smack dab in the middle of disfunction junction

Oral History by Lee Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A tale of generations of mountain folk, told in multiple character point of view and using the narrative style of Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. Interesting inside insights into a family living pretty much smack dab in the middle of disfunction junction. This story has the feel of authenticity and real family history, and with some name changes, probably applies to a multitude of families, including my Missouri roots. A good read.

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fascinating behind-the-scenes look

Casablanca: Behind the Scenes by Harlan Lebo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow - it is a wonder that Casablanca, one of my top favorite movies, ever got made! This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the making of arguably one of the best films of the 20th century. We get lots of fun and interesting facts about the script, the players, the filming, the drama and politics with the directors and producers, and the wheeling and dealing of Warner Bros management. This book gives a detailed look into movie making in the context of the studio system that was in play in the 1940s. It also gives surprising insight into the constraints put upon the movie making process during the early days of WW-II. All in all, the odds were stacked against Casablanca, yet the resulting film is one of our finest. I can't wait to watch it anew with this collection of facts in my memory. A great book!

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