Barry Stewart Levy's Blog, page 17
May 12, 2018
Book Review #13
Brewster
by Mark Slouka
"Where do you go? When you're seventeen? When there's nowhere to go?" This is an absolutely terrific book. It's like listening to a jazz record. At times the writing is elliptical and yet it cuts right to the bone. It is a very honest, moving and authentic coming-of-age tale. The feelings of suffocation in a dead-end town, the anticipation of sex and the threat of violence all ring true. As I read and reread the final paragraphs, I cried my eyes out. Slouka is a helluva writer.
by Mark Slouka
"Where do you go? When you're seventeen? When there's nowhere to go?" This is an absolutely terrific book. It's like listening to a jazz record. At times the writing is elliptical and yet it cuts right to the bone. It is a very honest, moving and authentic coming-of-age tale. The feelings of suffocation in a dead-end town, the anticipation of sex and the threat of violence all ring true. As I read and reread the final paragraphs, I cried my eyes out. Slouka is a helluva writer.
Book Review #12
The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
As those British lads sang: "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together." There is no separation. No duality. I AM IT. And that is that.
by Alan Watts
As those British lads sang: "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together." There is no separation. No duality. I AM IT. And that is that.
Book Review #11
The Ballad of a Small Player
by Lawrence Osborne
A good book, basically a very atmospheric character study of a British embezzler gambling away his ill-gotten gains in Macau. Lawrence uses his expertise as a an experienced travel writer to create a suspenseful time at the gaming tables where his protagonist, Lord Doyle (not his real name), spirals downward in his hedonistic and hellish surroundings.
by Lawrence Osborne
A good book, basically a very atmospheric character study of a British embezzler gambling away his ill-gotten gains in Macau. Lawrence uses his expertise as a an experienced travel writer to create a suspenseful time at the gaming tables where his protagonist, Lord Doyle (not his real name), spirals downward in his hedonistic and hellish surroundings.
May 7, 2018
Book Review #10
Asunder
by Chloe Aridjis
"Don't judge a book by its cover." Well apparently I did. The striking cover, a damaged female portrait, the parchment-like feel of the pages and the suggestion that this short novel would be both psychological and disturbing, dealing with art and reality, built up my expectations for an intriguing read. Unfortunately the book was a disappointment, as drab and unpleasant as its female protagonist whose obsession with destruction and decay disgusted me. And the author's final image of a street artist unfurling and then carrying off his replica of "The Last Supper" was a poor attempt to imbue this novel with religious symbolism and a depth it doesn't deserve.
by Chloe Aridjis
"Don't judge a book by its cover." Well apparently I did. The striking cover, a damaged female portrait, the parchment-like feel of the pages and the suggestion that this short novel would be both psychological and disturbing, dealing with art and reality, built up my expectations for an intriguing read. Unfortunately the book was a disappointment, as drab and unpleasant as its female protagonist whose obsession with destruction and decay disgusted me. And the author's final image of a street artist unfurling and then carrying off his replica of "The Last Supper" was a poor attempt to imbue this novel with religious symbolism and a depth it doesn't deserve.
Book Review #9
Ashley Bell
by Dean Koontz
I've read more books by Dean Koontz than by any other writer. Then again, he's written many more books than most authors. This one falls somewhere in the middle. It's very far-fetched but also nearly always entertaining and at close to 700 pages, a surprisingly fast read. My brother, who was reading his copy as I was reading mine, figured out the twist 200 pages before it was revealed. It's no wonder, in hindsight, that I found the events so unbelievable. And that final sentence (after so many pages) was a real letdown.
by Dean Koontz
I've read more books by Dean Koontz than by any other writer. Then again, he's written many more books than most authors. This one falls somewhere in the middle. It's very far-fetched but also nearly always entertaining and at close to 700 pages, a surprisingly fast read. My brother, who was reading his copy as I was reading mine, figured out the twist 200 pages before it was revealed. It's no wonder, in hindsight, that I found the events so unbelievable. And that final sentence (after so many pages) was a real letdown.
Book Review #8
Armada
by Ernest Cline
For the most part this was an absolutely terrific read with a premise that hooked me with the opening sentence: "I was staring out the classroom window and daydreaming of adventure when I spotted the flying saucer." The book is extremely well written, very funny, exciting, surprising and heartwarming. Unfortunately, as much as I admired the writing throughout, for me the ending was a letdown. The secret behind the aliens' plan seemed tacked on and felt muddled and anticlimactic. Too bad because most of this sci-fi coming-of-age tale was great fun and tremendously entertaining.
by Ernest Cline
For the most part this was an absolutely terrific read with a premise that hooked me with the opening sentence: "I was staring out the classroom window and daydreaming of adventure when I spotted the flying saucer." The book is extremely well written, very funny, exciting, surprising and heartwarming. Unfortunately, as much as I admired the writing throughout, for me the ending was a letdown. The secret behind the aliens' plan seemed tacked on and felt muddled and anticlimactic. Too bad because most of this sci-fi coming-of-age tale was great fun and tremendously entertaining.
Book Review #7
Antonioni's Blow-Up
by Philippe Garner & David Alan Mellor
A treat for cinephiles and fans of Antonioni's film. The stills from the movie are excellent. (I wish there were even more of them.) Following the photographs are two essays, accompanied by photos, additional film stills, magazine covers and paintings, that basically (though not entirely) end the book: "Fleeting images: photographers, models and the media -- London, 1966" by Philippe Garner and "Fragments of an unknowable whole: Michaelangelo Antonioni's incorporation of contemporary visualities -- London, 1966" by David Alan Mellor. The former deals with the influence of pop culture (music, fashion, photography, the "birds of Britain," etc.) on the making of "Blow-Up." While it is informative and comprehensive, it lacks a certain degree of depth. The Mellor essay, however, is very heady and intellectual, so much so, that even after a second reading I still had trouble assimilating much of what I had read. It goes into great detail, discussing the contributions of photographer Don McCullin, who took the actual photographs used in the film, painter Ian Stephenson, whose paintings represent the work of the neighboring artist portrayed in the film, and art director Assheton Gorton, who supervised the interior and exterior look of the film. The essay also references the Zapruder film footage of President Kennedy's assassination, a Polaroid photograph taken at the time of the killing, Christian allusions to David Hemmings' doubting Thomas and the resurrection of the corpse, as well as the otherworldly energies associated with Maryon Park where the film's murder may or may not have taken place.
by Philippe Garner & David Alan Mellor
A treat for cinephiles and fans of Antonioni's film. The stills from the movie are excellent. (I wish there were even more of them.) Following the photographs are two essays, accompanied by photos, additional film stills, magazine covers and paintings, that basically (though not entirely) end the book: "Fleeting images: photographers, models and the media -- London, 1966" by Philippe Garner and "Fragments of an unknowable whole: Michaelangelo Antonioni's incorporation of contemporary visualities -- London, 1966" by David Alan Mellor. The former deals with the influence of pop culture (music, fashion, photography, the "birds of Britain," etc.) on the making of "Blow-Up." While it is informative and comprehensive, it lacks a certain degree of depth. The Mellor essay, however, is very heady and intellectual, so much so, that even after a second reading I still had trouble assimilating much of what I had read. It goes into great detail, discussing the contributions of photographer Don McCullin, who took the actual photographs used in the film, painter Ian Stephenson, whose paintings represent the work of the neighboring artist portrayed in the film, and art director Assheton Gorton, who supervised the interior and exterior look of the film. The essay also references the Zapruder film footage of President Kennedy's assassination, a Polaroid photograph taken at the time of the killing, Christian allusions to David Hemmings' doubting Thomas and the resurrection of the corpse, as well as the otherworldly energies associated with Maryon Park where the film's murder may or may not have taken place.
Book Review #6
Another Country
by James Baldwin
Although a more ambitious book than his masterpiece "Go Tell It on the Mountain," this was for me a letdown. If "Mountain" read and sang like gospel, this played like jazz, riffing on race, sex, anger, shame, frustration, betrayal, self-hatred, self-pity, insecurity, disgust, depression, passion, misery, loneliness, confusion, despair and the pain of being in love.
The opening chapter of the book was so ugly and sordid and filled with such rage that I questioned whether or not I wanted to continue reading the novel. Rufus, a man at the end of his rope, reminded me of Nelson Algren's protagonist, a broke and broken man, riding the rails, in "Somebody in Boots." Another tough read.
At times the dialogue seemed stilted or pedestrian and flat. And yet there were passages that came furiously alive, like the heated, passionate exchange between Richard and Cass, or the chapter involving Eric and Yves in France, which was as romantic as it was sensual.
I also found many of the encounters arbitrary, leading to scenes that were histrionic and melodramatic, verging on soap opera.
In "Another Country" James Baldwin writes this about one of his characters: "Love was a country he knew nothing about." It could also be true about any one of his characters. Or any one of us
by James Baldwin
Although a more ambitious book than his masterpiece "Go Tell It on the Mountain," this was for me a letdown. If "Mountain" read and sang like gospel, this played like jazz, riffing on race, sex, anger, shame, frustration, betrayal, self-hatred, self-pity, insecurity, disgust, depression, passion, misery, loneliness, confusion, despair and the pain of being in love.
The opening chapter of the book was so ugly and sordid and filled with such rage that I questioned whether or not I wanted to continue reading the novel. Rufus, a man at the end of his rope, reminded me of Nelson Algren's protagonist, a broke and broken man, riding the rails, in "Somebody in Boots." Another tough read.
At times the dialogue seemed stilted or pedestrian and flat. And yet there were passages that came furiously alive, like the heated, passionate exchange between Richard and Cass, or the chapter involving Eric and Yves in France, which was as romantic as it was sensual.
I also found many of the encounters arbitrary, leading to scenes that were histrionic and melodramatic, verging on soap opera.
In "Another Country" James Baldwin writes this about one of his characters: "Love was a country he knew nothing about." It could also be true about any one of his characters. Or any one of us
Book Review #5
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
by John O'Donohue
The most beautiful and moving spiritual book I have ever read. You will smile, nod in recognition and weep while reading John O'Donohue's poetically insightful sentences. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. And, if you are Irish, I believe it will be even more of a treat for you.
by John O'Donohue
The most beautiful and moving spiritual book I have ever read. You will smile, nod in recognition and weep while reading John O'Donohue's poetically insightful sentences. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. And, if you are Irish, I believe it will be even more of a treat for you.
Book Review #4
Alys, Always
by Harriet Lane
The book is well-written, sly and witty, with an intriguing premise. Unfortunately, Frances Thorpe, the main character who narrates the story, lacks depth and a strong motivation for infiltrating the Kyte family after the death of the wife and mother, Alys Kyte.
by Harriet Lane
The book is well-written, sly and witty, with an intriguing premise. Unfortunately, Frances Thorpe, the main character who narrates the story, lacks depth and a strong motivation for infiltrating the Kyte family after the death of the wife and mother, Alys Kyte.
