The Jaws Log

The Jaws Log - by Carl Gottlieb

I was in 3rd grade when the movie “Jaws” came out.  Half the kids at school had seen the movie (some, multiple times) and half could not because their parents thought the movie too scary.  I stumbled across this paperback in the grocery store around this time and was incredibly attracted to it because, the book had pictures.  I had no idea what this book was about, no idea what a “log” was, all I knew was - it had pictures.  One must remember that in the days before internet and cable t.v., there were no resources at all such as pictures from a blockbuster movie.  So I plopped down my hard earned 75 cents, and soon my book was the most popular amongst all the third graders at school. The book got passed around from third grader to third grader, everyone wanting to flip through the pages looking at all the pictures from the most popular movie (at that time) of all time.

At some point, after the Jaws phenomenon died down, the book got tossed somewhere in the back of my closet, and never saw the light of day until many years later.  When I rediscovered it, I was very glad that I had held onto it.  I was now old enough to know exactly what this book was, and the purpose behind writing it.  I then devoured it in a couple of sittings, and realized that the world can be eternally grateful that such an insider account actually exists about a movie that still resonates as one of the most popular films of all time, 40 years after it was released.

Carl Gottlieb was one of the screenplay writers of the movie.  He actually has a bit part in the film as the newspaper guy, Harry Meadows (he’s the guy with ugly light-blue suit).  Because Carl was so deeply involved in the movie, both on and off screen, he serves as an excellent recorder of the events that made this project into such a masterpiece.  Because he’s a professional screenwriter it’s actually much more advantageous than what might seem.  He has an incredible gift with the written word that manages to encompass this story on so many levels.  History has shown us that this movie was an absolute nightmare to make, and Gottlieb records all of the trauma, yet his humor and light handed approach makes this book, like the movie, very enjoyable despite all of the setbacks and headaches.

In addition to a detailed account of the making of the movie, Gottlieb also gives us a very enjoyable exposition on the movie business as a whole.  He begins this book by telling us how movie studios select scripts whenever there might be a best-seller on the charts in the book market.  This was the case with Jaws, as it was a popular book for more than a year before the movie was released.  He then details all sorts of issues that those in the business only know - scouting locations, casting key principles, nightmares with unions, trying to get an untested mechanical shark to work, and encouraging extras to pretend their enjoying themselves in 60 degree water, while make believing that it’s summer time.

Much of the details and anecdotes of the accounts are a bit dated 40 years later.  When Gottlieb gives examples of “current” actors, methods, and popular movies, someone unfamiliar with the times of the 1970s may get a bit lost, but that doesn’t really hinder the book that much.  In fact, this book was re-released around 2005, and Gottlieb goes back and adds several relevant end notes that help educate someone unfamiliar with the times.  His end notes are very valuable, and worth a re-read if you’ve already read the original.  We must remember that back in 1975, for example, nobody really knew who Stephen Spielberg was, and it’s a bit fun to read Gottlieb describe him as a “kid” (he was 26 when he made the movie).

This leads me to my one and only complaint about the new, expanded edition.  The pictures from the original book are mostly gone.  I’m not really sure why.  Maybe the negatives were unavailable?  The book does have a picture section with many photos not in the original book, but it’s a huge injustice not to have the original photos featured here.  There was such a treasure trove of shots that, to my knowledge, were never seen anywhere else.  So even if you do buy this expanded edition, I would still grab a dog-eared, weather beaten paperback if you come across one at a garage sale.

One wishes that every movie, or at least every great movie, had such a detailed, insider’s account of how it all came to be.

War and Remembrance

War and Remembrance – by Herman Wouk

After finishing this massive 1400 page book, the first three things that came to my mind were a) this book was not as good as its predecessor, Winds of War.  b) this book was way way WAY too long. c) Yet, this was still an excellent, 5 star book.  Even if you haven’t read either one of these epic tales by Herman Wouk of a family thrown into the travails of World War II, odds are you’re at least familiar with the titles and/or remember the highly publicized television mini-series that came out sometime during the 1980s.

It took author Herman Wouk six years to write this follow up.  I’m actually surprised it didn’t take him a lot longer.  This guy knows how to write.  He has an incredible style that pays meticulous attention to facts and character development, as well as ensuring that he’s telling his readers many of the real-life incidents of this horrible conflict.  There were times when I would forget that I was reading a novel and thought that I was, instead, reading a history book about many of the events that occurred during the war.  Most authors couldn’t pull this off, but Wouk manages to keep everything so well interconnected, that his leaping from fact to fiction never seems to take away from the experience.

This book picks right up where the first volume left off – the battle of Pearl Harbor which thrusted the United States into the conflict.  The major players are again the Henry family.  Admiral Pug, his wife Rhoda (who never seems to be too far away from a martini) and their three grown children that have all been bolted into the conflict as well.

Unlike the first book, Wouk seems to narrow his focus much more in this story.  There aren’t quite as many plots intertwined.  Many of the major players from Winds of War have been demoted to minor actors so he can spend more pages on the characters and stories that he wants to see develop.  Our main focus is Pug’s daughter-in-law Natalie.  Natalie is a young woman, and new mother, who’s basically stuck behind enemy lines with her famous uncle who is a teacher and author.  The main problem is, well, it just so happens that they’re Jewish.  This makes for an interesting, compelling, yet somewhat depressing tale of the misfortunes of the millions of European Jews that Hitler massacred in cruel, unfathomable methods.  We read a lot about these events in detail, and it really is a good story despite the ongoing churning in the stomach.

The other main focus is the withered relationship between Pug and Rhoda.  We saw cracks in the marriage in the first book, and we see them trying to pick up the pieces and make things right again.  One classic line is when Pug’s son, Bryan, asks his Dad what happened to him and Mom.  Pug’s response: “The war”.  That may seem like a vague reply, but after reading both of these +1000 page books, you realize that his answer makes perfect sense.

My main criticism of this book is that it spends a bit too much time describing some of the naval battles in too much detail.  I’ve always had a problem reading about such high adventure episodes – it’s always more enjoyable (dare I use that word) to see conflict on a movie screen as opposed to reading about it.  I wouldn’t really mind this too much had this book been, say, 800 pages instead of 1400.  I found myself skimming incidents such as the Battle of Midway or Leyte Gulf.  Fortunately, I didn’t miss much.

For the introduction to this volume, the author points out two things that surprised me before I began reading this book: 1) He stated that this book “stands alone”, and it really isn’t necessary to read the first book – and- 2) He describes this book as a “Romance”.  I would agree with the latter sentiment, but definitely not the first one.  You must read the first book before tackling this one.  Yes, it’s a bit laborious (the first one is “only” about 1100 pages), but I found it to be necessary before taking this book on and fully enjoying.  It’s an arduous task, but well worth it in the end.  Wouk does a magnificent job of teaching us that people are not only wounded on the battlefield in a war, but on the home front as well. Lives can be, sadly, changed forever by the experience.

A blueprint for anyone that wishes to write historical fiction.

The 12 Essentials of Godly Success: Biblical Steps to a Life Well Lived

The 12 Essentials of Godly Success: Biblical Steps to a Life Well Lived by Tommy Nelson

Tommy Nelson was my pastor for several years when I lived in Denton, Texas and attended Denton Bible Church.  It is the consensus of most that have attended this church, that Tommy Nelson is an incredible speaker.  Not surprisingly, some of his most popular series that he preached on, he would later write books on those same subjects.  Some of the series that come to mind are Love Songs – Song of Solomon, The Book of Ecclesiastes, and this one as well.

Now I must say that although the recorded sermons of these topics were Grade A prime, the material doesn’t always translate as well to the written word – at least with Tommy Nelson being the author.  I have met many people around the entire country that have heard his Song of Solomon series, for example, and have been overwhelmed with how incredible it is (if you’re reading this review and are planning on getting married anytime soon, please stop reading this now, and find the series online to download.  Listen to it NOW.  It will save your marriage before it ever begins), yet if you were to only read the book that he wrote on the subject, you might be wondering exactly what all the fuss is about.

This is because Tommy Nelson’s real gift is speaking, and not necessarily writing.  It’s not that his writing is bad, it just doesn’t have the same punch as listening to the man. This book is a very good read, but at many times it seems he’s preaching to the choir.  The chapters are set up to where he’ll tell some amusing stories and anecdotes, quote a lot of scripture, and then end each chapter with a summary, a prayer, and questions for review.  It's almost as if he's gearing these books towards a small group Bible study instead of an individual reader.

This book was very refreshing, though, in its content in that it challenges what our modern, secular, business driven world refers to when defining “success”.  It always bothers me when people seem to equate “success” with how much money one makes, their prestigious job title, or how many goals they have accomplished at their workplace.  God has a very different definition of success, and Nelson does a great job relaying twelve essential steps in this book.  Like Nelson’s books (and also, more importantly, his series of sermons), I’ve always believed that one doesn’t have to be a Christian to heed these teachings in order to benefit.  An Atheist can put into practice many of these lessons and still find themselves much happier than climbing some asinine corporate ladder.

As mentioned, even though the book has a very strong relevant message, it can suffer a bit from Nelson’s writing.  For example, his East Texas slang shows many times when he writes things such as “Bunch of folks”. He also mistakenly refers to baseball great Kirk Gibson as “Curt Gibson”, and his humor might not necessarily translate as well in the written word as when he’s speaking.  One should know, for example, when he’s taking pot shots against West Texas, specifically the city of Lubbock, he’s not really serious.  It’s all in jest, and the reader should not be offended.

Then, of course, one not familiar with Tommy Nelson should know that he is, by far, one of the most dogmatically devout when it comes to his interpretation of scripture, and how a Christian should live their life.  His ideas can come across as unintentionally malodorous at times.  My biggest problem is when he’s defining a wife’s role in a marriage.  According to Nelson, a wife belongs at home.  If she absolutely feels like she has to work, it should be to “support” her husband and just bring in a little extra income on the side.  So my impression was that if a married woman wants to pursue an ambitious career such as a doctor, a lawyer, or a CEO, then she’s out of luck because her duty should be primarily her home.  It sounds like Mr. Nelson has never heard (or doesn't approve) of the idea of a “house husband".  He defends this reasoning by stating that, while some would call these views “old fashioned”, that’s o.k. because the Bible is an “old” book.  Well, perhaps. But if you want to attract new people to the faith, these tactics simply won’t work.  There’s other times when his obduracy shows as well such as when he hints at teenage delinquency just because a high school student may have piercings and/or tattoos.

Still, though, overall the book accomplishes its objectives.  It’s very clear, concise and meaningful.  The fact that his sermons are mostly available online, I would initially point the curious towards those, however, as opposed to one of his books.

The Cold Moon

The Cold Moon – by Jeffery Deaver

Another Jefferey Deaver book, another Lincoln Rhyme novel, another book with so many plot twists and turns that your head won’t be able to see straight upon completion of this book due to its constant spinning.  I’ve come to really enjoy the Lincoln Rhyme series of books along with the recurring cast of characters that help the surly quadriplegic solve some of the most gruesome crimes in Manhattan.  For the most part, this book is like all the others with a few new angles thrown in, along with, of course, the never ending surprises around every corner.

In this book we’re dealing with a pair of killers.  The biggest calling card is that one of these two seems to be obsessed by clocks and time.  His sinister nickname is “The Watchmaker”.  It really doesn’t make any sense for me to describe the plot any further.  If you’ve read any of the Lincoln Rhyme books, you know the drill.  We have a couple of side stories going on in this book that seem a bit of an unnecessary distraction, yet everything seems to wrap up nicely in the end.

The biggest asset to this book is a new character, an investigator from the west coast who comes to assist.  Her name is Kathryn Dance.  Dance has the incredible knack for having deep conversations with people (usually suspects) and she can immediately tell whether they’re lying or being truthful.  This woman seems much more reliable than a sophisticated polygraph machine.  Jefferey Deaver, being incredibly thorough and astute, describes to his readers in depth how such a skill is possible and we learn that nothing can slip by this woman.  Whether or not such an individual can really exist in the real world is beside the point.  What matters is that Deaver convinces us that such an individual can exist, so once we suspend our skepticism, the wild ride is quite fun.  In fact, he’s employed this tactic with the Lincoln Rhyme character as well throughout all his books.  No matter how complicated a case can be, Rhyme is always one step ahead of everyone else, usually uncovering the critical piece of evidence at the very last minute before the killer is about to execute “the big one”.  Again, it’s what makes these books entertaining.

I was also happy to discover upon conclusion of this book that Deaver has gone on to pen a few books with Kathryn Dance as the main protagonist.  I look forward to such adventures.   If you’re a fan of Lincoln Rhyme, this book will serve you well.  You could also argue that this particular story isn’t exactly “finished”, but I really shouldn’t say more than that.

Started Early, Took My Dog

Started Early, Took My Dog – By Kate Atkinson

One of the sad things about life is that we hear about so many people – men, women, couples – that desperately want to have a child, yet for various reasons never seem to be able to conceive or carry a child fully to term.  Then, we see so many people who say they “hate kids”, but end up irresponsibly breeding and bringing children into the world that will be neglected, ignored, and unloved.

Tracy Waterhouse is a retired, single policewoman who one day, out of sheer impulse, tries to slightly even the odds.  Tracy, like most Kate Atkinson characters, has never really amounted to anything, and now that she’s in her fifties, she can clearly see that the best years of her life are now behind her.  When she sees a well-known prostitute in public with a burden of a child, she obviously feels incredibly sorry for the small girl as her unloving mother is yelling, cursing and abusing her in broad daylight.  It just so happens that Tracy is carrying quite a bit a cash at the moment, so she approaches the prostitute with a rather imprudent offer.  She’ll buy her child from her.  Well, as altruistic of a notion as this is, it’s not exactly legal, is it?  So from here, the story kicks into high gear.  Tracy is now on the run with her new “daughter”.

If you know Kate Atkinson, however, you know that she really can’t give us a simple, linear story such as I just described.  So safe to say, there are lot of other ingredients that are thrown into this literary stew.  We meet lots of other people with lots of other issues, and even go back in time 40 years to tell a lot of this tale.  This can be a bit too much for some readers.  One of the other people that we meet is former detective Jackson Brodie.  This is the fourth (and to date, last) installment of Jackson Brodie in a Kate Atkinson novel, and in a strange way, this story is just as much about him as Tracy Waterhouse.  Early in the story, Jackson “rescues” a small dog from an abusive owner, and we see many parallels between Jackson and his new dog and Tracy and her new little girl.

The fact that Jackson is a retired detective is always a bit misleading to some readers.  Yes, Jackson does do a bit of sleuthing here and there, but Atkinson’s stories are never really “crime solving” books.  With most “detective” novels, the author spends much of the book slowly advancing the plot towards a conclusion.  90% of the book seems to be about moving along the plot lines, whereas only 10% seems to be about the characters’ backgrounds and personal lives.  With Atkinson, this ratio is basically reversed.  We read so much about the people, their experiences and their sordid histories, that the actual plot is really secondary in terms of interest.  Again, many readers don’t like this, but Atkinson does a marvelous job with her details and descriptions, that I tend to view reading her work as a breath of fresh air since these types of stories are so radically different than the average.

It also can be a turnoff that all of Atkinson’s characters seem to live hopelessly miserable lives.  This particular book didn’t seem to be quite as morose as some of her others, but it could be that I’ve just become immune to all of these sullen individuals.  I also find it a bit ironic that Atkinson seems to have a very strong aversion to God, religion, and any kind of faith, and her descriptions of her faithless characters can be a bit overwhelming.  It seems like in every one of her books, she describes events in all of her characters' lives such as:

“She then prayed, but wasn’t sure what she was praying to, since she wasn’t religious.”
“He then went into a cathedral, which was strange because he hadn’t been in any type of church for over 40 years, since he wasn’t religious.”
“When the girl sneezed, she said ‘God Bless You’, although she wasn’t sure why, since she wasn’t religious.”

And on and on and on.  There are times when I felt like approaching Kate Atkinson and suggesting “Well, you know, maybe if some of your characters had a bit of faith they wouldn’t all be so miserable.”  But never mind.  This is supposed to be a book review, not a theological discussion.

Like most of Atkinson’s books, she manages to juggle all of the different people living in all of the different timeframes quite well, and manages to tie up everything neatly in the end.  If you are a fan of Kate Atkinson, I would highly recommend this book.  It’s a bit sad to see Jackson no longer featured in the author's latter works, but I see no reason why he can’t come back.  Sadly, he’s probably existing out there in a parallel literary world being….what else…..somewhat miserable.

Note: Supposedly the BBC has started a TV series around Atkinson's Jackson Brodie character.  I’ve heard that the television series is nothing like the books either.  So if you’re a fan of one, you may not necessarily be a fan of the other.