Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB ’s Comments (group member since Oct 06, 2009)

Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB ’s comments from the THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB group.

Cheryl wrote: "Changing the subject. If I'm out of line, please ignore.

I saw The English Patient and didn't care for it. Thinking of reading the book, but wondering if it'll be worthwhile spending the time sinc..."

I also found the film boring!!! like many..and it did make for a great Seinfeld episode! When Elaine was ripped to shreds for saying she fell asleep during the film!!!

Kendall wrote: "Rick wrote about
To Kill a Mockingbird
: "What was captured perfectly was the essence of the novel, the atmosphere Harper Lee created"
Indeed. A question still worth answering, because it is en..."

Good point. Impossible for a film to include every aspect of a book. Completely different media. Easy to write a few paragraphs about an exotic location. Far more difficult to film it as well as every incident in a book. Hence capturing the main theme of the book is paramount.
In my opinion, few films succeed in this, while this does not mean they are not excellent films. One film that scores a bullseye in my opinion is Redford's version of Norman Maclean's very autobiographical novella. A River Runs Through It. A perfect film

Pete wrote: "I just self-published my first book last fall, DADspirations: The 1st 100 Days of Fatherhood, and was told by several people to have a Book Preview Video made. I couldn't afford the +$1,000s that p..."

I loved the video..very very well done!!!!!
The only issue I had was the Chicago Blackhawks scene! Florida Panthers fanatic here!!!! haha! actually was great from start to finish Pete!!

Debbie wrote: "I used to read one at work at lunch and one at home at bedtime. Now that I have my Kindle, I usually only read one since I always have it with me. I can read it at the doctor's or anywhere I have..."

I like how you use the term "world" Debbie..That is how I can read multiple books. They have to "transport" me to diverse "worlds" Right now I am in Current day Macau, in one book and 15th Century London in another!

Kendall wrote: "Mary wrote: "I have got to agree with everyone that said Doctor Zhivago. Such a beautiful film."

Zhivago was certainly a great film, but only the love story was left of a book that was so much mo..."

Excellent point Kendall. Great film-makers like David Lean and Michael Powell can take parts of novels and produce superb films..while leaving out major portions of the original source material. It is almost universally agreed that To Kill A Mockingbird is a magnificent film in every regard, including Horton Foote's adaptation..yet the book contains several characters and scenes left out of the book. What was captured perfectly was the essence of the novel, the atmosphere Harper Lee created...and while I feel Gregory Peck was perfect casting and brilliant...much credit should also be given to the haunting score of the film..which creates a most unique mood from the very start.

William wrote: "I've just started Fritz Leiber's Collected Stories - the Nightshade edition I got at Christmas.SMOKE GHOST is still one of my all time favorite stories."

Interesting William, there is an old character actor named Fritz Leiber...I always thought they were one and the same..alas they are not..though I like both Fritz Leiber's ..The classic actor and the writer!

S.e. wrote: "Thank you so much Rick for this invitation. Hello everyone. I'm not sure how often I'll get to drop by and see what everyone is up to. I'm a writer (just recently published) and also work full time..."

Barbara wrote: "Thank you Rick for leading me in this direction to your James Mason group on Goodreads.

Hello everyone,

My name is Barbara Bloom and I write fun rhyming children's books. When writing I like t..."

Debbie wrote: "Hi there, my name is Debbie and I love a wide range of books. My favorite is probably mystery/thiller. My mother introduced me to Nancy Drew when I was young and that grew into Sherlock Holmes an..."

A major James Mason welcome to Debbie, Barbara and S.e.!!

I have read all the new intros from our amazing new members. I am so very happy to welcome all!

William wrote: "I'm William Vaughn an old author up to new tricks. I've published over a dozen books (what I call 'technical fantasy') but due to popular demand I've published a new fantasy trilogy. The series st..."

Vasundhara wrote: "Thanks Rick for this opportunity.

I am Vasundhara Ramanujan, Indian, but residing in UAE. I wrote this book, Shades of Life, about my son's kidney disease. Finding a solution to survive and unders..."

William wrote: "Finally made my way over.

I'm Willie, Scottish, now living in Canada. Reader, and writer, with 15 novels and over 200 short stories published.

The Concordances of the Red Serpent"

super to welcome you three!!!

Robert wrote: "BEST: Downton Abbey, Walking Dead, Guys with Kids, Whitney, and The Voice.

WORST: Pretty much everything else right now. But, especially, Two and Half Men and Rob."

saw snippets of a very interesting documentary tonight on real Downton Abbey - which TV show was based

Ken wrote: "The package I have includes 250 channels. I've culled this down to about 60 (no premiums) and I scroll through the guide and at least half of it is trash reality shows. One thing for certain ther..."

agree totally- I have about 350 stations and 90% of what I watch is sports (I miss my NHL!!!!!!)

Keith wrote: ""The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd by Richard Zacks" not only was a heck of a pirate yarn, but exquisitely written; it took me back to Kidd's day. I could practically hear the canno..."

wow Keith..I have not read yet. but as I look up from my computer at the small shelf of books I have in my office...The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd is one of them!

just saw the late Charles During on an episode of NCIS- what an amazing actor!!

Melissa wrote: "My favorite shows that are currently on T.V. are Sherlock (BBC), Doctor Who, Castle, and The Big Bang Theory.

Older favorite shows are The Carol Burnett Show, Mary Tyler Moore, The Bob Newhart Sho..."

love the three first ones..Burnett,MTM and Newhart..lost me at Buffy :>))

Trent wrote: "High concept plots with twists and turns galore, but bland, bland, bland prose, and one-dimensional characters so dull and lifeless that the plot cannot do a thing to help it."

I think you bring up a great point Trent..there are some writers..who I find unbearingly dull - yet critics love them because they want to appear a part of the literary elite... Salman Rushdie and Joan Didion are a good examples..their books are so incredibly dull and self-indulgent..."a book only a mother or a critic trying to act superior could love"

William wrote: "Glad to be with you. Here is a Mason anecdote. I was a student briefly at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, and took a tour of the campus. As we passed Magdalen College, the guide said that Magda..."

great anecdote William! Having read so much about James Mason, I really believe that he would have found it as amusing as we do! He was a man without any pretense.

When asked how would he like to be remembered...his reply.."How would I like to be remembered?...well, if I am remembered at all..as a decent sort of character player"

Kenneth wrote: "First, I want to thank Rick F. for the invitation to join this group. I'm an author and know him from LinkedIn. Recently I sent Rick a note about my latest short story publication (in the January e..."

Welcome Kenneth-SUPERB story!!!!

Glenn wrote: "Hello everybody, and thank you, Rick, for organizing this group.

i'm a full-time professional writer. I write all kinds of stuff: fiction, history, creative nonfiction, short stories, poems, trave..."

welcome Glenn- love your writing style!!! loved among others- and a must read!!! unforgetable!!!!

Reading historical novel by Michelle Diener- loved the other book in this series and Michelle Is a James Mason member writer..and great person!

Also reading a current thriller


Bt Richard Doetche..another Great James Mason member

...see a pattern here!!!

Went on a Don Bruns marathon!! read 4 of his Skip Moore/James Lessor books in a row..love the characters!
Skip is that narrator..James - his best friend the one who keeps getting them in binds..very fun books..and touching at times as well