Review of Oriental Mythology by Joseph Campbell

The works of Joseph Campbell have illuminated much about history, mythology, and religion for many, and continue to do so. Oriental Mythology is the second volume in Campbell's 4-volume The Mask of God series, and in it, Campbell explores ancient Asian history and mythological thought. For readers of a Western background, this book shines a light on ancient Asian cultures, how they were formed, and their continued influence on the modern world. 

While Campbell perhaps takes a biased view at times (toward Western cultural thought), the sheer volume of information contained in this book is a good place to start if you're interested in ancient Eastern stories and religion. With this new edition published by New World Library, much has been updated to reflect new discoveries since its original publication in 1962. 

It's a deeply detailed read and dry at times, but Joseph Campbell is the person to read if you want a detailed overview of how religion and mythology have evolved throughout and impacted world history.

Note: Review copy provided by the publisher.

Save the Cat Writes for TV Book Review

I've been a fan of the Save the Cat screenwriting method ever since reading Blake Snyder's original Save the Cat book several years ago. Though many people claim that his method is formulaic, I've always found it to be a user-friendly tool to help me hone my story ideas into something coherent, and it's how I structured the first screenplay I ever wrote. Since reading Save the Cat, I've read every other addition to the Save the Cat series, including Save the Cat Writes a Novel, a helpful guide for applying Blake Snyder's ideas to writing a book instead of a screenplay.

In recent years, television series have become a powerful way of telling a longform story that is proving to stand in competition to full-length feature films. Marvel's WandaVision is one example, as well as the Star Wars television series The Mandalorian. Because episodic television allows you to dive deeper into a story world than a two-hour film, many writers are interested in writing for television.

Save the Cat Writes for TV is the latest edition of the Save the Cat series that focuses specifically on writing longform television series using Blake Snyder's beat sheet method to plot out both episodes, such as the all-important proof-of-concept pilot episode, and multi-episode story arcs and full television seasons. Save the Cat Writes for TV is Jamie Nash, a screenwriter and instructor who has used the methods he outlines in the book to create television stories. 

With plenty of examples, which is a characteristic of all he Save the Cat books, Nash shows how the Save the Cat method can be seen in some of the most recent successful television series. He also gives advice on how writers can pursue a career in television by using the method to prove they can write the kinds of stories viewers are looking for.

Save the Cat Writes for TV is another great addition to the Save the Cat methodology and worth diving into if you want to write for television.

Review of The Memory Thief by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Memory Thief is the beginning of a series of books called Thirteen Witches by Jodi Lynn Anderson. In it, twelve-year-old Rosie Oakes has lived her whole life wondering why her mother feels nothing for her. The spark that causes a mother to dote on her child is just missing from Rosie's mom, and no matter how desperately she longs for her mother to show just the slightest affection to her, Rosie has learned that she's on her own. And so she turns to writing stories to bring her comfort. 

But even her stories have their limits, and on the night she decides to discard her stories, she discovers that the world she sees is just a veil over a reality that most people don't see. A world where ghosts roam freely. And a world where thirteen witches are the cause of all the world's problems. Rosie discovers that her mother owns a book about hunting witches and that her mother has been cursed by the Memory Thief, a witch who feeds off the memories of her prey. Soon, Rosie, along with her best friend Germ must find a way to stop the Memory Thief, who now has her sights on Rosie.

The Memory Thief was a book I decided to read with my pre-teen daughter because it looked interesting, and I wanted it to be something we could share. I've always loved the Harry Potter series, and this story seemed to be in that vein. While it is a middle-grade book, I thought it was a very powerful story. Rosie is a compelling character, forced to become strong in the face of a world that doesn't seem to care about her. And I thought the way the author showed Rosie and her friend Germ's relationship evolve as Germ was changing but Rosie was staying the same. It seemed like Anderson captured the kinds of feelings a young girl would go through in that situation. 

And you can't help but feel Rosie's pain throughout as she longs for a mother who just seems physically there but mentally and emotionally absent. And yet Rosie loves her deeply. It reminded me of Luke Skywalker's love for his father, who had become Darth Vader, in the Star Wars saga. It's a relentless love that is desperate to find redemption for a parent.

Rosie goes on a journey that requires the utmost bravery, but when she discovers that there's a reason for her mother's apathy, she's more than motivated.

The Memory Thief was a fun and emotionally resonant story that sets up well what is sure to be a powerful series.

Review copy provided by the publisher.