The Film Club: No School. No Work... Just Three Films a Week
Registered by glitterbee of Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz Germany on 12/21/2010
This book is in a Controlled Release!
This book is in a Controlled Release!
2 journalers for this copy...
From the back cover: "David Gilmour was at his wits' end with his teenage son. despite Jesse failing at school, nothing David said seemed to be getting through to him. So he came up with an unconventional deal: Jesse could leave school, sleep all day, not pay rent - but he dad to watch three films a week of his father's choosing.
Week by week, side by side, father and son watch the world's best (and occasionally worst) films, from The Godfather to Psycho, Showgirls to La Dolce Vita. The films get them talking about girls, music, heartbreak, work, drugs and friendship. Gradually, the son develops from a chaotic teenager into a self-assured adult, but as the film club moves towards its inevitable and bittersweet conclusion, Jesse makes a decision which surprises even his father..."
Week by week, side by side, father and son watch the world's best (and occasionally worst) films, from The Godfather to Psycho, Showgirls to La Dolce Vita. The films get them talking about girls, music, heartbreak, work, drugs and friendship. Gradually, the son develops from a chaotic teenager into a self-assured adult, but as the film club moves towards its inevitable and bittersweet conclusion, Jesse makes a decision which surprises even his father..."
Well, I liked the idea of the book - it's a memoir and at the same time sort of a film review/ personal movie charts. But I didn't care too much for the style it was written in. It seemed incoherent, the tenses change all the time, sometimes you don't know who the narrator is talking to, and then it is written like an actual review. I found that somewhat irritating. I did get a few ideas for movies I'd like to watch though.Im Rahmen der Bergabbau-Challenge für das Januar-Thema: Meer gelesen.
Travelling to CynthiaA, who had it on her wishlist.
Hope you enjoy :)
Hope you enjoy :)
Wow! A true and out-of-the blue RABCK! How wonderful!
Thanks glitterbee! I very much look forward to reading this!
Thanks glitterbee! I very much look forward to reading this!
I get that some kids are not cut out for a regular schooling experience. I also get that there comes a time when you can't force a teenager to do certain things. And being frustrated with the bad decisions your teen continues to make doesn't change the fact that you love them in spite of it all.
In this book, a father, author David Gilmour, permits his son, Jesse, to drop out of school. The only condition is that they watch, together, three films a week, of David's choice. His plan is to use the films as a conduit for deep and heart-felt conversation. And it kind of works. I get the impression that father and son have a fairly open and communicative relationship to begin with, so this builds upon a good foundation.
Jesse isn't one of those kids who is disrespectful to his parents and who is a dismissive, insufferable know-it-all. He is a kid who has not experienced success at school and has been increasingly less successful due to lack of attendance and lack of effort, both borne of his lack of confidence because trying his hardest just hasn't worked. Traditional classrooms don't work for everyone and Jesse is one of the kids who fall through the cracks. But here is where I begin to struggle.
There is no indication that Jesse's parents have had conversations with guidance counsellors to give them other options. They live in Toronto and the school board there offers multiple different kinds of alternative schooling options that don't involve all day in the classroom learning. At no point, does it appear that Jesse's parents consider any of these options. Additionally, Jesse is given no conditions for his behaviour other than he has to watch movies with his Dad (for a maximum of 10 hours a week) and he has to avoid drug use. If it were me, there would be a job requirement. But it is not me, and so ... whatever.
The book itself is OK. David and Jesse have an open and interesting relationship, and Jesse is a typical teenager in many many ways. He seems like a nice enough kid, actually. A little angsty but what 16 year old boy isn't?
I had really hoped that the book would be structured around the films and include more about the parallels between their lives and the films chosen. As a person who is not a film critic, there were often films mentioned that I had not heard of and so little info is given that I frequently had to google the film to get a snapshot before reading that section to see what they were talking about and how it fit in. David spends more time in the book (and, I assume, in conversation with Jesse) on cinematography than he does on plot or story-telling. The lighting, the close up shots, the music, etc. These parts are likely interesting to some people. I got the impression they were interesting to Jesse. But not to me. I had really hoped for a deeper story, based on or reflecting the films they watched. I didn't get that at all.
It was an OK book, but I really feel that it didn't reach its highest potential. That being said, I'm glad Jesse made it through all those years without too much damage and I hope he found a way in the world. And I hope he found a nicer girlfriend than the ones in the book.
In this book, a father, author David Gilmour, permits his son, Jesse, to drop out of school. The only condition is that they watch, together, three films a week, of David's choice. His plan is to use the films as a conduit for deep and heart-felt conversation. And it kind of works. I get the impression that father and son have a fairly open and communicative relationship to begin with, so this builds upon a good foundation.
Jesse isn't one of those kids who is disrespectful to his parents and who is a dismissive, insufferable know-it-all. He is a kid who has not experienced success at school and has been increasingly less successful due to lack of attendance and lack of effort, both borne of his lack of confidence because trying his hardest just hasn't worked. Traditional classrooms don't work for everyone and Jesse is one of the kids who fall through the cracks. But here is where I begin to struggle.
There is no indication that Jesse's parents have had conversations with guidance counsellors to give them other options. They live in Toronto and the school board there offers multiple different kinds of alternative schooling options that don't involve all day in the classroom learning. At no point, does it appear that Jesse's parents consider any of these options. Additionally, Jesse is given no conditions for his behaviour other than he has to watch movies with his Dad (for a maximum of 10 hours a week) and he has to avoid drug use. If it were me, there would be a job requirement. But it is not me, and so ... whatever.
The book itself is OK. David and Jesse have an open and interesting relationship, and Jesse is a typical teenager in many many ways. He seems like a nice enough kid, actually. A little angsty but what 16 year old boy isn't?
I had really hoped that the book would be structured around the films and include more about the parallels between their lives and the films chosen. As a person who is not a film critic, there were often films mentioned that I had not heard of and so little info is given that I frequently had to google the film to get a snapshot before reading that section to see what they were talking about and how it fit in. David spends more time in the book (and, I assume, in conversation with Jesse) on cinematography than he does on plot or story-telling. The lighting, the close up shots, the music, etc. These parts are likely interesting to some people. I got the impression they were interesting to Jesse. But not to me. I had really hoped for a deeper story, based on or reflecting the films they watched. I didn't get that at all.
It was an OK book, but I really feel that it didn't reach its highest potential. That being said, I'm glad Jesse made it through all those years without too much damage and I hope he found a way in the world. And I hope he found a nicer girlfriend than the ones in the book.
Given to a friend.
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Welcome to Bookcrossing. Thank you for catching this book! I hope you enjoy it and will consider exploring this site and possibly joining. It's free and loads of fun, as you can track your released books in their travels, possibly all over the world! Please let us know that you've found the book, what you thought of it and if possible, where you might re-release it when you're done so it can continue its journey. Reading it is not required, though is encouraged. You may remain anonymous, but if you choose to join up I hope you will consider using me, CynthiaA, as the one who referred you.
