4 posts tagged “book”
Ate a lot of good food (not good-for-you food), feel well rested, actually taking time to read a few books and watch some movies..
I really enjoyed the film "The Visitor" and felt the acting was just brilliant. Very touching film, reminding me of how many blessings I have in my life.
Was tempted by the jacket cover of "Summer Kitchen" by a new writer, Karen Weinreb. The plot revolves around a wealthy couple living in an exclusive East Coast community, where the men work high pressure jobs and the women have babies and throw parties to show off their wealth.
Some interesting elements in the story, but the characters seem forced at times acting out in ways I would expect from a Jackie Collins novel. I think Weinreb is still trying to find her voice, hopefully she will follow the path of Elizabeth Berg.
Wishing you a fantastic weekend ;o)
"At the end of our talk, I was so excited I reached out to him in a gesture of goodwill and friendship. He silently, deliberately, withdrew both his hands behind his back, as if to remove them from even the possibility of a handshake..
...my experiences, especially my teaching experiences, in Iran have been framed by the feel and touch of that aborted handshake, as much as by that first approach and the glow of our naive, excited conversation. The image of my student's oblique smile has remained, brilliant yet opaque, while the room, the walls, the chairs and the long conference table have been covered over by layers and layers of what usually in works of fiction is called dust.."
Excerpt from Reading Lolita in Tehran
by Azar Nafisi
Anyone going to go see this movie on Friday?
Classic Films Review:
The Fountainhead (1949)
Film Fun Fact: Ayn Rand wrote the entire speech that Howard Roark gives at the end of the film, and demanded that it be read exactly as she wrote it. The director, King Vidor, initially agreed, but when shooting commenced on the scene, Vidor decided to tighten it up a bit. Upon hearing this, Rand called the head of the studio demanding that the whole speech be filmed. Rand won out, and Vidor filmed the entire speech. The scene goes on for nearly six minutes, one of the longest speeches ever in a feature film. (yes..it is really that long).
From my perspective: This is one of my favorite works of literature, so it was hard for me to be neutral when watching the film. At first glance, I believed Gary Cooper to be too old for the lead role. But I have to admit, as the film enfolds, his no-nonsense dry approach to the character embodies the spirit of Howard Roark. And Patricia Neil, as the strong and untouchable Dominique Francon, was just perfect. I loved this film!
Is it worth seeing: I found myself captivated by this film because I wanted to see the book brought to life. If you are a fan of Ayn Rand's writings, then I would definitely encourage you to spend some time with this film. If you have never heard of The Fountainhead, go out & buy a copy and start reading! (and don't forget to buy Atlas Shrugged too).
Learn more about this novel at The Ayn Rand Institute
