lookingland (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lookingland) wrote2007-08-19 09:23 am
lookingland) wrote2007-08-19 09:23 am
Entry tags:
a book and a movie and no much else ~
okay, so i finally finished Westways (at 500+ pages, it's pretty long for me ~ my attention span seems to cap off at about 350). so here are my notes for the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
50bookchallenge:
the other interesting thing is a rather overt subplot that involves the rape of a woman, which i thought was shocking for the era in which this was printed. rather than having a tearful woman come forward claiming she had been "insulted" by so-and-so, Mitchell actually depicts the drunkard Lamb emerging from her house and her chasing after, accusing in language, Mitchell says, "to leave no mistake as to what had been done." Lamb is dealt with by the Union army by being tied to a tree with a note pinned to his breast stating his crime and inviting the Rebels to do with him as they see fit (love this scene!). unfortunately, Lamb escapes punishment because for some inscrutable reason, Penhallow takes pity on him (which is totally infuriating). but ultimately Lamb gets his.
all in all a fine read with some great small story arcs and some wonderfully drawn characters (Leila and John are particularly well-written in a very otherwise victorian novel where usually the couple in love is usually the most cardboard).
in film: yes, i watched Night at the Museum (call it palate cleanser for that wretched spartan movie). and yes, i thought it was funny (even if stupid). i can't hlep but be a fan of owen wilson, and the concept just appeals to me too much to dislike. among my favorite moments is the chaotic end battle where night watchman larry (ben stiller) is forced to try to reign in some control over the entire museum, which has gone berserk. the harangue could have been a lot funnier, but this part cracked me up well enough:
larry: civil war dudes: you guys are brothers for god sakes!
you've got to stop fighting. North wins, slavery is bad.
sorry. don't want to burst your bubble. but South:
you guys get the allman brothers and...Nascar.
so just chill!
i would just like to add that anyone who thinks i'm too harsh in my film reviews, this is a perfect example of something completely stupid to which i would joyfully give a thumbs up.
okay must go make pizza for breakfast, write a paper, and then work on my book ~ happy sunday all!
: D
50bookchallenge:no. 52 ~ Westways by S. Weir Mitchell. a reviewer had said that the first half of the book was really strong and then it sort of went sideways and lost itself. i tend to agree. soon as the war finally arrives, rather than getting more dramatic, the novel devolves into a long quagmire of letter-writing and minor subplots (some of which are pretty amusing, but nothing substantial). Mitchell suffers us through the whole four years of war and finally brings the two Penhallow men home, both wounded, with the squire shot in the head and not quite himself anymore. the denouement then consists of them trying to "fix" the squire while John wins back Leila's love. villain Peter Lamb is satisfactorily dispatched, but Mitchell leaves his mother sort of nebulously hanging and the whole bizarre thing about reverend Mark Rivers being in love with Leila is inexplicably dealt with by simply sending him away, which is a shame because he's one of the more complex and interesting characters ~ if not a bit Morse-like. i wasn't altogether disappointed with the ending, but it did drag a bit for what was to be the inevitable conclusion: the restoration of the happy home, etc.couple of really interesting things in the text: a fictional depiction of Czar NastyOwlFace which feels, to me, dead-on. dunno if Mitchell ever met Stanton, but he certainly agrees with all of his contemporaries as to the man's character. a brief scene with Lincoln is also interestingly in keeping with the characterization of the president. other famous people who traipse through: General Hancock and Dr. Askew. i was hoping for a glimpse of some more famous pennsylvanians (like Mr. Hanty?), but oh well.
the other interesting thing is a rather overt subplot that involves the rape of a woman, which i thought was shocking for the era in which this was printed. rather than having a tearful woman come forward claiming she had been "insulted" by so-and-so, Mitchell actually depicts the drunkard Lamb emerging from her house and her chasing after, accusing in language, Mitchell says, "to leave no mistake as to what had been done." Lamb is dealt with by the Union army by being tied to a tree with a note pinned to his breast stating his crime and inviting the Rebels to do with him as they see fit (love this scene!). unfortunately, Lamb escapes punishment because for some inscrutable reason, Penhallow takes pity on him (which is totally infuriating). but ultimately Lamb gets his.
all in all a fine read with some great small story arcs and some wonderfully drawn characters (Leila and John are particularly well-written in a very otherwise victorian novel where usually the couple in love is usually the most cardboard).
in film: yes, i watched Night at the Museum (call it palate cleanser for that wretched spartan movie). and yes, i thought it was funny (even if stupid). i can't hlep but be a fan of owen wilson, and the concept just appeals to me too much to dislike. among my favorite moments is the chaotic end battle where night watchman larry (ben stiller) is forced to try to reign in some control over the entire museum, which has gone berserk. the harangue could have been a lot funnier, but this part cracked me up well enough:
larry: civil war dudes: you guys are brothers for god sakes!
you've got to stop fighting. North wins, slavery is bad.
sorry. don't want to burst your bubble. but South:
you guys get the allman brothers and...Nascar.
so just chill!
i would just like to add that anyone who thinks i'm too harsh in my film reviews, this is a perfect example of something completely stupid to which i would joyfully give a thumbs up.
okay must go make pizza for breakfast, write a paper, and then work on my book ~ happy sunday all!
: D
no subject
no subject
welcome home!
: D
FUN!
(Anonymous) 2007-08-19 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)The one for the book was great--I feel as if I'd read it. hahahaha
Happy Sunday to you~
m
Re: FUN!
lasagne? that's what's for dinner.
: D
no subject
no subject
: D
Romans vs. Cowboys
Re: Romans vs. Cowboys
i love that they cast such usually goody-guy actors to play the villains! you totally get duped by them.
: D