Books Archives (10 posts)
I am anti-line
When it comes to notebooks, I prefer a Moleskine with blank pages, no lines.
I love this amusing quote from Rands:
I’m fervently anti-line on the page, but for the sake of science, I’ve tried a couple of lined notebooks. The result: yeah, you eventually stop seeing the lines, but read that again, you stop seeing what? I don’t need lines on a notebook. I needed lines in 3rd grade when I was learning how to write. I’m good now, thanks.
I find the lines get in the way. I can be more creative with my sketches and ideas when I have a blank canvas. Lines hamper creativity.
I also feel like I have to cram as much information as possible onto a page. Wasted space fills up a notebook in no time and means that I have to get a replacement. My Moleskin notebooks last an average of 12 months.
I am anti-line.
Posted in Books and Miscellaneous at 8:51 PM | Comments (2)
BookCloseOuts.com for cheap cooking and photography books
If you’re at all like me love photography books then BookCloseouts.com has some incredible bargains for you. I couldn’t believe how many of the books that I own were available on this site for 50-70% off. With the markup in Canadian books the discounts are even greater.
This isn’t Amazon.com but for Photograpy books, this should be your first stop when shopping.
For books on cooking, food and wine then you’ll definitely want to check out this site. They are offering an additional 25% of their ridiculously cheap prices.
If that isn’t enough to convince you, then use the online promo code road and password bookcloseouts.com to receive $5 US off your order of $35 US or more. Unbelievable.
Posted in Books and Food and Photography at 9:49 PM | Comments (0)
Taste and Power — Mondovino Revisited
Jonathan Nossiter, a trained sommelier, produced, directed, shot and edited a fabulous documentary film about the wine industry called Mondovino (2004). I’m amazed at how many wine lovers I meet have never heard of the film. If you enjoy wine at all then purchase this film or at the very least, rent it!
3 years later, Nossiter is still on a crusade to tell us about the evils of the globalization of wine. He’s written a book called Taste and Power that continues to slam influential wine critics and the outrageous prices of some wines. Robert Parker and The Wine Spectator are favourite targets in Nossiter’s book and film.
Decanter.com is reporting that Nossiter “attacks just about anyone involved in the production or sale of wine” which should make it a good read in my opinion. Love him or hate him, Nossiter has a lot of interesting things to say about the wine industry.
Posted in Books and Food and Movies at 12:56 AM | Comments (2)
Elements of Color Photography
Nothing makes my day like finding a remainder book (that is actually decent) for 90% off the cover price. Such was the case when I stopped in at David Mirvish Books on Art last night to kill some time.
I picked up a brand new copy of George Todd’s Elements of Color Photography for $4.99. You can’t purchase a photography magazine for that little!
Todd’s book is nicely bound, contains 80 photos, and the stories behind them. It’s similar to ‘the making of’ books by Ansel Adams and Charlie Waite. Great stuff.
Posted in Books at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)
Angels & Demons
Yesterday I finished reading Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons. Like most of Brown’s novels, this one is a page turner.
Parts of it were a little too unbelievable. When the main character, Robert Langdon experiences a miraculous free-fall I had to groan and roll my eyes. Aside from this, the novel will keep you guessing with the its clever puzzles and mysteries. There are plenty of plot twists that will surprise you until the end as well.
Did I like it better than The Da Vinci Code? Hard to say. Both books have similar characters and story lines. I think I would have to go with the Da Vinci Code, only because I had a chance to visit Paris right after I read the novel. I’ve never been to Rome but after reading Angels & Demons I have a renewed interest in seeing the city. If I could hop on a plane tomorrow, and visit Rome for a week, I wouldn’t hesitate at all. Thanks to Paul for lending me his copy of the book.
Posted in Books at 5:45 PM | Comments (2)
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
I am loving Steven Jay Schneider’s book, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Hardcover, 960 pages, 4.5 pounds and impossible to put down.
This isn’t a book of the best 1001 films ever made. It’s a compilation of some really great and interesting films that you’ve probably overlooked or never heard of. If you’re a film buff then you’ll want a copy of this book right away.
If you’re a Netflix or Zip.ca member then you’ll have plenty of films to add to your list. I’ve seen a lot of the films in this book but I was surprised by how many films I haven’t seen or have trouble remembering. Here’s a sample:
Chimes at Midnight (1965)
Nashville (1975)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Breaking Away (1979)
In The Year of The Pig (1969)
No Man’s Land (2001)
Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
The layout of the book is similar to a film festival guide. It has a small review of each film, and in the sidebar it contains the country of origin, language, director, cast, writer, producer, director of photography, music and awards. Quite often there is a photo with each film as well.
Posted in Books at 8:59 PM | Comments (3)
Digital Fortress
My idea of a perfect Sunday evening is a 10 year old Tawny Port (Taylor Fladgate), Stilton blue cheese and a good book. Last night I finished reading Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress. It’s a trademark, Dan Brown thriller—lots of page turning suspense, short chapters, multiple plots and plenty of surprises.
This novel was published in 1998 and is a little dated which is unavoidable I suppose when you write about technology. Netscape is described as being the “sweetest” web browser. Brown also makes a big deal about the secrecy surrounding the NSA but thanks to Enemy of the State (1998) and a number of other Hollywood movies, the National Security Agency is no longer “No Such Agency”.
I found myself figuring out some of several plot twists and mysteries, then having to read patiently while the characters in the novel figure them out. I don’t remember The Da Vinci Code as being very easy to figure out and can only assume that Brown has become much better at crafting puzzles and plot twists in his writing.
Like The Da Vinci Code, I couldn’t put this book down for very long and enjoyed reading it. Thanks to Paul (who almost became my brother-in-law) for lending me his copy.
Posted in Books at 12:18 PM | Comments (2)
Behind the Seen
Last week I finished reading a book called Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple’s Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema, written by Charles Koppelman.
If you’ve ever done any video editing or have an interest in how films are made then you’ll find this a fascinating read. There are also a few amusing stories along the way about movie producer Harvey Weinstein—how he falls asleep during screenings of Cold Mountain then asks what the film is about.
Most people have never heard of Walter Murch unless they are in the film industry. Many of the films he has worked on as film editor or sound editor have been nominated for Oscars—Cold Mountain, Ghost, The Conversation. He’s won Oscars for The English Patient and Apocalypse Now.
Wired magazine has a small story on Murch and mentions that he used Apple’s Final Cut Pro to edit Jarhead (2005)in HD. Jarhead is the latest film by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) and comes out this Friday. I’m looking forward to seeing this over the weekend.
Posted in Books and Movies at 4:33 PM | Comments (1)
The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
I just finished reading The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje (author of The English Patient). If you’re at all interested in film or video editing then this is a fabulous read.
As some of you will know, Walter Murch is a legendary film editor (three time Oscar winner) and sound editor. His conversations with Ondaatje reveal a lot about his creative process and provide great insight into modern filmmaking.
What surprised me the most about Murch is that he likes to isolate himself from outside influences when editing. He says this about his creative process:
Some filmmakers, when they’re at home, love to have many television monitors going, showing films all the time, so their home is peopled by classic films, part of the atmosphere, to foment the creative activity. To me, that’s an impossible way of living—by my own lights, it’s ultimately destructive of the creative process. Things become too self-refential—look at what’s happened to modern painting or modern music in the twentieth century. All new compositions refer to previous compositions in arcane ways. You build an incredible sand castle, a house of cards with references within references within references. You can see it happening now with films, and I don’t know if it’s such a good thing. It’s fun occasionally, but not as a steady diet.
Murch’s creative process is the complete opposite of director Steven Soderbergh who says in one film commentary:
Godard is a constant source of inspiration. Before I do anything, I go back and look at as many of his films as I can, as a reminder of what’s possible.
I’d have to agree with Murch in that popular culture has become incredibly self-referential, formulaic and quite often, dull.
Posted in Books at 3:05 PM | Comments (1)
The Da Vinci Code
When a friend of mine heard that I was going to Paris for a week he said I have to read The Da Vinci Code. He said I would regret going to the Louvre without reading this novel.
Okay, so I started reading Dan Brown’s controversial novel last Sunday. I couldn’t put it down and finished it before the end of the week. It’s an exciting read with a great mystery.
The theology and history in the novel are outrageous at times. My curiosity led me to delve a little deeper into things like the Priory of Sion, Les Dossier Secrets, Opus Dei and corporal mortification.
For me, one of the best things about reading The Da Vinci Code, is that I can’t wait to get to the Louvre and experience some of the incredible art that is there. I won’t be lining up to see the Mona Lisa or take any Da Vinci Code tours—too cheesy and a waste of time. There is just too much to see.
If you’ve read The Da Vinci Code you may want to check out the FAQs on Dan Brown’s website. You can also look forward to The Da Vinci Code (2006) to be directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks (Langdon), Jean Reno (Fache) and Audrey Tautou (Sophie).
Posted in Books at 9:07 PM | Comments (3)
