Book Review: Norse Mythology

Book Review: Norse Mythology

I bought this book, and shortly after reading the first few pages, I knew it was going to be in my best interest to invest in the Audible version. I was quite fortunate that Neil Gaiman narrates his own work – what a treat! I will be perusing what other works he narrates because his narration is nothing short of phenomenal. I generally listen to Audible during my commute to and from work, about forty-five minutes each way, but that just wasn’t enough some days. I couldn’t get enough of Gaiman’s narration!

The reason I went from the physical book to the narrated version was because I was spending a lot of time looking up proper pronunciation of names and places. When I need to consistently divert my attention from my reading, I lose part of the enjoyment. I much prefer to crack open a book and lose myself in it. If you already have familiarity with mythology or have no trouble with deciphering the correct names of people and locations, then by all means, you will likely enjoy the printed book.

I have never been one to engage in much reading revolving around mythology. Honestly, the only reason I picked up Norse Mythology is because it was written by Neil Gaiman. With that being said, even though mythology is not my favorite topic, I thoroughly enjoyed this work.

Book Review: The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide

 

Book Review: The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide

I love Jenna Fischer, and that is why I selected her book, The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide. I fell in love with Fischer’s portrayal of Pam Beesly / Halpert in The Office, and I later loved Fischer’s performance in The Giant Mechanical Man.

If I had read any of the Goodreads reviews prior to my purchase, I would have had some awareness that this book is more of a helpful handbook at breaking into the business than it is a memoir. Though Jenna Fischer does share some insight into her triumphs and setbacks, this book was essentially wasted on me. I did not dislike it, however, for me, it was boring minutiae as I am not an actor and have no desire to be an actor. If anything, because acting is not my lifelong dream or passion, it made me think that becoming an actor is just too much of a PITA to even attempt. My hat’s off to those who pursue this profession; Fischer has opened my eyes to the realization that acting is a much more difficult pursuit than I imagined . . . EVER.

The insights provided by Fischer’s book include but are not limited to: the process by which one earns entry into SAG-AFTRA, the auditioning system, and measures one should take to maintain an up to date résumé and acting reel. Of particular interest for budding actors is Fischer’s explanation of what a good head shot is versus a bad head shot and how they can be an essential component of booking or not booking a job. Each of the aforementioned topics were completely unfamiliar to me.

With that being said, I do admit that The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide is an excellent resource for those who want to be on TV, in films, or even on the stage. If you have no interest in any of the above, I would not invest your time or money into this book . . . unless of course you are just a lover of Jenna Fischer. I have given Fischer’s book a three star rating; despite the text not being applicable to my life or career pursuit(s), I still enjoyed it.

Book Review: Stardust

Book Review: Stardust

It was just recently, this past Friday in fact . . . SO, four or five days ago, that I learned that Stardust is also a movie. I watched the film for my weekly movie night with my Mum, and although I enjoyed it, I was so thankful that I had read the book first. Just an FYI to keep in mind if you’re toying with: a) reading the book, b) watching the movie, or c) all of the above.

Stardust – a book I was entirely unaware existed. I’ve been a Neil Gaiman fan since I started reading Sandman, but I have not escalated to the level of fandom where I know the title of every book that he has ever written. I did indeed branch out from Sandman and added Neverwhere, American Gods, and Norse Mythology to my Gaiman repertoire of read and to-be-read books, respectively. I had also learned of Gaiman’s Coraline, Good Omens, The Anansi Boys, and Smoke and Mirrors, but never once had I spotted Stardust until one fateful day . . .

As I was perusing the shelves of a (sadly) failing bookstore, the unicorn on the cover of a book caught my eye. I try not to, but I am indeed guilty of judging a book by its cover, and I do mean this literally, not at all in a figurative sense that can also be applied to people. As I brought my selection to the customer service counter, the young man working began to gush about just how much I am going to love this book, and before I knew it, we were engaged! . . . in glorified Gaiman gossip; all the while I’m thinking YES, talk nerdy to me!

So, it was by sheer happenstance that I found and read Stardust, and boy, am I truly glad that the stars were aligned on that particular day! What an extraordinary journey young Tristran Thorn embarks on, and I was perfectly content accompanying him along the way. Witches and beauties, castles and kings, friends and enemies, love and greed, unicorns and magic – Gaiman’s Stardust really and truly has it all!

The threads from multiple plotlines intertwine to create a most intricately woven tale of whimsy. Until Stardust, I could never quite understand why some bibliophiles reread a book yearly, yet I longed to find that desire to do so; I’ve found it in Gaiman’s chimerical land of Stormhold, located in Faerie, the magical realm beyond the village of Wall where Tristran’s quest to locate a fallen star ensues.