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What I read in November 2010
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Bobbie57 wrote: "@Alias -- I will segue into theater criticism. Of course now that Broadway tickets are so expensive it is even harder for the general public to create an opinion. A bad revue can keep them away even more than years ago when there were many more newspapers and tickets were lower in price---------------
I wasn't really talking out reviews one reads in the newspaper. I was thinking more of critical scholarly reviews or analysis that one reads in text books, serious magazines, or that people in general engage in when deconstructing a novel, work of art, poem, etcetera. I was thinking of commentary that interprets the work. For example, it might say that X was a metaphor for Y. That sort of thing.
As to the type of reviews about theater/movie/book reviews that appear in the newspapers, I agree with you. It is very hard to overcome negative reviews and get positive word of mouth to overcome the reviews.
I recently heard an interview on NPR about Broadway. I think something like 7 plays recently closed. They noted that tourists tend to want to see the big budget musicals. They want a sure thing. They don't usually go for the dramas. For serious dramas they said they depend on New Yorkers. It's understandable with the price of Broadway tickets. On the other hand you don't want Broadway to be too Disneyfied. So I hope they can keep a nice balance.
As for myself, when it comes to books, I always read the negative reviews of a book on Amazon if I am thinking of buying a book. I've found this to be quite helpful. If I am going to use the library I might give the book a shot. However, with limited time, very negative reviews can even influence me with a library selection.
My reaction depends on the type of criticism. If the criticism is in the nature of "I couldn't relate to the characters or I didn't like the characters" I dismiss that type criticism. If they reviews say it read like a Lifetime movie, I run for the hills.
Alias Reader wrote: "As for myself, when it comes to books, I always read the negative reviews of a book on Amazon if I am thinking of buying a book. I've found this to be quite helpful. If I am going to use the library I might give the book a shot. However, with limited time, very negative reviews can even influence me with a library selection...."I like to read a mix of positive and negative reviews, although I stop reading if a review looks like it is going to give away too much of the plot. I like to know very little about the plot so I can discover it for myself. I get frustrated with some of the negative reviews on Amazon because too many of them are "the Kindle price is too high" or "the book was damaged." There is a place for those comments, but not as a review.
Alias, this is not a criticism, just a question, but why do you dismiss reviews in the nature of relating to the characters or not liking them? For me, if a book is well written, I can relate to characters very unlike I am. So for me, being able to relate is a valid criteria, and I find it useful in reviews.
Susan wrote: Alias, this is not a criticism, just a question, but why do you dismiss reviews in the nature of relating to the characters or not liking them? For me, if a book is well written, I can relate to characters very unlike I am. So for me, being able to relate is a valid criteria, and I find it useful in reviews. ----------------------
I think we agree. I find it fascinating to read about characters that are "not nice". It makes a character more complex. And makes me want to know what makes them tick. They are simply more interesting, imo. I also want to read about people who are not like me. (different culture, experience, temperament etc.)
I've found that usually when people write this type of criticism they are not talking about how well a character is portrayed. They are referring to the character doing unpleasant things or the characters are not like anyone they know. I find this type of criticism a lot in books that have a dark tone and do not have a happy ending.
Some of the most fascinating books have unpleasant characters and subject matter. Off the top of my head would be the excellent,
The Executioner's Song
In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences
Gotcha! I read and thoroughly enjoyed both of those books. Thinking of unlikeable characters, the book Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind came to mind. Quite a creepy book, but the protagonist was certainly interesting.
On second thought, "enjoyed" is not the right word because the subject matter for The Executioner's Song and In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences was so dark, but I found the stories fascinating.
Susan wrote: " Thinking of unlikeable characters, the book Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind came to mind. ..."Susan, i fully agree. The main character repulsed me, yet the story fascinated. I still recall some scenes vividly, particularly when the sense of smell is under discussion. I almost wish it didn't but the fact that Grenouille could smell from far distances has been lingering in my mind for years now.
deborah
I understand, Madrano. Among all the novels I've read and forgotten, this short one has stayed with me. I'd never heard of it until my sister brought it to my attention. She had read it, found it very disturbing, but ultimately decided she liked it. Thanks, Sis. I think.Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Susan, to be honest with you, i do not recall knowing the subtitle and wonder why i didn't notice it. My best guess is that someone whose opinion i respected at the time raved about it, so i got it without looking too much. Like you, the less i know about a novel before reading it, the better. Still, how does one miss that subtitle, given the title? deb
I do not object when a critic says "this work of art made me feel despair and loneliness". What I do vociferously object to is a critic who says, for example, "Hopper was feeling despair and loneliness". And this person knows this how? S/he is a mind-reader? To me, that is, I repeat, the height of arrogance. IMHO, of course.
JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: What I do vociferously object to is a critic who says, for example, "Hopper was feeling despair and loneliness". And this person knows this how? S/he is a mind-reader? To me, that is, I repeat, the height of arrogance. IMHO, of course.------------------
Now I understand what you meant. I thought you objected to their interpreting the work.
You made me think of my dad, JoAnn. He used to complain all the time when we would watch baseball and the announcers would say how the baseball player was feeling. He would say your exact words. "Is he a mind reader?" :)
Alias Reader wrote: "I thought you objected to their interpreting the work..."I do not like anyone putting words in anyone else's mouth or mind. Say it like it is....as long as it is about YOU!
Signed,
Alias's dad
JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I do not object when a critic says "this work of art made me feel despair and loneliness". What I do vociferously object to is a critic who says, for example, "Hopper was feeling despair and lone..."
Great -- clearly stated and I agree.
Good article. Thanks, JoAnn.I saw that the Whitney was having a Hopper exhibit.
Alias Reader wrote: "Good article. Thanks, JoAnn.I saw that the Whitney was having a Hopper exhibit."
yep, that is what this person was commenting upon....well, that was her impetus.
Personally, I find the Hopper clown picture a bit creepy scary.http://psnt.net/blog/wp-content/uploa...
Alias Reader wrote: "Personally, I find the Hopper clown picture a bit creepy scary."
I really find clowns scary in general. This picture is weird.
Red Skelton, the comedian, used to paint nothing but clowns. He was quite good.
Interesting article, JoAnn. I can't agree with Meis because I happen to like Hopper's paintings. I don't like clowns either. In this painting I think Hopper is saying quite a bit....and I dislike Meis's interpreting it and calling the painting silly. Aren't we annoyed with people who try to interpret what some authors really mean? I think I've told you all about an author who was here and after listening to three white papers said, "Well, no, that's not what I meant." Anyway, in the eye of this beholder, the clown represents life as we know it....don't clowns sometimes laugh, sometimes cry? That's my 2¢.Lois
Kriverbend wrote: "Aren't we annoyed with people who try to interpret what some authors really mean? I think I've told you all about an author who was here and after listening to three white papers said, "Well, no, that's not what I meant." ."good for this author.....why don't more writers speak out like this?
Meis calling this painting silly (and other things she said) was the height of that arrogance was talking about in an earlier post.
Agreed, JoAnn. Thanks for sharing the article.deb
November-December ReadsI've had a weird few months and haven't done very much reading at all. But what I've read has really made me think.....
Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photographs, A Prosecutor's Zeal and a Small Town's Response - Lynn Powell. A mother is charged with possession of child pornography for sending film with nude pictures of her 8-year old daughter to be developed. Of course, everyone overreacts in this situation and I was annoyed with almost all of them. The mother, who had been taking thousands of pictures of her daughter - nude and fully clothed - all her life, refused to compromise one inch on her claim of innocence, even when serious damage was being done to her family by continuing the legal fight. She even refused to settle the case if just two of her thousands of photos were going to be destroyed. Of course, she was within her rights, but I found her tiring. The case, however, was thought-provoking, and I did enjoy the book. B
Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other Sister's Fight to Bring Her Home - Laura and Lisa Ling. The title tells you what this book was about but one of the most things I found most interesting about it, especially after just reading "Framing Innocence" was that Laura Ling confessed to trying to overthrow the government of North Korea, which she clearly had not done, even though the punishment she was facing was much more severe than that faced by the Pennsylvania mother who refused to "confess" to something much less serious, which she actually had done. The two sisters take turns telling their stories from inside and outside, and their dedication and devotion to each other was very powerful. I'm endlessly fascinated by North Korea, so this book was right up my alley. A-
The Confession - John Grisham. After hours of questioning by police, a young man confesses to a murder he did not commit.. Then years later, just before he's scheduled to be executed, another man comes forward, confessing to having committed the crime. This one was a page-turner, more like Grisham's older books. The author makes it clear where he stands on the subject of capital punishment, and his case is very compelling, even in the format of fiction. B+
Every Man Dies Alone - Hans Fallada. This is the story of average German citizens living in Berlin in 1940, struggling with life under a totalitarian regime. A middle-class husband and wife come up with a plan to write out postcards condemning Hitler and secretly leaving them in public buildings, hoping that their efforts will in some small way turn public opinion against him. But that's just a simplistic way of describing a very profound, provocative and powerful novel. In fact, I think the reason I didn't read much in December was because after reading this amazing book, nothing else measured up. This novel is based on an actual case and it's one of those stories that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. Highly recommended. A
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - Tom Franklin. I really struggled with this book. I found the writing awkward and had to go back and reread many sentences to get their meaning. It's the story of a man who finds himself accused in the disappearances of two young women, but you also learn about the life of the constable of the small Mississippi town and some of the local residents who may or may not have been involved in the crimes. I'm not sure if the ending was supposed to be a surprise or not, because everything that happened seemed so obvious to me. And if it's obvious to me, it should be obvious to everybody. C
Connie wrote: Every Man Dies Alone - Hans Fallada. This is the story of average German citizens living in Berlin in 1940, struggling with life under a totalitarian regime. A middle-class husband and wife come up with a plan to write out postcards condemning Hitler and secretly leaving them in public buildings, hoping that their efforts will in some small way turn public opinion against him. ----------------
As usual, I enjoyed very much reading your reviews. I so wish I had that talent.
The book you mentioned sounds fascinating. I've put it on my list.
I recall something similar. Maybe they are related? It was called the White Rose Society.
Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose
The White Rose (German: die Weiße Rose) was a non-violent/intellectual resistance group in Nazi Germany, consisting of students from the University of Munich and their philosophy professor. The group became known for an anonymous leaflet campaign, lasting from June 1942 until February 1943, that called for active opposition to dictator Adolf Hitler's regime.
The six core members of the group were arrested by the Gestapo (German secret police) and they were executed by decapitation in 1943. The text of their sixth leaflet was smuggled by Helmuth James Graf von Moltke out of Germany through Scandinavia to the United Kingdom, and in July 1943 copies of it were dropped over Germany by Allied planes, retitled "The Manifesto of the Students of Munich."[1]
Today, the members of the White Rose are honored in Germany amongst its greatest heroes, since they opposed the Third Reich in the face of almost certain death
Interestingly enough (or not) the book Every Man Dies Alone was the one that I added to my list. It does sound like a good one.
I read 1 book all month :-(Don't Blink - James Patterson & Howard Roughan
Was a good book, throughly enjoyed it.
I see from a post on another thread that Patterson has linked up with another author, Michael Bennett, for another book (Tick Tock) to be released later this month. Is there some method/madness to co-authoring books with different people? I've not read any of his work, but am curious.deb
Madrano wrote: "I see from a post on another thread that Patterson has linked up with another author, Michael Bennett, for another book (Tick Tock) to be released later this month. Is there some method/madness to ..."I suppose, cos I've read his books (including 1s he co-authored with others). I think he is ok.
Madrano wrote: "I see from a post on another thread that Patterson has linked up with another author, Michael Bennett, for another book (Tick Tock) to be released later this month. Is there some method/madness to co-authoring books with different people? ..."When he wears one out, he can just replace him with another! LOL It's all about the money, not the quality of the writing. Patterson is a "word machine". Nothing else.
Madrano wrote: "I see from a post on another thread that Patterson has linked up with another author, Michael Bennett, for another book (Tick Tock) to be released later this month. Is there some method/madness to ..."-------------------
I think he just provides a template and the co-author writes the book.
Since it seems to put out a a book every few months, I guess he needs a stable of writers.
When I do the New Book Releases thread, I always forward the James Patterson books to my friend. She loves his books.
I've never read them, so I can't say. He is always on the best seller list, so he must be doing something right.
Thanks to all who replied to my query. As you note, Alias, he must be pleasing his readers!deb
Book Nook Cafe
Books mentioned in this topic
The Confession (other topics)Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home (other topics)
Every Man Dies Alone (other topics)
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (other topics)
Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photographs, a Prosecutor's Zeal, and a Small Town's Response (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Patrick Süskind (other topics)Patrick Süskind (other topics)
Edward Lucie-Smith (other topics)
Washington Irving (other topics)
John Kilgore (other topics)
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This is basically my thoughts, once a work is released to the public, the artist/writer has lost some of the control in how it will be interpreted. Then, your final comment about subconscious made me realize that the same can be said from the vantage of the reviewer, so that we need to (attempt) to keep that in mind, too.
Can you tell i've been wrestling with this recently? It probably started with the book mentioned above,
American Realism by Edward Lucie-Smith but has continued with a Muriel Spark novel, Loitering with Intent, in which the narrator is explaining her first novel in light of reviewer accusations she based the characters on real people. In it she made interesting comments about writing, which dovetailed into this discussion. And others. Sometimes serendipitous things add up to give me new insights. I am distressed that it's happening at this time of year, when i'm not thinking as well as i'd like. Why couldn't that strike in January or February? ;-)
deborah