George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones

The definitive biography of one of the most influential filmmakers ever--George Lucas.

On May 25, 1977, a problem-plagued, budget-straining, independent science-fiction film opened in a mere thirty-two American movie theaters. Conceived, written, and directed by a little-known filmmaker named George Lucas, the movie originally called The Star Wars quickly drew blocks-long lines, bursting box office records, and ushering in a new way for movies to be made, marketed, and merchandised. It has become one of the most adored–and successful–movie franchises of all time.

Now, the author of the bestselling biography Jim Henson delivers a long-awaited, revelatory look into the life and times of the man who created Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Indiana Jones.

If Star Wars wasn’t game-changing enough, Lucas went on to establish another blockbuster series with Indiana Jones, and he completely transformed the world of special effects and the way movies sound. His innovation and ambition forged Pixar and Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and THX sound.

Here, Lucas’s colleagues and competitors offer tantalizing glimpses into his life. His entire career has been stimulated by innovators including Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola, actors such as Harrison Ford, and the very technologies that enabled the creation of his films–and allowed him to keep tinkering with them long after their original releases. Like his unforgettable characters and stories, his influence is unmatched.

BOOKLIST REVIEW
 

Maestro biographer Jones (Jim Henson, 2013) tackles another brilliant entertainer. The world knows George Lucas as the filmmaker who brought us Star Wars, one of the most iconic Hollywood franchises in history, but as Jones’ in-depth, fascinating, and even gripping exploration reveals, Lucas is much more than a gifted storyteller. In fact, writing has never come easy to the Northern California-raised Lucas, who immersed himself in editing and directing while studying at USC. He started out making such stand-alone films as THX-1138 and American Graffiti before getting caught up in the idea of a grand space epic, an optimistic fairy tale to counter the disappointment and depression bogging down America in the 1970s. But it isn’t just Lucas’ movies that are visionary; so, too, is his business acumen. By retaining the licensing rights for Star Wars, he paved the way for lucrative toy deals and maintained creative and monetary control over the sequels. With Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Pixar, Lucas has created hundreds of jobs, and his friendships with fellow auteurs Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg led to dynamic collaborations, including the popular Indiana Jones franchise. Jones digs deep to limn the highs and lows of Lucas’ career and life, capturing his drive and innovation in crisp, sparkling prose. Masterful and essential for film and pop culture enthusiasts.
— Kristine Huntley

The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott

The Wonder of All Things by bestselling author Jason Mott is simply irresistible. It is about a thirteen-year-old girl, Ava, who is also the daughter of the town’s sheriff, who possesses supernatural healing powers which came to light after a horrifying air show in the small town of Stone Temple in North Carolina. The excited townsfolk had gathered in large number to see a local man who had become a pilot perform in an air show for his hometown. But the excitement soon turned into a nightmare when the plane crashed into the crowd of spectators. Lying under the rubble, Ava realized that her best friend, Wash, is injured and when she touches him he is instantly healed.

When the news spread about the healing powers of Ava, people thronged the small town. Some out of necessity, either seeking healing for themselves or for loved ones but the vast majority of visitors came out of curiosity. People were opinionated about the whole thing. Ava’s family had to deal with the situation in the best possible way, and it was also beginning to take its toll on Ava. What was not immediately apparent was the health and emotional risks involved every time Ava healed someone. It becomes gradually clear that it saps every ounce of her energy and she becomes weaker, emotionally and physically.

As the story progresses, author Jason Mott subtly painted a portrait of human nature and what drives each individual. Ava’s father Macon, step-mother Carmen, the Reverend Isaiah Brown and the people who come to her for healing have their own motives. While Macon is deeply concerned about Ava’s own well-being, the same cannot be said of Carmen, Isaiah Brown or the throng of people who visited her. And there are others who are badly in need of help but choose not to because they are not motivated by “self.” Jason Mott brings out the best in both Ava and Carmen, enabling them to cope with the situation in the best possible way, and in the process bridging the chasm that kept them separated for so long.

Author Jason Mott is a gifted storyteller and this superbly written and well-crafted story will make you think things you’ve never thought before. The Wonder of All Things is an exploration of one of life’s most intricate issues – how far we would allow ourselves to be used for the good of others, however self-motivated some cases may be. The book is an examination of the motives that drive each individual, and sadly in the vast majority of instances it is driven by “self.” But sometimes, good is not always good, as in the case of Ava. How are we to discern the thin line that separates serving others and being accountable to own self?  Are we not equally responsible for own good as much as we are for the good of others? The Wonder of All Things is a clear aide memoire of the extraordinary gifts life has bestowed on each individual and how we are to celebrate it.

Let me leave you with these words: "There is always comfort in pretending that change has not happened in life, even when we know full well that nothing will ever again be the way it was."

Bitter-Sweet Coming of Age Novel!

Heartbreaking and beautiful beyond words, Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan is a delicately crafted stunning novel that tackles the issue of forgiveness and the healing power of words as it explores the bond that binds daughters and mothers.

For most people, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration – the most anticipated and eagerly-awaited day of the year. But for thirteen-year-old Apollinia Apostolopoulou (Apple), Christmas is a sad reminder of the saddest event in her life. Her mother ran off to New York to be on Broadway on Christmas’ eve, without once thinking about the child she’d left behind and never came back. Christmas means tears and unfulfilled longings for her mother’s hugs. In time, she hates Christmas season as intensely as she hopes for the return of her mother.

For eleven long years Apple lives under the watchful eyes of her Nana. Her dad remarried, a woman named Trish. It was a wedding in which the photos showed Apple sticking out her tongue and rolling her eyes back, even pretending to be crying – ruining every one of them. Years keep rolling by until one day when Apple’s mother appears. When she moves in with her mother, it is different from the life she had known all along. She has to live with her half-sister Rain who is ten years old. Rain carries around a doll which she believes is real. Apple has to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of her sister when her mother is away, which is becoming more frequent with each passing day. Apple is reduced to being a mere babysitter, so different from the life she thought she would live if her mother returns.

Delightful, heartbreaking yet hopeful, Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan is a story of love, loss, life and the hope for a better tomorrow in the midst of today’s struggles. It is a coming-of-age story about two little sisters, the bond they established in the absence of their mother, and their relationship with their mother who has misplaced priorities. I’m just curious what would Apple’s life be like if she were a real person!

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Jack Reacher Gets Personal!

Personal (Jack Reacher #19)

by Lee Child

Jack Reacher walks alone. Once a go-to hard man in the US military police, now he's a drifter of no fixed abode. But the army tracks him down. Because someone has taken a long-range shot at the French president.

Only one man could have done it. And Reacher is the one man who can find him.

This new heartstopping, nailbiting book in Lee Child's number-one bestselling series takes Reacher across the Atlantic to Paris - and then to London. The stakes have never been higher - because this time, it's personal.

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Jack Reacher installment number nineteenth is both dramatic and riveting. Our man Jack is pitted against a top-notch assassin who has been hired and trained to carry out an assignment the consequence of which is impossible to imagine. His service is required to thwart the conspiracy to assassinate heads of state of the world superpowers while attending an upcoming economic summit. Jack is required to find the assassin and stop him before he strikes. Jack Reacher saw the classified ad appearing in the Army Times while in a bus station in Seattle, and immediately responded. Once in, Jack is swept up in a highly dangerous game of high-octane action and conspiracy that will leave you breathless.

The basic premise of Lee Child's latest action-oriented suspense mystery thriller is the personal agenda of the assassin to wreak vengeance on Jack Reacher. This would-be assassin had a personal score to settle with Jack which stemmed from the time Jack served in the US military police. Not to give away too much, suffice to say that he was put behind bars by Jack many years ago. Now he wants to have his revenge and our man Jack Reacher is a pawn, a bait in this high-drama the possible fallout of which is unfathomable.

Personal by Lee Child, the nineteenth book in the Jack Reacher series may not be among the best but it is still entertaining and enjoyable. Though some may be inclined to believe that this is quite different from the others, it is not. You have to read it to find it out for yourself. The huge expectation that has been hanging like the sword of Damocles is out and the sense of disappointment is understandable. An author like Lee Child is always expected to deliver the most absorbing and thrilling thriller. Measured against the high expectation, some would feel disappointed but weighed against the readability of this single book alone forgetting his earlier works, it is still a stunning Jack Reacher novel.

#Received an uncorrected proof advance reading copy for review.

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