You've Read The Book Now See The Movie

[Rainer]

The recent post about the Cohen's "No Country For Old Men" made me wonder: love the book, hate the book .... is that a carrot or a stick?

[bruce]

Heres mine love the Matt Helm books hate with a passion the movies. This coming from a fan of Dean Martin.

[Rainer]

This coming from a fan of Dean Martin.

My hero:

[youtube]VtccyBpUCkg[/youtube]

[samir]

I've read 'No Country...' and was a little underwhelmed with the ending... eager to see the film, though, since everyone seems to love it. One day it'll expand to Florida, I hope.

[bruce]

This coming from a fan of Dean Martin.

My hero:

Ever read Dino - Nick Tosches

[Rainer]

Ever read Dino - Nick Tosches

Yes, incredible book.

[jane]

I read a second hand copy of Nick Tosches' Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll at the beach this summer.

Pretty good.  I like the way it's written more than I'm interested in hearing the actual music but I recommend it for the vibrant writing.
I haven't heard most of the records he mentions and anyones I have heard haven't impressed me (though they're interesting historically) but the way the guy writes about them makes them sound really exciting.  He talks about the beginnings of rock and roll and the musicians' rise to fame.  Some of them die before they reach it because their lives are so crazy.

[Rainer]

I read a second hand copy of Nick Tosches' Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll at the beach this summer.

That's the one non-fiction (albeit, most of them are) Tosches book I haven't read.  Shall pick that up.

His examination of Emmett Miller falls into the "interesting historically" category. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=F_TARYIUR6QC&dq=tosches+voices&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=FJDDXQBW_b&sig=Xqs4l-QDJCO3X3Q9sigJuqn--7g#PPA3,M1

[masterofsparks]

I love this place. I'm a huge Tosches fan but I know very few people who are even aware of his work, let alone like it. His book about Jerry Lee Lewis, Hellfire, is unbelievable. And I agree that Unsung Heroes of Rock & Roll is probably more exciting than some of the music covered. I like a lot of early rock & roll and some of the music he writes about is great, but some is not so good. I love how funny he is in that book. The opening of the Big Joe Turner chapter is one of my favorite openings ever: "Big Joe Turner was born in (place) on (date). He was not yet the big fat fuck he would later become."

Have geeked for a moment, I will say that his book about Arnold Rothstein, King of the Jews, was very baffling and kinda disappointing.

[bruce]

Hellfire is great but even better is the Country book he wrote.

[Chris L]

Loved Hellfire and will now definitely check out Country and Unsung Heroes.

[masterofsparks]

My favorite part of Unsung Heroes is the chapter on Esau Smith. He's (as far as I know) the only character from the book who isn't a real person, but I really love the way Tosches did it.

I also like all 3 of his novels. The last one, In the Hand of Dante, got really mixed reviews, and I will say it's one of the strangest things I've ever read, but I love it a lot and it holds up really well to repeated readings.

[ughwhy]

I actually saw "No Country" 'cause I knew if it was as good as the people said, I'd finally be motivated enough to read some McCarthy. I needed some moving pictures to bust me through that dystopian wall.

Also it was as good as the people said.

[dave from knoxville]

I saw it yesterday. I loved it. I don't want to say anything about it, but good God, is Tommy Lee Jones good.   Between this and Three Burials, I think he's becoming America's answer to introspective roles of Anthony Hopkins, communicating amazing depths of emotion with tiny little gestures, and his voice has never been used to better effect.

Awesome. I don't think Andy from Knoxville will be seeing it for a couple of years, though.

[Rainer]

Awesome. I don't think Andy from Knoxville will be seeing it for a couple of years, though.

Loved Three Burials, too. Your recommendation seals it: I'm going tomorrow.