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Book Review: ‘Between Flops: A Biography of Preston Sturges’ by James Curtis

by on Feb.13, 2022, under Books

Between Flops: A Biography of Preston SturgesBetween Flops: A Biography of Preston Sturges by James Curtis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well written book of Preston Sturges and his life and films. The balance is not only good, but excellent in view of recent efforts that I try to dip into and find politics and a sick spotlight on sexual whatever. This is realistic and keeps the home life mostly home and unravels the mess Sturges stirred while stumbling into the film world.

Truly is remarkable Sturges got anything done known today due to Sturges inability of self control. That is well documented here to the point that, as Sturges comes up with another project, I cringed to learn what was to come next. In a sense, the book is a nail biter.

I really like the layout of the book. Gold stars for noting dates throughout, something 99% of recent books can’t get right.
I would’ve liked to read more of the aftermath of Sturges after his death.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.

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Drawing in to read: Books this past week…

by on Jan.13, 2022, under What's New?

Last weekend took a few days tidying home untidiness from the holiday times and flying through pages to get some reading in.
 
Finished the soon-to-be-published, disastrous ‘Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge’ that started as a smart biography the first half and midway shifted to the author’s emotional view of the director written as if we all would accept his view. A lot of this was from the narrow perspective of early 21st century American political views, than the more world-view the book started with.
 
Gladly finishing that, I jumped into “It’s the Pictures that got Small” of Wilder and his first major co-writer, Charles Brackett. Almost mid-way through that and finding the volume of mostly Brackett diary entries very enjoyable. Especially the parts with Brackett commenting of time with his old Algonquin Round Table pals, Alec Woollcott, Edna Ferber, Marc Connelly and Dorthy Parker (Have you read this, Agata Stanford ?).
 
As I read of Brackett’s work on the 1936 film ‘Piccadilly Jim’, I thought I’d seen the film. I hadn’t! It’s a film of a cartoonist! A Great film about a cartoonist! Wodehouse writes a character that, with one line, keenly demolishes our worth on the planet. The character may be right. 🙂
 
This had me wondering if the Wodehouse book I hadn’t read was also about a cartoonist. It isn’t. The book is much more outrageous and much fun.
 
I also read an advanced copy of ‘Soaring in Style: How Amelia Earhart Became a Fashion Icon’. The short volume is fashioned for children and botches Earhart’s history terribly to remodel for the title. Artwork is fine, but the P.C. reworking fits poorly for the 1920s. Reading some Wodehouse and those of that era would’ve helped straighten the head of the writer.
 
Here are links to the books recommended:



‘It’s the Pictures that got Small : Charles Brackett on Billy Wilder and Hollywood’s Golden Age’, edited by Anthony Slide and, Brackett’s grandson, Jim Moore :
https://amzn.to/3GrcrOk


 
The book: ‘Piccadilly Jim’ by P.G. Wodehouse:
https://amzn.to/3zXbnzc


 
The film: ‘Piccadilly Jim’ starring Robert Montgomery:
https://amzn.to/3qomFJS
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My INKtober & CATober #14 – Kitty and Bunnies!

by on Oct.15, 2021, under Cartooning

Kitty and bunnies playing!
Here’s the INKtober #14 and CATober #14 that I inked and painted a couple hours ago.
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Book Review: ‘The Writer’s Crusade: Kurt Vonnegut and the Many Lives of Slaughterhouse-Five’ by Tom Roston

by on Oct.13, 2021, under Books

The Writer's Crusade: Kurt Vonnegut and the Many Lives of Slaughterhouse-FiveThe Writer’s Crusade: Kurt Vonnegut and the Many Lives of Slaughterhouse-Five by Tom Roston
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The entire packaging of this book is misleading and can be very confusing as the deeper in the book one goes, the more finds a journal of post-traumatic stress disorder, aka ‘PTSD’, and a general analysis of the theory. THAT should be a part of the cover, back cover, advertising, etc., etc.

Vonnegut’s life is examined, but nearly in the backseat as the author drones on and on and on about ‘PTSD’. That would be fine, IF that is why I was intrigued to read the book. I am familiar with the psychological theory and, though interesting, not something I wanted to read about.

I have extensively studied Vonnegut. Even had a college course all about Vonnegut. I’m pretty knowledgeable of Vonnegut and wanted to read another view. That is missing as the author desperately tries to tie Vonnegut to ‘PTSD’. Considering all I’ve studied, I disagree that ‘PTSD’ is a worthy set of letters for Vonnegut. I didn’t find the author altering my view.

The author was too hung up with the theory and works through the book to make that plug into Vonnegut and have a light come on. The energy wasn’t there, I found.

There are some worthy pieces in the first half of the book, but the rest is for those interested in the ‘PTSD’ subject.

Bottom line: i don’t recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

Note: i got to read an advanced copy via NetGalley.com.

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My CATober #12 – Kitty and Chicken and Egg.

by on Oct.13, 2021, under Cartooning

My CATober #12.
Celebrating ‘Old Farmers Day’.
A kitty carries a hen who regularly delivers the rent.
My INKtober is over on my Cartoons by Rob Smith, Jr.
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Illustration i did Saturday live, no pencils, just ink to paper: Squirrel Cook-Out!

by on Sep.26, 2021, under Cartooning, Illusration

Here’s the illustration I drew live Saturday during Ha-ba-Da-Bee off the top of my head of a squirrel family cookin’ some vittles! Hope you all have a family cook out soon! Psst! leave a few bites for the squirrels while yer at it! 🙂

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Book Review; ‘The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare’ by Lilian Braun

by on Sep.22, 2021, under Books

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (Cat Who..., #7)The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What a messy story. A slew of mysteries declared, large amount of deaths and significant destruction all while the “hero” Qwill seems lost as he meanders from one oral history interview after another. The diamond key in the story is glossed over, though in the title and pops up and ignored throughout the book until the last couple of pages. Should be obvious for those who know.

Seems Braun bit off more than she could chew and got lost along the way. I can see her base foundation of the story, after reading the book. I believe she started with that and went backward to create the story. While doing that, she dumps characters, new and old, into the plot and destroys structures only to back her base. Then doesn’t back any of that up with realistic reaction as her focus is the base, not a consistent story. Main characters has losses in this book and never seems to care.

Except he is always obsessed with the cats. I believe I’m a bit obsessive about cats, but his losses here are Huge and personal and he just doesn’t care. That’s ridiculous.

I love the intent of her base foundation of the story, but she badly botches the execution.

Bottom line: i don’t recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

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My #HappyArt I drew live Friday: Reading Raccoon

by on Sep.18, 2021, under Cartooning, Illusration

Here’s the illustration i drew and painted live during the #HappyArt program I did Friday.

 
The subject of books came up and, celebrating country music day Friday, I added the title of, Florida native, Mel Tillis’ book (A fine book, by the way).
 
Next live is Saturday at 3pm for Ha-Ba-Da-Bee.
 
Feel free to type below your favorite animal, thing or place and maybe I’ll include it in the drawing I’ll make up as I draw along. 🙂
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Book Review: ‘The Cat Who Played Brahms’ by Lilian Jackson Braun

by on Sep.15, 2021, under Books

The Cat Who Played Brahms (Cat Who... #5)The Cat Who Played Brahms by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another of the clunky Braun tales. Drawn out prose wrapped up too quickly and too neatly and too unbelievable. Odd reading these as I run the ‘Midsomer Murder’ series that has the same formula. The HUGE plus of these books are the cats that Braun knows how to write better than any other I’ve read.

The characters are still a bit much with settings loosely written. A plot that should be tighter. The writing done very well.

Still a good story and fun little asides. Also, I’m now writing for a publication and this motivates me more to get the typing done. Something the main character has trouble doing in this volume.
I’ll continue to the next.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

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My watercolor illustration of bunnies for this week!

by on Sep.10, 2021, under Cartooning

Bunnies care about their history, too! 🙂
Here’s the watercolor illustration I did for this week’s panel for The Log Whisperer at Old Log Houses by Thomas page.
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