While new publications are regularly reviewed in
our magazine, older
books on cinemas and cinemagoing (both non-fiction and fiction) are reviewed
here. Reviews of further titles will be added to our website regularly. To
submit a publication or a review of your own, or to suggest a title for review,contact us.
Stats: Novel by Larry Baker (published 1997, hc,
309 pages)
Review: The setup of Baker's book appears rather engaging and
-in different hands- could have yielded a charming classic. A pair of Korean
children -adopted by an eccentric, constantly feuding American showman- is
growing up in Florida's fictional Flamingo drive-in, the USA's largest
open-air movie theatre, during the 1960s. Throw in three potential love
interests for the adolescent narrator Abraham, over-the-top showmanship displayed
by his cinema owner/operator father, plus a handful of close-up details of
living at and running an American drive-in, and you could have had yourself
another Rocket Boys (check out Homer H.
Hickam). Not even close.
Baker insists on revealing a major event or plot
result every fifteen pages and then
narrating how things led up to that point, seemingly convinced that he has
invented a novel writing style. But he mistakes infuriating for innovative and
as a result this book reads like a collection of final pages, plot spoilers and
prematurely revealed twists. Would you tell moviegoers during the first three on-screen
minutes that Bruce Willis' character is actually dead (The Sixth Sense),
Kevin Spacey is Keyser Söze (The Usual Suspects), and Darth Vader is Luke's father (Star Wars)? I thought not. Baker, however, insists this 'style' makes
for good reading.
Additionally -and inexplicably- he shies away from swearwords
(the f---, s---- and d--- read like a 1930s school library after the invasion
of Tippex-wielding puritans), while at the same time doling out racial slurs,
only few of which originate from his characters' mouths. And did I mention this
book is a little heavy-handed on Catholicism? Overall this book is even more
infuriating than it is disappointing.
Verdict:*ONE of five [+] Drive-in theatre setting/trivia [-] Infuriating style
Stats: Novel by Bella Pollen (published 1999, pb, 339 pages)
Review: A potentially entertaining premise: Kit Butler,
manageress of fictional London cinema the Orange (a
dilapidated, independent venue) struggles with the threat of closure looming
over her beloved picture house, a deteriorating relationship with her TV-star
boyfriend, the disappointment of her repeatedly rejected screenplay, plus the
strained relationship with her movie-crazed father.
Although the narrative is sprinkled
with plenty of film references that mostly fall naturally, this book nevertheless
follows a recipe that too closely borders lacklustre chick-lit: With 50% angst
(about pretty much everything) and 20% trials & tribulations
(will-I-ever-make-it-big-in-the-movies?), another 20% are related to how movies
permeate our lives (and where, indeed, would we be without them?), but barely
10% revolve around the actual cinema and the main character's struggle to save her
charming fleapit from the wrecking ball.
This novel is amusing at times but
never hilarious, observant but not revelatory, entertaining but not engrossing.
Pollen's novel is under-delivering on the cinema storyline advertised on the
cover, while missing a certain kick to draw readers in. Overall quite
disappointing.
Verdict:*ONE of five [+] Cinema-related [-] Too much angst, too little substance
