Palo Alto by James Franco - BOOK REVIEW

Palo Alto by James Franco – BOOK REVIEW

 

I happened to buy this book due to my love of James Franco and it was one of those quick on the moment things, I skimmed the reviews on it written by customers who had already bought it and all I saw was ‘1 out of 5 stars’, ‘not worth it’, ‘don’t buy this book’. So what I did was ignore the comments and said to myself ‘might as well give it a chance, when has Mr Franco ever let me down?’ Reading the book and thinking back on that moment I discovered that the reviews were bad due to the fact they must have all been written by bitter adults who didn’t have such a radical teenage experience as the characters do in the book!

Right from the beginning of the book you get involved, the description is so vivid that for all you know it could be you as the character. To be honest all I have for the book is praise so I’ll make the review short. If you can imagine a cross between ‘rebel without a cause’ and ‘stand by me’ then you’ve got it in one. The struggles, experiences and existence of teenage life superbly written by Mr Franco, who you can’t help but thinking throughout the story if he actually experienced some of these radical things. The story is told in first person by many different characters from their viewpoints; it amazed me at how perfectly Mr Franco nailed the perspectives of both the female and male characters; like he actually got in their heads and understood them.

The way it is written is kind of like poetry, the whole thing flows and is very blunt and to the point. It is raw and maybe a bit vulgar at some points. The book is very true to the subject and balances the fact that teenagers do in fact have underlying problems and can experience such intense feelings as adults can. If you are a teenager and want to be understood you will read the book and think, ‘oh I’m not alone after all’ and I think it could be a great comfort for some of us. Anyone who likes something a bit different, that pushes the boundaries and goes deeper than the surface would also enjoy this book.

If like me you have already read the book and are a fan then I have some good news! The book is going to be made into a film called ‘Palo Alto Stories’!!!

Directed by Gia Coppola, starring James Franco, Emma Roberts and Keegan Allen to name a few ;-)!

Hope you are all excited as I am !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

James Dean: The Mutant King by David Dalton - BOOK REVIEW

Book Review #1

James Dean: The Mutant King by David Dalton

 So, the first James Dean book I ever read due to the scarcity of books written about the forever young Mr Dean. I bought the book online so I had no idea albeit a few small jpeg images of the size, the feel or the ease of page turning. The front of the book has an eye- catching, 100%  flattering image of Mr Dean in a black and white striped jumper. A favourite among us James Dean lovers. The book itself is paperback (I personally prefer paperback as it is more versatile, easier to lug around than hardback for us on the go readers). As a book lover I dislike having to bend the pages of books, so I was delighted that the pages were easy to turn and the text didn’t trail off into the spine, and there was no need for unnecessary folding of the book at each chapter.

On reading the book I had nothing to compare it to being it my first, therefore I was able to go in with fresh eyes and only a ‘limited amount’ of knowledge of Mr Dean. I say limited, I thought I knew all there was about Dean before I read this book! On the adjacent page before every chapter starts there is an extract from a poem or a book, for example a poem extract from James Whitcomb Riley, whom Dean valued. Each extract I found to be knowingly or unknowingly related to Dean in some way. The little extracts I really did adore, it made me feel a little more connected to Dean and his thoughts.

Before the chapter starts there is a miniature summary of what is to expect in the ensuing chapter, which again I thought was a lovely touch. There are pictures throughout the entire book, not just the middle, this I find saves you a lot of work flicking back and forth of the pages and adding potential damage to the book. The one and only one criticism I had about the book was the quality of some of the images. All images are in black and white which to me is no big deal, but some of the images have a blurry like quality and if like me you enjoy seeing Mr Dean at his full potential in sharp HD then it can be a bit of a frustration.

Thus far I was pleased aesthetically and kinetically; bar a few images. When I started reading I went into full James Dean mode, entirely absorbed and I was ever so delighted. Credit to the author David Dalton and the research that he conducted as it was ever so in depth. Through reading the book I found out things about Mr Dean I didn’t know before. Research aside, the way that it was written was extra thrilling. It didn’t just skim the surface, it wasn’t like many biographies which are just facts after facts written on paper it was like a story, it had emotion and passion and you feel involved. It has interviews/ quotes from co-stars, directors he worked with and intimate friends of his. You feel as though you know Dean from his mental state to the tiny dirt specks under his fingernails.

To me this book has been beautifully written with a lot of thought and effort, you gain a real insight to Jimmy’s life from the day he was born, his relationship with his father, his coming to term with his mother’s death, his school years, the starting of his career to the day he passed. If anything Jimmy’s personality really shines through!

 Recommend to every and any James Dean admirer, I guarantee if you only liked him a little bit before after reading the book you will either come to love him, wanted to of been able to marry him, mother him or be his best friend .

RRP - £6.95

Online price - £4-£6

(my book was around £5.80)

James Dean, Why is he still immortal?

James Dean

Why is he still

immortal?

Let’s face it when we see the name James Byron Dean we instantly think rebel. It’s seemingly ironic that James Dean was the least bit of a rebel, in a certain sense. He was a guy who was ahead of his time, the ‘first teenager’ of the 50’s. Still now in 2012 he is a hero figure, a God, an idol, a friend and immortal. Does dying at a young age always make a celebrity immortal? Yes In the case of Marilyn Monroe, yes in the case of Jimmy, yes in the case of Rudolph Valentino. NO. I always think it goes deeper than this, the fact that they are still immortal. Everyone differs in their opinion of a good actor/actress, for example I think Gregory Peck was a dull actor; your opinion could of course differ. In the case of James Dean his acting ability isn’t questionable. He only played 3 parts in 3 films; Cal Trask in ‘East of Eden’, Jim Stark in ‘Rebel without a Cause’ and Jett Rink in ‘Giant’.  Many people believe that if he lived and made more films he would of eventually ‘died out’, of course there is no way of telling that but my feelings towards it is, no, he wouldn’t of died out. His acting ability would still be in tact but his personal demons and road to self-destruction would have bought down a load of critics on his case, maybe denting his acting career but it wouldn’t have ever happened off his own back. James Dean brought emotion to every role he acted in, as part of the audience you also wonder if he brought a bit of himself to the character when you watch him act you can’t help but feel sorry for him, just as many people felt about Marilyn Monroe, in a sense you want to mother them and protect them from anymore hurt. So firstly James’ brilliant talent as an actor helped him to stay immortal.

Another reason that adds to the factor of him remaining immortal is his story. At the age of 9 Jimmy’s mother died of cancer, subsequently his father couldn’t deal with the death himself so he could hardly help Jimmy through it. Instantly you think of a 9 year old boy all alone in the world, who wouldn’t want to mother him? Look after him and tell him everything will be okay? Jimmy had to find his own feet and go about his life his own way with a ‘burden’, which he carried around with him until his death. If you have great empathy for a human and maybe in some way can relate to them they instantly become immortal to you. You know that they would understand you and wouldn’t judge you. I think many people feel that way about Jimmy and why so many people believe they ‘understand’ him.

Unresolved issues. Is he or isn’t he gay? This question remains unsolved, a mystery, a secret. It’s when the rumour mill starts to spin. All the ‘old’, ‘dear’ friends come out of the wood work and make money off the stories they sell. These sort of unresolved issues create a mystery and spark about one’s character, thus keeping them alive while the debates go on and until the answer is found…. If it ever is? If it ever will.

Jimmy’s character. Jimmy has been reported of having a sensitive side, of crying, of not being afraid of flaring up or breaking down. He was true to himself and stood up for himself, he took no poop from anyone. Humans naturally admire that sort of behaviour, especially when it was in the time of the 1950’s. Everyone knows that in the 1950’s there wasn’t much ‘justice’ in the film industry and you had to be tough to get ahead. So here Jimmy is ahead of his time and here he somewhat acquires his rebel status. He gains a lot of respect for following his dreams. That’s why James Byron Dean remains immortal.