First up, my thoughts on David Gilmour's The Film Club. It is a memoir of Gilmour and his teenage son's journey during those turbulent years, but with a twist. Gilmour allows his son to quit school and remain free of any financial commitments such work. There is one catch though...his son must come over and watch 3 films a week of his father's choice.The book took me back into my first experiences with movies as well as the awakening I had in college studying David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino for a film theory class. I imagine Gilmour's intent was not to take me down memory lane but in the process I uncovered my appreciation for the magic that occurs before and during the rolling of the cameras. There is so much that goes into the creation of a movie, so many in the supporting cast that what goes on behind the curtains is often overlooked by the main character them self: the film. Stanley Kubrick is portrayed as a perfectionist because of the many takes he required on his films. During the filming of The Shining he had Jack Nicholson and the actor working on the scene with him perform 80 takes before Jack hit his limit. Other filmmakers are highlighted for their creativity, their passion and joy at bringing stories to life.
There is tough language in some parts of The Film Club, but that only adds to the monkey-wrench Gilmour throws into the traditional approach to raising a teenager. The writing tends to be overly descriptive, especially as Gilmour breaks from the film history to keep you updated on he and his son. My biggest dislike is that I feel like he wrote the book in hopes of one of the major players in television or motion pictures buying the rights to adapt it into a screenplay or an HBO film.
The Film Club was unique. You don't have to be a movie lover to appreciate it. It might be better if you are not because it will convert you into one by the end (the book contains a list of all the films watched during the 3 years the book spans). Overall, 3 out of 5.
Three Weeks With My Brother: Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks
Before this read I was not the biggest Nicholas Sparks fan. I'd seen The Notebook and read one
of his other books (The Rescue), but I couldn't bring myself to rave about him like I had heard others do. After finishing Three Weeks, I must say that I am willing and somewhat eager to purchase some of his other work.Three Weeks is a memoir of the Sparks' travels after Nicholas receives a brochure offering a three-week trip around the world. Micah, his older brother, joins Nicholas in touring Mayan ruins, the killing fields in Cambodia, the Taj Mahal and more. The brothers journey from childhood to their present adventures covering their every smile and frown along the way.
The Sparks boys have put together a captivating reflection on childhood, family, work, tragedy and spirituality. This is not a showcase of how Nicholas became the author he is or what he's done since, although each is revealed, rather this is two men discovering and digging deeper into their bond as brothers.
Each segment of the book takes you further into the world of the Sparks family meanwhile touching down with our story across the international landscape. I felt right there with them the entire ride and where my previous read went overboard on the details, Sparks feeds you just enough to visualize and appreciate what is going on. Fantastic read. Overall, 4 out of 5.
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