This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fav Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Author, Critic Shares Ten Fave Books About Movie Industry
Monday, February 6, 2023
Carolyn Raffensberger Reviews Sharon Heath's Book of Eco-Fiction
This summer I searched for stories that would help make sense of the upheaval we are facing. I read three books that were wildly different, Lydia Yuknavitch’s novel Thrust, Sharon Heath’s novel, The Mysterious Composition of Tears, and Dick Sclove’s nonfiction book, Escaping Maya’s Palace—an analysis of the madness of modern civilization based on a close read of the Mahabharata. What they had in common was to take seriously what Ursula Le Guin calls the “carrier bag of fiction” (and I would add of nonfiction stories). Le Guin says, “I would go so far as to say that the natural, proper, fitting shape of the novel might be that of a sack, a bag. A book holds words. Words hold things. They bear meanings. A novel is a medicine bundle, holding things in a particular, powerful relation to one another and to us.” Nonfiction stories can also be carrier bags of essential medicines…
Sharon Heath’s Mysterious Composition of Tears is a sci-fi/magical realism story set in the future that has physicists grappling with climate change. Heath incorporated…work on the precautionary principle in this fictional setting by describing scientists taking seriously the possible negative consequences of extremely novel technologies. I wonder when some future scientist might read her novel and change her approach to incorporate precaution. Medicine!
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the submission guidelines at http://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews or to the guideline tab at the top of the home page of this blog. Authors and publishers who do not yet have reviews or want more may use Lois W. Stern's #AuthorsHelpingAuthors service for requesting reviews. Find her guidelines in a tab at the top of the home page, too.
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Author of "Cinema Stanzas" Shares Second List of Favor Books About Movies
Saturday, November 19, 2022
Rotten Tomato Critic Shares !0 Favorite Books About Movies
150 Timeless Movies. Susan Granger (Hannacroix Creek Books, 2016) This is a marvelous collection of film reviews by noted cinema critic Susan Granger. The author chose her critiques of many films made since the turn of the 21st century as well as 25 classics that she believes will stand the test of time. What they all have in common is that they’re a successful creative collaboration, often revolving around love, family and the indomitable human spirit. Among the films included in this excellent book are: 2001: A Space Odyssey, African Queen, Avatar, The Bucket List, City Lights, Saving Private Ryan, The Lives of Others, The Social Network, Slumdog Millionaire , The Wizard of Oz, and 140 more must-see movies.
EMAIL ADDRESS: reeltalk@comcast.net
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Review of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, a sixteen segment Netflix Special
During these many months of Covid isolation, I’ve read more books and watched more TV than ever before. Sometimes isolation isn't so bad, as it gave me time to savor Extraordinary Attorney Woo, a sixteen segment Netflix series, worth every moment of my time.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo tells the story of Woo Young-woo, a young lawyer on the autism spectrum. Abandoned by her mother at birth, Woo is raised by her devoted father. She grows up with his support and that of a quirky girlfriend who understands and protects her from bullies and confounding situations. Woo graduates at the top of her law school class, but because of her condition, no one will hire her. Then, through one of her father’s connections, she lands her first job at Hanbada, a large Seoul law firm.
At first, Woo's odd robotic-like speech and movements are what jump out at others, and are so off putting to them that they are unable to see beyond the surface. Woos’ legal skills and knowledge remain unrecognized for a time, but as she repeatedly is faced with difficult and challenging legal issues, her font of knowledge helps her resolve cases where others have failed.
Once Attorney Woo begins to exhibit her near perfect recall of almost anything she reads, sees, or hears, her value to her law firm team becomes evident. Gradually her supervising lawyer and other legal support staffers adjust to her otherness and appreciate her skills, yet she also encounters people who are prejudiced against her and others with disabilities.
Many of the legal cases in the series involve finely balanced legal issues and sometimes difficult ethical questions. Attorney Woo’s unique approach and telegraphic recall help her resolve cases in unexpected ways that escape her colleagues.
One of the light hearted themes running through this series is Young-woo’s light bulb moments where her strong interest in marine mammals surfaces. She constantly fantasizes about them, making comparisons between situations she faces in her professional and private life with the lives and characteristics of whales and dolphins. These outburst sometimes amuse, but more often confound the people who surround her.
Several other themes run through this series to keep viewers intrigued, including the discord between Woo’s father and absent mother, the rivalry between two major law firms, the jealousy and mean spirited actions of one of Woo’s colleagues, and the blossoming mutual attraction between Woo and one of her firm's investigators.
So although the emergence of Covid is hardly something I am thankful for, it did present me with a couple of welcomed opportunities, with Extraordinary Attorney Woo being one of them. So you see, I'm not just about books, but did I mention, you'll still be doing some reading, as this series is filmed in its native Korean language with English subtitles.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Highly Rated Translation of Aristotle's Poetics for Busy Authors--Finally!
Jim Cox, Editor and Chief of Midwest Book Review gives me (and everyone else) permission to reprint the reviews he publishes in his glorious newsletter for writers (my words, not his! (-: ) I am particularly fond of this one because classic literature is rarely translated in a way the works well for our busy world. I you keep telling yourself that you would like to read this to benefit your own writing career, Jim and I think the time has finally come for you to do it!
Reviewed by Jim Cox for his Midwest Review newsletter and other Midwest publications
How to Tell a Story
Aristotle, author
Philip Freeman, translator
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
http://press.princeton.edu
9780691205274, $16.95, HC, 264pp
Synopsis: Handed down from ancient Greek literature, Aristotle's Poetics is arguably the most important book ever written for writers and readers of stories -- whether it be novels, short fiction, plays, screenplays, or nonfiction.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was the first to identify the keys to plot, character, audience perception, tragic pleasure, and dozens of other critical points of good storytelling. Despite being written more than 2,000 years ago, the Poetics remains essential reading for anyone who wants to learn how to write a captivating story -- or understand how such stories work and achieve their psychological effects.
Yet for all its influence, the Poetics is too little read because it comes down to us in a form that is often difficult to follow, and even the best translations are geared more to specialists than to general readers who simply want to grasp Aristotle's profound and practical insights.
With the publication of "How to Tell a Story: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Storytelling for Writers and Readers" ably translated into English for an American readership by Philip Freeman contemporary and aspiring authors and readers are provided with the most readable translation of the Poetics ever yet produced, making it an indispensable handbook that is more accessible, engaging, and useful than ever before.
In addition to its inviting and reliable translation, a commentary on each section, and the original Greek on facing pages, this edition of "How to Tell a Story: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Storytelling for Writers and Readers" features unique bullet points, chapter headings, and section numbers to help guide readers through Aristotle's unmatched introduction to the art of writing and reading stories.
Critique: A complete course of Aristotelean instruction that is impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "How to Tell a Story: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Storytelling for Writers and Readers" must be considered essential reading by anyone aspiring to write stories that would be successfully attractive to an author's intended audience. This splendid edition from the Princeton University Press is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Literary Studies collections and as a textbook for creative writing workshops curriculums.
It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, aspiring (and experienced) writers that "How to Tell a Story: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Storytelling for Writers and Readers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy, and the Aristotelian tradition.
Editorial Note #2: Philip Freeman is the author of more than twenty books on the ancient world, including the Cicero translations How to Think about God, How to Be a Friend, How to Grow Old, and How to Run a Country (all from Princeton University Press). He also holds the Fletcher Jones Chair in Humanities at Pepperdine University.