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The Green Street Cinema has always been a sanctuary for Ethan. Maybe it's because movies help him make sense of real life, or maybe it's because the cinema is the one place he can go to still feel close to his dad, a film professor who died three years ago. Either way, it's a place worth fighting for, especially when developers threaten to tear it down to build a luxury condos.
They say it's structurally unsound and riddled with health code violations. They clearly don't understand that the crumbling columns and even Brando, the giant rat with a taste for sour patch kids, are a part of the fabric of this place that holds together the misfits and the dreamers of the changing neighborhood the cinema house has served for so many years.
Now it's up to the employees of the Green Street Cinema--Sweet Lou the organist with a penchant for not-so-sweet language; Anjo the projectionist, nicknamed the Oracle for her opaque-but-always-true proclamations; Griffin and Lucas who work the concessions, if they work at all; and Ethan, known as "Wendy," the leader of these Lost Boys--to save the place they love.
It's going to take a movie miracle if the Green Street is going to have a happy ending. And when Raina, Ethan's oldest friend (and possible soul mate?), comes back home from Hollywood where she's been starring in B-movies about time-traveling cats, Ethan thinks that miracle just may have been delivered. But life and love aren't always like the movies. And when the employees of the Green Street ask what happens in the end to the Lost Boys, Ethan has to share three words he's not been ready to say.
They say it's structurally unsound and riddled with health code violations. They clearly don't understand that the crumbling columns and even Brando, the giant rat with a taste for sour patch kids, are a part of the fabric of this place that holds together the misfits and the dreamers of the changing neighborhood the cinema house has served for so many years.
Now it's up to the employees of the Green Street Cinema--Sweet Lou the organist with a penchant for not-so-sweet language; Anjo the projectionist, nicknamed the Oracle for her opaque-but-always-true proclamations; Griffin and Lucas who work the concessions, if they work at all; and Ethan, known as "Wendy," the leader of these Lost Boys--to save the place they love.
It's going to take a movie miracle if the Green Street is going to have a happy ending. And when Raina, Ethan's oldest friend (and possible soul mate?), comes back home from Hollywood where she's been starring in B-movies about time-traveling cats, Ethan thinks that miracle just may have been delivered. But life and love aren't always like the movies. And when the employees of the Green Street ask what happens in the end to the Lost Boys, Ethan has to share three words he's not been ready to say.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
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2965 people want to read
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April 9, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed reading this book. This book first got my attention with its eye-catching cover and great title. After reading the book's description, I knew that I had to give this book a try and I am glad that I did. Once I started reading this book, the pages seemed to fly by and before I knew I had finished the entire book in a single morning. It really was the perfect book to lose myself in for just a little while.
Ethan loves movies. His life has been filled with movies and watches at least one movie every day. Ethan works at the small Green Street Cinema, which is not your average theatre. Ethan actually serves the role of manager at the theatre since the real boss has been missing in action for some time. This theatre plays lesser-known films and caters to a certain clientele and has more a few issues.
Ethan was a great character. He has had a hard time dealing with his father's sudden death just a few years earlier. He has really been in a holding pattern with the cinema being his refuge. I liked Ethan more and more as the story progressed and I learned more of his history. It was great to see him start to deal with the things going on in his life.
Ethan was best friends with a girl named Raina when he was younger. This was before she was discovered by an agent and was thrust into stardom. When she finds that fame isn't exactly what she wanted, she goes home and is suddenly back in her old friend's life. I liked Raina. She was really down to earth and had her own issues to deal with. I thought that Ethan and Raina were good for each other and loved how they came together to work on a problem.
When the cinema is scheduled to close, Ethan and the rest of the crew work to find a way to keep it going. I loved the quirky group of characters that worked at the theatre. They were all very different but as a group, they worked well together. The cinema almost felt like another character with all of its flaws, including a rather large rodent issue.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well written story about finding yourself while fighting for the things you care about and learning to move on. The book is filled with great movie quotes and references that add to the charm of the story. I would not hesitate to read more of Peter Bognanni's writing in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Publishing Group - Dial Books.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. Ethan (or Wendy) was a great character and I really enjoyed getting to know him in this story. The group of characters working at this dying theatre were quirky and just a lot of fun. There were a lot of movie references, some I knew and some I didn't, that just seemed to work perfectly with the story. I thought that this was a wonderful story of finding something you love while you find yourself and learning to move on.
I really enjoyed reading this book. This book first got my attention with its eye-catching cover and great title. After reading the book's description, I knew that I had to give this book a try and I am glad that I did. Once I started reading this book, the pages seemed to fly by and before I knew I had finished the entire book in a single morning. It really was the perfect book to lose myself in for just a little while.
Ethan loves movies. His life has been filled with movies and watches at least one movie every day. Ethan works at the small Green Street Cinema, which is not your average theatre. Ethan actually serves the role of manager at the theatre since the real boss has been missing in action for some time. This theatre plays lesser-known films and caters to a certain clientele and has more a few issues.
Ethan was a great character. He has had a hard time dealing with his father's sudden death just a few years earlier. He has really been in a holding pattern with the cinema being his refuge. I liked Ethan more and more as the story progressed and I learned more of his history. It was great to see him start to deal with the things going on in his life.
Ethan was best friends with a girl named Raina when he was younger. This was before she was discovered by an agent and was thrust into stardom. When she finds that fame isn't exactly what she wanted, she goes home and is suddenly back in her old friend's life. I liked Raina. She was really down to earth and had her own issues to deal with. I thought that Ethan and Raina were good for each other and loved how they came together to work on a problem.
When the cinema is scheduled to close, Ethan and the rest of the crew work to find a way to keep it going. I loved the quirky group of characters that worked at the theatre. They were all very different but as a group, they worked well together. The cinema almost felt like another character with all of its flaws, including a rather large rodent issue.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well written story about finding yourself while fighting for the things you care about and learning to move on. The book is filled with great movie quotes and references that add to the charm of the story. I would not hesitate to read more of Peter Bognanni's writing in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Publishing Group - Dial Books.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. Ethan (or Wendy) was a great character and I really enjoyed getting to know him in this story. The group of characters working at this dying theatre were quirky and just a lot of fun. There were a lot of movie references, some I knew and some I didn't, that just seemed to work perfectly with the story. I thought that this was a wonderful story of finding something you love while you find yourself and learning to move on.
April 1, 2019
I absolutely loved the premise of this and was so excited to read it.
I liked Ethan well enough. He’s sort of struggling and maybe a little stagnant in his life, but he was easy to root for at the start. There’s a pretty interesting set of characters here and yet at the same time, no one stood out. We didn’t get much backstory on anyone but Ethan.
Plot wise, it was sort of boring. It was a lot of trying to figure things out with a very slow build until the end. The story didn’t go in the direction I was expecting, but I liked the ideas of personal growth and moving on. The movie set up info at the start of each chapter and the excessive paragraphs of movies being detailed pushed me out of the story every time and I found myself skimming.
Overall, the found family is one of my favorites, especially when it’s a sort of group of misfits. Sadly, this story lacked a spark I was looking for. At the time I’m writing this, there are loads of high reviews, so it seems it just wasn’t for me.
**Huge thanks to Dial Books for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Ethan well enough. He’s sort of struggling and maybe a little stagnant in his life, but he was easy to root for at the start. There’s a pretty interesting set of characters here and yet at the same time, no one stood out. We didn’t get much backstory on anyone but Ethan.
Plot wise, it was sort of boring. It was a lot of trying to figure things out with a very slow build until the end. The story didn’t go in the direction I was expecting, but I liked the ideas of personal growth and moving on. The movie set up info at the start of each chapter and the excessive paragraphs of movies being detailed pushed me out of the story every time and I found myself skimming.
Overall, the found family is one of my favorites, especially when it’s a sort of group of misfits. Sadly, this story lacked a spark I was looking for. At the time I’m writing this, there are loads of high reviews, so it seems it just wasn’t for me.
**Huge thanks to Dial Books for providing the arc free of charge**
Read
December 14, 2019Can they find enough movie magic to save their beloved cinema?
Green Street Cinema has always been a sanctuary for Ethan. It's the one place he still feels close to his film professor father, who died. Now developers want to tear it down. Sure, it's unsound and full of health code violations, but Ethan and the rest of his fellow cinema misfits know it's worth saving. Even as they band together, Ethan knows it will take more than a miracle to give the theater its happy ending. Then Raina, Ethan's oldest best friend turned B-movie star returns. Will the infrastructure of Ethan's heart and the cinema be repaired, or will they both shut down forever?
A story of wounded hearts and bandaged souls. What happens when you realize that not every movie has a happy ending, and that's okay.
Trigger warnings for mention of parental death, anxiety, mentions of eating disorders, and grief.
Confident and concise, Ethan had life down to a system. Even though his days managing the cinema fell into a monotony, it was there he felt connected to the life he used to know and desperately clung to. When he met with his biggest challenges, it was heartbreaking to watch him realize that he was holding on to a lot more grief than he realized and he didn't know how to process these feelings. I loved watching him learn to deal with the pain and press PLAY on life once again.
From the contradictorily nicknamed organist, "Sweet Lou", to the always accurate projectionists, "Oracle", from the fun-loving, spirited concession workers, Griffin and Lucas, from the determined but shattered Raina, to his tragically gone father, Ethan was not a lone ranger in the land of movie love. Ethan, or "Wendy" as his "Lost Boys" affectionately called him, shared deep bonds that had flourished over the years. They were beautifully realistic with each other during their attempts to save the cinema. Misunderstanding put so much tension on the once solid friendship of Ethan and Raina. Upon seeing each other once again, they slowly fell back together in a way that was stronger than ever before. The most powerful relationship however, was between Ethan and his father. It was wonderful to see just how much of a powerful influence they had/have on each other. It was a sort of relationship that it made me so much more appreciative of my own father.
Symbols are everywhere. As the Green Street Cinema did for Ethan, symbols hold so many meanings, thoughts, feelings, and memories. A true status peace in the town, the Green Street Cinema was like a part of Ethan's soul. My heart ached with him in the wake of losing everything he held dear. Peppered with movie references and film terms, this book was a love letter to anyone who's ever had to learn to live then let go. Character-driven, Ethan's journey was saddening as it burst open painful memories. Quietly powerful, this was a story of love, friendship, meaning, grief, and moving on. This was an absolutely magical book of escapism we all need.
This Book Is Not Yet Rated because there is no way to rate how much this wonderful book will touch your heart.
Green Street Cinema has always been a sanctuary for Ethan. It's the one place he still feels close to his film professor father, who died. Now developers want to tear it down. Sure, it's unsound and full of health code violations, but Ethan and the rest of his fellow cinema misfits know it's worth saving. Even as they band together, Ethan knows it will take more than a miracle to give the theater its happy ending. Then Raina, Ethan's oldest best friend turned B-movie star returns. Will the infrastructure of Ethan's heart and the cinema be repaired, or will they both shut down forever?
A story of wounded hearts and bandaged souls. What happens when you realize that not every movie has a happy ending, and that's okay.
Trigger warnings for mention of parental death, anxiety, mentions of eating disorders, and grief.
Confident and concise, Ethan had life down to a system. Even though his days managing the cinema fell into a monotony, it was there he felt connected to the life he used to know and desperately clung to. When he met with his biggest challenges, it was heartbreaking to watch him realize that he was holding on to a lot more grief than he realized and he didn't know how to process these feelings. I loved watching him learn to deal with the pain and press PLAY on life once again.
From the contradictorily nicknamed organist, "Sweet Lou", to the always accurate projectionists, "Oracle", from the fun-loving, spirited concession workers, Griffin and Lucas, from the determined but shattered Raina, to his tragically gone father, Ethan was not a lone ranger in the land of movie love. Ethan, or "Wendy" as his "Lost Boys" affectionately called him, shared deep bonds that had flourished over the years. They were beautifully realistic with each other during their attempts to save the cinema. Misunderstanding put so much tension on the once solid friendship of Ethan and Raina. Upon seeing each other once again, they slowly fell back together in a way that was stronger than ever before. The most powerful relationship however, was between Ethan and his father. It was wonderful to see just how much of a powerful influence they had/have on each other. It was a sort of relationship that it made me so much more appreciative of my own father.
Symbols are everywhere. As the Green Street Cinema did for Ethan, symbols hold so many meanings, thoughts, feelings, and memories. A true status peace in the town, the Green Street Cinema was like a part of Ethan's soul. My heart ached with him in the wake of losing everything he held dear. Peppered with movie references and film terms, this book was a love letter to anyone who's ever had to learn to live then let go. Character-driven, Ethan's journey was saddening as it burst open painful memories. Quietly powerful, this was a story of love, friendship, meaning, grief, and moving on. This was an absolutely magical book of escapism we all need.
This Book Is Not Yet Rated because there is no way to rate how much this wonderful book will touch your heart.
January 16, 2019
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I was really excited to read this book! A book about a local theater that could close down? A book where the person running that theater is a teenage boy who loves movies? I was so excited to start it, but I wasn't into it. It's okay, but it didn't go where I thought it would. I love movies but besides a quick one liner or just a mention of a movie, that was all we got when it came to movies, and the book is supposed to be about movies. I don't regret reading it, it was still enjoyable. But maybe I was just the wrong audience for it.
March 9, 2021
I fell in love with The Green Street Theater while reading this book!
March 20, 2024
I didn’t expect to cry reading this book. If you’re a YA snob give this a try. You won’t regret it. Classifications are just words after all.
July 8, 2019
characters: 4/4
pacing: 2.5/3
actual substance of the story: 5/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 3.5/4
the writing: 3/4
creativity: 2/2
world building: 3/3
23/25 | 4.6 STARS
i'll admit that the beginning of this book had me skeptical. an i'm-different rant then almost no plot? get that away from me. but the rest of the book definitely made up for that.
♫ eastbound - sobs ♫
♫ after the storm - kali uchis ♫
good stuff:
➤ so many notable quotes
➤ a lot of good advice
➤ good ending
➤ it's a fast read
pacing: 2.5/3
actual substance of the story: 5/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 3.5/4
the writing: 3/4
creativity: 2/2
world building: 3/3
23/25 | 4.6 STARS
i'll admit that the beginning of this book had me skeptical. an i'm-different rant then almost no plot? get that away from me. but the rest of the book definitely made up for that.
♫ eastbound - sobs ♫
♫ after the storm - kali uchis ♫
good stuff:
➤ so many notable quotes
➤ a lot of good advice
➤ good ending
➤ it's a fast read
January 18, 2022
I badly needed a serendipitous book find--and this was it. I feel better about the start of my reading year for 2022 now. If you love movies, this is a book to take a deep dive in. I would love to watch all the movies mentioned. Already checked to see about the availability On Demand for a few. Books and movies--what a great way to pass the time in winter during a pandemic.
April 19, 2019
2.5 stars?
The overall story was just alright. I felt bored at times but I enjoyed the narrator.
The overall story was just alright. I felt bored at times but I enjoyed the narrator.
May 31, 2019
This has so many movie references that I didn't even know half of the movies that were talked about but I loved Ethan and his dysfunctional work family!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2019
An adorable, fun read for any movie lovers. I loved that this had a male main character and the Green Street Cinema added so much charm to the story.
June 9, 2019
This book was funnn.
March 4, 2019
Review first appeared on my blog as part of my Music Mondays feature here.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Peter Bognanni and I have an emotional past. Mind you, the author himself doesn’t know that. When his novel Things I’m Seeing Without You was first out in ARC format, I was fortunate enough to receive a copy via the publisher. It just so happened that when I was nearly halfway through, my family suffered a tragic loss. If any of you have read TISWY, then you know how sensitive the topic of that book is (if you haven’t, I recommend it with caution because of the aforementioned sensitive topic). Ever since that summer, Bognanni has held a special place in my heart. The title of his prior work is also an inspiration for a future tattoo that I want to get because it just speaks so well to those who’ve lost someone.
With that long disclaimer-ish paragraph out of the way, let me say that This Book is Not Yet Rated is both very different from Bognanni’s prior work and still just as emotionally touching for me. Through witty and personable writing, Bognanni’s newest title will resonate with anyone who loves film, or has had a love for something that has greatly defined them growing up.
Ethan is the manager at the old movie theatre, The Green Street Cinema, that used to feature films for his dad’s college students. Nicknamed Wendy by the lost boys who work alongside him, Ethan has been using the theatre as an escape from his grief after losing his dad three years before. He’s also conveniently avoiding the pressures of growing up. But when a new face pops up with the threat of shutting down the theatre, Ethan must question what the theatre really means to him and his crew. As if these pressures weren’t enough, Ethan’s old friend and crush return to his life after she’s suffered a breakdown of her own. Will Ethan be able to save his sanctuary and will his friendship ever recover from the past?
For the most part, I enjoyed Ethan’s story and growth. I liked how his progress follows the obvious route that contemporary books usually take, but then gets derailed because life isn’t that simple. Bognanni shows us that anything important to us is worth the hard work. Simple solutions aren’t the answer and nothing in life is linear–despite how much we want to emulate film.
And that’s one of the interesting things I noticed in this book: the parallels shown between film and life. In order to escape from the difficulties and unpredictable nature of life, Ethan submerges himself into the intricate world of film where most stories have storylines that follow patterns, or eventually lead to a climax of some sort–something controlled by a director and editor. Up until the theatre is threatened, Ethan has been living a predictable life. This “shake-up” is where the story deviates from being film-like. Or, to play devil’s advocate, it could even be argued that Ethan’s life becomes more film-like because of the abrupt changes he’s experiencing.
This book being titled This Book Is Not Yet Rated is perfect because of all of the connections to film. The book itself is like a love story for film and its effect on people. I loved that at the beginning of every title Ethan explains various filmmaking terms that his dad must have taught him. His experience with movies makes the reader want to have a paper and pen ready to write down all of the recommendations.
Raina, Ethan’s old best friend, is in film as well and knows all about the importance of film in life. Though she at times falls into the unfortunate trope of being a manic pixie dream girl (something that affected my overall rating for this book), Raina is the character who helps Ethan see that it’s okay to dare to want more. She pushes him to stand outside of his comfort zone, while also trying to figure her life out. While her conclusion in the story was a tad convenient (and a little under-developed), I did like the effect she had on Ethan.
The other characters are like the perfect seasoning for an enjoyable storyline. They add flavour to a story that could have easily been boring or a little too formulaic. I loved that each had their own quirk that made up the feeling of a dysfunctional family. Their hijinks and commentary were some of my favourite moments in this book. Ethan on his own was at times depressing, so adding in these dynamic characters was a great touch. I do wish we’d have known a little more about them, but I’m happy we got to meet them regardless.
The emotional aspect of this book that really hit me was the dad’s death. While we don’t actively get to meet him because this takes place three years after his passing, he is like an honorary character hidden in every page of the book. His presence is what drives Ethan to do better and it’s what made me connect to Ethan in the first place. I almost teared up when Ethan finally explains how he died and the little quirks they had together, because it was like reading about me and my dad.
My negatives about this book would probably be the portrayal of Raina, the at-times one dimensional side characters, and the sometimes slowly paced writing. There were moments where I became stuck on a specific chapter and I felt drawn to other books.
Despite the things I wasn’t a big fan of, I did really enjoy this book. I strongly recommend it for anyone who loves film and a story about how film can help us grow and understand the world. Also, it’s a read I’d recommend for anyone who’s ever had to grieve a loss because Bognanni always touches on the unspoken things that grieving people often experience, and how our lives are affected by the death of a loved one.
Happy reading!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Peter Bognanni and I have an emotional past. Mind you, the author himself doesn’t know that. When his novel Things I’m Seeing Without You was first out in ARC format, I was fortunate enough to receive a copy via the publisher. It just so happened that when I was nearly halfway through, my family suffered a tragic loss. If any of you have read TISWY, then you know how sensitive the topic of that book is (if you haven’t, I recommend it with caution because of the aforementioned sensitive topic). Ever since that summer, Bognanni has held a special place in my heart. The title of his prior work is also an inspiration for a future tattoo that I want to get because it just speaks so well to those who’ve lost someone.
With that long disclaimer-ish paragraph out of the way, let me say that This Book is Not Yet Rated is both very different from Bognanni’s prior work and still just as emotionally touching for me. Through witty and personable writing, Bognanni’s newest title will resonate with anyone who loves film, or has had a love for something that has greatly defined them growing up.
Ethan is the manager at the old movie theatre, The Green Street Cinema, that used to feature films for his dad’s college students. Nicknamed Wendy by the lost boys who work alongside him, Ethan has been using the theatre as an escape from his grief after losing his dad three years before. He’s also conveniently avoiding the pressures of growing up. But when a new face pops up with the threat of shutting down the theatre, Ethan must question what the theatre really means to him and his crew. As if these pressures weren’t enough, Ethan’s old friend and crush return to his life after she’s suffered a breakdown of her own. Will Ethan be able to save his sanctuary and will his friendship ever recover from the past?
For the most part, I enjoyed Ethan’s story and growth. I liked how his progress follows the obvious route that contemporary books usually take, but then gets derailed because life isn’t that simple. Bognanni shows us that anything important to us is worth the hard work. Simple solutions aren’t the answer and nothing in life is linear–despite how much we want to emulate film.
And that’s one of the interesting things I noticed in this book: the parallels shown between film and life. In order to escape from the difficulties and unpredictable nature of life, Ethan submerges himself into the intricate world of film where most stories have storylines that follow patterns, or eventually lead to a climax of some sort–something controlled by a director and editor. Up until the theatre is threatened, Ethan has been living a predictable life. This “shake-up” is where the story deviates from being film-like. Or, to play devil’s advocate, it could even be argued that Ethan’s life becomes more film-like because of the abrupt changes he’s experiencing.
This book being titled This Book Is Not Yet Rated is perfect because of all of the connections to film. The book itself is like a love story for film and its effect on people. I loved that at the beginning of every title Ethan explains various filmmaking terms that his dad must have taught him. His experience with movies makes the reader want to have a paper and pen ready to write down all of the recommendations.
Raina, Ethan’s old best friend, is in film as well and knows all about the importance of film in life. Though she at times falls into the unfortunate trope of being a manic pixie dream girl (something that affected my overall rating for this book), Raina is the character who helps Ethan see that it’s okay to dare to want more. She pushes him to stand outside of his comfort zone, while also trying to figure her life out. While her conclusion in the story was a tad convenient (and a little under-developed), I did like the effect she had on Ethan.
The other characters are like the perfect seasoning for an enjoyable storyline. They add flavour to a story that could have easily been boring or a little too formulaic. I loved that each had their own quirk that made up the feeling of a dysfunctional family. Their hijinks and commentary were some of my favourite moments in this book. Ethan on his own was at times depressing, so adding in these dynamic characters was a great touch. I do wish we’d have known a little more about them, but I’m happy we got to meet them regardless.
The emotional aspect of this book that really hit me was the dad’s death. While we don’t actively get to meet him because this takes place three years after his passing, he is like an honorary character hidden in every page of the book. His presence is what drives Ethan to do better and it’s what made me connect to Ethan in the first place. I almost teared up when Ethan finally explains how he died and the little quirks they had together, because it was like reading about me and my dad.
My negatives about this book would probably be the portrayal of Raina, the at-times one dimensional side characters, and the sometimes slowly paced writing. There were moments where I became stuck on a specific chapter and I felt drawn to other books.
Despite the things I wasn’t a big fan of, I did really enjoy this book. I strongly recommend it for anyone who loves film and a story about how film can help us grow and understand the world. Also, it’s a read I’d recommend for anyone who’s ever had to grieve a loss because Bognanni always touches on the unspoken things that grieving people often experience, and how our lives are affected by the death of a loved one.
Happy reading!
April 21, 2019
"It takes a little danger to come out on top. You have to take risks, act like it’s a matter of life and death!”
Have you ever had something in your life that meant the world to you? Something that touches your soul and you would do anything to stop something bad from happening? Ethan feels that passionately about The Green Street Theatre.
Ethan is manager of a small indie movie theatre and it’s his entire life. Him and his Dad would go there all the time and enjoy films that they couldn’t witness anywhere else. They did that right up until his Dad passed away.
Nothing has been the same since his Dad passed and Ethan now puts all of his time and effort into this failing theatre. That is until they get an eviction notice. They want to turn that area into high-end apartments for the local college students. But Ethan is not going down without a fight.
As this is all going on, his best-friend, Raina is back in town from LA. They were the best of friends growing up and then her movie career took off. He hasn’t seen or heard from her in years but the feelings for her are still overwhelming.
Ethan, Raina, and the theatre crew come up with a plan to have one last hurrah to send off the theatre. Ethan soon realizes that real life isn’t always like the movies.
This book had a strong synopsis but the execution was dull. I found myself being bored as time went out and nothing much stood out in the end. People keep trying to sell this as a contemporary romance and it honestly wasn’t. The romance was something that lurked in the dark shadows.
This Book is Not Yet Rated was an okay read but I’ll never read it again. It’s not something that anyone needs to read more than once. Raina was such a great character with great attitude and I wish there was more her in this book. Ethan and Raina need a better romance because this one was just sad.
Rest In Piece, Brando the Rat!
Have you ever had something in your life that meant the world to you? Something that touches your soul and you would do anything to stop something bad from happening? Ethan feels that passionately about The Green Street Theatre.
Ethan is manager of a small indie movie theatre and it’s his entire life. Him and his Dad would go there all the time and enjoy films that they couldn’t witness anywhere else. They did that right up until his Dad passed away.
Nothing has been the same since his Dad passed and Ethan now puts all of his time and effort into this failing theatre. That is until they get an eviction notice. They want to turn that area into high-end apartments for the local college students. But Ethan is not going down without a fight.
As this is all going on, his best-friend, Raina is back in town from LA. They were the best of friends growing up and then her movie career took off. He hasn’t seen or heard from her in years but the feelings for her are still overwhelming.
Ethan, Raina, and the theatre crew come up with a plan to have one last hurrah to send off the theatre. Ethan soon realizes that real life isn’t always like the movies.
This book had a strong synopsis but the execution was dull. I found myself being bored as time went out and nothing much stood out in the end. People keep trying to sell this as a contemporary romance and it honestly wasn’t. The romance was something that lurked in the dark shadows.
This Book is Not Yet Rated was an okay read but I’ll never read it again. It’s not something that anyone needs to read more than once. Raina was such a great character with great attitude and I wish there was more her in this book. Ethan and Raina need a better romance because this one was just sad.
Rest In Piece, Brando the Rat!
April 11, 2019
Even for people who don't go to church (or some other house of worship), there is often a place to which they turn for comfort and solace. For me, it's any quiet place with lots of pillows and a warm blanket. I like to make myself a little "nest" so I can cozy up to refresh my body and mind. My husband recharges his spirit by spending time in nature; most often, the Adirondack Mountains. In this story, the Green Street Cinema is like church to Ethan. Up until his father died, three years prior, the Green Street was where they spent a lot of quality time. Not only did they bond over the movies they watched, but they used their time together to talk about bigger things like "what it means to be human." Since his father's death, Ethan began working at the Green Street -- and he even ended up becoming the de facto manager when Randy took off.
But the Green Street is in major trouble. Aside from the major debts that can't be paid off with the minuscule ticket sales to the small group of cinephiles who frequent the theater, there are also some major structural problems and a rat infestation to contend with. All of this is happening, of course, at the same time that his former best friend and crush, Raina, came back to town. This literal girl next door seemed to fall off the face of the Earth when she was "discovered" by an agent and whisked away to make some cheesy blockbuster action/sci-fi movies. Even when Ethan's father died, she didn't respond to any of his text messages and emails, so Ethan never expected to hear from her again. But now she is back and seems to need his support to make it through a major breakdown.
I loved the motley crew of workers from the theater -- the "Lost Boys" to Ethan's "Wendy" (the nickname that even appears on his name badge). But, most of all, I really appreciated both Ethan and Raina's vulnerability and their willingness to admit that they didn't have all the answers. It sometimes feels like young adult characters have their stuff together all too well and that they have a confidence and direction that don't feel all too natural. (Or maybe I am just projecting my own uncertainty from my teen years and can't understand what it would be like to feel so self-assured?!?) Either way, these characters felt very "real," as did their up-hill battle to save the Green Street from being demolished and replaced with luxury condos.
Happy Reading!
But the Green Street is in major trouble. Aside from the major debts that can't be paid off with the minuscule ticket sales to the small group of cinephiles who frequent the theater, there are also some major structural problems and a rat infestation to contend with. All of this is happening, of course, at the same time that his former best friend and crush, Raina, came back to town. This literal girl next door seemed to fall off the face of the Earth when she was "discovered" by an agent and whisked away to make some cheesy blockbuster action/sci-fi movies. Even when Ethan's father died, she didn't respond to any of his text messages and emails, so Ethan never expected to hear from her again. But now she is back and seems to need his support to make it through a major breakdown.
I loved the motley crew of workers from the theater -- the "Lost Boys" to Ethan's "Wendy" (the nickname that even appears on his name badge). But, most of all, I really appreciated both Ethan and Raina's vulnerability and their willingness to admit that they didn't have all the answers. It sometimes feels like young adult characters have their stuff together all too well and that they have a confidence and direction that don't feel all too natural. (Or maybe I am just projecting my own uncertainty from my teen years and can't understand what it would be like to feel so self-assured?!?) Either way, these characters felt very "real," as did their up-hill battle to save the Green Street from being demolished and replaced with luxury condos.
Happy Reading!
April 11, 2019
This book was great! I loved the main characters and the quirky supporting cast. It will especially appeal to movie and A/V nerds, and I was one of these in high school and college, so it was a perfect match!
While there is a (maybe?) romance, it is not a mushy love story. And there isn't a clear-cut ending, so some readers may be disappointed there.
Ethan is the main character, a kid who graduated early (after the death of his father), and works as the manager of the art house movie theater where he and his father had so many memories. When the theater is threatened with demolition, Ethan's crush, Raina, returns to Minneapolis from her life as an actor in LA.
This was a fast, enjoyable book that I recommend to teens and adults. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
While there is a (maybe?) romance, it is not a mushy love story. And there isn't a clear-cut ending, so some readers may be disappointed there.
Ethan is the main character, a kid who graduated early (after the death of his father), and works as the manager of the art house movie theater where he and his father had so many memories. When the theater is threatened with demolition, Ethan's crush, Raina, returns to Minneapolis from her life as an actor in LA.
This was a fast, enjoyable book that I recommend to teens and adults. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2019
Featured in "Reading on a Theme: Movie Magic" on Intellectual Recreation.
Green Street Cinema is Ethan's home. It's where he went to deal with the pain of his dad's death and where his dad's memory is most alive. Ethan's basically running the place these days, which is why it's up to him to save the cinema when they get an eviction notice.
Ethan is a sympathetic character, and the book is also populated with a very fun cast of side characters. The employees of Green Street Cinema are super quirky and colorful. There's also Raina, Ethan's best friend who made it big in Hollywood and is now back in town after a breakdown, and all the confusion and drama that goes along with her return.
This Book is Not Yet Rated is a poignant and meaningful story about love and loss. I really liked Peter Bognanni's writing style, which conveys angst so well.
Green Street Cinema is Ethan's home. It's where he went to deal with the pain of his dad's death and where his dad's memory is most alive. Ethan's basically running the place these days, which is why it's up to him to save the cinema when they get an eviction notice.
Ethan is a sympathetic character, and the book is also populated with a very fun cast of side characters. The employees of Green Street Cinema are super quirky and colorful. There's also Raina, Ethan's best friend who made it big in Hollywood and is now back in town after a breakdown, and all the confusion and drama that goes along with her return.
This Book is Not Yet Rated is a poignant and meaningful story about love and loss. I really liked Peter Bognanni's writing style, which conveys angst so well.
May 13, 2019
I loved this book! I devoured this in a weekend and I laughed out loud while I did it. This is a book for film buffs. From the very beginning there are references to and quotes from classic films like Back to the Future, Gladiator, Rebel Without a Cause, and Citizen Kane. Many directors and their unique styles are referenced and applauded.
Our main character, Ethan, is the teenage manager of a campus independent movie theater in danger of closing due to overwhelming debt and hazardous conditions. Ethan and his ragtag group of employees must try to find a way to save their beloved theater.
I do wonder whether there would be too much background knowledge needed for the average teen reader, but I would encourage teens to give it a try anyway. There were a few foreign directors named in the book with whom I am not familiar, but Bognanni did a good job of explaining their style so I didn't feel like I was missing necessary background knowledge.
I will be buying this one for my classroom. Note: a few instances of language, including the f-word.
Our main character, Ethan, is the teenage manager of a campus independent movie theater in danger of closing due to overwhelming debt and hazardous conditions. Ethan and his ragtag group of employees must try to find a way to save their beloved theater.
I do wonder whether there would be too much background knowledge needed for the average teen reader, but I would encourage teens to give it a try anyway. There were a few foreign directors named in the book with whom I am not familiar, but Bognanni did a good job of explaining their style so I didn't feel like I was missing necessary background knowledge.
I will be buying this one for my classroom. Note: a few instances of language, including the f-word.
July 9, 2019
This was a pleasant surprise! I loved, loved, loved the voice in this novel. It was witty and endearing, and made me want to sit down and eat a bucket of movie popcorn! It was an absolutely fantastic read.
December 11, 2018
Great movie references, but ....
April 11, 2019
I'm not sure why I seem to have this problem, but I swear every YA contemporary I reasd reminds me so much of a YA contemporary I just read. This one wasn't as similar as some of the others I've dealt with, but I was constantly reminded of Rayne and Delilah's Midnight Matinee.
They have similar tropes and characters that have similar thoughts.
Either way, I really enjoyed this title. I just wish I could stop comparing things.
They have similar tropes and characters that have similar thoughts.
Either way, I really enjoyed this title. I just wish I could stop comparing things.
April 13, 2019
This fell so flat for me. I’m so disappointed.
April 29, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable, sweet read with a wonderful cast of characters. Definitely a High Fidelity vibe that I loved.
January 16, 2019
Okay. Not my favorite but mainly because I didn’t understand most of the classic movie references. It was well done and had some good moments. Just not for me.
February 25, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful coming of age story about realizing the people and experiences that make you, not necessarily the material things. It spoke a great message and it came across very well. I really liked Ethan, our main character, and we get a good look into his personality in the short time we follow his life in this book. I also loved the movie references and terms throughout, and I thought they made this a “love letter to film” of sorts. I liked Raina, our love interest/returning friend, but I felt her character was underdeveloped and a little flat. We hear her story and hear about her time traveling cat movie in LA, but she never felt realistic to me, and her movie seemed kind of ridiculous, not gonna lie, but that’s just a personal opinion and doesn’t really have anything to do with the actual story. This book has the occasional flashback, and at times I got so confused because the transitions weren’t written very well, but they served a great purpose overall when they were written right. I liked the supporting characters as well, but we could have gotten a little more depth with them because they were a bit flat as well. This problem was present with pretty much every character EXCEPT Ethan.
Overall, an enjoyable contemporary that I’d recommend when it comes out!
Overall, an enjoyable contemporary that I’d recommend when it comes out!
March 10, 2021
When Ethan Teenage film aficionado who manages Green Street theater gets an eviction notice, he and his eccentric coworkers mount their form of revolution to keep the theater open. They draw strength and guidance from the movies they love as well as the memories of Ethan’s film studies professor father who championed the university theater. When Ethan’s oldest friend now Hollywood actor Raina gets involved the conflict gets even more complicated. Ethan learns life and love outside of the movies isn’t always the same. They all must find their own way forward.
+loaded with movie quotes, references, movie term definitions, memorabilia, history
+captures passion of movie buffs +coming of age & on a mission to change the world
Quotes: 38-9 Buster Keaton dialogue title card: “ don’t be discouraged. No one ever amount to anything, if he didn’t try.”
About Buster Keaton in the 1930s from Anjo: But here’s the thing: if you watch the movies, you can still see splashes of brilliance. Even though he’s backed into a corner by the studio bosses, and forced to humiliate himself in bad movies, the innocence and optimism is still there. Even though he probably felt defeated, they couldn’t rob him of his spark. They couldn’t completely break him.
What does that mean for the theater? I asked. The Oracle has spoken, she said.
58 comparing Movie nerds vs theater nerds
63You can’t be invisible all the time, Raina said. why not? I asked. "Because then the bad guys win.”
98 I found her [Anja the Oracle] threading the projector for the first show of the day. She moved across the room with purpose, pulling the film from one part of the oversize projector to the next, leasing it over the sprockets and through the gates. It was like watching a dance: you knew it had been practiced 1000 times, but it looks so effortless in front of you.
99-100 on Henri Langlois manager of an theater in Paris (hides films in his bathtub until they could be screen again during the WWII occupation) whose closing spawned a riot:
In the foreground of the shot now there’s a gangly guy with a nest of dark hair, holding his arms up in the air and screaming his lungs out. He was wild with revolt, defending what he believed in. But he didn’t look like a revolutionary. He was not in imposing physical presence. His skinny arms flailed in the night. He look like the last guy to get picked in gym class. But here he was actually doing some thing, putting his body on the line. He looked like a man who had decided what he really cared about. He looked, on closer inspection, kind of like me.
99-101 Green st. Theater regulars: the collectors- like birdwatchers crossing a red throated loon from their life list, they come to the green street for a rare film sighting in the wild. College hepcats: they’re trying to like interesting things. You’re making an effort. But do these guys always have to bring a girl they’re trying to impress? Do they have to mumble a running tip commentary in her ear during the entire film,? Do they have to bring their own bags of lightly salted pistachios in crunch them at maximum volume? The answer of course is yes. They have to do all these things or else you might mistake them for an average person trying to live life and be happy: their worst nightmare. High art perverts: they claim to be here for the art, but they only seem to show up to the French films with prostitutes and prominent three-way six scenes. . Escsapists: The ones who can only feel emotions with they're watching a movie. Lucky for us, they like the classics, so they come to the repertory theaters like ours when we’re showing old stuff they are the ones who cry like babies at the end of the bicycle thief and come out of bringing up baby completely renewed in their own absurd search for love they come here to feel every emotion that’s possible probably missing from their lonely daily lives. You can recognize them by the profound changes they go through from the time enter the theater and the time they leave and of course they always come alone. Guess who’s a member of that category? I’m not just a member; I’m their president.
142 Ethan to Raina: what part of the reason I watch movies is to escape, you know? I mean, they make me think, but sometimes I just want to get away from reality and live in a different one. I was trying to forget about you after you left, but there you were, in the one place I thought I could get away from you.
172 you are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity, I said. Toy story
180 Ethan remembering his Dad: Ethan, did you know that the robotic shark didn’t work in the first day of the shoot? It sank like a stone! But that flaw change the whole movie. They had to film without a shark at first and that’s what you don’t see that really scares the bejeebas out of you! [And then the goblins attacked]
185-6 Ethan’s father about first movie: I knew the actors were the same boys that did chemistry experiments in the garage next door.But all of that faded away somehow in the background. The summer was fine. The fireflies were gone. The chatter and laughter of the adults disappeared. In those minutes. I was transported from my neighborhood to the high seas. I was a lost boy.
Out of all the movies I saw when I was a kid, that’s the one that sticks with me because it was when I realized movies were made by actual people.they didn’t just show up on the screen from out of the blue. It took a group of determined fanatics to manifest them out of nothing.
202 cinema pradiso love letter to movies
220-1 you can calibrate a movie to virtually any state o of mind. Hopeless- Apocalypse now! Jaded about love- blue Valentine. asked which movie pertain for his complicated life?
238 about his Dad , the university & the theater: This is supposed to be a place to encounter new ideas. Look at the world from new angles, right? That’s what my dad told me. To go to college so I can be exposed to things I never see or learn about anywhere else. Well, that doesn’t seem to be happening with this. My dad was the first person in his family to go to college and he came to this theater and saw a double feature of Casablanca and Citizen Kane. After that he started coming at least three times a week he saw all the great Directors here Bergman Hitchcock Spike Lee Claire Dennis Tarkovsky, Kubrick and Wong Kar-wai. . It was where he got his real education. And where he could be with his people, all sharing an experience. It’s not for everybody. Nothing is. But the people who love this place need it. They need a place to be. They need this community.
244 his father’s conflict between taking a steady technical writing job with a tractor company or continue work in the study of film- where he decides to remain true to himself
247 going the distance - in DeNiro’s boxing movie
266-7 Last Picture Show: never you mind- last line. Moving on vs feeling the hurt
Not stop trying
We can’t go out with a whisper. Because the bad guys win
294 tribute to theater. If you can make art together and find your people, maybe that’s enough.
298 Anjo the oracle projectionist about Ethan’s father: he found his exact place in the world how many people get to do that? I mean, sure he wasn’t the pope or the president. He was a professor at a state university and a guardian of a campus movie theater. But this is exactly where he felt. It was like the universe picked him up and sent him down here. And that’s an intoxicating thing. It makes you feel like it’s possible for anyone. Like, if this guy could find his thing, then why can’t you are all I find our thing? The only trouble is that it’s pretty easy to mistake his passion for your own.
318 What happens to the lost boys at the end of peter pan? they leave Neverland and they grow up. I was afraid you were gonna say that. It’s not as bad as it sounds? I don’t know, said Lu smiling, now you meet some interesting people.
323 your dad always said I should leave you alone more often. That you’d find your way. Did you know that? He told me you were smart and you weren’t boring. So you’d find something interesting to do with your life. It might take a little while, but eventually you’d find your thing. He wasn’t worried.
He was right about a lot of things but not everything he thought he’d have time to do it all Ethan but we don’t get all the Time in the world, she said.
325 about the theater: It was my place. she said People get more than one she said you know that right?
+loaded with movie quotes, references, movie term definitions, memorabilia, history
+captures passion of movie buffs +coming of age & on a mission to change the world
Quotes: 38-9 Buster Keaton dialogue title card: “ don’t be discouraged. No one ever amount to anything, if he didn’t try.”
About Buster Keaton in the 1930s from Anjo: But here’s the thing: if you watch the movies, you can still see splashes of brilliance. Even though he’s backed into a corner by the studio bosses, and forced to humiliate himself in bad movies, the innocence and optimism is still there. Even though he probably felt defeated, they couldn’t rob him of his spark. They couldn’t completely break him.
What does that mean for the theater? I asked. The Oracle has spoken, she said.
58 comparing Movie nerds vs theater nerds
63You can’t be invisible all the time, Raina said. why not? I asked. "Because then the bad guys win.”
98 I found her [Anja the Oracle] threading the projector for the first show of the day. She moved across the room with purpose, pulling the film from one part of the oversize projector to the next, leasing it over the sprockets and through the gates. It was like watching a dance: you knew it had been practiced 1000 times, but it looks so effortless in front of you.
99-100 on Henri Langlois manager of an theater in Paris (hides films in his bathtub until they could be screen again during the WWII occupation) whose closing spawned a riot:
In the foreground of the shot now there’s a gangly guy with a nest of dark hair, holding his arms up in the air and screaming his lungs out. He was wild with revolt, defending what he believed in. But he didn’t look like a revolutionary. He was not in imposing physical presence. His skinny arms flailed in the night. He look like the last guy to get picked in gym class. But here he was actually doing some thing, putting his body on the line. He looked like a man who had decided what he really cared about. He looked, on closer inspection, kind of like me.
99-101 Green st. Theater regulars: the collectors- like birdwatchers crossing a red throated loon from their life list, they come to the green street for a rare film sighting in the wild. College hepcats: they’re trying to like interesting things. You’re making an effort. But do these guys always have to bring a girl they’re trying to impress? Do they have to mumble a running tip commentary in her ear during the entire film,? Do they have to bring their own bags of lightly salted pistachios in crunch them at maximum volume? The answer of course is yes. They have to do all these things or else you might mistake them for an average person trying to live life and be happy: their worst nightmare. High art perverts: they claim to be here for the art, but they only seem to show up to the French films with prostitutes and prominent three-way six scenes. . Escsapists: The ones who can only feel emotions with they're watching a movie. Lucky for us, they like the classics, so they come to the repertory theaters like ours when we’re showing old stuff they are the ones who cry like babies at the end of the bicycle thief and come out of bringing up baby completely renewed in their own absurd search for love they come here to feel every emotion that’s possible probably missing from their lonely daily lives. You can recognize them by the profound changes they go through from the time enter the theater and the time they leave and of course they always come alone. Guess who’s a member of that category? I’m not just a member; I’m their president.
142 Ethan to Raina: what part of the reason I watch movies is to escape, you know? I mean, they make me think, but sometimes I just want to get away from reality and live in a different one. I was trying to forget about you after you left, but there you were, in the one place I thought I could get away from you.
172 you are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity, I said. Toy story
180 Ethan remembering his Dad: Ethan, did you know that the robotic shark didn’t work in the first day of the shoot? It sank like a stone! But that flaw change the whole movie. They had to film without a shark at first and that’s what you don’t see that really scares the bejeebas out of you! [And then the goblins attacked]
185-6 Ethan’s father about first movie: I knew the actors were the same boys that did chemistry experiments in the garage next door.But all of that faded away somehow in the background. The summer was fine. The fireflies were gone. The chatter and laughter of the adults disappeared. In those minutes. I was transported from my neighborhood to the high seas. I was a lost boy.
Out of all the movies I saw when I was a kid, that’s the one that sticks with me because it was when I realized movies were made by actual people.they didn’t just show up on the screen from out of the blue. It took a group of determined fanatics to manifest them out of nothing.
202 cinema pradiso love letter to movies
220-1 you can calibrate a movie to virtually any state o of mind. Hopeless- Apocalypse now! Jaded about love- blue Valentine. asked which movie pertain for his complicated life?
238 about his Dad , the university & the theater: This is supposed to be a place to encounter new ideas. Look at the world from new angles, right? That’s what my dad told me. To go to college so I can be exposed to things I never see or learn about anywhere else. Well, that doesn’t seem to be happening with this. My dad was the first person in his family to go to college and he came to this theater and saw a double feature of Casablanca and Citizen Kane. After that he started coming at least three times a week he saw all the great Directors here Bergman Hitchcock Spike Lee Claire Dennis Tarkovsky, Kubrick and Wong Kar-wai. . It was where he got his real education. And where he could be with his people, all sharing an experience. It’s not for everybody. Nothing is. But the people who love this place need it. They need a place to be. They need this community.
244 his father’s conflict between taking a steady technical writing job with a tractor company or continue work in the study of film- where he decides to remain true to himself
247 going the distance - in DeNiro’s boxing movie
266-7 Last Picture Show: never you mind- last line. Moving on vs feeling the hurt
Not stop trying
We can’t go out with a whisper. Because the bad guys win
294 tribute to theater. If you can make art together and find your people, maybe that’s enough.
298 Anjo the oracle projectionist about Ethan’s father: he found his exact place in the world how many people get to do that? I mean, sure he wasn’t the pope or the president. He was a professor at a state university and a guardian of a campus movie theater. But this is exactly where he felt. It was like the universe picked him up and sent him down here. And that’s an intoxicating thing. It makes you feel like it’s possible for anyone. Like, if this guy could find his thing, then why can’t you are all I find our thing? The only trouble is that it’s pretty easy to mistake his passion for your own.
318 What happens to the lost boys at the end of peter pan? they leave Neverland and they grow up. I was afraid you were gonna say that. It’s not as bad as it sounds? I don’t know, said Lu smiling, now you meet some interesting people.
323 your dad always said I should leave you alone more often. That you’d find your way. Did you know that? He told me you were smart and you weren’t boring. So you’d find something interesting to do with your life. It might take a little while, but eventually you’d find your thing. He wasn’t worried.
He was right about a lot of things but not everything he thought he’d have time to do it all Ethan but we don’t get all the Time in the world, she said.
325 about the theater: It was my place. she said People get more than one she said you know that right?
February 24, 2019
Yes, I really read this book in one day. Once I started reading it, I neglected everything else in my life. Well, okay, I did take time out to go to the gym and the grocery store, and watch a movie, but I was thinking about this book the whole time I wasn't reading it! If that's not an endorsement, then I don't know what is.
P.S. Sweet Lou is the best octogenarian you will ever encounter in a YA novel. That is all.
P.S. Sweet Lou is the best octogenarian you will ever encounter in a YA novel. That is all.
February 6, 2020
17 year old Ethan works in a movie theatre on a college campus in a small town. The theatre is crumbling and threatened to be closed. Ethan's best friend and first love, up and coming teen star, Raina, is suddenly back in town and wanting to connect, after severing all ties when she moved to L.A.. Ethan is coping with the loss of his father, a professor of film, while getting by with his culinary inclined mom.
The movie theatre has its own issues, besides closing. The building is literally falling apart. The skeleton crew staff: Sweet Lou, the organist, Lucas and Griffin the wise-cracking nerds, and Anjo the Projectionist aka The Oracle, are each unique and odd, and of course, there's Brando, the head of the rat infestation problem.
What can Ethan do to save the theatre, possibly connect with Raina and cope with his own loss and find himself?
Both humorous and very contemporary, this is one of my favorite books. If you're a movie buff, like me, you'll understand many of the references, and even if you don't, Bognanni does a great job of explaining each one in turn, including some chapters headed by cinematography definitions. This is a great read for guys and would be a great read for a teen book group. Bognanni also does a great job of how people cope with loss (on many levels).
This has to be one of my favorite guy-reads of contemporary YA. Great job Peter Bognanni!
The movie theatre has its own issues, besides closing. The building is literally falling apart. The skeleton crew staff: Sweet Lou, the organist, Lucas and Griffin the wise-cracking nerds, and Anjo the Projectionist aka The Oracle, are each unique and odd, and of course, there's Brando, the head of the rat infestation problem.
What can Ethan do to save the theatre, possibly connect with Raina and cope with his own loss and find himself?
Both humorous and very contemporary, this is one of my favorite books. If you're a movie buff, like me, you'll understand many of the references, and even if you don't, Bognanni does a great job of explaining each one in turn, including some chapters headed by cinematography definitions. This is a great read for guys and would be a great read for a teen book group. Bognanni also does a great job of how people cope with loss (on many levels).
This has to be one of my favorite guy-reads of contemporary YA. Great job Peter Bognanni!
November 4, 2018
Movie goers and movie fanatics...BEHOLD! This novel stars our very own 17 year old Ethan, movie extraordinaire and unofficial manager of a rundown movie theater. If you choose to delve into this book there will be no disappointment! This book is an endearing tale about saving the places that you love with dashes of comedy and hints of young romance. I am not an a movie fanatic, but I do love a great book movies aside and this was definitely one of those great books that deserves more hype. This novel comes out in April 2019 and I hope everyone will be on the look out for this quirky, touching story that brings out your inner geek.
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