Prater Violet
by Christopher Isherwood
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Book Reviews of Prater Violet
Book Review: At the movies
Summary: 4 Stars
Isherwood's short novel is autobiographical fiction about being hired to write a screenplay for a movie called "Prater Violet" during early World War 2. There's lots of world politics, of course, as well as the politics of the worldwide movie industry (Hollywood included). Isherwood's writing is superb, and fills this brief space with a lush garden of a story. Here's a quote: "This business about the box office is just a sentimental democratic fiction. If you stuck together and refused to make anything but, say, abstract films, the public would have to go and see them, and like them..."Book Review: Small book/big punch
Summary: 4 Stars
The size of this book is in indirect proportion to the impression or stamp it makes. I don't know if it beats "The End of Mr. Norris" and "I am a Camera" in terms of virtuosity and fluidity in terms of storyline, character, but one amazing thing is looking at the date - 1946 - and being completely taken aback at how modern Christopher Isherwood is. There's a contemporary feel to everything he does and Prater Violet highlights them all. Sorry this review isn't more specific but I've called on plotpoints in this book in tough (personal) situations and feel I at least owe it a (general) review.Book Review: a little novella about nostalgia, film, and Hitler
Summary: 5 Stars
I reread this lovely novel earlier this year. In a way, it's better than Berlin Stories because of its conciseness and the humor is more sophisticated. What had been funny looms like familiar smells over everything when history steps in. I laughed so much and felt so much as I read and that is the reason why we must keep reading Isherwood and slowing down time so that we can perceive when one is being amusing or humble or genuine, without artifice.