You are standing in the biography section of your favorite bookstore, looking at the new arrivals. Wait...is that...can it be...yes! The long-awaited autobiography of Neil Patrick Harris, beloved actor/singer/magician/all-around amazingly cool guy, is there in front of you. Calling to you. Begging you to make it yours.
But, you say to yourself, I have all those books at home. I'm in the middle of a herculean reading project. And no matter how much I tell myself otherwise, if I buy the book, I will read it. RIGHT NOW. And I don't really have space for anything new. Eventually it will come out in paperback and it will be much less expensive, by which time I might have reached the letter H in my library and have bought some more shelves. I should really just wait...
And then, seemingly of its own volition, you see your hand, reaching out...
If you listen to your inner voice and go home empty-handed, go on to the next blog post.
If you buy the book and take it home and race through it, loving every minute and laughing out loud repeatedly, then you are just like me and we should be friends.
Author: Neil Patrick Harris
Potentially objectionable content: Language, sex, etc.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Book #33: "As You Wish: Inconceivable Stories from the Making of The Princess Bride "
Okay, guys. You know what, I tried. I really did. Not working at the bookstore made it a lot easier not to add to my library. (Friends on Facebook telling me that the public library is having a book sale...not so much.) But when the lead actor from one of my favorite movies writes a book about the making of said movie...well, it was too much to resist.
And a delightful book it is. I am always fascinated by behind-the-scene things, though they usually include a lot of unpleasant details that mean you can never look at the movie or people in quite the same way again. But Cary Elwes tells the story with immense glee, as though all these years later, he still can't quite believe he was ever lucky enough to have this experience. And it brings me great joy to know that something I love so much was just as much fun to create as I have always hoped.
Author: Cary Elwes
Potentially objectionable content: None that I remember. Maybe some language.
And a delightful book it is. I am always fascinated by behind-the-scene things, though they usually include a lot of unpleasant details that mean you can never look at the movie or people in quite the same way again. But Cary Elwes tells the story with immense glee, as though all these years later, he still can't quite believe he was ever lucky enough to have this experience. And it brings me great joy to know that something I love so much was just as much fun to create as I have always hoped.
Author: Cary Elwes
Potentially objectionable content: None that I remember. Maybe some language.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Book #32: "To Cut a Long Story Short"
Another (far superior) short story collection. My personal favorite is "The Endgame" but there are many good ones in this volume.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Same as always with Archer
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Same as always with Archer
Book #31: "Sons of Fortune"
As I believe I mentioned before, my mother introduced me to Jeffrey Archer, and if you were to ask her for a favorite, she would tell you hers is "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less", which I have read but do not own. I would have a difficult time choosing one, but if pressed, I would probably say this one,
As I know I have mentioned before, one of Archer's favorite themes is essentially nature vs. nurture: what makes us who we are? And in this book, he addresses it directly with the story of twins separated at birth. We have seen this done in countless other books, shows and movies, and I am of the opinion that no one has ever done it better.
In addition to recurring themes, Archer has several plot points that tend to show up repeatedly. His main character (predominantly male) will have some sort of athletic skill and meet someone when he is young who ends up being his best friend for like, usually someone from a fairly wealthy family. He will also meet a girl he initially dislikes intensely (or who intensely dislikes him) whom he will end marrying. In almost every book, a marriage will end in divorce, someone will run for an office, someone will have a miscarriage and someone will commit suicide. And yet, for all the predictability, Archer never ceases to entertain and surprise me.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Same as always for Archer. Language, sex, war, etc.
As I know I have mentioned before, one of Archer's favorite themes is essentially nature vs. nurture: what makes us who we are? And in this book, he addresses it directly with the story of twins separated at birth. We have seen this done in countless other books, shows and movies, and I am of the opinion that no one has ever done it better.
In addition to recurring themes, Archer has several plot points that tend to show up repeatedly. His main character (predominantly male) will have some sort of athletic skill and meet someone when he is young who ends up being his best friend for like, usually someone from a fairly wealthy family. He will also meet a girl he initially dislikes intensely (or who intensely dislikes him) whom he will end marrying. In almost every book, a marriage will end in divorce, someone will run for an office, someone will have a miscarriage and someone will commit suicide. And yet, for all the predictability, Archer never ceases to entertain and surprise me.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Same as always for Archer. Language, sex, war, etc.
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