Phil Brody's Blog - Posts Tagged "scott-allen-perry"
more reviews for The Holden Age of Hollywood
The Most Intriguing Novel I've Read in Quite Some Time!, August 3, 2012
By Ren Williams
"A big city adventure with all the twists and turns that you might expect, but not when or where you might expect them. This is one of those books that's hard to put down until you read the last word. I can't wait to read Brody's next novel!"
What Hollywood is missing...., July 21, 2012
By Scott A. Perry "thesap"
"Part detective novel, part coming of age tale, part romantic work of love for a woman, a city, and a possible red herring, this book is a page turner/brain pleaser. In a time where Hollywood and modern fiction seem to be churning out lazy, uninventive "reboots" and "relaunches" (buzzwords for crap they already own and don't have to pay true talent to acquire effortless new version of) The Holden Age of Hollywood delivers an adrenaline shot to the heart of anyone who loves a great story. If you love Hollywood, if you hate Hollywood, if you love the movies of Humphrey Bogart and the novels of Charles Bukowski, if you've ever had a shot of whiskey or sucked down a mimosa at a champagne brunch, if you've ever driven yourself mad chasing sleep that never comes because you have a thousand-million ideas that won't leave your head, if you like to root for the good guy or you really dig characters that add a new level of stink to the word a#@hole, if you like the simple pleasure you get from having a genuine laugh, if you simply like to read words that feel like the thoughts in your head you wish you had said at that party earlier in the evening, then this book will earn a special place in your life. It is proof, pure and simple, that there are indeed amazing writers out there and gives me hope that the out of touch, money minded monarchs that run Hollywood will one day leave their meritless opinions and need for validation at home and hire a talent like author Phil Brody to pump some blood into the veins of a stale, decaying industry. A great work by a true craft master."
Intriguing Premise with Unexpected Depths, July 31, 2012
By Scott Tate
"I've been mulling over what to say about this book. Personally I liked it a great deal -- it resonated with me, and I expect I'll reread it often in years to come -- but I recognize that's a purely subjective reaction. I'm still having trouble articulating to myself precisely why I liked it so much, so I don't know how effective I'll be at convincing anyone else to pick it up, but I feel moved to try.
You may initially be intrigued by the plot gimmick of hunting for a somewhat Salinger-like recluse who's seeded Hollywood with willy Wonka-esque "Golden Tickets" in the form of anonymous scripts. But once you get past the surface, you'll find ever-increasing depths of characterization, relationships, and little human moments that touch on highly relatable aspects of life. This is a book that makes many of its points quietly, with things to say about about how family shapes us, about first impressions and second chances, about professional ethics, and about the sometimes blurry line between perseverance and obsession. Some of these aspects initially seem only tangential to the plot, yet are threads without which the tapestry could not have been woven.
If you've ever read a screenplay for pleasure, this book is for you. (Bonus points if you appreciated the reading experience as much or more than you did watching the actual film. Double bonus points if you deliberately sought out a spec script instead of a shooting script.)
If you know who wrote the screenplay for Psycho -- really know, not just think you know -- this book is for you.
If you've ever worked or lurked anywhere around the development side movie industry, from its heart to its fringe, or even just daydreamed about doing so, this book is for you.
If you like organic character backstory and development that unfold at a natural pace rather than through spoon-fed exposition, this book is for you.
If you like clever wordplay that doesn't sound forced, and symbolism that is overt yet not heavy-handed -- indeed, some it sneaks up on you so subtly that you'll smile when you finally notice it -- then this book is for you.
If you like stories that seem to be heavily plot-driven yet end up having a strong emotional core, this book is for you.
If you're someone who ever discovered an unexpected side to your father that made you consider him in a new light, this book is for you.
This book reminded me, in bits and pieces, of tales ranging from Ernest Cline's recent debut novel Ready Player One to much of the body of work of Chuck Palahniuk and a little bit of David Foster Wallace (names not to be thrown around lightly, I know). So if you like discovering fresh literary voices that are likely to be hailed down the road as, at the very least, cult classics, then this book is for you.
As individual readers, you may well get something very different out of this book than I did. Indeed, I expect I'll probably get something different out of it myself when I pick it up again in the future, and yet again on a different occasion. After all, that's one of the hallmarks of a good story, that it can reflect different facets of each of us each time we encounter it. If you read The Holden Age of Hollywood, I hope you'll find something in it that speaks to you."
A Great Addition to the Biography of L.A., July 20, 2012
By Kerry Lambert
"Character Sam Bateman's obsessive journey to find brilliant screenwriter Meyer Holden is at the heart of this compelling and wryly humorous narrative. But Bateman isn't exactly your typical protagonist. He is so obsessed you wonder if he's totally nuts. At times he comes off as a self-obsessed immature industry scenester, just like most of the characters he irreverently observes. But skilled author Phil Brody cleverly makes Bateman's obsession the reader's own. And before you know it, you're rooting Hollywood-style for this anti-hero hero, the only honest underdog in a kennel of pit bulls.
Brody's depiction of the people, places, and situations behind the scenes of the scenes is spot-on and sometimes reminiscent of Nathanael West's "Day of the Locust". In addition, the book does a great job of exposing the process of movie development, and for anyone who thinks she's read -or seen- all there is about Hollywood, this proves to be a fresh new angle. A quick read and a great addition to the "biography" on L.A."
A brilliant read!, July 4, 2012
By Thom Shafer
"It's been a long time since I found myself totally immersed in a story. The Holden Age of Hollywood weaves a wonderful tale of 'questing'. A masterfully crafted journey through ambition, disillusionment, determination, love and ultimately hope. Wonderfully set with the backdrop of Hollywood and the feel of a fedora wearing detective thriller. I opened the front cover at 5 pm and turned the last page at just past 2 am. A brilliant read!"
By Ren Williams
"A big city adventure with all the twists and turns that you might expect, but not when or where you might expect them. This is one of those books that's hard to put down until you read the last word. I can't wait to read Brody's next novel!"
What Hollywood is missing...., July 21, 2012
By Scott A. Perry "thesap"
"Part detective novel, part coming of age tale, part romantic work of love for a woman, a city, and a possible red herring, this book is a page turner/brain pleaser. In a time where Hollywood and modern fiction seem to be churning out lazy, uninventive "reboots" and "relaunches" (buzzwords for crap they already own and don't have to pay true talent to acquire effortless new version of) The Holden Age of Hollywood delivers an adrenaline shot to the heart of anyone who loves a great story. If you love Hollywood, if you hate Hollywood, if you love the movies of Humphrey Bogart and the novels of Charles Bukowski, if you've ever had a shot of whiskey or sucked down a mimosa at a champagne brunch, if you've ever driven yourself mad chasing sleep that never comes because you have a thousand-million ideas that won't leave your head, if you like to root for the good guy or you really dig characters that add a new level of stink to the word a#@hole, if you like the simple pleasure you get from having a genuine laugh, if you simply like to read words that feel like the thoughts in your head you wish you had said at that party earlier in the evening, then this book will earn a special place in your life. It is proof, pure and simple, that there are indeed amazing writers out there and gives me hope that the out of touch, money minded monarchs that run Hollywood will one day leave their meritless opinions and need for validation at home and hire a talent like author Phil Brody to pump some blood into the veins of a stale, decaying industry. A great work by a true craft master."
Intriguing Premise with Unexpected Depths, July 31, 2012
By Scott Tate
"I've been mulling over what to say about this book. Personally I liked it a great deal -- it resonated with me, and I expect I'll reread it often in years to come -- but I recognize that's a purely subjective reaction. I'm still having trouble articulating to myself precisely why I liked it so much, so I don't know how effective I'll be at convincing anyone else to pick it up, but I feel moved to try.
You may initially be intrigued by the plot gimmick of hunting for a somewhat Salinger-like recluse who's seeded Hollywood with willy Wonka-esque "Golden Tickets" in the form of anonymous scripts. But once you get past the surface, you'll find ever-increasing depths of characterization, relationships, and little human moments that touch on highly relatable aspects of life. This is a book that makes many of its points quietly, with things to say about about how family shapes us, about first impressions and second chances, about professional ethics, and about the sometimes blurry line between perseverance and obsession. Some of these aspects initially seem only tangential to the plot, yet are threads without which the tapestry could not have been woven.
If you've ever read a screenplay for pleasure, this book is for you. (Bonus points if you appreciated the reading experience as much or more than you did watching the actual film. Double bonus points if you deliberately sought out a spec script instead of a shooting script.)
If you know who wrote the screenplay for Psycho -- really know, not just think you know -- this book is for you.
If you've ever worked or lurked anywhere around the development side movie industry, from its heart to its fringe, or even just daydreamed about doing so, this book is for you.
If you like organic character backstory and development that unfold at a natural pace rather than through spoon-fed exposition, this book is for you.
If you like clever wordplay that doesn't sound forced, and symbolism that is overt yet not heavy-handed -- indeed, some it sneaks up on you so subtly that you'll smile when you finally notice it -- then this book is for you.
If you like stories that seem to be heavily plot-driven yet end up having a strong emotional core, this book is for you.
If you're someone who ever discovered an unexpected side to your father that made you consider him in a new light, this book is for you.
This book reminded me, in bits and pieces, of tales ranging from Ernest Cline's recent debut novel Ready Player One to much of the body of work of Chuck Palahniuk and a little bit of David Foster Wallace (names not to be thrown around lightly, I know). So if you like discovering fresh literary voices that are likely to be hailed down the road as, at the very least, cult classics, then this book is for you.
As individual readers, you may well get something very different out of this book than I did. Indeed, I expect I'll probably get something different out of it myself when I pick it up again in the future, and yet again on a different occasion. After all, that's one of the hallmarks of a good story, that it can reflect different facets of each of us each time we encounter it. If you read The Holden Age of Hollywood, I hope you'll find something in it that speaks to you."
A Great Addition to the Biography of L.A., July 20, 2012
By Kerry Lambert
"Character Sam Bateman's obsessive journey to find brilliant screenwriter Meyer Holden is at the heart of this compelling and wryly humorous narrative. But Bateman isn't exactly your typical protagonist. He is so obsessed you wonder if he's totally nuts. At times he comes off as a self-obsessed immature industry scenester, just like most of the characters he irreverently observes. But skilled author Phil Brody cleverly makes Bateman's obsession the reader's own. And before you know it, you're rooting Hollywood-style for this anti-hero hero, the only honest underdog in a kennel of pit bulls.
Brody's depiction of the people, places, and situations behind the scenes of the scenes is spot-on and sometimes reminiscent of Nathanael West's "Day of the Locust". In addition, the book does a great job of exposing the process of movie development, and for anyone who thinks she's read -or seen- all there is about Hollywood, this proves to be a fresh new angle. A quick read and a great addition to the "biography" on L.A."
A brilliant read!, July 4, 2012
By Thom Shafer
"It's been a long time since I found myself totally immersed in a story. The Holden Age of Hollywood weaves a wonderful tale of 'questing'. A masterfully crafted journey through ambition, disillusionment, determination, love and ultimately hope. Wonderfully set with the backdrop of Hollywood and the feel of a fedora wearing detective thriller. I opened the front cover at 5 pm and turned the last page at just past 2 am. A brilliant read!"
Phil Brody & The Holden Age of Hollywood at Book Soup - 09-23-12
Here's a link to a photo album from my Author Event/Book Signing at Book Soup in Hollywood on Sunday, September 23, 2102.
Phil Brody at Book Soup
I enlisted filmmaker Scott Allen Perry to moderate a Q&A with me, and I did several readings from the book, along with some talented actors -- Meg Cionni and Rich Varga -- who helped bring the characters and words to life.
Had a great crowd. Everyone seemed to be entertained. Sold and signed a bunch of books. In all, a very awesome day.
Phil Brody at Book Soup
I enlisted filmmaker Scott Allen Perry to moderate a Q&A with me, and I did several readings from the book, along with some talented actors -- Meg Cionni and Rich Varga -- who helped bring the characters and words to life.
Had a great crowd. Everyone seemed to be entertained. Sold and signed a bunch of books. In all, a very awesome day.
