Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything
I read every kind of book from the absolute serious to the downright silly.
Hi Everybody!
I launched the Adapt Me Podcast this week! It’s available on Spotify and Amazon Music as of now. It’ll be on more in the coming future. I plan on releasing episodes on a monthly basis.
If you want to be a guest, feel free to email me here!
Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Mason Jar Press in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read plenty of short stories and novellas over the years, but there’s a genre that has eluded me until now. It’s called flash fiction. These are usually extremely short stories that offer character arcs or imply a larger narrative. Ani King wrote a series of tales of this kind for their debut Family Night: Stories. It’s a good collection through a queer lens with some stories being better than others.
Normally, I summarize the title, but I think Goodreads does it more justice, so here’s their blurb: “FAMILY NIGHT is by turns a lyrical celebration of queerness and an exploration of family and loss, often through a lens of magical realism. Ani King’s collected flash fiction stories explore relationships and connections: a teen girl attempting to summon her missing mother home with cigarette smoke and yacht rock songs; two sisters disputing how to care for an unhealthy elderly unicorn; a woman accidentally raising two daughters from the bones of her long-dead pet rabbits. Throughout FAMILY NIGHT, there is a sense of yearning for connection, be it with family, old friends, lovers, or community.”
There are 52 short stories in this collection, and each of them are one to seven pages long. One could finish it in a week if they wanted to. However, it may not appeal to everyone. The writing can be off-putting for some, especially how King often uses run-on sentences. These can spill over to more than one page, and some of them simply result in a punch line. Some of these work, and others don’t. In addition, King employs magic realism in very nonchalant ways. There were times that I had to do a double-take on what I just read. It was strange, but in the best way possible. I like that King explores the theme of connection in an absurd, yet sincere manner.
I also adore how Family Night shows its various themes through a queer perspective. Since the need for connection is a universal topic, I always look for something specific that makes it more meaningful. Even though I’m a straight woman, I felt attached to many of the characters in the stories because King, who’s nonbinary, allows readers to understand those experiences. For example, Love Buzzcut: A Story About a Girl details one girl shaving the head of another in a very intimate way. In another, The Best Werewolf Boyfriend is about a guy who falls in love with the titular werewolf, and he has to deal with his problems, including personal boundaries and his fellow werewolf roommates.
Even though there were some that I didn’t quite gravitate towards, there were others I truly connected with. My favorite stories were Kitchen Dancing, Dipsh*ts & Losers, and the titular Family Night. For the first one, I loved how it’s about a mother telling her daughter how she should never cook or clean in front of boys, or else they will treat her like their mother or housekeeper. She does all this while gliding around while making a meal, and the daughter brings up some things that might contradict her statements. The second one details the narrator’s grandmother and her relationship with her Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Specifically, she discusses how Grammy lived independently with it, yet it “attracted the biggest dipsh*ts and losers.”
I also love the bit when the seller keeps calling the T-bird much to the annoyance of the narrator.
And then, there’s the titular story Family Night. It revolves around a father and his prejudices at a…family night. I adore how it slowly reveals more about himself in a meaningful way. Plus, readers will certainly know a relative who behaves like that.
Family Night: Stories by Ani King is a good set of flash fiction stories. While it may not be for everyone, it will certainly click with certain readers. I love how the author goes to some strange places to explore the universal themes of yearning and connection. I would recommend it for those who love flash fiction and want more stories about family through a queer lens. Family Night: Stories is out now, so get it wherever you purchase your books.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Throughout this past week, I have been celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the publication of The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. I reviewed two audiobooks of the story and explored a city that he visited while growing up. Sadly, it has to end, and what better way to do so than to look at its 1957 movie adaptation starring Tyrone Power, Ava Gardner, and Errol Flynn. Even though it has some entertaining scenes, it’s a mediocre film due to its pacing, its use of CinemaScope, and missed opportunities.
Over the years, I’ve reviewed a few adaptations of Hemingway novels, and most of them don’t work. This is no exception. I like to keep an open mind while watching a movie or a television show, but when I saw that the runtime for this one was over two hours, I knew it was going to be a slog. My instincts were correct because the screenplay by Peter Viertel tries to cram as much from the book into the flick, which is a big no, especially when adapting Hemingway. That author is best for keeping things simple. It may not always seem that way, particularly when he includes a lot of filler in his novels. This makes them move at a glacial pace, and The Sun Also Rises is no exception. I noted this in my Audiobook Versus post about the book as well. The only movie adaptation that actively condenses story elements from the novel is the 1932 version of A Farewell to Arms.
Despite its flaws, I’ll give credit to Viertel for cleaning up certain parts of the book. For example, the movie starts off with Jake Barnes talking to a soldier he knew from the Great War (World War I) and the latter asking him if he’s alright. This makes it clear that this is Jake’s story, whereas the book begins with Robert Cohen’s backstory for some reason. In another instance, the reveal of Jake’s problem occurs in the first act of the film through a flashback. It also establishes the prior relationship with Brett. In the novel, this revelation happens halfway through when the group is enjoying their time in Spain. This change for the movie makes it easier for viewers to understand what Jake’s issue is.
The second big problem with this film is the cinematography. When it was released in 1957, a process called CinemaScope was the rage. The movie studio Twentieth Century Fox, who produced this film, developed the technique in 1953. It uses an anamorphic lens to squeeze a wide image onto standard 35mm film during filming and stretch it back out during projection. This wide screen cinematography worked best in biblical and historical epics as well as musicals. Even the Disney animated movies Lady and the Tramp and Sleeping Beauty utilized CinemaScope. This is all to say that it doesn’t work with The Sun Also Rises. The wide shots undermine what is an intimate story about a group of expatriates trying to find their place in a post World-War-I world. Sure, they look great when the characters are experiencing the Fiesta in Spain, but other times, it feels unnecessary. For instance, when Brett dances with some people at a nightclub in Paris in the first act, she’s shot from the waist up. Ava Gardner, who plays that character, is a good dancer, so this made it seem like she wasn’t. Also, when Jake and Brett are having a serious conversation outdoors in the same city, it’s done in a wide shot, where I could see drunk extras off to the side. It was distracting.
The third main issue I had was that there were missed opportunities. One of them was the costumes. Even though the film takes place in the 1920s, after the Lost Generation came of age, much of the clothing reads more 1950s. It took me out of it, especially knowing that Gardner was wearing a cone bra in her first scene. Also, the performances could have been better. I’m not saying that they were bad. They needed to do more. Tyrone Power (best known for films like the original Nightmare Alley (1947) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957)) plays Jake, and he’s stoic and not much else. Gardner (who had previously been in the 1952 adaptation of Hemingway’s short story Snows of Kilimanjaro) is a perfect casting choice as Brett because of how drop-dead gorgeous she is, but she too, could have done more with the role. It doesn’t help that most of the actors are older than their counterparts in the novel. In the book, they are in the 20s and 30s.
In addition, the movie could have explored themes from the novel further. The book is about a group of expatriates traveling, eating, and drinking while trying to figure out what they truly want. Director Henry King (who previously directed the aforementioned Snows of Kilimanjaro) conveys much of this aimlessness by having actors wander in the streets. However, much of the flick emphasizes the Fiesta and the bullfighting event they attend. I complained how the novel feels like a travelogue at times because of the focus on the vacation spots; this applies to the movie as well. This undercuts why the characters feel disillusioned in the first place. At least its missed opportunities weren’t actively insulting in the way the For Whom the Bell Tolls movie was.
Although I have my misgivings, I will say that it was entertaining in certain parts. First, the scenes with the characters exploring the Fiesta and watching bullfighting were fun to see. This is particularly true with the Running of the Bulls event even if parts of it felt like they were from stock footage. Second, Robert Cohen (played by Mel Ferrer) is portrayed more sympathetically than he is in the novel, and viewers are spared from the antisemetic remarks from the other characters. Cohen is still an insecure man who needs to show off and attach himself to those who say nice things to him. Third, Errol Flynn (who is best known for playing the title character in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)) is enjoyable as Mike Campbell – Brett’s finance. He captures the character’s pitiful drunkenness, especially how he knows when he’s not wanted. Flynn is most engaging when he and Bill (played by Green Acres star Eddie Albert) run and mess with the bulls. Although his performance was not as dynamic as Vittorio de Sica’s in the 1957 version of A Farewell to Arms (fun fact: both films were released four months apart), it was still entertaining.
The movie version of The Sun Also Rises is not the best adaptation of a Hemingway novel, nor is it the worst. Some of its problems stem from the source material, which could have been resolved had the film condensed the story more. Furthermore, the Cinemascope wasn’t necessary to tell an intimate tale about a group of people trying to find themselves in a post-war environment, and it didn’t take as many chances as it should to really explore the novel’s themes. And yet, I still enjoyed certain parts. I would only recommend it to those who’ve read the book and are traveling. The sun has officially set on this story.
Since this is the fourth Hemingway adaptation I’ve reviewed for this website, here is how I would rank them as of now.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Hi Everybody,
I’m back with the final installment of my 3-part edition of my “Literary Travel” series focusing on my home state of Michigan. All of the photos used were the ones I took, and they can be seen throughout.
Today, I’m going to show you my visits to a library and a bookstore in Petoskey. For those who don’t know, Petoskey is located in Northern Michigan in the Lower Peninsula and is home to the Petoskey stone – the official state stone. It’s also known for its connection to famous writer and frequent guest on this website Ernest Hemingway since his family had a summer home in the area.
I was there for the first time back in June for an archival conference as part of my daytime work. On one of those days, I went on a walking tour of the Petoskey District Library. Library director Valerie Meyerson personally guided my group through both the Carnegie and current library buildings.
The library was originally housed in Carnegie structure across the street from the newer one. It’s built in the neo-classical revival style and was constructed in 1908, and it opened in November 1909. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, the older building is a community room meeting space. We went into the Carnegie Library first. The library’s mission statement is “Providing an exceptional place to nurture knowledge and inspire curiosity,” and it shows. On the outside, there was a plaque that detailed its connections to Ernest Hemingway.
On the inside, it contained spacious rooms, bay windows, and pieces of library and Petoskey history. This is especially true with a wood-carved sculpture of Chief Ignatius Petoskey, who founded the area.
Certain rooms had windows boarded up because the glass windows that usually adorn those places were getting restored at that time. My favorite part of the Carnegie Library was the mural featuring every well-known fairy tale and children’s story. It’s so long that I couldn’t get it on my phone entirely, so here’s a snippet. By looking at it, I can see why people would be inspired.
Afterwards, we walked to the current library building, which opened in 2004. Its architecture combines classical and modern styles. The most well-known aspect is the copper-topped cupola; its spire rises 65 feet above street level.
Even though each room in the library was separated from each other by different floors and hallways, they were well organized and adorned. For example, there was a gorgeous entryway leading into the adult section that I’m going to call the Arc D’Library. In the children’s room, an owl greets visitors by its entryway, and even the portal resembles that kind of bird. Also, before patrons go into the teen area, a picture of and a quote from comedian Sam Reich welcomes them, which adds some nice humor. Each room contained suitable places for play and study.
The Petoskey District Library offers the things one might expect from a typical library and so much more. It has a Library of Things in the adult area. Patrons can check out items ranging from board games to ukuleles. Valerie also pointed out their TOPO adventures bags and the study room pods that people can “rent.”
Since our group was primarily full of archivists, it made sense to end the tour in the Local History Room. It was a small room filled with reference materials, newspapers, and artifacts regarding the Petoskey and Northern Michigan regions (do you recognize the man on the far right with the newspaper clippings?).
From what I saw, the Petoskey District Library did a good job with honoring its past and embracing its present and future. It certainly provided an environment to foster knowledge and curiosity. Along with their website, you can check out that library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
When the library tour ended, I had some time to walk around downtown Petoskey before the Evening Reception began. Logically, I wound up at a bookstore called McLean & Eakin Booksellers. More specifically, I found myself at The Archives Used Books by McLean & Eakin. The original bookshop opened in 1992, and since their inventory was filling up to the brim, they decided to open another store devoted to used books years later.
The Archives is a perfect way to describe the used bookstore. It sold secondhand novels for adults, teens, and children in a single room with a set of steps to get there. In addition, it had some wonderful displays on the shelves by the walls and on an island in the middle of the area. I scooped up three titles with The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl, Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June, and the manga Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs by Yoma Mishima.
Once I bought my books at The Archives, I walked down the street to the flagship store, and it was magical. It was welcoming with its cottage-like environment. The main floor had gold and white walls decorated with posters, drawings, and other objects. It was filled with books for both adults and children that were well labeled with white lettering and red backgrounds. Even people with vision issues could see them.
And yes, they did have a section entirely devoted to Ernest Hemingway.
The children’s area was super adorable with its display and a Chinese dragon hanging over them.
They also had a basement, which contained “knotty pine panelling” according to the bookstore’s website. This made the place rustic and cozy.
The basement had little nooks devoted to certain topics. For instance, in the picture below, signs for science and theology books can be seen on the right side.
In another example, McLean & Eakin express great pride in selling UK editions. They are located in the basement on shelving that resembles a British telephone booth. This playfulness is evident throughout.
In another part of the basement, a life size cutout of Stephen King dressed with a pink feathered boa greeted people in the horror area by the gardening and travel sections.
Along with novels, McLean & Eakin also sells unique items like vinyl records, puzzles, stationary, greeting cards, and their own merchandise. Customers can also play chess in the board game area in the basement.
Additionally, they host well-known authors at various events at the stores. The bookshop promoted these throughout, especially by the checkout station on the main floor. In case one didn’t know who was going to be there, there was a display containing books by those authors with the dates inserted. I also spoke to some of the employees, who gave a more detailed history of the bookstore.
At the end of the day, I bought Odyssey: The Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry and a bookmark for my intern who left at the end of June.
McLean & Eakin and The Archives were wonderful bookstores. They were cozy and engaging with the former having a rustic aesthetic. They had so many items to choose from. I know that I will be going back when I’m in Petoskey next. Along with their website, you can check out that bookstore on Facebook and Instagram.
And that concludes the fourteenth installment of “Literary Travel!” I hope all of you had a great time on this trip. I’ll start up this series again in the new year with my umpteenth excursion to Canada!
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
It’s been awhile since my last “Audiobook Versus” series, and I found the perfect follow-up. Today, we’ll be taking a look at two people who narrated the audiobooks for the 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises from the man; the myth; the person who will infodump you on France, Spain, and bullfighting, Ernest Hemingway.
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the book’s publication. This sowed the seeds for Hemingway’s illustrious writing career, and I can see why. It contains wonderful descriptions of various locations as well as memorable characters, even if they aren’t always likeable. The biggest strength of the novel is how it captures the disillusionment and aimless mood of the time aka the Lost Generation since the world had changed since the Great War, and the characters don’t know what to do with themselves besides travel, eat, and drink (emphasis on the last part). It’s not a perfect book because the pacing is slow, and parts feel more home in a travelogue than in a full-fledged novel. Nevertheless, its mood remains relevant to this very day. It’s also best to read or listen to it while traveling.
It has recently come to my attention that not one, but two actors have recorded audiobooks of this classic story. They are William Hurt and Alexander Adams, two people who are on the opposite sides of the audiobook spectrum.
William Hurt was an actor best known for his work in 1980s movies like The Big Chill, Body Heat, and Children of a Lesser God. He won an Oscar for his leading performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Hurt recorded his version of the story in 2006, and it was one of seven audiobooks he did until his death in 2022.
Alexander Adams (real name Grover Gardner) is an actor, director, and audiobook narrator. He’s a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington D.C. and the Resident Director at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. He has recorded over 450 audiobooks ranging from authors John Grisham to Agatha Christie. He recorded this novel in 1992. This version is so obscure that I couldn’t find a cover with Adams listed as the narrator.
Whose is better at capturing the spirit of the book? Let’s find out!
1. Lady Brett Ashley:
Hurt gives Lady Brett Ashley, the only main female character in the story, dignity. Even though she sleeps around, she sounds elevated given her royal status with an English accent. It can be difficult for narrators to portray people of a different gender, but Hurt makes it work by softening his voice.
Adams gives Lady Brett a soft and dignified voice as well. He commits to the specific vocalization of her throughout. One of my problems with Adams’s performance is that most characters sound the same, but his narration as the only female character is not one of them.
First point goes to Adams!
2. Robert Cohen:
Since Robert’s Jewish heritage is often referred to in The Sun Also Rises, it would be easy to simply channel this in a stereotypical way. But, Hurt doesn’t fall into that trap. He makes Robert sound nasally and worried, but it never comes off as forced.
Adams does a similar portrayal of Robert, just a pitch higher from his normal voice. Sadly, it’s not as memorable as Hurt’s vocal performance because it lacks personality.
Hurt gets his first point!
3. Supporting Characters:
Hurt voices Michael “Mike” Campbell, Lady Brett Ashley’s fiance, with a typical Scottish accent that can sound aggressive when the character is drinking. Other supporting characters like Pedro Romero and Montoya are given their own vocal distinctions. The former sounds tough, while the latter is wise.
He stands out with his vocal performance of Billy Gorton, Jake’s friend who goes fishing with him in Spain. He does this with a relaxed Midwestern drawl. It reminded me a lot of John Goodman. It turns out that both Hurt and Goodman worked on the television series Damages, but they were on separate seasons. Regardless, Hurt made Billy his own.
As for Adams, one of the two main issues I have with him as a narrator of this audiobook is that almost every character sounds the same. Spanish characters like Pedro Romero and Montoya are accented in a similar way, and others sound pompous with no other distinctions. Adams voices Michael “Mike” Campbell as if he’s the most pretentious Englishman ever even though he’s Scottish. It’s certainly a choice. Billy Gorton is similar to Adams’s own natural voice, but pitched lower. Great audiobook narration doesn’t have to contain vocally distinct characters at all times. It’s understandable that some might sound alike, but it helps the reader to pick out who’s talking, and Adams needed to do more.
Hurt gets another point!
4. Character Consistency:
Hurt is pretty consistent. He’s able to switch from one character to another with ease, and I had no problem identifying who was talking at that moment even when the novel was a slow point. My only complaint is that Lady Brett’s accent is not quite defined until the second half of the story. It was like he was trying to find different ways to approach the character while he was still recording.
Adams is consistent as well since everyone sounds similar, so he has very little problem jumping from one to another.
At this point, I will give both Hurt and Adams half a point each because maintaining the characters’ voices is hard!
So far, here are the scores:
Hurt: 2.5
Adams: 1.5
5. Pacing:
Hurt’s pacing is steady. He goes along with the speed of the story, which again can be quite slow. He takes his time even though I wish he could’ve picked it up a bit.
Adams reads the book like he’s an old-school newsreporter, but with little of the fast talking. It’s steady, but I wished he slowed down at times because it seemed like he was rushing it. I rather have a narrator take their time reading a book than speeding through it.
This point goes to Hurt!
6. Volume:
I only had to tweak the volume a few times while listening to Hurt’s recording. He doesn’t get too loud nor too soft. I honestly wish that there was more variety in the volume, for it felt static at times.
Luckily, I didn’t have to tweak the volume while listening to Adams, but I had the same problems with him as I did with Hurt.
Again, half a point is awarded to both!
7. Jake Barnes:
Hurt voices Jake – our Hemingway Hero – as closely to his normal voice as possible. It sounds warm and melancholic at times, but I don’t remember much else from the performance.
Adams also voices Jake as closely to his normal voice as possible. Since he narrates it like an old-school newsreporter, he feels detached from the story. Character-wise, this makes sense because Jake is a newsreporter, but for the plot, it sounded like he was reciting the facts with little emotion. There were honestly times that I ignored what was happening while listening to the Adams version for that reason. Why should I care about a group of disillusioned expatriates if the narrator seemingly can’t?
The final point goes to Hurt!
Now! Here are the final scores:
Hurt: 5
Adams: 2
Although I had some issues with The Sun Also Rises, Hurt and Adams do their best to make it interesting. It wasn’t a close race. Even though Hurt didn’t do as many audiobooks as Adams during his lifetime, his acting training allowed the characters to pop more. In many ways, I’m disappointed with Adams because I expected a higher quality since he’s recorded over 450 audiobooks, but even the best narrators have off days. It’s still not going to deter me from listening to more of his work.
Thanks for tuning in for another Audiobook Versus!
Stay tuned for next week when I review the 1957 movie version of The Sun Also Rises starring Tyrone Power, Ava Gardner, and Errol Flynn.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Content warning: this book review will discuss gruesome medical details.
Some stories work both as a physical book and as an audiobook. Others tend to fare better in one of those formats. Usually, readers think the novel is superior to the audiobook because the former allows them to imagine what the characters sound like and how the narrator would read it. Even though there are plenty of narrators who do a great job with the material (I should know, I’ve reviewed a handful of them), there are definitely ones that threaten to ruin the enjoyment. One example was last week’s Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, and another is this week’s The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore. The book is great, but the audiobook narration is subpar due to how irritating it can be.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women is the true story of the women who were harmed by radium and how they fought against it. When the Curies discover radium, it’s heralded across the nation as the fresh face of beauty and a wonder drug. The popular element shines through during the First World War. During that time, radium-dial factories hired hundreds of girls to paint watch dials with radium paint. They would decorate themselves with said paint. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe, and they literally light up the night. These “shining girls” are the luckiest alive until they start getting sick one by one. The factories who gave them opportunities ignore all their claims of radium’s gruesome side effects and the women’s cries of corruption. As radium takes its hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals in early twentieth century America and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that still resonates today.
Unlike a lot of nonfiction I read for this website, I actually knew about the radium girls and their story. When I was a teenager, I saw a production of the play These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan during a weekend tour of the college. It was impactful seeing those women slowly die from unknowingly being poisoned at work and fight for what lives they had left.
Moore expands on the characters presented in the play. She takes her time introducing each girl who worked at the radium dial companies in Orange, New Jersey and Ottawa, Illinois. Specifically, she details their physical features, personalities, and if they got married and children. Even though there are a lot of women the author follows throughout, this allows readers to get to know them on a personal level, especially when they start getting sick.
Moore truly tests the word non-sugarcoated by holding nothing back when describing each of the girls’ illnesses. For example, many of them had tooth loss, abscesses, bone decay, tumors on various parts of the body, and intense pain due to radium exposure. One even had her entire lower jaw removed. If that wasn’t enough, Moore informs readers that one former worker Charlotte Purcell had so much intense pain in her arm that she agreed to have it amputated, thus allowing her to live until 1988. The photographs in the book show some of the women before and after working at the radium dial companies. They can be gruesome, especially to those who get weak while reading medical-related stuff.
The biggest strength of this book is the research. Moore mainly relies on court documents, business materials, letters, and diaries to tell the stories of the radium girls, and it shows. One could easily get lost in it, but she maintains the momentum like it’s a play. She always keeps the tales and what the women went through front and center. In addition, the author makes it clear of how popular radium was in the early twentieth century. This was especially true when various corporations declared it to be a wonder drug to cure everything. On top of that, there was a song called “The Radium Dance” that was popular during the 1900s. These help to set up the environment the women were in while they and various doctors were trying to prove that radium was far more dangerous than the businesses and public realized.
There are some readers who have complained about how repetitive it can get with what the women looked like, how they suffered, how they were taken advantage of by the businesses, and how they fought back. To me, that repetition is the point, for it ACTUALLY HAPPENED. And, the most frustrating thing about it is how little things have changed, especially how workers are still being used by the companies and ignored when problems come up. Moore brings up that the radium girls’ tales are important because they led to more regulations in the workplace, especially in regards to how workers handled radium and plutonium during the Manhattan Project and to the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
This all leads to my big complaint, which is the audiobook. It’s narrated by Angela Brazil. She is an actor and member of the Resident Acting Company at Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. Moreover, Brazil has recorded several audiobooks for nonfiction books like The Language of Butterflies and The Horse by Wendy Williams (not that Wendy Williams), romance novels by Laura Frantz, and “Mr. Monk” books based on the television show. I’m going to be very honest. Brazil is one of the worst audiobook narrators I’ve ever heard. She’s overly chipper and energetic, which annoyed me highly in the beginning, yet she somewhat dials this back during the course of the book. It also didn’t help that she was super focused more on the words than on the emotions. What bothered me the most was her tone. She sounded like an annoyed flight attendant saying, “Buh-bye” to the guests. I was shocked to read that Brazil is a professional actor because this is a performance I expect more from an amateur. This narrator should have been recast.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore is an excellent book with a mediocre audiobook. Moore allows readers to be fully invested in each of the women who worked at the radium dial companies even if there’s a lot of them. And, she does a great job with the research and maintaining the pacing and the story. I simply wish that it had a better audiobook narrator. But then again, I have to wonder if it really needed one in the first place because the book itself is enhanced more with the visuals than it is with the audio. This is why I would recommend the physical print to all readers, especially to those who are interested in medicine, workplace tragedies, and stories about fighting businesses. Whatever you do, don’t listen to the audiobook!
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
In the 2010s, when a successful film franchise based on a well-known young adult series came to an end, the last book was split into two movies. Now, obviously, this was done to make more money, but this allowed the story to be as faithful to the source material as possible with the conclusion. It happened with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Breaking Dawn from the “Twilight” saga. And, it occurred with today’s subject Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, which is based on the third novel of the same name in “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins. While there was no need to split the book into two flicks, it addressed some issues I had with the story.
The movies are faithful to the source material for obvious reasons. However, there are some changes. First, Effie Trinket (played by Elizabeth Banks) and President Snow (played by Donald Sutherland) are more present in the flicks than they are in the novel. In the latter, Effie’s whereabouts are unknown until the end, but in the films, she helps Katniss with her Mockingjay wardrobe. President Snow is mentioned in the book, but he isn’t shown until the climax. In the movies, he appears at various points, including the aforementioned scene. Second, there are more sections showing what is happening as opposed to viewers being told what unfolded. For example, we see a team rescuing Peeta from the tribute center in Part 1, yet another character relays information to Katniss about it in the book. Finally, the flicks reduce the amount of screentime devoted to the love triangle among Katniss, Gale, and Peeta. This was in favor of the action scenes and elements that advanced the plot. I was very happy about this one. Go read my review of the Mockingjay book to find out why.
As I mentioned before, Mockingjay shouldn’t have been split into 2 movies. Everything in the story could’ve been told in one. But, because Lionsgate wanted to make extra money, we got the two parts. As it stands, both movies drag at various points, yet they feel rushed at times. When I was watching Part 1, I felt that I was dropped into the middle of something. Yes, I’m aware that it’s the third flick in “The Hunger Games” franchise, but it could’ve done a better job with setting things up like showing what happened at the end of Catching Fire. A lot of the pacing issues could’ve been resolved if Mockingjay was one movie.
Despite the films’ main problem, I enjoyed them a lot more than I expected. Director Francis Lawrence (the guy responsible for your favorite 1990s and 2000s music videos) shoots the trauma-inducing action scenes involving bombings and characters fighting various adversaries very well. I was wholly invested in them. In addition, the score by James Newton Howard is foreboding and heroic at various points even if the music when the ship lands in Part 2 sounded a bit like Pirates of the Caribbean. And, I can’t forget about “The Hanging Tree” – the haunting folk song that Katniss sings that inspires a group of rebels to blow a dam in Part 1. Even though Jennifer Lawrence is not a professional singer, her understated voice lends itself well to the tune. Moreover, the production design is impeccable. Granted, it’s great in the previous films, but this is on another level. The rubble after the districts are destroyed appears realistic. When things start blowing up, the destruction looks like it was done through practical effects as opposed to CGI. And of course, the president’s mansion and the victory cottage highlights the growing difference in how the Capitol and the rest of the districts live.
Finally, the acting is perfect. I couldn’t believe how stacked the cast was. There’s Mahershala Ali as Boggs – Coin’s second-in command, and he’s stoic and reasonable, but he will put someone in his place when needed. This is especially true when Boggs takes Peeta down when the latter chokes Katniss after he’s rescued in Part 1. Julianne Moore is Alma Coin. Her character is portrayed more sympathetically in the films than in the book, yet Moore’s performance led me to believe that she had some ulterior motive other than for the rebel cause, especially in her sly looks.
The best performances belong to Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Donald Sutherland. Harrelson is Haymitch, and he provides the most important truths despite his drunken behavior. One of my favorite scenes from Part 1 is where Katniss is shooting a promo, and Haymitch bluntly says, “This is how revolutions die.”
It’s exactly how I imagined him saying it in the book.
Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss. While her acting can be over the top at times, it’s believable given what the character goes through in all of “The Hunger Games” movies. For example, she screams at Buttercup the cat after the latter comes back to the victory cottage near the end. I was wondering why Katniss would do that since the feline did nothing. But then again, it makes sense knowing what happened to her sister Primrose, and Buttercup was her cat. Lawrence pours her heart into the performance.
Finally, the late Donald Sutherland is calm and evil as President Snow. He’s deliberate in every move he makes, like in the way he barely reacts when he gets a cut that draws blood while he’s getting a shave in Part 1. It may be quiet, but it’s still commanding. My favorite scene in Part 2 is the climax, and that’s mainly due to Sutherland’s sadistic laughing.
Although Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 should’ve been one movie, it was more than I hoped for. Sure, the pacing can feel sluggish at times, but the action scenes, score, production design, and acting made up for it, and it showed more important scenes than the book did. I would recommend watching both only if one has read the Mockingjay book. Quite frankly, I’m glad that the trend of splitting the final novel of a beloved young adult series into two films is no more, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Mockingjay was part of the reason why it died.
Before I go, I want to let everyone know that I’m going to make an appearance on the Stone’s Top Tens Podcast to discuss the book as well as the Mockingjay Part 1 movie. Keep an eye out for the link.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Hi Everybody,
Grab your paintings and get a person to talk because the latest episode of the Adapt Me Podcast is up right now. In it, returning guest Cheyne Nomura and I discuss how we would adapt The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides as a miniseries. We talk about how wonderful the book is and how the screenplay should be the star of the show We also share our thoughts of the upcoming adaptation currently in development. Check it out at this link!
In the meantime, I have a review of the book itself, so check that out too!
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
There are certain expectations for the conclusion of a well-known series. Readers want it to be exciting, answer as many of their questions as possible, and provide a satisfying ending. Some do this well, while others not so much. Mockingjay – the third and final book in “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins – falls in the latter camp because it slogs and focuses on the wrong elements, yet it has pockets of great moments.
Mockingjay focuses on the revolution in Panem. Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale and Katniss’s family are safe, but Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. She also discovers that District 13 really does exist. There are indeed rebels and new leaders. There is no question that a revolution is unfolding. Katniss was deliberately rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it was intentional that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss. The success of the rebellion depends on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.
Before I get started, I have a confession. I haven’t read the first two books in the series – The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. However, I have watched the movie adaptations of both. I know that doesn’t fully count in the eyes of certain readers, but from what I understand, they are fairly faithful to the source material. So, this doesn’t bother me. Even if I read them, it wouldn’t have changed my views on Mockingjay.
There were three main things that bothered me. I will explore the first two here and visit the third later on. To begin with, the pacing was sluggish. Almost everything moved like molasses. The first half of the novel fares better than the second since things are actually happening. It’s one thing when Collins focuses on describing a certain scene, but it’s another when it’s occurring off screen. She does more telling than showing. There’s not much action throughout.
This brings me to my second point. Collins highlights aspects that didn’t need to be emphasized. Basically, the whole plot is the rebels want Katniss to become the Mockingjay – symbol of the revolution – and kill President Snow. One would think the author would write plenty about Katniss’s inner conflict of being the Mockingjay and the obstacles to getting rid of Panem’s dictator. Those elements are there, but Collins decided to shine a spotlight on the love triangle among Katniss, Gale, and Peeta. I could be wrong about this, but from what I understand, Gale is not that involved in the first two books/movies. It makes sense to focus more on Gale in this installment, but there didn’t need to be a love triangle when the relationship between Katniss and Peeta was growing. This detracted from what was important in the novel. I didn’t care about Team Gale versus Team Peeta when the series/franchise came out. I don’t care about it now.
Even with the criticisms I have, there were some bright spots. Haymitch is a delightful presence. Despite his drunken behavior, he possesses the most keen insight on the situation. For example, when the rebels are making a little film with Katniss, he says, “This is how revolutions die” based on her poor performance because she wasn’t authentic enough. Soon after, he encourages her and the team to think about the moments when she was. In addition, the entire sequence of Katniss filming the spot and the final confrontation between her and Snow were fantastic. I even let out a gasp when the twist occurred in the latter. Furthermore, I thought the ending was poignant. When Katniss becomes a mother, she mentions that she will tell her children her story, including the trauma she endured while fighting in the revolution, at some point. She’s in repair, but she’s getting there.
Now, let’s get to my third point why I didn’t enjoy this book, and it has to do with the audiobook. It’s narrated by Carolyn McCormick. McCormick has done extensive work in theatre, film, television, and audiobooks. Her best known role is Dr. Elizabeth Olivet in the Law & Order franchise. As for the audiobooks, she has narrated several of them by authors like Chelsea Cain, James Patterson, and Suzanne Collins. Yes, McCormick narrated the two previous installments of “The Hunger Games” series. Knowing this makes the performance straight up disappointing. She sounds much older than the teenaged Katniss and unnecessarily condescending at times. And, don’t get me started about her rendition of “The Hanging Tree!” It’s a hit and miss whenever a narrator sings, but this one fell in the latter category because she was rushing and barely in tune. I’m glad that Jennifer Lawrence sang it in Mockingjay Part 1. Back to McCormick, her performance had some great moments. She gives distinct voices to the supporting characters like the pompous Plutarch and the blunt Haymitch. I want to believe that she did better with the first two “Hunger Games” books, for she was able to do this one, but in the end, it’s still mediocre. Quick note: while doing research, I discovered that Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black fame recorded an audiobook version of Mockingjay in 2019. It might make a good installment for my “Audiobook Versus” series.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the unsatisfying conclusion to “The Hunger Games” series. The novel moves at a snail’s pace. It unnecessarily emphasized a love triangle in lieu of action. If it was developed throughout the series, it would’ve been better received. At the same time, there were some great scenes and a gratifying ending. The only way I would recommend it is for readers who’ve read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire and to get a copy of the physical book instead of the audiobook. If I had read the previous installments, I don’t know if it would’ve changed my opinion.
Before I go, I want to let everyone know that I’m going to make an appearance on the Stone’s Top Tens Podcast to discuss the book as well as the Mockingjay Part 1 movie. Keep an eye out for the link.
In the meantime, I will have my review of Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 out later this week, so stay tuned!
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Welcome to Part 11 of looking at various adaptations of Wuthering Heights and seeing if they can capture the spirit of the book by Emily Brontë. Today, I’ll be looking at the 2022 movie starring Bryan Ferriter as Heathcliff and Jet Jandreau (credited as Jasmine Jandreau) as Catherine.
It’s been an interesting journey watching Wuthering Heights adaptations. I especially like how each version tries to be more transgressive than the previous ones. But like everything else, this odyssey has to come to an end. I’m happy that I’m ending with the 2022 movie directed by and starring Bryan Ferriter because it’s the worst version of the story I’ve seen. Period.
Where do I begin? Let’s start with the costumes. If you’ve been reading my Wuthering Heights adaptation reviews, you probably would’ve noticed that I don’t often mention the costumes. This is so because there are people out there who are better at critiquing that than I am. Personally, while I will note if outfits are historically inaccurate (like the Victorian-era costumes in the 1939 movie), it’s more important that they look good on the actors. All in all, the clothing in this version not only doesn’t reflect the 1700s, but they also look cheap. The dresses the women wear came straight out of the Renaissance era. I actually agreed with Heathcliff when he calls Catherine’s dress “a silly frock” when she goes to see Edgar. I’ll never look at Gunne Sax gowns the same way, and yes, I’m aware that they range from $200 to $900. Also, Hindley wears a tuxedo shirt. That truly took me out of it. It was as if their moms went to the store and bought outfits that they thought would be appropriate for the movie. Say what you want about the costumes in the 1939 film, at least they looked good. Even the 2026 movie‘s clothing makes sense in context. If you want someone else to critique the costuming in depth, check out this article from Frock Flicks.
Next, the sound was atrocious. The mixing was terrible. There were times that I could barely understand what the actors were saying, even when it was clearly dubbed. Even regular Joes could pick up on that. The fact that the film did more telling than showing made it even worse. For example, when Catherine is out in the rain yelling Heathcliff’s name, Nelly’s narration tells viewers that Catherine was searching for him in that kind of weather. Instead, blue skies are shown, but the rain is heard. Also, Jet Jandreau, who plays her, appears dry in one shot and wet in the next. It was like a low-grade picture book talking about the things that happened without displaying them.
Finally, the acting was like what if Tommy Wiseau directed a bunch of high schoolers in a production of Wuthering Heights and cast himself as Heathcliff. At best, it’s decent. At worst, it can be either nonchalant or overindulgent. They were also going in and out of their accents a lot. I’m from the Midwest, so my ears perked up when I heard them pronouncing their Rs. Mary Riitano as Nelly is the best performer because she is emotive, but she isn’t performing to the back of the room. Jandreau as Catherine isn’t inspiring. She’s capable of playing the mean-girl aspect of that character, yet she’s mostly expressionless. This is apparent when Edgar proposes to her. While I can see that as a deliberate choice, it would have been more effective if she pretended to be joyous. Ryan Pfeiffer is over-the-top as Hindley and not always in the best way.
And then, there’s Bryan Ferriter. He’s the main reason why this movie is overindulgent. He decided that it was a good idea to cast himself as Heathcliff and to direct the film as well. Ferriter portrays the man as if he’s a romantic hero, but it ends up self-serving, especially when there are shots of him walking with a white horse. It looked straight out of a perfume commercial. It’s the most indulgent when Heathcliff stretches the word “soul” after Catherine dies.
It’s the equivalent of Wiseau saying, “You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!” in The Room. I understand that this was Ferriter’s directorial debut. I want to give him slack because of that, but the direction and acting are so amateurish that I simply can’t.
Although there are some adaptations that I enjoyed more than others, I always admire at least one thing from each, and this one is no different. I thought that it was interesting to see Hindley drink before Frances died. Once she does, Heathcliff immediately pours a glass for Hindley. That’s an inspired shift from Heathcliff being abused to becoming the abuser. In addition, I admire that this is the only truly faithful adaptation of the story structure-wise. Not only does it include Nelly telling Lockwood about what happened prior, but it also has two catching up at a later time. No other version had done that.
The Wuthering Heights 2022 film is undoubtedly the most incompetent version of the story. The costuming looks cheap. The sound mixing was poor, and the less we say about the acting, the better. I could make some excuse about its budget, yet the 1950 teleplay’s one was limited as well, and it still appeared professional (even if it had similar problems). Above all, I’m not sure why this adaptation exists to begin with, other than being the most faithful structure-wise. It does things that the others executed much better. The only way I would recommend it is to watch the other Wuthering Heights versions first.
Now, let’s see how this one fits into the ranking.
Stay tuned next month when I give my concluding thoughts about all eleven Wuthering Heights adaptations.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Hi Everybody,
I’m back with part 2 of my 3-part edition of my “Literary Travel” series focusing on my home state of Michigan. All of the photos used were the ones I took, and they can be seen at the bottom of the page.
Today, I’m going to show you my visits to a bookstore in Taylor and a library in Allen Park, both located in an area called Downriver. For those who don’t know, Downriver is the collection of 18 suburban cities and townships located south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River.
Why was I Downriver? Back in July, my husband and I made a day trip to that area to meet up with his friend’s girlfriend, and he wanted to visit a Vespa dealership. We ate at the Bierkeller Eatery & Tavern – a German-inspired bar and restaurant. The food was delicious!
Afterwards, my husband and I visited Another Look Books – a local bookstore in Taylor. It opened in 1995, and it was offering some pretty good discounts to celebrate its 30th birthday as of late. Moreover, it encourages its customers to read, relax, and repeat.
It was a small bookstore, but it was packed with books both upright and laying on their backs. That certainly added to the shop’s quirkiness and call for people to read. It offered a variety of genres for both adults and children along with displays for local authors; banned books; vintage; “Golden Oldies,” which was described as “Your Hard-to-Find Favorites!”; and discontinued titles. The store also provided cute little carts and baskets for those who were looking to buy plenty.
Some shelves were taller than others, but there was enough space between that customers like my husband and I could walk around with no problem. They were decorated in fun ways. My favorite was the Outlander poster that had Jamie wearing a lei.
With the relax part, Another Look Books definitely provided spaces to do just that. At the front of the store, there were two plush chairs with backs perched by the store’s motto. In addition, the main books area contained two other pieces of furniture: a fancy bench that could hold up to two people and another chair in the nonfiction section. Both had the same dark pink upholstery as the ones at the front of the store. The book selection and seats will absolutely have customers coming back for more.
In addition, Another Look Books offers non-book items and special services. Near where the checkout was, book-related items like mugs, book chains, pens, pillows, and signs were available for purchase. I may or may not have bought a thing of that sort for a friend who’s birthday is coming up later this month.
As for their special services, they include trade centers, holds, and a wonderful perk for teachers. Trading in books allow users to receive store credit, so they can spend less on more titles. Additionally, customers can place holds on books not available at the store, so the staff can order them to be shipped in. Finally, if you’re a teacher, you get a special discount of 75% off in-store purchases without requiring trade credit. It’s hard out there for teachers, so I’m glad Another Look Books is making it easier for them.
In case you’re wondering, I bought the books The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (it was on the Banned Books display) and Love Marry Multiply by Sara Geiersbach (she’s a local author).
Throughout our time at Another Look Books, several people came up to the lone staff person working and mentioned that they were longtime customers and enjoyed its atmosphere. From what I’ve seen, I completely understand because of its relaxed, fun, and accommodating environment. You can check out that bookstore on Facebook and Instagram.
The second and last place we went while Downriver was the Allen Park Public Library. It was a quick drive from the bookstore, and we had an ample amount of time to kill before we went back home.
The Allen Park Public Library is located in Allen Park. It was originally a branch of the Wayne County Library before transitioning to a municipal library. Its mission is to “provide and support quality library services that meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the diverse citizens of Allen Park.”
The library certainly lived up to that motto. Before we walked in, I noticed that it had a well-kept garden surrounding the building to make it look nice. It also had a StoryWalk featuring Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle around the premises. It was funny and informative for both kids and adults because I’m sure that some of the latter would be fooled as well.
Inside, the layout was simple. On one side, there’s the children’s area. On the other side, there’s the adult and teen sections. In the middle, there were a circulation desk, various displays, and a calendar showing what programs are going on each month. In addition, the library had a game out where people could guess how many eyeballs were in a jar. It was one way to keep patrons engaged.
The children’s side contained neatly organized shelves containing a variety of books, displays on the shelf ends, a nice play space, and an Imagination Station. The latter is where kids over the age of 7 can make a craft. It’s right across from the circulation desk. The children’s area also had cute visuals like the birds that hung from the ceiling. My only complaint was that the signs denoting what kinds of books (ie juvenile fiction, picture books) were placed too high. Some kids are not that tall, so they won’t notice them unless they look up. I guess the birds are supposed to help them out.
The adult and teen side was spaced out. The latter was along the wall with its reading challenges, young adult titles, and displays like the “#BookTok Made Me Read It.” The adult area contained books on tall shelves with nice displays on the end caps. It also had a spacious study area; plenty of charging stations; and a board containing information about jobs, training, and volunteering. The most impressive thing in the adult section was the DVDs. Some libraries have the cases out on the shelves, so patrons can take them to the circulation desk, where the actual DVDs are stored. At the Allen Park Public Library, they have binders that people can look through to find the movies and shows they want to check out. Once they find the titles, they have to write down the numbers to take up the desk. It’s a bit more work, but it assures that whoever wants those movies are the most respectful.
The Allen Park Public Library was simple, but most effective in catering to its diverse citizens. Along with their website, you can check out the library on Facebook and Instagram.
And that concludes the thirteenth installment of “Literary Travel!” I hope all of you had a great time on this trip. Next month, I’ll focus on the bookstores and libraries I visited in Petoskey, Michigan.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
