Advertisement

Readers react: Is ‘The Great American Novel’ debate finally resolved?

What is "The Great American Novel"?
(Alex Nabaum / For The Times)
Share

Regarding “The Great American Novel Revisited” [July 3]. The Times book editor Carolyn Kellogg recently asked several critics to opine on “The Great American Novel.” Clearly, this is an exercise in subjectivity and a matter of personal taste. That being said, “The Great American Novel” is indubitably Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man.” This is an incontrovertible fact, a universal truth. Anyone who disagrees with me is wrong.

Adam Willens

Los Angeles

No ovation for ‘Ovation’

About the only thing that Katie Walsh gets correct in her review of the movie “Ovation” [“The Best Drama Is All Backstage,” July 8], is that Tanna Frederick is a very, very good actor. Frederick is almost always the best thing in any of writer/director Henry Jaglom’s various (and way too many) projects. Frederick needs to stop being Mr. Jaglom’s muse for a while. Otherwise she is doomed to die a slow creative death.

Advertisement

Joel Thurm

Los Angeles

The film wasn’t great, but why so harsh?

Why so harshly criticize “The Secret Life of Pets,” a simple movie about animals and their owners? Yes, I agree it wasn’t that great of a movie, didn’t have much creativity to it. But to say some of the stuff you said in your review was almost like you were upset with it.

Jenny Reno

Van Nuys

An incomplete list of war films

Why is it that every time there is an article on Vietnam War films [“Searing Portraits of the Vietnam War,” July 10], the same half dozen films are listed. Never is the one that really told the story of the ground forces: “84 Charlie Mopic.” Released in 1989, this film is told from the point of view of a camera team following an Army unit. It is very personal, gripping and extremely underrated. If anyone wants to see it, it is on YouTube. See it for yourself and you will agree with me that this little indie film should be included as one of the best Vietnam War films.

Stephen Mirkin

North Hollywood

:::

Having been there (1969) and having seen all those films, I think you left out the one film I feel best captured the war: “Go Tell the Spartans.”

Advertisement

David Himmel

Palm Springs

Ballerina may be overrated

Regarding: “‘Firebird’ in a Cage: The Reimagined Ballet Mutes Misty Copeland’s Dazzle” [July 11]. Maybe choreographer Alexei Ratmansky kept Misty Copeland “offstage” because she is not the talent everyone thinks she is. She has neither the body nor the moves for classical ballet. She is a self-promoted mediocre dancer.

Stephany Yablow

North Hollywood

Brian Wilson revisited

Brian Wilson sits for portraits at EastWest Studios Hollywood on June 29.
Brian Wilson sits for portraits at EastWest Studios Hollywood on June 29.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times )

Regarding “A Growth Spurt for the Beach Boys: Brian Wilson Revisits ‘Pet Sounds’ ” [July 9]. Great interview of a musical genius. As a performer touring the U.S. and Canada, working with a partial cast of Eastern Europeans, I discovered the international bridge and appeal of the Beach Boys by the Russian boys who loved the “Beechingk boyz”.

Craig Carr

West Hills

Above the fold headline over the top

Advertisement

Regarding “Why Are Second Films so Hard to Get Going for Women and Directors of Color?” [July 10]. Anxiety is high from terrorism, genocide, racism, drug abuse, crime and the economy. However, I gratefully wake up each day for quiet time with my beloved Los Angeles Times. Please don’t yell at me with 100-point font across the entire half above the fold. For that level of hysteria, I can listen to talk radio.

Jody Liss-Monteleone

Valencia

Lessons from a documentary

Regarding “At the Movies: Capsule Reviews” July 8. The documentary movie “At the Fork” sounds like one of the classes we teach new zoo docents so they can impart to the public all sides of a complex subject: the most sustainable choices and the importance of good health and humane care and welfare of the animals that serve us by feeding us.

Betty Dunbar

Docent, Los Angeles Zoo

Advertisement