Filed under: Books | Tags: Audrey Niffenegger, book review, Books, Her Fearful Symmetry, reading, Time Traveler's Wife
“Her Fearful Symmetry” is the second book by Audry Niffenegger, author also of the popular “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” I read this book on a recommendation from a co-worker. His exact words: “This is not the most well-written book I have ever read, but the plot is different and surprising. It takes a lot to surprise me in plot.” This was enough to make me want to read it. (Thanks, KF, for the recommendation.)
This was a completely enjoyable read. Much like “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” the plot is nothing like I have ever experienced before. I was confused much of the time, not sure where this story would be going. I was angry with characters and angry with the outcome. Everyone does not live happily ever after. There is no closure. But, it was a page turner. I was engaged every second I was reading. While this is not a high-level, intellectual read, it is what makes reading fun.
People vs. ghosts, family vs. love, death vs. life, youth vs. age, obligation vs. freedom – it is all present in this book. Read it.
Filed under: Movies | Tags: Ben Afflect, blogging, Helen Mirren, media, Movies, news, newspaper, online, print, Rachel McAdams, reading, Russell Crow, State of Play, Technology
In our new media world where everything is accessible online and we are seeing a decline in printed newspaper readership, State of Play has perfect timing with a character who is a blogger teaming up with a character who is a tried and true, hardcore newspaper man.
Russell Crow is our grouchy, sloppy and anything but sophisticated print edition guy. Rachel McAdams is our young, hip, yet not very experienced online girl. The initial interaction between the two characters plays to the animosity generally felt between bloggers and print writers. But after that meeting, the differences fade into the background of the movie and they become two reporters working together: one experienced and one still learning. In the end, the print edition is declared the superior medium for a tantalizing news story with a line from our young blogger that is something to the effect of, “I think people need to have newsprint on their fingers when they read this story.”
I have to call BS on that conclusion. Don’t get me wrong: I am an advocate of newspapers. I don’t want to see them die. But, the life of newspapers is not dependant on continued printing on paper. It is content that rules in this crazy world of changing media behaviors. A great story will always be great, whether read on a screen or on paper.
Forgive the digression, but I would have liked to see more play of the print versus the online throughout the movie rather than making it about experience versus inexperience. However, I applaud the movie for even bringing the issue to the forefront.
State of Play was a fine movie that kept me engaged during its entire run time. Politics, murder, corruption, affairs and the pressure of newsprint deadlines make this movie entertaining and interesting.
