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ClareR (6256 KP) rated A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom in Books

Sep 3, 2022  
A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom
A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom
John Boyne | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once I’d recognised the trick to this book, I found it fascinating - it took a couple of chapters though, so I would encourage anyone contemplating reading this to keep going for at least three chapters. Or, you know, read this, have some idea of what’s going on, and then get the book, sit back and enjoy!

I’ve often thought that life must have some universal stories: things that happen in our lives that have happened untold times before throughout history, and will probably happen countless times in the future.

That is the premise that ‘A Traveller’ works from. And it’s done so cleverly.

We begin in the Roman world in 1AD, and swap between different continents and cultures. The story remains the same, of love, loss, betrayal, revenge and death. There’s a lot of births and deaths. It really puts in to perspective humanity’s inability to learn from its mistakes - and we just keep on making them in to the future.

This is such a thought provoking, imaginative read. John Boyne just never seems to let me down.
  
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Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated Building Stories in Books

Mar 15, 2018  
Building Stories
Building Stories
Chris Ware | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The unique presentation had me more than a little curious to get into this one, and I found it worked wonderfully for the material. Very well drawn, and with recurring themes and symbolism that are alternately beautiful and sad. This is decidedly not an uplifting work, with the harshness of life and the world around us seeming to be an even more universal theme throughout than the building around which the stories revolve. Luckily for me I suppose, the piece I randomly read last, while possibly being the saddest of all, also contained a really solid prospect of hope and one of the few truly uplifting portions found inside, thus making giving it the best ending I could have hoped for (for my tastes anyway). This is a truly incredible work of art that I cannot recommend highly enough.

As a side note, this could make a really interesting movie, especially in the hands of the right director. P.T. Anderson springs to mind for me. They could even allow you to watch segments in random order on the DVD, thus somewhat recreating the sensation of the "book". Could be interesting.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles (2019) in Movies

Dec 13, 2019  
Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles (2019)
Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles (2019)
2019 | Documentary, Musical
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Somewhat digressive documentary comes to celebrate Fiddler on the Roof, not critique it, as the title probably makes clear. Various interviewees recount the creation of the show, while others reflect on its cultural impact and continuing and enormous popularity (apparently there has been at least one performance somewhere in the world every single day since it first opened in 1964).

The stories and insights are interesting enough to keep you from wishing you'd just watched a DVD of the movie instead, and they have hunted up some fascinating footage to illustrate the film, ranging from the Temptations doing a very funky version of 'If I Were A Rich Man' to Lin-Manuel Miranda's wedding video. The film addresses the central paradox about this show - that something so very specific in time, place and outlook has such universal appeal and emotional power - but doesn't really attempt to explain it. This is probably quite wise, as it is one of the mysteries of great art. Worth a look if you like the show, which everyone with a heart and a soul who's actually seen it surely does.