The Godfather
Man, I had no idea how loyal of an adaptation Francis Ford Coppola's film was to this novel. Nearly every piece of dialogue in that movie came straight from the pages of this incredible book. Also, yes, I said incredible.
While I did have a few issues with the storytelling (I'll get into those later), I felt that Mario Puzo did a tremendous job at taking the reader on an extremely entertaining journey through the reign of the Corleone organized crime family.
The story begins with an introduction into an array of characters all connected through their shared need for the services of Don Vito Corleone. At the wedding of the Don's daughter, these characters all approach the "Godfather" to voice their requests. They are not disappointed. It's through these interactions that the world of the novel is established.
One of my favorite aspects of the Godfather is the fact that, despite its reputation as a quintessential crime drama, the novel's primary focus is on the tenets of leadership, relationships and family. It's because of this focus that the novel succeeds in connecting so well with its audience. While the various business and strategic portions of the book are interesting, it's the interpersonal drama and complicated relationships that draw the reader in.
"Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family" - Don Vito Corleone
Vito Corleone is set up as a man of authority. He's extremely intelligent, formidable and self-controlled. He approaches the operations of his Family as a master chess player: observant, patient and relentless. This approach and attitude precipitates his rise to the top of the New York City underworld.
Ironically enough, the majority of the novel showcases much of the seeming decline of the Corleone family. After the refusal of Sollozzo's offer, the future of the family is thrown into disarray. The Don is put out of action and the war of the five families ensues. It's through these turn of events that the main arc of the story takes shape. The Don must pass the baton to a worthy successor, but who will it be? How could anyone hope to lead the organization with as much tactical ability and might as the Godfather?
I mentioned before that I did have a few issues with Puzo's writing. The chief problem I encountered was the oftentimes jarring nonlinear storytelling. I have nothing against the writing choice in and of itself, but there are many instances (especially in the second half) in which Puzo would cut away from the drama and take the reader into a tangential anecdote concerning another character or less-interesting subplot. These instances didn't bother me as much early on, mostly due to the fact that Puzo was still introducing the reader to the world and cast of characters of The Godfather through exposition. However, by the latter half of the book, I found it frankly annoying when an entire chapter ended up being dedicated to the backstory of a character that literally makes two or three appearances in the novel. It just felt out of place and somewhat unnecessary.
Another slight criticism is Puzo's attitude towards women and African-Americans as presented in his writing. Defenders of the book would most likely argue that it ought to be read within the context of its publication date. Fair enough, but the speaker throughout this narrative constantly berates female characters. They are extremely one-note, lacking dimension or function within the story (other than lusting after men). Again, by the second half of this book, I found this pattern a bit annoying. Though Kay Adams and Lucy Mancini are given more to do in the story's plot, they are still introduced to the reader as women serving no real purpose besides satisfying the lusts of men. Similarly, Black characters (there aren't many) are presented as dull, of no consequence and purely self-destructive.
Besides those criticisms, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to purchasing a copy of my own. There are so many nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout this text. It was such a powerful and entertaining read. Would definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction.
The Spectacular Spider-Man #2 (1968)
First of all, I have to give credit where it’s due. The CRYPTIC CRITIC on Blogspot.com published a review of this graphic novel back in 2010.
Link to his review
I had never heard of this masterpiece until having read his review. When I became aware of its being nearly 60 PAGES LONG, I immediately scoured the internet to find a digital copy. Man, what an incredible experience it was!!!
SUMMARY:
It’s not entirely clear at what point this issue takes place in the timeline of the Amazing Spider-Man. However, judging by Mary Jane’s haircut, it’s probably safe to assume that it’s somewhere around Amazing #64 (roughly 25 issues since the Goblin’s last appearance).
Tensions are on the rise from the very first splash page of the issue. Norman Osborn has invited Peter and Harry to his “Executive Club,” in which Capt. George Stacy is conducting an in-depth presentation on various arch-enemies of Spider-Man. When the Green Goblin’s segment is underway, Norman appears increasingly unstable. Peter’s awareness of this instability only intensifies with time. Eventually, Norman collapses, and is transported to a hospital.
Much of the early portion of this comic is spent providing exposition. The reader is taken through brief flashbacks of the events of Amazing #39 and #40 in which the Goblin discovered Peter’s true identity. Once the exposition is through, the drama of this tale kicks off.
From Norman’s hospital bed, the tortured businessman finally pinpoints the source of his distress: he is the Goblin. The transformation is complete. With the awareness of his villainous alter-ego, Osborn ventures to exit the hospital and retreat to one of his many hidden Goblin lairs. Donning the costume, he sets out to put an end to Spider-Man once and for all. However, there’s a slight twist in this plan as we later discover.
The next segment of this issue reminded me of why I love Peter Parker so. Having been told about Norman’s mysterious departure from the hospital, Peter’s mind races. His greatest fear isn’t of the Goblin showing up and killing him. Rather, what he fears most is the Goblin revealing his true identity to Aunt May (thus, causing her grave emotional distress). I love it.
Frantic, Peter throws on his costume and combs through the city. He neglects to find the Goblin, so in slight relief, he returns home. The following evening, he gets a phone call from Harry Osborn, who claims Norman returned home and is throwing a party celebrating his returned wellness that night. Peter is invited.
Thus, the central drama of this issue sets off. Peter attends the Osborns’ party, anticipating the ulterior motives of Norman (the Goblin).
To my understanding, this portion of the story was loosely adapted into Spider-Man (2002). Peter, Gwen, MJ, Harry and Norman all share dinner over the Osborns’ table, and Norman is playfully attempting to get Peter’s secret identity out in the open. I LOVED this part of the story. It’s so intense, and it highlights one of Peter Parker’s greatest dilemmas: being a super hero whose identity is hidden in order to protect his loved ones.
After dinner, Peter comes up with a brilliant plan to divert the attention of the partygoers (and Norman). He makes a web-ball, and tosses it into the fireplace. As the smoke fills the living room, Peter’s friends quickly evade the house. Meanwhile, Norman tears through the room in search of his nemesis.
I love the duality of this portion of the tale. Both Peter and Norman don their respective costumes as they prepare for the impending conflict. Finally, after nearly 40 pages, we’re getting to the action!!! And boy, does it deliver.
John Romita Sr. and Jim Mooney are in their elements with this masterpiece. Every page is filled with large action-filled panels, vibrant colors and captivating imagery. They leave nothing to be desired, and right when you think it can’t get any better, it does.
The Goblin reveals a brand new weapon, a smoking pumpkin bomb. Is it an explosive? Well, yes and no. Spidey braces for the bomb to go off, but instead, a mysterious gas is emitted. It isn’t long before our hero discovers it to be a hallucinogenic.
The following page reveals an extraordinary splash page of Spider-Man struggling against the hallucinations of this gas. It’s such an amazing moment, and extremely unexpected. Initially, he sees the Goblin in a trippy LSD-esque caricature. The apparitions transition into various creatures, then the people closest to the hero, and eventually some of Spidey’s most notorious enemies (The Kingpin, Rhino, Doc Ock, etc.) Again, this comic is amazing!!!
The turning point of the conflict occurs at this point. Again, this epic story points out some of the greatest qualities of Spider-Man as a character. Instead of cowering in defeat over these drug-induced specters, our hero turns to his intellect. How can Spidey outsmart the Goblin with his own medicine (quite literally)?
Spider-Man returns to hand-to-hand combat with the Goblin, and eventually succeeds in taking him down and removing his mask. He then begins to execute his ingenious plan. Snatching another of the Goblin’s hallucinogenic bombs, Spidey traps the Goblin in a psychedelic nightmare of his own making. During the episode, our hero masterfully manages to convince Norman of the Goblin’s insanity, and conditions Osborn to fear the Goblin and Spider-Man. The plan works!
The issue ends much like many of the other Goblin stories do. Norman forgets everything, Peter brings him to the hospital, and everything seemingly goes back to normal. I love how the last panel of the comic shows Peter taking MJ and Gwen out. The most reluctant ladies’ man in history!
THOUGHTS:
Man, this comic is so well-written!! Seriously, there were so many points in which I verbally said, “Wow, that’s amazing!!!” Stan Lee just understood Peter Parker on such a deep level, and it really shows here.
Most of my other thoughts are all throughout my summary of this gem. John Romita Sr. is on his A-Game. Jim Mooney brings such vibrancy and life. Lee isn’t pulling his punches. It’s just a great testament to Marvel comics, and the overarching silver age of comics in general. What a moment!
If you haven’t read this issue before, it’s available on Kindle through Amazon for like $2 (yes, literally 2 dollars). It’s definitely worth the read. One of these days, I’m going to get a physical copy.
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The Great Gatsby
I really didn't expect to enjoy this story as much as I did. Is it perfect? By no means. However, I think there are many elements in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby that warrant closer examination and analysis.
The story is told through Nick Carraway, a 29-year-old from the midwest that has just settled into Long Island, New York City. Over the course of six months or so, Nick becomes increasingly aware of his extremely wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who regularly hosts parties at his abode. Nick is invited to one of these parties, and subsequently meets Gatsby, himself. At this point, the novel takes off.
One of my favorite aspects of Gatsby was the prose. Fitzgerald masterfully paints a picture of the affluent lives of the New York City gentry class during the roaring twenties. The dialogue is enthralling. The scenes at Gatsby's property seemed almost other-worldly. The revelry, carelessness and arrogance were fascinating.
I read a few of the reviews of this book, and I wasn't aware of how much hate it had generated. I will concede that almost every character of the story (chiefly the story's namesake) is despicable and unsympathetic. Additionally, there are portions of the text that drag a little.
Nonetheless, I had an awesome time reading through this novel. There's much more that I could write, but I wouldn't want to spoil anything.
Event Time
May 2, 2021
Man! It’s been a busy past few weeks. April 22-23, I worked at this year’s @Qideas Culture Summit conference in Nashville, TN. What an exhilarating experience!
I got the chance to interview some of the leading voices in the evangelical world, discussing issues such as Christian Nationalism, Race and Social Justice, Journalism and many more.
It’s always a blast to get opportunities to shoot content, but it’s even more invigorating when the content is spiritually stimulating and challenges your thinking.
My workspace was backstage, where I hosted speakers for expert Q&As through @zoom. My setup utilized two @blackmagicnewsofficial cinema 6K cameras, a three light setup, and a classic countryman mic and @zoomsoundlab.
I’m so excited about getting these assets edited. These were some really strong conversations and dialogues!
Trying Something New
January 28, 2021
I wear a lot of different hats. Yesterday, I was running sound at my local church. It was not a role that I sought out. I didn't even know that I could do it.
But there's an amazing thing that often happens when you obediently serve a need. And you don't have to be an expert! A willing and servant heart is all that is required.
When I took this picture, I saw people's hands raised in worship. I heard the voices of people from all different walks of life honoring God. And I felt the humility of knowing that God had saw fit for me to colabor with him in bringing these people into spiritual proximity. It was an honor. Truly.
The Souls of Black Folk
January 16, 2021
I have to be honest. I had a hard time getting into this book. The first chapter pulled me in, but the following chapters nearly scared me away. So much history. So much storytelling. I wasn't ready. But that therein lies the brilliance of Du Bois in The Souls of Black Folk.
Imagine asking an African-American professor to explain racism in the U.S. to you. Instead of walking up to the whiteboard and seeking to draw out every analytical point regarding the subject, the instructor invites you on a spontaneous road trip. You and the instructor then drive through the post Civil War South, and he explains visually every example, remnant and byproduct of racism in the South.
This is what The Souls of Black Folk is. It's almost like reading the script of a documentary in which Du Bois takes the listener through the history of Emancipation, Reconstruction and the modern-day Black experience. Though it is often extremely dense, Du Bois's prose is so strong, and his empathy and heartbreak permeate so many of his essays.
Many will have difficulty accompanying Du Bois in the entirety of this metaphorical "road trip," but to those that stay the course, you will not walk away from his writings the same. They will change you, and your heart will ache for the unseen, undervalued and marginalized in today's society.