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From Publishers Weekly

In this poignant and witty memoir, Canadian novelist Gilmour (A Perfect Night to Go to China) grapples with his decision to allow his teenage son, Jesse, to leave school in the 10th grade provided he promises to watch three movies a week with his father. Determined not to force a formal education on his son, former film critic and television host Gilmour begins the film club with Truffaut's The 400 Blows—with Basic Instinct for dessert. There are no lectures preceding the films, no quizzes on content or form: just a father and son watching movies together. Expertly tracing the trials and tribulations of teenage crushes and heartbreak, Gilmour explores not only his choice of films but also Jesse's struggles with his girlfriends and burgeoning music career. There are units on everything from undiscovered talent (Audrey Hepburn's Oscar-winning debut in Roman Holiday) to stillness, exemplified by Gary Cooper's ability in High Noon to steal a scene without moving a muscle. Gilmour expertly tackles the nostalgia not only of film but also that of parents, watching as their children grow and develop separate lives. With his unique blend of film history and personal memoir, Gilmour's latest offering will deservedly win him new American fans.

While the films chosen were great, most of them classics, in my opinion it is not a good alternative for an education. Most of the book is filled with pages of their drunken stupors, sexual episodes, dysfunctional family values, and everything you can imagine in between. All this, while the son goes from 16 to 19...that's not what I think parenting should be. It should be being a responsible parent and not a smoking, drinking pal of your child!

However, it was an interesting read with regard to film and an interesting list of films at the end of the book. It inspired me to track down a few of films to view.

Enjoy! to tabby-cat-owner for Debbie4OSU non-fiction VBB

I received this book in the mail from booklady331 of Cape Coral, Florida. I chose it from Debbie4osu's nonfiction vbb.

Thank you, booklady331, for sending this book to me.

The author's writing style is easy-to-read and I emphasize with him having gone through similar experiences with my own son. Most of the films the author likes are ones I haven't seen and don't want to. Yet I was impressed with the author's knowledge and analysis. I also empathized with the author's financial worries and his often fruitless searches for work. His life was difficult in a lot of ways including the situation with his son.

This book has been donated to the Bio/Humor VBB organized by JennyC1230.

It looks like this Bio/Humor VBB is no longer functioning, therefore this book is available again.

This book has been sent off as part of the ABC Authors bookring (Authors whose last name begins with a "G".)

Taken from the "G" author bookring. Thanks!

didn't totally check in. Found when resorting. Fixing up now.

As the mother of a 20 something that is lurching her way to growing up, I can sympathize with the author. Although he didn't realize it at the time, it was a wonderful gift to be mininally employed and able to "home school" his son through his HS years via 3 films/week. I have to admit, just like I haven't read most of the 1001 book list, I haven't seen most of the films (which he lists in the back). But the conversations about a few of them caught my interest, so maybe I should dip into the Amazon Prime movies a bit more often. Now this one is off in the "F" title bookring.

Heading out in the "F" bookring, along with a bonus book. Enjoy!

Arrived safely in Florida yesterday. Thanks also for all the cool stamps, & the bonus book!

This concludes Round 2 of my ABC (Alphabet) Bookrings - US version - Books Beginning with the Letter F. Thanks for sharing!