THEY LIVE, by Jonathan Lethem

I typically read and review fiction exclusively, but I saw this piece of film criticism by Jonathan Lethem, one of my fav writers, so I thought I'd give it a try. I found it extremely entertaining, well written and cleverly put together. In the book, Lethem walks the reader through the often tacky and certifiably weird B movie "They Live" directed by John Carpenter. The movie is presented not exactly frame-by-frame, but sequentially in time. The film's political subtext is explored, as the artifice of the x-ray like specs that reveal a paranoid view of social control by unnamed aliens/ghouls in a Ronald Reaganized reactionary consumer culture. Lethem's treatment of the movie is intelligent, entertaining and very readable. His witty and insightful commentary is a lively treat, even if you are not a B-movie fan.

For a review of the book by popmatters, click here:  http://www.popmatters.com/review/134687-they-live-deep-focus-by-jonathan-lethem/

SERVANTS OF THE MAP, by Andrea Barrett

Servants of the Map is an interesting collection of stories that share the theme of 19th century scientific inquiry. I find the stories uneven - my favorite is the first story, about a cartographer mapping the Himalayas. Several of the stories are interconnected as they share characters. The stories are well-written and the best ones sustain interest and open up a window onto 19th century mindset. In this sense, the stories ring true. The writing is vivid at its best and a bit flat at worst. The book was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 2003.


For a review of the book from NY Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/11/books/books-of-the-times-scientists-plumb-life-s-mysteries-with-minds-and-hearts.html?smid=pl-share