New ongoing book-reading blog

[Quatermass]

Okay, so, I've started another one of these. But this time, it will be different. Here's the rules from the previous book-reading blog...

*I must, at least for a period, review at least one book per week, at least until I get tired of doing so.

*If I have started, but not finished, a book prior to starting this thread, then I may include it, as long as I have not read it all the way through at any stage.

*I must write a review.

*The book has to be relatively substantial. That is, I will not read an individual issue of a comic or manga (though an individual collected volume is fine), or a screenplay, unless said screenplay is accompanied by a making-of book, or a children's picture book. In addition, I will not be reviewing webcomics (unless available in printed form) or fanfiction.

Now, some caveats...

*I will NOT take reading suggestions. Anyone who does so will find themselves being given a very rude answer. However, comments and dissenting opinions (NOT reviews: this is MY review thread) are welcome, as long as they are decent and well-thought out.

*One of the unofficial rules, albeit one I might break (as it is an unofficial rule) is that I don't review two things of the same sort back to back. That is, I don't read two graphic novels back to back, two Doctor Who books back to back...you get the idea. I may break it on rare occasion, depending on circumstances...

Notice the struckthrough section? I've decided to ditch having to do at least one book a week, as I was suffering from some burnout the last time I did this. While it'll still happen a lot of the time, this time, I wtill try to do things more at my own pace...

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 1

The Making of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, by JW Rinzler and Lee Unkrich.

I was saddened to learn of the death of JW Rinzler, someone who has written a number of making-of books about various films, especially those by Lucasfilm. However, before he died, he collaborated with Lee Unkrich on a book about Stanley Kubrick’s take on The Shining. But how well would it fare?

In 1977, famed horror author Stephen King would publish The Shining. But a manuscript had already gotten the attention of famed director Stanley Kubrick, who would embark on an ambitious attempt at filming an adaptation, his first horror film. This, then, is the story of how this film came to be made, with all the trials and travails that came with it…

I have to say, it was more than a little exhausting reading this book. I felt like more could have been said about the book, as well as the miniseries adaptation. And the decision to dedicate another volume entirely to production photos and images feels more like a cash grab to inflate the price of the set rather than being of benefit to readers and fans.

For all my complaints, though, this book was as exhaustive as it is exhausting, giving a good insight into the making of the film. The anecdotes were enjoyable, the examination of the filming process was interesting, and some of the logic of why Kubrick chose to adapt the book the way he did was explained. And it makes no bones about many of the problems that plagued the production either.

This was a good making-of book, even if monstrously overpriced. But still enjoyable enough…


****

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 2

Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel, by Michael Moreci and Stephen Gilpin, from the novel by Eoin Colfer.

This isn’t the first time Artemis Fowl has been adapted as a graphic novel. I loved Andrew Donkin’s adaptations of the first two books, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano. But some elements were very different to the original novels. But how would this new adaptation, presumably done to coincide with Disney’s film adaptation, fare?

Artemis Fowl the Second is twelve years old, and a burgeoning criminal mastermind. To restore his family’s fortune, lost with his father, Artemis embarks on an audacious scheme, to learn the truth about Fairies, and to hold one to hostage for gold. His chosen target is beleaguered LEPRecon officer Holly Short, the first female member of LEPRecon. A clash between one of the finest criminal minds of humanity, and Fairies who are armed to the teeth with advanced technology, will ensue…

I have to admit, I found quite a bit of fault with this. The art style feels considerably rougher and more childish than the original graphic novel adaptation, and the titular character feels too emotive and cocky, whereas the original adaptation conveyed his child prodigy qualities and cold near-sociopathy better. The art style also doesn’t convey the action and tension as well, in my opinion.

That being said, I have to give plaudits to the artists for making some characters (especially Holly) more accurate to the novels’ descriptions of them, and there’s a few nods to the modernised setting in this. Some dialogue feels better than even the original novel. And in truth, it does its own way of adapting an already excellent story, and does it, if not brilliantly, then well enough.

While not quite at the level of the previous graphic novel adaptations, this version of Artemis Fowl was enjoyable enough. A shame it wasn’t better, though…


***½