep out of the end of the book. Because that's where they list names and match them with the pages. But I suggest you stay away, only if you want to keep said mystery alive. That way you can continue really not knowing these people. Again, it is like finding a stranger's journal and taking a very detailed glance into their head and heart, their life and soul. I believe that makes it far more intriguing. It could be anyone in the world who put those words, those images onto those pages. It could even be someone who you know, or used to know. It could be someone you may know in your future. That is fascinating to me, and it lets the creativity of the original idea become even more of a legacy than even Someguy intended. But you can look at the names if you want. I can"t tell you what to do.
So, I really do suggest that you check out The 1000 Journals Project, the book, as well as the movie, if you can. Or if you're more of a movie person. I like to think that those movie people will see it and not be able to help getting a hold of the book as well. Now that is a testament to the power of creativity.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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