Review of Owen King Double Feature in New York Times
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The begetter is a lovable asshole and the son is an unlikable asshole. This story is about their respective journeys toward not being such huge assholes.
This is a big messy book. The author throws everything he's got at this i. And nearly of information technology sticks.
Owen King is a hell of a writer. His dad (Stephen Male monarch) and his brother (Joe Hill) are cracking entertainers, tellers of tales designed for stadium seating, whereas Owen King is more than of a writer's writer. The stuff Owen accomplis
A tale of ii assholes.The father is a lovable asshole and the son is an unlikable asshole. This story is about their corresponding journeys toward non being such huge assholes.
This is a big messy book. The author throws everything he's got at this one. And most of it sticks.
Owen Rex is a hell of a writer. His dad (Stephen King) and his brother (Joe Hill) are corking entertainers, tellers of tales designed for stadium seating, whereas Owen King is more of a writer's author. The stuff Owen accomplishes (or tries to accomplish) in this volume is impressive, folio after page of death-defying feats of writerly derring-do. Every bit a author, yous tin't assist but to read this and call up "Huh, I wouldn't have tried that", "I can't believe he pulled that off!", "How'd he practice that?", "Skilful i" and "Oh, wow!"
This book has touching scenes, hilarious scenes, bigger than life characters, real people, and wild, imaginative visions.
Information technology also has a fucking Seinfeld routine grafted onto a sequence in an fine art house film the main character is filming. This happens early on and I almost put down the volume after reading it. The cheapness, the obviousness of this gag nettled me. Information technology was beneath the author to use information technology, and even below the pathetic author/director grapheme in the book who penned it in this fictional world.
There are a number of minor low points in this volume, but this 'Seinfeld' thing is the worst. But, because Owen tosses in everything, at that place will be scenes and lines and characters that detract. It's well-nigh to be expected with a book like this. But believe me when I say the good far outweighs the bad in this book. And there are elements, many elements, that are truly smashing.
Booth, for instance. If there is one reason to read this book, it is to feel this ingenious character portrait.
I loved Booth.
The story engine used hither is the farce and this novel has many of the goofy trappings of the farce. Simply I'm not sure that it needed any of that. Some of information technology worked, some was eye roll-inducing. So, if y'all're one who tin't handle improbable situations, coincidences, broad physical humour, juvenile sight gags, and dick jokes, you might want to steer clear.
Oh, besides, if you call up this is a horror novel because Stephen King'south son wrote information technology, don't fifty-fifty bother picking it upwards.
This is non a horror novel.
This is non a horror novel.
This is not a horror novel.
But Owen does throw in an absolutely grand tribute to one of his dad's favorite books, The Great God Pan. So, even though this one'due south not horror, I merely know Owen'south pop was grinning from ear to ear while reading this thing. Human being, information technology'due south that skillful.
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What a thwarting. I listened to this on audio, so I am willing to requite this one another shot…eventually. Right now, I experience every bit if I missed something. I listened to all 16 hours of this book and I am fairly certain it was about absolutely cypher. I couldn't tell you the point of the book if I had to.
I saw so many reviews where it said how funny this volume was. I never laughed once. In fact, I grimaced a lot. I don't become information technology. Maybe it's one of those times where it'due south m
xvi hours of my life gone.What a disappointment. I listened to this on audio, and so I am willing to give this i another shot…eventually. Right now, I feel as if I missed something. I listened to all 16 hours of this book and I am adequately certain it was about admittedly zilch. I couldn't tell you the point of the book if I had to.
I saw so many reviews where it said how funny this book was. I never laughed once. In fact, I grimaced a lot. I don't go it. Perchance it's one of those times where it'due south me and not the book, simply I really am so disappointed. I am truly at a loss.
When I saw Stephen King speak at Harvard last September, he spoke highly of his son's volume. Obviously. What father wouldn't? Just, I guess I always expected him to be more objective about information technology than he was. Or maybe I just didn't get it- the book that is. I really oasis't got a inkling what the book was saying.
It makes me lamentable to give out this 1 star rating to one of Sai King's children. But I take to do what I feel is right, even if it breaks my heart.
Someday down the road, I volition give this book another shot. I volition pick upwards a copy at the library and hope that I discover some sort of redeeming quality in it. I don't know. Similar I said, it could just be the subject thing. It could simply exist me (probably is). I but know I don't feel good near this book or about the rating I had to give it.
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Other than a thirteen-folio paragraph in the kickoff part of this book, I accept no other complaints about how Owen King handled Sam Dolan'south story, or the bittersweet tale of Sam's mother, which is interspersed throughout the book, giving th
A bully bargain of my enjoyment of this novel stems from my own life experiences: I'm a fan of contained movies; I had a rather crappy relationship with my father; I'one thousand a fan of books wherein flick lore play a large part; and I take an affection for corking writing.Other than a thirteen-page paragraph in the first role of this book, I have no other complaints virtually how Owen King handled Sam Dolan'southward story, or the bittersweet tale of Sam's female parent, which is interspersed throughout the book, giving the whole double characteristic effect that the title promises.
Unfortunately, everything that stands out in this book is a spoiler. I want you to read Double Feature, so I'll refrain from spoilerage. I didn't see many of the twists coming, and the one toward the cease, when Sam realizes whose testicles he'd crushed, particularly tricked me.
Owen'south debut novel is hilarious, that is, if you capeesh intelligent dick and fart jokes. Is there such a matter? Well, practice you lot enjoy Kevin Smith movies (the introspective ones, not Cop Out and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)? Y'all exercise! Great. You'll dig this volume. No? You say you lot can't stand the butterball manager from Cerise Banking company, New Jersey who's responsible for Ben Affleck's unabridged career? And then ya might wanna skip this 1. Yes, the book is filled with naughty language and awkward sexual references and a flatulent roommate, but information technology'due south also a touching drama with over-the-top characters who are easy to love fifty-fifty when you lot know you should hate them.
I connected with Sam immediately. The way he lived in his father's shadow, how everyone seemed to admire his dad when the truth was Berth Dolan was an untrustworthy bullshit artist. How inattentive his father was. Sam wanted to straight a meaningful movie to overshadow his father's B-picture past. I get that. After all, I'm a writer, and my father was illiterate.
One terminal thing before I wrap this upwardly. There's a character in this book named Rick Savini, who I mentioned in a status update reminded me of Steve Buschemi. Later on I made that update, I came beyond a section in the book where Savini checks into his hotel under the alias of Steven Pinkish. If you lot get it, practiced on you. I had a nice footling chuckle. I honey shit like that.
In summation: I establish this book endearing, heartbreaking, and express mirth-out-loud funny. I'd recommend information technology to anyone who's a fan of understated indie or fine art business firm films, or anyone who but enjoys damn fine writing.
Terminal Judgment: Better than a satyre humping a log.
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Sam Dolan, the protagonist of Owen King's novel "Double F
The indie film circuit is kind of where it's at at the moment. Hollywood has basically given up making anything original, solely churning out sequels, remakes, or superhero movies. Not that I don't look forward to "The Avengers 2", "Iron Man 4", or J.J. Abrams's "interpretation" of "Star Wars". I'm just maxim, if you want something original, character-driven, and minus CGI, independent films are pretty much the only affair going right now.Sam Dolan, the protagonist of Owen King'south novel "Double Feature" is an independent filmmaker. Correction: he was an contained filmmaker years ago. Unfortunately, his film "Who We Are" was sabotaged by a (literally) insane Assistant Director and was thought to be destroyed, but later turned up and became a midnight-flick cult archetype among higher kids, much to Sam's chagrin. Dolan now works equally a weddingographer, which is a fancy style of saying that he films weddings and edits them into clever films. He lives with a slob of a roommate, his little sis (step) is constantly bugging him with her relationship issues, he doesn't speak to his dad anymore---not since he left his mother years ago, and he is pathologically unable to engagement anyone who is NOT an asshole. He's not a happy guy.
Oh, well-nigh his dad. Sam's dad is the famous Berth Dolan, a popular B-movie actor/manager whose heyday was the mid-'70s to early-'80s. His movies are however historic for their horrendous acting, cheesy special effects, then-dumb-they-are-almost-profound scripts. Berth doesn't act or direct anymore either.
The novel'southward main action unrealistically takes place all in one weekend, but there are flashback scenes interspersed throughout. I say "unrealistically" considering and so many things happen and fall into identify plot-wise during the book's roughly iii days that it seems a little unbelievable, but then once more,life sometimes happens that way.
During one of his weddings, Sam meets a squeamish girl named Tess. He immediately runs away, because he has a horrible runway record with prissy girls: they usually dump him considering he is a melancholic asshole who hates everything. Unfortunately, she keeps calling him. So his teenaged stepsister Mina arrives at his apartment with upsetting news: his dad has stomach cancer.
The remainder of the novel is a humorous and rather touching reunion of begetter and son, piecing together a damaged relationship that was dysfunctional to begin with. King inhabits his novel with an ensemble bandage of lovably weird people. While the story is definitely character-driven, Rex does include a few nifty special furnishings.
Clearly, King loves the movies. Indeed, this novel is a beloved letter to the cinema, in all its forms, from the most avant-garde student film short to the lowest-budget B-pic to the latest billion-dollar CGI-driven Hollywood spectacle. In the best chapter in the volume, Sam and his begetter spend an entire day in a local multiplex, hopping from film to film, making ridiculous commentary all the while. All of the movies in the book are fictional, by the style, but King describes them so well, that y'all almost wish they were real.
I couldn't help but autumn in honey with this volume, mainly considering I share a honey of cinema with King. It's also but a darn good story, with a graphic symbol who definitely grew on me from his development from a shallow dickhead to a sad, messed-up kid who only forgot what information technology meant to have a family.
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His father Booth was more known for b movies and he felt he was going to do something more realistic more than meaningful. Pre production he needed backers funds to get the ball rolling. This story is of double kin male parent and son'south turbulent days in making it and breaking it into the pic industr 'Who Nosotros Are' was to be a moving picture that would take most of the main protagonists life energy through deaths and love and his human relationship with his father will all see the talk and workings of this picture never end.
His male parent Berth was more known for b movies and he felt he was going to do something more realistic more meaningful. Pre product he needed backers funds to get the ball rolling. This story is of double kin father and son's turbulent days in making it and breaking it into the picture industry.
Sam has high regard for the pic Dog Day Afternoon. Know that if a double characteristic screening with East.T and and so DoG Day Afternoon that Sam has had his manus it coming to fruition. This was a mellow kind of story not explosive in that location is some bizarre and strange behaviors included, well a human being and strange beliefs with a tree falls into that category, a nice accept on the work that went into a movie beingness information technology a first effort at making a moving-picture show by someone who'southward begetter has his proper name already out at that place in no so glamorous films.
Sam uses a great technique in this story to warn a beau of his sisters via watching a DVD of nastiness with him.
This was a notable work on the flip side of a film, the world effectually pre and post production, the directors, producers and actors be they somewhat obscure in this story.
"Sam watched from the doorway. Eastward.T was among his least favorite movies. He thought information technology was sentimental and disingenuous. In E.T. The kids saved the day. His won childhood of divorce had unquestionably had its moments, but what he remembered most was feeling bewildered and ineffectual. Also E.T was magic, and magic annoyed Sam. Magic was puppets, lighting, computer animation, and latex.""And information technology was just a ii-shot. The director hadn't intruded, the actors hadn't seemed similar actors, and it was so accurate, so recognisable; the exchange was the sum of every dismayed realisation ever shared betwixt two men throughout history. It wasn't as well much to say that until he saw that moment in that picture show, Sam had never come shut to comprehending how agonisingly hard information technology was to explicate yourself to another person, to make him see you as yous really were. It was like trying to explicate Wyoming.
The few films Sam loved were the antithesis of dishonest. There was often sense of humor in them, and sometimes romance and adventure, but in each case the directors steered them to a conclusion that was resonant-undeniable-and spared no one, certainly not the audience.""In the winter months, he saw his movie a hundred times. Seated at the desk in his apartment, at the window overlooking the parking lot, he watched it coil across the frosted panes and idea information technology was beautiful and perfect. Who we are was going to give shape to something that had been nipping at him and his friends for their entire lives. It was the story of the generational burden they carried, their shared realisation that null made sense until it was to late to be changed, that they were never given anything like a real chance."
"Are whatever of yous familiar with the concept of the double characteristic? No?
A double feature is a showing of two movies back to back. The double feature was the staple of the drive-in movie theater. A single ticket provided you an unabridged night'due south amusement.
Just the 2nd motion picture of the double feature was ever amend than the outset picture. They saved it for afterwards, when information technology was good and dark, when the images on the screen could be seen with the greatest clarity. Considering that was the one you actually wanted to see. The kickoff film was simply the warm-up. The double feature often began while in that location was nevertheless some lite, and it could exist hazy. Everything was perfect for the 2nd motion-picture show, though. The second movie had all the exciting stuff: the scares and the surprises and the parts that y'all'd call up and want to discuss afterwards."
http://more2read.com/review/double-feature-by-owen-king/
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And today I picked upward the copy of a chapbook given out at a book signing. This is a series of deleted scenes and scrapbook entries. We'll, I enjoyed it and information technology brought back some of what I felt when reading Double Feature.
First off, Owen King has a brilliant imagination. I am fascinated with the fictional motion picture career of Booth Dolan, and the flick industry glimpses we become of Sam Dolan equally he works on his own production.
For much of this
So I read this in May, merely didn't write a review. I meant to.And today I picked up the copy of a chapbook given out at a volume signing. This is a serial of deleted scenes and scrapbook entries. We'll, I enjoyed information technology and it brought back some of what I felt when reading Double Feature.
Outset off, Owen King has a vivid imagination. I am fascinated with the fictional movie career of Booth Dolan, and the picture industry glimpses nosotros get of Sam Dolan as he works on his own production.
For much of this book, I was going "huh?" every bit I wasn't exactly sure where information technology was going. It seemed to shift around at volition, like a Coen Brothers or Tarantino movie. But that's a skilful affair!
As I read these little extras, I really had that impression reinforced. Four months later, and the positive feel I got when finishing this book remained, much every bit it does years after watching a film by one of those directors. That says something.
This is a book that I will want to read once more someday. I believe that with all its little nuances and details, in that location will exist little gems to uncover with each reading. I already felt that was happening as I read again the included "75 Things That Cause Unnecessary Fatigue" in this cool little bonus scene collection.
If this volume and Owen King'south showtime, We're All In This Together: A Novella and Stories are any indication, we can expect frontward to a brilliant career for the writer.
Well done, sir.
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Underneath all of the humour and applesauce in the story, however, there is an underlay of sorrow and acknowledgment of man fragility and resilience by which we are reminded that though an entertainment, this is not a cheap one. Mr. King is certainly not to a higher place delivering cheap thrills and cheap laughs here and there (there are many more than thrills and laughs though from the story'southward cleverness and originality), but he does so in the service of a call for usa to regard each other --and those who make our arts and entertainments -- perhaps a chip more than forgivingly, a flake more generously. Every bit it unfolds, Double Feature throws into question the dichotomy between high and depression art, serious and unserious work, proficient and bad people.
But ultimately this is a story about family and finding a home in the world. You may not e'er like the father-son duo of Booth and Sam Dolan, you about certainly won't always approve of them, just you will be interested by them and may even love them a piffling by story's end. Transforming mere interest into imperative is function of the magic of storytelling -- as it is after all part of the magic of dear. Mr. King channels that magic towards a worthy far shore. By the terminate of the offset deed, yous will need to know what becomes of Berth and Sam Dolan. And you will not regret the at-times crazy journey to observe out.
Hither is hoping that you enjoy reading Double Feature equally much as I will enjoy rereading it. (This review also appeared on Amazon.com)
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L/C Ratio: xc% Literary / 10% Commercial
Thematic Breakdown:
35% - Filmmaking
25% - Family
xx% - Beloved
xv% - Dreams
five% - Humor
Addictiveness: Depression
Movie Potential: 2 Thumbs Down
Re-readability: Medium
To put information technology bluntly, Double Feature is a catastrophe. In that location's no question that Owen King (son of Stephen King and brother of Joe Loma) is carrying the family's literary cistron, merely in his debut novel, he squanders that talent with a pretentious, haphazard, and at times disturbing story that sorely needed
Class: DL/C Ratio: 90% Literary / 10% Commercial
Thematic Breakdown:
35% - Filmmaking
25% - Family
20% - Love
xv% - Dreams
5% - Humor
Addictiveness: Low
Picture show Potential: 2 Thumbs Down
Re-readability: Medium
To put information technology bluntly, Double Feature is a catastrophe. There's no question that Owen King (son of Stephen Male monarch and brother of Joe Hill) is conveying the family's literary gene, simply in his debut novel, he squanders that talent with a pretentious, haphazard, and at times disturbing story that sorely needed an editor with more than gumption.
Not a single character in Double Characteristic speaks like a normal homo beingness, and the scenes written from the perspective of children are extra clumsy. Male monarch pairs that unnatural dialogue with a plot that jumps around needlessly, which dampens the moments that are meant to feel poignant.
The greatest failure of Double Characteristic is the mindset of its narrator, an ambitious young filmmaker who hates his father for 2 reasons: considering the human being was likewise busy starring in bad Hollywood flicks to be a good parent, and because he cheated on the narrator's female parent. Both are valid grudges on the surface, but Male monarch leaves gaping holes around them. He never explains why the narrator's family stays in New York when his father works nearly exclusively in Hollywood. And to the second point, the narrator himself sleeps with a wife throughout the novel without ever recognizing his ain hypocrisy.
Perhaps that's the indicate. Mayhap Male monarch wants the reader to be frustrated and bellyaching and turned off by the chief character. But if and then, it's a poor strategy for writing a book that you hope people will savour.
I final notation – King has gone on the record to say that Double Feature is non meant to be interpreted as autobiographical in whatever manner. But that only makes his literary choices more misreckoning. Every bit the son of a famous entertainer, how can you write a book about a man with a famous entertainer for a begetter and then not expect people to depict a connection?
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At that place's a lot going on here all at once. It was fast and slow and deep and juvenile. (Yep, I liked the juvenile parts.) I'm still not sure wtf just happened hither. Merely, I liked information technology.
Canning jars total of shaved foot warts, Orson Wells idol worship, one-hair mole prosthetic proboscis, 75 Things That Cause Unnecessary Fatigue, penis shaped floral arrangements, botched Mucinex overdose suicide attempts, duck call flatulence, mail service-gild airline c
Life is a snapping turtle in the eye of the route.At that place's a lot going on hither all at one time. Information technology was fast and slow and deep and juvenile. (Yes, I liked the juvenile parts.) I'thousand still not sure wtf just happened here. But, I liked it.
Canning jars total of shaved foot warts, Orson Wells idol worship, one-pilus mole prosthetic proboscis, 75 Things That Cause Unnecessary Fatigue, penis shaped floral arrangements, botched Mucinex overdose suicide attempts, duck call flatulence, postal service-order airline catalog swag, a GTO in a maple and a goat horned tripod Satyr.
I am glad I gave this ane a get. Owen has skills. Not simply because "he's a King" skills, only genuine writing chops. Otherwise, this affair would have been a total mess. I'm still not sure how he held all the moving parts together long enough to go far as entertaining every bit information technology was. Some truly classic and well-drawn characters hither. Surprisingly funny at times with enough of wit bantered throughout equally well. Very nicely done.
iv+ Stars and Highly Recommended. (If yous are strictly looking for an SK-esque or a Hill tale, and so this may not be your blueberry.) Definitely not horror and should not exist compared to his Rex family namesakes' previous works, but alas, I don't retrieve he volition ever go away from that, unfortunately. That's the life of a King, I suppose.
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Here's a little review I contributed to the Philadelphia Review of Books: http://philareview.com/2013/03/twenty/som...
An agreeable, enjoyable, self-critical, post-metafictional romp featuring a picture involving a Santa-bearded satyr doing a tree, a cuckolded German Yankee catcher, talk about the mimes in "Blow Up," and consistently clever/kinetic riffs and scenes in role well-nigh begetter/son problems and many other pairs, or "doubles."Here's a niggling review I contributed to the Philadelphia Review of Books: http://philareview.com/2013/03/20/som...
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The main character, Sam, has a somewhat famous Father who fabricated a career out of making B horror movies, and Sam is trying to enhance money to movie his first movie. He has to beg and deal, and finally gets enough cash, and one "known" human activity
I wanted to like this book much more than I did, peradventure because I am a fan of Stephen Rex. His son Joe Hill is also quite a skillful author, a bit more sentimental than his Dad. Simply this volume from Owen King was hard for me to terminate, I really couldn't get into it.The primary grapheme, Sam, has a somewhat famous Father who fabricated a career out of making B horror movies, and Sam is trying to raise coin to film his first pic. He has to beg and bargain, and finally gets enough greenbacks, and one "known" actor to play a office. The film is "Who We Are" and it is about a few days in the life of a bunch of college kids who live on campus. So all in all, that wasn't very interesting. There are a few twists, and the 2d part of the book gets a piffling better. But it could accept used a big edit job, and I didn't feel I got anything out of it. Perhaps I missed something.
Owen King swears the book is in no way autobiographical, but Sam is jealous of his Father and has abandonment problems regarding him. And then he goes into the same field of work. Hmmm...? As far equally I know, the King family gets forth well enough.
Others liked it, maybe the plot was not my loving cup of tea. Simply Sam is determined to be miserable, in spite of having parents who dear him and try to sympathize him. He is having an affair with a woman he used to dear who is now married and a Female parent, and they are however seeing each other. I thought the whole plot stunk, there was nothing worthwhile nigh it.
Maybe other readers will feel differently. Apparently Owen has written other books, had a great educational activity, and teaches some writing classes in tony colleges, so information technology could just be the topics didn't take hold of me. I would be interested in any insights on this book from other readers.
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This book tells the story of Sam Dolan, from a young male child to the grown, cynical man he becomes. Sam has wanted to be a director since he was young, partially as a response to his fat
Information technology took me a few days to think about this volume one time I finished it....and it's nonetheless making me think. 1 thing Owen King is is a main at characterization! This novel is completely graphic symbol driven and he has a knack of painting these characters so realistically, that I could almost swear that I met them personally!This book tells the story of Sam Dolan, from a young male child to the grown, cynical human he becomes. Sam has wanted to be a director since he was young, partially as a response to his father'due south existence a famous B-movie histrion. Sam really sees life as though information technology was one large picture show. From scene to scene, zoom in, zoom out. Life is often times a comedy, a drama and even a tragedy. The story is both extremely realistic, only at the same time a flake absurd and funny at times.
I actually enjoyed this book! It's very difficult to say more than that without giving something away to the story. There is merely then much going on, and something y'all might see as being a small-scale role of information technology, actually ends upwards existence very important in the long run! I volition definitely be looking for more Owen King in the future!
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This book was seriously difficult to get into, but I concluded up sort of obsessed with the characters. There is no style people like this exist, but at the same time, I know people just like every ane of them, including me. For film fans, in that location's a lot of fun stuff, the ending is smile-inducing, and I laughed a lot. I just wish it had been friendlier when I first met information technology.
**Update** I think most this book all the time, and then I'm giving it another star for its staying power.This volume was seriously hard to get into, but I concluded up sort of obsessed with the characters. There is no fashion people like this exist, but at the same time, I know people just like every one of them, including me. For picture fans, in that location'due south a lot of fun stuff, the catastrophe is smile-inducing, and I laughed a lot. I just wish it had been friendlier when I first met information technology.
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Sadly I've given up. When you get to folio 100 and not a single thing has happened that interests you or grab your attention, then I remember information technology'southward time to give up. I actually enjoyed Owen kings other book "we're all in this together " so I was quite looking forrad to this one.
Sadly I've given up. When you get to page 100 and not a single matter has happened that interests you or grab your attending, then I think it's time to requite upwards. ...more
Spring cutting to: I loved reading the script pages from Sam Dolan's fated educatee film. It'south like Less Than Cipher with Woody Allen jokes and Paul Giamatti dealing drugs from a bathroom stall. That it becomes less Less Than Zero and more than The Secret History - if by The Hole-and-corner History I mean outtakes from a snuff recreation of The Wicker Man - is nothing brusk of miraculous. Miraculous here meaning tragic, with all the associated emotions.
But it's not merely nigh birthing a movie. It's about having parents, realising that perhaps beingness and so sure of yourself in your early twenties isn't mayhap such a expert thing. It's about love and art and noses. Double Characteristic is a damn fine book and equally for Owen King - well, you tin blame him for my slightly narcissistic, overly rambling excuse for a review and praise him for his wonderful book.
End credits: whilst reading I thought that I should finally get around to reading the copy I have of Rosebud, my favourite film critic David Thomson's book on Welles. Lo and behold, Owen references it at the end. So read information technology I must. Merely not quite yet, I feel I couldn't do it justice without wearing a cape and snout. And I find myself sadly out of both.
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One of the challenges of a book like this, about a rather snarky young man and his famous, irritating father, is that ii-thirds of the criticism of it has been speculation most whether or non we're meant to read Sam every bit author Owen King and Booth has Owen's famous father Stephen King. I did not care about this trouble as I read the book, but I was securely aware of information technology equally I read, and I foun
I have more mixed feelings about this book than four stars might suggest, but it has stuck with me. And so. 4.One of the challenges of a book like this, well-nigh a rather snarky young man and his famous, irritating father, is that ii-thirds of the criticism of it has been speculation about whether or non we're meant to read Sam as author Owen King and Booth has Owen'due south famous begetter Stephen Male monarch. I did not care about this trouble as I read the book, but I was deeply enlightened of it as I read, and I found having to call up about it (even to dismiss it) abrasive and distracting. Then I wish that Owen (whom I collaborate with on Twitter and like) had written a book that did not lend itself to speculation this way.
About the book itself... At that place are moments, especially among supporting characters, that are just spot on terrific. The narrative is a little squirrelly, moving backwards and forrad in time asSam experiences the now or remembers the then. I'm non sure it needed to be quite and then weavy. Sam is non a especially sympathetic grapheme - and because almost all the other characters are too not very sympathetic, sometimes one gets tired of dealing with them.
And yet. I kept reading, and I think about the volume a lot. It's not a perfect novel, but every bit Sam comes to terms with (some) of his past, the story comes together more smoothly. It finally starts to brand sense, and the points that Sam makes throughout the volume with themes, scenes, and lines from his favorite movies finally gel into something resembling resolution. I can't say much more than without spoilers, I guess, but I should mention that I volition exist thinking about the movie-within-a-novel that circulates on the midnight movie circuit, nigh that lamentable, odd Satyr, for a long fourth dimension.
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And so I'm going to effort non to requite also much abroad here.
I'll merely say that whil
Originally I planned to simply put a function of the review from my blog here, only it turns out I am not done with my thoughts virtually Double Characteristic. I'll start out by saying that I haven't read whatever other reviews of it, actually, just skimmed them. Considering I find the surest way to destroy my enjoyment of a book or movie is to know likewise much about it going in. Information technology raises expectations in a way that never seems to work out well for me.Then I'm going to endeavor non to give too much away hither.
I'll just say that while a lot of people seem to have gotten "enjoyable read" out of this—and that's what I expected, really—I connected with information technology securely. Viscerally.
Yes, information technology's well-written. Very witty. Very smart. About the get-go, in fact, I thought maybe it was *also* well-written, a piddling glib. Right at that moment it veered (except "veered" suggests an uncontrolled motion; this was more than the kind of graceful curving and swooping at which professional ice skaters excel) into territory that resonated deeply. Forgiveness, redemption, self-sensation: those are all pretty large deals to me. And the journey that Sam took with Booth is i I would give a lot—a lot—to be able to take myself.
One final note: A friend of mine didn't care for the ending, and I get that, simply I idea of it as kind of an homage to a certain kind of picture show, which is all I'm going to say.
Also: Orson Welles. ORSON WELLES.
...more than
Double Characteristic is bright in means that will leave yous recognizing your ain reflection and thoughts in places you didn't know they were kept...where we are all intricately dislocated layers of scar tissue and twisted sinew ...spending time trying to turn ourselves into the butterflies that we will mostly never be...while we strive to hopefully recognize the usefulness of our resiliency, our beautiful dissymmetry and the warmth we can have and provide.
Funny, tragic, graphic symbol-driven, thought provoking, necessary. Buy a copy for yourself and then for someone else y'all love.
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As the synopsis says, these are for fans of Jo
This is a hard book to describe, and it's definitely not for anybody---it's a little rambly and all over the identify and more than a footling weird in the all-time manner. But if yous're someone who loves movies and clever dialogue and books that brand yous laugh out loud so much that you lot don't notice that you're reading a book that's really really, really GOOD until you're a several chapters in and you're absolutely enthralled...well, this is the book for you.As the synopsis says, these are for fans of Joshua Ferris and Sam Lipsyte, just I'd add Jonathan Tropper. Like Tropper, I would laugh one minute and tear upward a few pages subsequently.
Of course, for me, the best part was the fact that Sam was obviously a huge fan of movies. While nosotros don't concord on everything*, nosotros agree on enough that I want to see everything that Sam loves. He's a huge fan of the movie Dog Day Afternoon, which I haven't seen (yet). I tin't await to come across it. And yes, I realize that I'thousand talking about Sam like he'southward (a) real and (b) my friend. But shut upwards, he sort of is. Except that he doesn't like ET.
I honey this book and I want to make everyone read it. Highly recommended.
* = Sam is not a fan of ET. I don't sympathize this.
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I know this novel is supposed to be funny--and in many places it is--merely I couldn't help just experience sorrow for the protagonist, mainl
Haunted by his ruined student film, Sam Dolan stumbles through his twenty'due south and early 30'southward, directionless and ambivalent, trying his hardest not to become too worked up over anybody or anything. When he meets tenacious Tess, he comes to terms with his past and learns that, hey, life isn't half bad. If you stick around long enough, things can even have a turn for the better.I know this novel is supposed to be funny--and in many places it is--but I couldn't help merely feel sorrow for the protagonist, mainly considering he had every right to be bitter and angst-ridden.
What King achieved here is a meandering (and I mean that in a practiced fashion) tale of credence and letting get.
Was the catastrophe too syrupy and perfect? Maybe--but, like in movies, isn't that how you actually want your stories to end?
So, Double Feature by Owen King?
Yeah, I'd take it.
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Cons: There are no words to describe how much I hated this book. The manner it was written made me want to throw this book at a wall, and once information technology was o
Pros: Owen King weaves an interesting story virtually a young moving-picture show director and his dad, an crumbling thespian. Their relationship as well as his younger sister is detailed, and it definitely has its ups and downs. When the film director'southward first flick is botched and turned into a viral Net sensation, it's up to him to reinvent himself. Only does he want to?Cons: At that place are no words to describe how much I hated this volume. The way information technology was written made me want to throw this volume at a wall, and once information technology was over I did throw it across the room. Every grapheme in Double Feature is basically pathetic, only the ending really made me aroused.
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Do you need more than that?
And so yous should read the book, shouldn't you?
(And, equally an aside, if you happen to read their review over at the AV Club, they kinda missed the point. Simply sayin'.)
Owen Male monarch and his novel DOUBLE Characteristic are responsible for me getting absolutely cipher done today. I have not sat down and just read a book because information technology's that compelling in Christ knows how long. DOUBLE FEATURE did that today.Do you lot demand more than that?
So you should read the book, shouldn't you?
(And, as an bated, if y'all happen to read their review over at the AV Club, they kinda missed the betoken. Just sayin'.)
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The plot and the characters and the sense of history affecting the present all reminded me of JI.
Happily I Really bask Irving, and I actually liked this book.
My next novel, The Curator, will be appearing in 2023. More than on that soon!
My wife is the cute and mysterious Kelly Braffet. She has written four wonderful books, and the newest is The Cleaved Tower.
Here are what a couple of my favorite authors were nice enough to say nearly Double Characteristic:
"What a kinetic, joyful, gonzo ride—Double Feature made me laugh so loudly on a plane that I had to draw the plot of Sam's Spruce Moose of a debut flick (information technology stars a satyr) to my seatmate by fashion of explanation. Booth and Sam are an unforgettable Oedipal duo. A book that delivers walloping pleasures to its lucky readers." - Karen Russell, writer of Swamplandia!
"Sharp, hilarious, and irreverent, Double Feature is not only a love-letter to picture palace, but also a moving exploration of what information technology means to be an creative person. This novel is brilliant, and Owen King is a magician." - Lauren Groff, writer of Fates and Furies and Arcadia
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Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/15802120
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