End of An Era

The Internet has changed my reading and viewing habits in various ways. It, along with satellite/cable television, has helped to make going to the movies less of a unique event. (It isn't the only thing, probably, but it helps.) Also, I read less books in part because I read and spend so much time online. Finally, a couple annual purchases was affected. Do not feel a similar need to by the World Almanack and haven't bought Leonard Maltin's movie guide for a few years. IMDB and others sites provided a means to address my review habit plus provide a way to answer the periennel question -- "hey, I know that guy ... I wonder if he is still alive."

Turns out such Internet habits has led his movie guide to be seen as somewhat obsolete and this is the last version. With handhelds, people can quickly go online to access info that he had conveniently provided in book form. Back in the day, the book was also a t.v. movie guide -- unlike a four star system, they were classed as above average/average/below average. The influx of new movies led to the t.v. movies basically to be removed.  It seems, it has been a few years, he finally decided he had to take out the listing of actors and directors too.  Seems dubious -- those pages has an importance of special value worth keeping.  He also started a classic movie guide as well.

The book is older than I am. So, had a good run.  Still, a bit sad. So, The Fault in Our Stars won't be in a Leonard Maltin Movie Guide. Enjoyed the movie though it seemed a bit too polish -- the teens a bit too glossy, though they were average enough looking. Read the book. Except for minor things (Hazel's friend is not in the film), it is extremely akin to the movie until the funeral. Some there and after is found in the film too, but think the more compact film version works better. The book is pretty good -- can see the appeal among teenagers -- and it's quick reading.

At times, perhaps because it was really a repeat for me, early on I was not deeply moved or anything by the prose etc., but worthwhile. It also had the "if this was fiction, this would happen" conceit though it was honest enough to be of the sort to see the irony. Think I liked Forever Changes (lacks the romance angle) better on the teen with a deadly disease front. Both in fact are male writers (both also use some math metaphors, the girl in FC a math wiz) writing in the voice of teenage girls. This is not creepy at all, of course -- it is what authors do.