isscnls's review
4.0
I love anything that centers on an artist's ruminations, especially when the art they make is something as close to me as film. Admittedly though, ventures into portraying the artist's mind can feel a little pretentious, privileged, or maudlin to the point of navel-gazing, so it's a genre (?) that is difficult to get right. All methods can be exhausted and we still would not know how to write about it.
I think what this book gets right is the tenderness it looks upon art, mixed with a worldliness taken from its gentle film auteur protagonist. Art is a passion, but it is also the experience of our personal inner lives. The narrator has been in it enough to recognize the vices it breeds alongside the freedoms it creates — knowing they are part and parcel of the endeavor to a masterpiece. There is a softness with which the book looks upon the difficult task of storytelling, the ideas we cultivate to do it, and the connections we make and lose because of it. The art of creating and the art beyond — that is what this is about.
I think what this book gets right is the tenderness it looks upon art, mixed with a worldliness taken from its gentle film auteur protagonist. Art is a passion, but it is also the experience of our personal inner lives. The narrator has been in it enough to recognize the vices it breeds alongside the freedoms it creates — knowing they are part and parcel of the endeavor to a masterpiece. There is a softness with which the book looks upon the difficult task of storytelling, the ideas we cultivate to do it, and the connections we make and lose because of it. The art of creating and the art beyond — that is what this is about.
happeningalmond's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kylaoren's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pretentious but kind of in a good way? snobbish but beautifully written i guess...also never want to read the word maestro ever again
ada_henry's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
madeleinejane's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
really good - i wish i had read it all in one sitting, or that i owned it and that it wasn’t checked out from the library.
the format - while interesting, and adding to the idea that it is a stream of consciousness diary - made it difficult for my brain to comprehend where i was in the story since i read it in bits and pieces
the format - while interesting, and adding to the idea that it is a stream of consciousness diary - made it difficult for my brain to comprehend where i was in the story since i read it in bits and pieces
anneliehyatt's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of heart, made me cry….there is so much love and happiness and tenderness in this book but also the form was just too much sometimes and I couldn’t care less about Gabi or how incredible the Maestro is or how hot Tom and Lorien are (even though I love them!!)…truly have never read anything like it. Beautiful and intense and also difficult to get through for no reason. I want everyone to read it.
Hard agree that it is like the Linklater Before trilogy (a connection I made myself) but just not as good haha
Hard agree that it is like the Linklater Before trilogy (a connection I made myself) but just not as good haha
mmchirdo33's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jjayne's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25