1. What are you currently reading? Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello. Psycho has always fascinated me. It's a beautiful film about a repulsive subject. It's made with more craft and care than any other "thriller" or "horror" film, but it doesn't back away from its subject matter: murder, incest and necrophilia. Will, the moderator of our classic movie group, always says Hitchcock's genius is infusing every day situations with danger. What's scarier than Psycho's shower scene, where we're all reminded how vulnerable we are every damn day? But I think it's more than that. Hitch is perverse, and he suavely seduces us to join him in his twisty worldview. I think Psycho is the ultimate example of this.
Rebello admires Psycho, too. This book reports how the classic was made without much editorializing. It's about how the material was turned into a movie, without re-reviewing or analyzing it. I'm so glad. I'm enjoying the journey as rather top-line newspaper reports about the Ed Gein case became Robert Bloch's novel became Hitchcock's masterpiece.
2. What did you recently finish reading? The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Oh, this book! I liked it, but I wanted to love it. It's about Lucy and Josh, two highly effective executive assistants who are stuck
sharing an office. They become competitors who can't resist pushing one
another's buttons and their rivalry festers into obsession and then slowly blossoms into lust, love and genuine friendship.
I've had workplace romances and appreciate how delicious and dangerous this situation can be. I liked these characters. I cared about what happened to them. And that's why I got frustrated with the book. There is so much foreplay I actually got bored. I didn't think that was possible, but after a while I no longer cared about who bit whose lip. Maybe it's because I personally prefer tongues to teeth, but It felt less like romance than a how-to manual.
But the bare bones of this story is very good -- poignant, realistic and involving. In addition to the romance, there are some nice moments between Lucy and her mentor-boss. I just wish a good editor had taken a blue pen to it.
3. What will read next? Something frothy. I'm enjoying the Psycho book very much, but Psycho is well ... more than a little dark!
I always enjoy learning more about Hitchcock...and The Hating Game looks tempting. Here's MY WWW POST
ReplyDeleteI love Hitchcock movies! Psycho is fantastic. Our local symphony show the original Psycho movie on a big screen while they played the background music, which was an amazing experience. I've never read Robert Bloch's book and am now thinking of doing so. I am definitely putting the Stephen Rebello book on my TBR. Hope you enjoy your week! My WWW: https://greatmorrisonmigration.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/www-wednesdays-march-31-2021/
ReplyDeleteThe Hating Game was fun.
ReplyDeleteI recently caved in and bought The Hating Game because I hear people constantly raving about it. I can't wait to see what I think of it!
ReplyDeletehttps://bookswithcassie.com/2021/03/31/www-3-31-21/