J,M. Barrie and the Lost Boys

 This book is about the family that inspired Peter Pan. I didn't know how involved J.M. Barrie was with these boys. His friendship with them continued into their adult years. I always have dismissed J.M. Barrie as just the writer of Peter Pan. That would have been enough though creating one major children's classic. However, he was also an established playwright and some of the plays particularly Mary Rose sounded cool. I thought it was interesting how it only talked about the play of Peter Pan and not the book he wrote of it later on. I would have liked to learn about his creative process with the book. But overall it was a fine biography and I felt I learned some new things about J.M. Barrie along the way. 

Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom

 When my library got this I was excited. It's a "lost" story from Sylvia Plath. This was written doing her college days. It was just ok. It's about a girl's hellish train ride. The ride takes an unexpected turn when the character learns that the train is taking them to an icy ninth kingdom. The girl manages to get off just before the train stops there. This story is worth reading because it shows Sylvia Plath's potential. But if you're expecting something as brilliant as The Bell Jar or Ariel you will be disappointed.

Nightmare Alley

 

The book starts with Stan working at a carny show and seeing a geek biting chickens. At the end, he becomes a geek but it's a fascinating journey to that destination. Stan becomes a successful mentalist but it is not enough. He keeps becoming more ambitious and he keeps using people until eventually, he is on the road to ruin. I thought that I would be satisfied when this incredibly unlikable protagonist goes to his doom. Instead, it was too sad and he was just too pathetic. I wonder why Gresham didn't write more. He clearly had the talent. This was made into a Tyrone Power movie and I remember liking it. I need to watch it again. There's supposed to be a movie coming out soon based on this directed by Guillermo del Toro. I'm looking forward to it. 

Geography of a Horse Dreamer

 You have to give it to Sam Shepard. He had one vivid imagination. This play is about a man who can predict the winners in horse and dog races in his dreams. Two gangsters have kidnapped him and are making their fortune off him. I got introduced to Sam Shepard through watching True West on PBS. Sam Shepard was one of the best playwrights of the past fifty years. How many people can say they got nominated for an Oscar (he was an actor in The Right Stuff) and won the Pulitzer Prize? The man was a marvel. I have yet to read a play by him that wasn't worth reading through. His stuff was packed full of interesting ideas.