Greetings. We are mid-way into February and the milder temps are holding here so far, whoopee. Groundhog Phil apparently predicted an early spring, which is good, though we are still getting occasional sprinklings of snow that look pretty outside. More importantly, I hope everyone has a very Happy Valentine’s Day on Friday — get your sweetheart a little gift. I’ll be busy officiating a junior tennis tournament then and throughout the weekend so that’ll tie me up and keep me away from the chocolates.
Speaking of which, did you see the Academy Awards show on Sunday? Parasite, Parasite, Parasite: won for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Foreign Film (now called Best International Feature Film). Wow that surprised me. We saw the South Korean film a few weeks ago. It’s sort of a crazy little movie about a poor family — the Kims— who con their way into working for a rich family … but then things turn complicated when their deception is threatened of being exposed.
The movie starts off a bit funny but then turns dark and violent … sort of like a Tarantino film. It makes some interesting observations about class divisions and is well done, though I’m not sure we really loved it. Perhaps I’m guilty of liking more heart-warming plots or redeemable characters? What about you — did you see “Parasite” and like it? The Best Actors and Best Supporting awards seemed to go to the favorites, so no real surprises there. Renee Zellweger in particular was outstanding for her role as actress and singer Judy Garland in the movie “Judy.” But I’m happy for the Koreans to make history to have the first Foreign Film to win Best Picture, Wow that was quite a night. And now, I’ll leave you with a few reviews of what I finished lately.
The Holdout by Graham Moore / Random House / 336 pages / 2020
For most of this novel, I really enjoyed it. I liked the protagonist — Maya — who gets caught up as a jurist on the murder case of a black defendant in a famous century kind-of-trial held in Los Angeles (which reminded me of a bit of O.J. Simpson’s) and is sequestered for months with her fellow jurists. Their verdict when it finally comes is controversial (there’s a lone holdout for awhile), and ten years later they are asked to do a reunion show about the trial … but after a one night get-together for the show one of their fellow jurists is found dead. Who did it, why, and is it connected to the prior case?
“The Holdout” is a very readable and fast-paced murder mystery, law thriller. It makes you think about what it’s like to be on a jury, and issues about race and what real justice is. The first half I thought was strong and compelling — with Maya becoming a lawyer after her experience on the famous case as a juror — but then the novel’s ending is sort of drawn out and becomes a bit crazy with various twists — some of which seem a bit implausible. Still I enjoyed most of the ride and liked the writing, which alternates perspectives among the various jurors and the main character Maya. The author’s previous novel “The Last Days of Night,” which was historical fiction about the titans of electric light, was quite different than this one but both were enticing reads.
A Keeper by Graham Norton / Atria Books / 320 pages / 2019
This was enjoyable light fiction about a woman divorcee (40-ish named Elizabeth) who returns to her hometown in Ireland after her mother’s passing to deal with her mother’s house … and comes to find out secrets about her parents’ past and her upbringing. While there, she also learns a secret about her 17-year-old son who she thought was staying with her divorced husband in California. So both stories about Elizabeth’s parents — the past — and the present with her son — alternate each chapter unfolding, making it an interesting cyclical generational tale of similar things that befall the characters.
The author, a well-known Irish TV host, is a good storyteller and swept me up with the main character Elizabeth and the towns in Ireland where she returns to … investigating her parents’ past. Though as the story goes on some of what happens seems a bit hard to believe and it’s tied up a bit too quickly near the end. But all and all it was enjoyable enough and it moves along and kept my attention. The plot slightly reminded me a bit of a Kate Morton kind of story if you’ve ever read her, though her tales are usually twice as long. I didn’t think “A Keeper” was as good as the author’s fun debut novel “The Holding,” which I liked quite a bit more.
She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey / Penguin / 320 pages / 2019
I remember seeing books and hearing about law cases of sexual harassment in the U.S. while working in the 1990s — especially after Anita Hill — so it’s quite disturbing to me that it was still going on to such a rampant level in so many industries in the 2000s, which this book relates. “She Said” is a powerful true story that will curdle your blood but should be required reading … or in my case I listened to it as an audiobook narrated by Rebecca Lowman, who does a great job, as well as the authors who narrate the book’s preface and epilogue.
I didn’t realize when I picked up “She Said” it would be about more than just the Harvey Weinstein case … it also covers some of Donald Trump’s harassment of women as well as Christine Blasey Ford’s case against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. But by far, the Weinstein main part of the book was the most solid, riveting, and well done section.
For those who don’t already know, in the book the authors come to tell about how they were eventually able to get victims and inside sources to break their silence about film producer Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and abuse crimes .…and goes on to relate how they broke the story in the New York Times about him on Oct. 5, 2017. What is made clear by the book: is the landslide of evidence against Weinstein; how hush/non-disclosure settlements are usually terrible things that most often perpetuate more abuse; and how sleezy and vile (not only Weinstein was and is) but also his lawyers (David Boies, Lanny Davis and Lisa Bloom) who worked to squash his accusers in alarming ways.
The hush settlements though did provide ways for the reporters to track his abuse and find victims. Inside sources such as Irwin Reiter, an accounting executive in the Weinstein company, were key in helping the reporters with information as well as various actresses — such as Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd — and other female company employees who were harassed and had the nerve with the reporters coaxing to come forward … in the face of powerful retribution and hurtful publicity in their fields. One gets the sense by the book of why actresses and employees kept quiet under very difficult situations with such a powerful and intimidating figure. But hopefully the #MeToo movement, which this book helped sparked, will protect people to speak up and come forward more immediately.
“She Said” is a book that’s told very straightforwardly and in a no-nonsense manner about how it all unfolded. The end of the book that recounts Blasey Ford’s case didn’t seem as good because it felt like more of a recounting of events that was already pretty public knowledge, whereas with the Weinstein case the authors really go behind the scenes to tell of how they went about unlocking it all and the people who were key to making it happen. Despite that small caveat, all in all, it’s a very worthy book for our times that I hope will have a long-lasting effect so such cases across all industries won’t be tolerated again.
That’s all for now. Though I will relate that the authors Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey are coming here to town for a dinner charity event talk on March 4 that I’m thinking about going to even though the tickets cost several hundred dollars. It goes to charitable causes I’m told and I’m sure the two award-winning journalists will have plenty of interesting things to say and perhaps divulge what they’re working on now.
What about you — have you read any of these books and if so, what did you think?
You’ve given us sketches of three interesting books, all of which sound as though they would be worthwhile reads. I haven’t seen “Parasite” but I may be watching it soon. Its winning of the Oscar was certainly a milestone for the Academy.
Thanks Dorothy, I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Parasite. It’s a bit over the top but perhaps in an insightful un-purpose way. Enjoy?!
I haven’t seen Parasite and probably won’t because I don’t do well with subtitles.
She Said sounds like something I need to read.
Yeah Kathy, She Said has a lot in it about harassment cases. The audio of it is quite good. I don’t think the subtitles held me up in Parasite … in fact I can’t remember much about there being subtitles. hmm.
The one I am interested in here is She Said. I also still have to see Bombshell and together they would round out the scene, I think.
I watched the Oscars with one of my reading group friends and it made me want to see all the movies I missed. I especially want to see Parasite since I have read Pachinko and am now reading The Island of Sea Women, both set in Korea.
Are you a Taylor Swift fan? I have not really followed her but last night I watched the documentary about her on Netflix and learned a lot about her. It does a good job of showing the woman behind the star and she, at least so far, has not succumbed to drugs or alcohol. I somehow had missed that she has taken political stands. Good for her.
Hi Judy: Thanks for the Taylor Swift doc news of her. I don’t follow her too much but I like a few of her songs … so I should check it out though we don’t have Netflix but I’ll look for it. As for movies, I sort of want to see Marriage Story and Bombshell since I haven’t seen those yet. You’re on a Korean themed roll these days …. so Parasite would suit you well.
We are still having a very mild winter here in New York. I have been progressing very slowly through books.
You read another good sounding group of books. The Holdout sounds interesting. Reunion type books are popular. I think this is true because as people get older they become more and more interested in the past.
Hey Brian: wild to hear you are still having a mild winter there. The 10 year reunion the jury has in The Holdout is an interesting plot setting … with so many character thoughts & conflicts that come to brew. It’s a bit of a tinder box.
You’re the second blogger I read this morning endorsing The Holdout. I will keep it in mind in case a time slot opens up in my book reading schedule, which seems to be happening often these days. If you remember, I DNF Apeirogon. I also DNF The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. This is the first year ever that I’m sticking to DNF books because I read two books last year that I did not have patience for, yet I finished and were still unsatisfying. I’m starting to wonder if it’s me or the ARCs I chose weren’t good enough; to be fair, other reviewers have raved about both books, so it may be me amid a big reading slump. I did like Parasite a great deal. I agree that it was about time for a foreign film to win mainstream awards. Parasite was ideal for it was quite successful at the box office.
Hi Carmen: Parasite sure made its mark … which I didn’t really see coming. The Holdout was good most of the way but then gets pretty crazy toward the end. It’s a fast read though. Is Erik Larson’s new book really DNF material? Too slow or what? Oh noo that’s terrible news. I haven’t gotten a copy yet, or of Apeirogon either — on the wait list. I’m sure you’ll run into a book you like soon …. so not to fret. Perhaps a back list book will be better than some that are newly releasing?
Perhaps The Holdout is what I need right now. Backlist is what I went for. I started The Ten Thousand Doors of January, per Judy’s endorsement. Apeirogon is in no rush to get somewhere, and that’s precisely what happens with The Splendid… Other reviewers have raved about both books, which makes me wonder whether I’m reading the same books or if it’s me that’s not in a reading frame of mind at present. I haven’t read anything great since December, and before that since the end of October.
Yeah I can sympathize … I can’t seem to make heads or tails of The Topeka School by Ben Lerner which midway into it seems insufferable. I’m not good at DNFing books so I will plug on & see if it can get better. I would call The Holdout popular fiction and not necessarily literary fiction just to let you know. I think your reading will get better so don’t despair too much.
I hope to check out Parasite soon. The Holdout sounds good to me. Happy Reading!
Thanks Diane. Parasite is a bit different for sure. And The Holdout is sort of a page-turner. Hope you enjoy if you get to them.
I have been dying to see Parasite but have held off because our book club, now a conversation club, is viewing it as a group on 2/20. I seriously cannot wait. Wasn’t the director charming?
Ha. Yeah the director was funny and insightful too. He kept going up to the stage to accept the Oscars in disbelief. The Koreans really had a great night! It’ll be interesting to see it with your group. Don’t get your expectations too too high. It’s still a small quirky film but it yielded big results.
Wait, is February over? You’re rounding up already? 😉
My wife and I want to see Parasite but haven’t yet. We were both (pleasantly) surprised that it won so many Oscars. It was nice to see an underdog win for a change.
Yeah Bryan : perhaps Roundup is not the right word I’m looking for here. Just meant a group of reviews. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Parasite — it sure surprised me how many Oscars it won but I was pleased for the Korean filmmakers. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll visit your site to see what you’re reading these days.
I will probably pass on Parasite. I can’t watch violent. I’m glad it won so many awards. It’s nice to see a small picture win so many.
Thanks for sharing a little about your reads.
Thanks Deb for stopping by. I’m trying to recall how violent the ending of Parasite was …. and now I’m recalling Yes at the very end it is. It’s okay to pass on the movie … I don’t think it’s for everyone. But it is a bit unique.
We just saw Parasite this afternoon and I really liked it. Yes, it was dark and violent, but I liked the class conflict and thought it all played out in a very interesting way.
I’d love to see Kantor and Twohey in person. That sounds like a dinner well worth going to. I have The Holdout coming up, so will go into it with a bit of caution ab out thre second half.
Hey Susie, I’m glad you saw & liked Parasite. It’s quite a spoof in parts about the rich family, and interesting about the family below ground & what happens. I’ll be interested to see what you think of The Holdout … I think it’s a quick read so that kept me going. Not sure I’ll be able to go to the Kanton/Twohey dinner as it is about $350 per ticket and not sure I’m budgeted for that …. as I have some trips coming up. Uh-oh.
I liked Parasite but as I was watching it, I was wondering why everyone though it was good enough to be nominated for all of those awards. Then the twists in the story started happening and I knew. I think a large part of it was how shocking the half or so of the movie was. It definitely took a sharp turn!
I heard the authors of She Said on the NYT book review podcast and it sounds like a great book. I”m in the middle of Catch and Kill, Ronan Farrow’s book about Weinstein. It’s pretty good.
Yeah Rachel the contrasts in Parasite are quite something and the turn it takes towards the end. It’s a different kind of indie film for sure. I’ll definitely check your site for your review of Catch & Kill … I’m curious how it compares to She Said. It’s probably similar.
I was most surprised the non-disclosure agreements. To me, that means the men totally knew they were doing something wrong.
Yeah I agree Helen : the perpetrators totally knew; it was a way to totally silence their victims. The extent of non-disclosure agreements was really an eye-opener in this … with so many from Bill O’Reilly to Trump to Weinstein & others doing such agreements. I hope the transparency over these …. will abolish them in the future.