Non-fiction book reviews part 16 - Calm, Chanukkah games and Wes Anderson

 Welcome to part 16 in a series of non-fiction book reviews, originally based on the idea that the books I request tell you everything you need to know about me. I have, after so many chapters of this series, realised that all these posts say about me is that have eclectic taste and endless curiosity. This time I am finding calm, exploring Wes Anderson and playing chanukah games for kids. Eclectic indeed! All books are kindly provided as e-Arcs through NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews.

Calm in 40 Images: The Art of finding Serenity The School of Life (releases10 December 2024)

Returning readers will be aware that I love a book about finding peace, or calm, or tranquility. I meditate and try to live in the moment and mindfully and all that. This book appealed to me for the title, and the front cover image.

The description states this is:

 A psychological guidebook that can help to quieten our worries and bring on a new mood of serenity and ease. 

Knowing how to be calm is one of life’s greatest skills. It doesn’t matter how well our own life is going; if our mind is frantic, happiness will always be just out of reach. 

...it takes us systematically through the many things that unsettle us and arrives at a range of solutions to ease our spirits.

Which is correct, but I was not expecting what I got, which is truly thoughtful and thoughtful essays. These were definitely more critical than I was excepting, musing on  the challenges of modern life, critiques of advertising, the beauty of both nature and babies. This book is both beautiful and thoughtful. The photographs are stunning and closely related to the texts. I would be very pleased if someone gave me a hard copy of this as a present, it would make a good basis for conversation, or for sitting alone and contemplating both text and images. 

 

The Worlds of Wes Anderson: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films by Adam Woodward (releases 8 October 2024)

I don't really know why I requested this - I've seen all the Wes Anderson films, and I've even enjoyed some of them. I was curious to learn more, but I am not an uber-fan of Wes or a student of film in general.

The description:

In each of his films, Wes Anderson builds entire worlds that fans tend to feel somehow really should exist. Discover the rich veins of inspiration that he weaves into this unique magic. Anderson’s colorful and richly structured style is universally admired – but how has he managed to create such an enigmatic visual signature? Like many key creatives, he’s found inspiration in a huge host of varied influences. From Hitchcock and Spielberg, to Truffaut and Varda, there are countless filmic homages and references scattered throughout Anderson’s filmography, while his cultural anchor points also go deep beyond film, and into the worlds of art and literature. Evocations of place and time also underpin his work, from mid-century Paris in The French Dispatch, to grand pre-war Europe in The Grand Budapest Hotel, while cultural institutions – such as Jacques Cousteau and The New Yorker magazine – are other touchstones. For Wes Anderson fans and cinephiles alike, uncover the fascinating creative process of one of the world’s most revered filmmakers.

This book is very detailed, and sites Wes Anderson's films within the broader cinematic history, rather that dissecting each of the films. It's beautifully illustrated and laid out. The book (as advertised) focusses on Wes Anderson's influences. It surprised me by not focussing more on Wes Anderson the person or his films.  Because I only had an electronic copy I had to read it  on my phone, and it suffered for that. I can see myself lounging, in a carefully coloured room, on a striped sofa, flipping through the hardback, smoking and being mannered. Maybe I've also been influenced by Wes Anderson.  

Would You Rather? Hanukkah Edition: Light Up the Season with a Hilarious Holiday Game for Kids by Lindsey Daly (Releases 1 October 2024)

This one sounded like fun. Chanuka is my favourite festival - doughnuts, candles and singing, what's not to love?

The description:

Celebrate the holiday by lighting the candles, spinning the dreidel, eating latkes—and playing a hilarious Would You Rather? game! These challenging and lively questions provide hours of entertainment about the miracle of Hanukkah.

The contents of this book fit the description. It's a game,  not really a learning game (although it could be used as one) just a fun game. The book starts by explaining the rules, and then goes into a series of very unserious questions, by favourite being 'would you rather have Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny for chanukka?'. I think there was a mention somewhere of cards, and that would also be a good presentation for this form of entertainment. It would also be dun, after using the book as a game, to play a couple of rounds where the participants wrote the questions. This game is not just for kids, I could imagine sitting around with my friends, the chanukka candles burning and us answering these questions and laughing and discussing.