Twilight Zone, Episode 4: “The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine”

“The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine” (aired October 23, 1959)

In an episode very reminiscent of Billy Wilder’s 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, aging screen actress Barbara Jean Trenton (Ida Lupino) can’t bring herself to realize that time has moved on, that her onscreen glory days have vanished. Day after day she sits in her private screening room, absorbed in the roles of her past. Her agent Danny Weiss (Martin Balsam) finds her a part in an upcoming film, but Barbara Jean refuses to play (gasp!) a mother. Instead she retreats further and further into her previous films, until... Well, you’ve seen this plot enough times to know what comes next.

“The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine” is nostalgic without becoming hokey, largely due to strong, yet restrained performances by Lupino and Balsam, probably one of the stronger duos to appear in the show's first season (if not the entire series). Yet time has not been particularly kind to this episode. Again, we’ve seen this theme of the aging star trying to capture her former glory many, many times. For 1950s television, it was quite effective. Now? Not so much. Still a good episode, but not one of my favorites.

Interestingly, Lupino became one of America’s first female film directors, directing nine films and fifty television episodes. Just a few months after “The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine” aired, Balsam appeared in one of his most famous roles, Detective Milton Arbogast in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

This is For the Mara Salvatrucha (NF 2009) - Samuel Logan

This is For the Mara Salvatrucha: Inside the MS-13, America’s Most Violent Gang - Samuel Logan

I put this book on my “To Read” list after reading about it in Publishers Weekly, hoping to gain some insight into how gangs work, especially the MS-13. The book does give some insight into the gang, most of it from the point of view of Brenda Paz, a former teen gang member who turned police informant. Rather than a full focus on the gang itself, the book is mostly Paz's story, one that is both gripping and horrifying.*

Paz desperately sought acceptance and friendship. We all do, only most of us have friends and family who provide those needs. When those needs are absent, young people are going to find someone to meet fill the void. Paz discovered that MS-13 did provide acceptance and friendship, but also introduced her to a world of crime and violence.

The story of how Paz turned into a police informant and became the youngest person ever admitted into the Witness Protection Program is the strength of the book. It is a narrative both amazing and sad. I was engaged by Paz’s struggle to find love and acceptance in an atmosphere of violence and death. I was not engaged by the author’s points of view. Logan often recounts events, thoughts, feelings, emotions from the point of view of a character who is about to be murdered. Sorry, you can't do that. It may make your story more exciting, but it's a lie, a falsehood; cheating. This speculative form of writing (omniscient point of view) is fine in fiction; in non-fiction it destroys credibility. Even worse, the book includes no notes or citations, so the reader can never be sure of the accuracy of any of the information presented.

While This is For the Mara Salvatrucha is an often gripping, disturbing look (maybe “glimpse” would be a better word) into gang activity, it’s not a book I can recommend.

*For a more credible (although far less graphic) account of gangs, gang structure and how they work on a day-to-day basis, read Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh.

The Great Short-Story Collection Purge, Parts 14 & 15

The Great Short-Story Collection Purge has been on hiatus for quite a few months, but with all my recent book purchases, I believe its return is inevitable. For those of you new to The Purge, I'm reading at least one story from every unread short story collection (but not anthologies) I own. After reading a story or two, I'll decide whether to keep it or purge it. So here we go with Parts 14 & 15:



The Avram Davidson Treasury: A Tribute Collection (1998) - Avram Davidson

I picked up this collection and the one below at a library sale a few years ago, both library discards. I had only heard of Davidson, but what I'd heard was stellar: smart, humorous, literate, wildly creative, cranky, imaginative... the list continues. I read the first two stories from this collection, "My Boy Friend's Name is Jello" and "The Golem," both of which confirm all of the above attributes. The stories contain excellent writing, a sharp wit and a bit of a sting (in a good way). The volume also features introductions and afterwords by some pretty heavy-hitters in speculative fiction, among them Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, Poul Anderson, John Clute, Peter S. Beagle, Ursula K. Le Guin, Michael Swanwick, Lucius Shepard and many more.

The Verdict = Keep it.



The Other Nineteenth Century (2001) - Avram Davidson

Focusing on historical tales of the fantastic, The Other Nineteenth Century contains stories from the 1970s and 80s, several of which appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine or Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, although many appeared in F&SF and Asimov's. So far I've only read one story from this collection, "The Singular Incident of the Dog on the Beach," which was, as I expected, well-crafted, clever and enjoyable. I'll read at least one more before making a final decision, but I'll probably stick with The Avram Davidson Treasury and see how it strikes me first. If I like it, I'll seek out The Other Nineteenth Century.

The Verdict = Purge it.

Books Read October (Yes! With Comments!)

Confessions - St. Augustine (trans. Henry Chadwick)

An amazing, transparent account of Augustine's conversion to Christianity. Augustine's thoughts are so rich, you could dwell on them for years. Many people do. I hope to read this again in a couple of years, sometime after I tackle Augustine's City of God, which will no doubt be a real workout.


Wise Blood (1952) - Flannery O’Connor

One of only two novels O’Connor published (the other being The Violent Bear It Away), Wise Blood is strange, bizarre, wonderful. Coming home from the Army, Hazel Motes believes the only way to escape sin is to not have a soul. After witnessing life in "the city," Motes begins to introduce "The Church of Christ Without Christ." Wonderfully bizarre, often grotesque, people have debated both the novel's philosophy and theology for years. Read it for yourself. (And check out the movie too, which is quite faithful to the novel.)


Marked (YA 2007) - P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast (BFTB)

The kids seem to like this one, but it wasn't for me. I enjoyed protagonist Zoey Redbird's relationship with her grandmother and the idea of being "marked" a vampire, but thought most of the novel predictable with shallow, stereotypical characters. Even so, it’s twice as good as Twilight.


Graceling (YA 2008) - Kristin Cashore (BFTB)

This is more like it. Some thoughts on Graceling here.


The Concrete Blonde (1994) - Michael Connelly

As the novel opens, Detective Harry Bosch has just shot and killed the psychopathic serial killer known as The Dollmaker. The only problem is that Bosch is on trial for using excessive force and "going cowboy" on The Dollmaker. Plus, it seems the Dollmaker killings have not stopped.... Did Bosch kill the wrong man? Hard, hard-hitting Connelly with several disturbing scenes. Not for the squeamish.


The Restless Dead: Ten Original Stories of the Supernatural (YA 2007) - Deborah Noyes, ed. (BFTB)

Standout stories by Kelly Link, M.T. Anderson, Nancy Etchemendy and Chris Wooding make this collection worth a look. I wish all ten had been as good.


Isis (2006) - Douglas Clegg

If you could bring a loved one back from the dead, would you do it? A creepy little Gothic tale with some wonderful illustrations.


Columbine (NF 2009) - Dave Cullen

Previous thoughts on Columbine here.


Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (NF 2008) - Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski

Chan challenges Christians to take a closer look at the Bible, not so much to follow a list of rules and regulations, but to fall in love with a God who inspires wonder, awe and devotion. A book I plan to read again very soon. (Check out the video "The Awe Factor of God.")


Her Fearful Symmetry (2009) - Audrey Niffenegger

The main story (there are several smaller ones) concerns 20-year-old American twins Julia and Valentina Poole, who have inherited a London apartment from their recently deceased aunt, whom they have never met. But there are two important conditions: the twins must live in the apartment for a full year before they can sell it and the girls' parents must never enter it. I guess if I had to pin this novel down, it's a ghost story, but it's so much more. The writing is wonderful, the atmosphere both humorous and creepy. Her Fearful Symmetry is one of those novels that doesn't quite work (especially as the ending approaches), but I found myself liking it anyway.

That's it for October. Get out there and read something.

Ford Rules

A big congratulations goes out to my 2004 Clarion instructor Jeffrey Ford for winning two World Fantasy Awards over the weekend. Ford was the co-winner (along with Margo Lanagan for Tender Morsels) of the Best Novel award for The Shadow Year and also won Best Collection for The Drowned Life. Way to go, Jeff!

Full World Fantasy Award results can be found here.

Lancaster, PA or Food, Drink & Art

On our mini-getaway, Cindy and I stopped first in Lititz, PA where we found the delightful Cafe Chocolate where I had

a chocolate/peanut butter/banana panini. Plus a drink called a Turbo (chocolate and espresso). Good stuff!

Although much of it appears in galleries, many of the shops in and around Lititz and Lancaster feature some outstanding works of art. Unfortunately most of the galleries would not allow photography, but did provide literature with links to art on their websites. As far as art goes, all the locals told us to come back on any first Friday, when Lancaster is packed with art, artists and art lovers.

Here's an art lover right here.

All along the neighborhoods we encountered some interesting and/or spooky local art---





This is my personal favorite.


Cindy and I even got to make our own pretzels at the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Mine turned out pretty good, don't you think?



And what trip would be complete without a stop at a couple of local independent bookstores?


Cindy and I highly recommend a stay at the Lancaster Arts Hotel, which features some amazing paintings, sculpture, carvings and more (all of which you can purchase).



This beer sampler didn't last long...

Neither did these donuts from The Fractured Prune...


With all this eating, drinking and art, sometimes your best option is just to sit down and take it all in.

Books Bought October

It's always dangerous posting the books you purchased in a certain month when there's two days left in that month and opportunities abound. But what the heck... Here are the books I've bought (so far) in October:


Audrey's Door (2009) - Sarah Langan

My Halloween read (or one of them) for this year. I enjoyed Langan's The Keeper a couple of years ago and thought it was time to read her latest. I've heard some good things about the book from several people, but what really sold me was the book trailer. Whew!

Mass Market Paperback; Price = $4.79



A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger Than You (NF 2007) by Paul David Tripp

My men’s group from church is reading this one. We meet every other Friday morning. At 6:15AM. (There’s coffee, that’s how.)

Trade Paperback; Price = $12.23



Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (NF 2008) - Kenneth E. Bailey

My friend Jim S. recommended this one. Bailey (who holds degrees in Arabic Language and Literature, Systematic Theology and a doctorate in New Testament) explores how the people of Jesus’ time and culture would have understood His teachings. So far I’ve only read bits and pieces, but what I have read is fascinating.

Trade Paperback; Price = $17.16



Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (NF 2008) - Francis Chan

Cindy and I have our little rituals. When we were first dating and would see movie previews at the theater, she'd say, "Will that be worth seeing?" I'd give an immediate thumbs up or down. She no longer has to ask; I just automatically give the thumbs up/down. She does the same thing when I ask if I'd like the book she's currently reading; just a nod or shake of the head. When I asked her about Crazy Love, she said "You really need to read this." So I bought it.

Trade Paperback; Price = $8.99



The Space Between: A Parent’s Guide to Teenage Development (NF 2009) - Walt Mueller

Sent to me after I made a donation to the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU).

Trade Paperback; Price = $0

Total Expenditures = $43.17

Next Time: What I actually read.