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Entirely reliant on a fictional series and her fiercely independent sister, a young woman Cath learns how to navigate her own fangirl interests during her freshman year at college. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is an enjoyable and highly relateable book for Generation(s) XYZ.
If you're addicted to any kind of fandom - televison, books, or movies - there is something or someone relatable within this young adult novel. The main character Cath is a welcoming reflection of anyone whose heart has been captured by a series and falls head over heels for its characters and world a little too deeply. Dedicated to the fictional Simon Snow series filled with vampires and magic (a wonderful nod to the Harry Potter phenomenon), Cath writes fanfiction followed by thousands of readers and creates an extension of her favorite world through her words.
Having been a homebody compared to her sisters' flirtatious and outgoing nature, Cath enters her freshman year of college where plenty of self-doubts and fears pile up. Cath's relationship with her twin sister Wren grows increasingly apart as their shared fandom becomes a distant memory and their relationship with the emotionally frantic father becomes a constant worry on her mind. Attending an advanced Fiction Writing class her ability to draw the line between Gemma. T. Leslie's world and her own becomes a challenge. With a hotheaded sarcastic roommate Reagan, and an ex-boyfriend Levi who never seems to run out of smiles, Cath experiences anxieties about letting her geek flag fly in this new world of strangers and acquaintances who all seem to be too busy for the fandom she is reluctant to leave behind.
What I enjoyed most is that the book doesn't challenge the passion of geek culture with an obstrusively critical point of view. Through Cath's socially awkward exterior and rapturously charming wit, her personality and experiences are something we as young adults have all gone through or at some point eventually will - falling for the wrong crushes, making small leaps to put our true selves out there in different experiences and coming into our own with close groups of new friends. The book observes the fanperson's perspective and questions the "real worlds" perspective about the level of fandom some people believe is too much.
Where readers may find the book so startling similar is the nods to the well-known series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Interspersed throughout each chapter, Rowell includes small paragraphs of the Simon Snow series written by the faux author Gemma T. Leslie as well as fanfiction work written by the main character. The characters are humorous clones of well-known literature icons like Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and Hermione Granger. Rowell's nod to the magical series not only has nearly identical summary but also brings up well-discussed fandom debates. Through a variety of characters there are enlightening deliberations and perspectives about what it means to be a true fan; reading the books, seeing the movies, doing both. Through Cath's raptured involvement in a series' journey reaching its grand finale, to the simplicity of the prose, the novel is contagious and entertaining.
Familiarity for any young adult is not easy to say goodbye to whether it's family or fandom. As a fellow college student and Potterhead, Fangirl was something that I couldn't put down. Every time I picked up the book, I felt like Cath was me and vice versa. To an extent I felt myself becoming a thorough fangirl of Rowell's work.
Enjoy more of my reviews at PotterTalk.net!
If you're addicted to any kind of fandom - televison, books, or movies - there is something or someone relatable within this young adult novel. The main character Cath is a welcoming reflection of anyone whose heart has been captured by a series and falls head over heels for its characters and world a little too deeply. Dedicated to the fictional Simon Snow series filled with vampires and magic (a wonderful nod to the Harry Potter phenomenon), Cath writes fanfiction followed by thousands of readers and creates an extension of her favorite world through her words.
Having been a homebody compared to her sisters' flirtatious and outgoing nature, Cath enters her freshman year of college where plenty of self-doubts and fears pile up. Cath's relationship with her twin sister Wren grows increasingly apart as their shared fandom becomes a distant memory and their relationship with the emotionally frantic father becomes a constant worry on her mind. Attending an advanced Fiction Writing class her ability to draw the line between Gemma. T. Leslie's world and her own becomes a challenge. With a hotheaded sarcastic roommate Reagan, and an ex-boyfriend Levi who never seems to run out of smiles, Cath experiences anxieties about letting her geek flag fly in this new world of strangers and acquaintances who all seem to be too busy for the fandom she is reluctant to leave behind.
What I enjoyed most is that the book doesn't challenge the passion of geek culture with an obstrusively critical point of view. Through Cath's socially awkward exterior and rapturously charming wit, her personality and experiences are something we as young adults have all gone through or at some point eventually will - falling for the wrong crushes, making small leaps to put our true selves out there in different experiences and coming into our own with close groups of new friends. The book observes the fanperson's perspective and questions the "real worlds" perspective about the level of fandom some people believe is too much.
Where readers may find the book so startling similar is the nods to the well-known series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Interspersed throughout each chapter, Rowell includes small paragraphs of the Simon Snow series written by the faux author Gemma T. Leslie as well as fanfiction work written by the main character. The characters are humorous clones of well-known literature icons like Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, and Hermione Granger. Rowell's nod to the magical series not only has nearly identical summary but also brings up well-discussed fandom debates. Through a variety of characters there are enlightening deliberations and perspectives about what it means to be a true fan; reading the books, seeing the movies, doing both. Through Cath's raptured involvement in a series' journey reaching its grand finale, to the simplicity of the prose, the novel is contagious and entertaining.
Familiarity for any young adult is not easy to say goodbye to whether it's family or fandom. As a fellow college student and Potterhead, Fangirl was something that I couldn't put down. Every time I picked up the book, I felt like Cath was me and vice versa. To an extent I felt myself becoming a thorough fangirl of Rowell's work.
Enjoy more of my reviews at PotterTalk.net!
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On television the Academy Awards ceremony is often regarded as the place for film industry's most prominent talent to come together in one room to toast the years' best achievements in film. For print the equivalent may be Conversations at the American Film Institute with the Great Movie Makers.
Gathering interviews and discussions with filmmakers after special screenings at the American Film Institute, author George Stevens Jr compiles an overflowing collection of amazing talent to share their road to success and creative process.
When I picked up this book at a local library, I was surprised by the vast compilation of directors, art directors, actors, screenwriters, and many other professions. During an unstoppable craze of watching The Wrestler almost too much, I checked out the book merely on the basis of seeing director Darren Aronofsky listed. After gauging through that chapter, I realized it was only the beginning of many enlightening interviews.
I'm a firm believer that in any medium in life that you pursue it can only make your efforts and passion stronger to study the greats. It doesn't have to be just film, but history, art, or science. Learning from the best can only make your passion stronger.The present moment is so fleeting it seems impossible to catch up with or absorb the past - especially in cinema where it seems there's less appreciation, less desire, less focus, or passion. People just seem to fall into acting, directing, screenwriting, critiquing, and there's not a major spark in their profession. It was refreshing to read so many different perspectives on what inspires these men and women to create, the fights they endure to not give up on their dream projects, and to keep sharing the vision with the rest of the world. Award shows are great for appreciating the results of film. This book was amazing to delve into the process of what it's like for movies to go from an idea to celluloid.
As a theatre (veering into film studies) major, the information provided works on two great distinct levels: If you're not a huge movie fan, you can get a rare inside look at the industry. If you're a film buff, especially if you're a film/theatre major, there are so many wondrous golden nuggets to give you hope. This book touts itself as conversations with the great movie makers, and it's not a marketing ploy. What I enjoyed most about the book is learning about filmmakers I hadn't been familiar with before, and understanding more deeply the movie mavens whose films I had watch previously.
There is something for everyone to enjoy - from writer Neil Simon to legendary directors Steven Spielberg, Sydney Pollack and Arthur Penn, actress Meryl Streep, and actor Sydney Poitier. Skip ahead to the names you're familiar with, and maybe you'll pop on someone you don't know and learn something new. Stick to the index and who you love, and you'll still absorb a ton of advice and interesting stories. Some episodes are short and sweet, many are long but never boring. Some movies I found (from director/writer Nora Ephron and actor Gregory Peck) gave me a whole new outlook on several of their most distinct works. By book's end you may really feel like you just stepped out of the American Film Institute and participated in a dozen or so master classes from cinema history.
Gathering interviews and discussions with filmmakers after special screenings at the American Film Institute, author George Stevens Jr compiles an overflowing collection of amazing talent to share their road to success and creative process.
When I picked up this book at a local library, I was surprised by the vast compilation of directors, art directors, actors, screenwriters, and many other professions. During an unstoppable craze of watching The Wrestler almost too much, I checked out the book merely on the basis of seeing director Darren Aronofsky listed. After gauging through that chapter, I realized it was only the beginning of many enlightening interviews.
I'm a firm believer that in any medium in life that you pursue it can only make your efforts and passion stronger to study the greats. It doesn't have to be just film, but history, art, or science. Learning from the best can only make your passion stronger.The present moment is so fleeting it seems impossible to catch up with or absorb the past - especially in cinema where it seems there's less appreciation, less desire, less focus, or passion. People just seem to fall into acting, directing, screenwriting, critiquing, and there's not a major spark in their profession. It was refreshing to read so many different perspectives on what inspires these men and women to create, the fights they endure to not give up on their dream projects, and to keep sharing the vision with the rest of the world. Award shows are great for appreciating the results of film. This book was amazing to delve into the process of what it's like for movies to go from an idea to celluloid.
As a theatre (veering into film studies) major, the information provided works on two great distinct levels: If you're not a huge movie fan, you can get a rare inside look at the industry. If you're a film buff, especially if you're a film/theatre major, there are so many wondrous golden nuggets to give you hope. This book touts itself as conversations with the great movie makers, and it's not a marketing ploy. What I enjoyed most about the book is learning about filmmakers I hadn't been familiar with before, and understanding more deeply the movie mavens whose films I had watch previously.
There is something for everyone to enjoy - from writer Neil Simon to legendary directors Steven Spielberg, Sydney Pollack and Arthur Penn, actress Meryl Streep, and actor Sydney Poitier. Skip ahead to the names you're familiar with, and maybe you'll pop on someone you don't know and learn something new. Stick to the index and who you love, and you'll still absorb a ton of advice and interesting stories. Some episodes are short and sweet, many are long but never boring. Some movies I found (from director/writer Nora Ephron and actor Gregory Peck) gave me a whole new outlook on several of their most distinct works. By book's end you may really feel like you just stepped out of the American Film Institute and participated in a dozen or so master classes from cinema history.
