| |||||
Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide
Books: Travel: Australia: Item 4
|
Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guideby Lynnette Porter and David Lavery
|
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: Interesting analysis, May 7, 2006 Reviewer:Blake Petit "Novelist, Comixtreme.com columnist & reviewer" (Ama, Louisiana United States) - I'll be the first to admit it, I don't read a lot of nonfiction. And what nonfiction I DO read, typically, is discussion and analysis of my favorite fiction. Such is the case here, as Lynnette Porter and David Lavery delve into the mysteries of one of the top shows on televison, Lost. Porter and Lavery have constructed a very thoughtful and (more importantly) thought-provoking analysis of the show, the story of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashed on a mysterious island where nothing is as it seems. The book discusses each of the main characters, outlines connections between them, dissects many of the "ancestor texts" -- TV shows, movies and books that are percieved to have influenced Lost and which may contain clues to unlock the show's mysteries -- presents a great many of the theories behind the show's mysteries and even talks about the innovative production and promotion of the show, which has used the internet to create a community of fans that interact with the creators in a way that no television show has done before. Interestingly, for a book concerned with "unlocking the meanings," this book is very short on speculation. The authors content themselves with discussing the facts of the show as known and the ideas put forth and supported by the fan communities, but they don't put forth or endorse any theories or ideas of their own. It's a surprisingly journalistic approach to the subject matter, one that took me quite by surprise. The book covers the entire first season of the show and a bit more than half of the second season, presumably all of the series that had been aired at the time the book went to press. Overall, this really is a well-written, well-researched book that serves best as a recap for longtime fans as a way to refocus their thinking and go over what we've uncovered so far.
From Publishers Weekly
ABC's hit show, Lost, goes under the knife as Porter, a humanities professor, and Lavery, who has written studies about other shows including Twin Peaks, investigate the show's mysteries and provide valuable explanations of the show's plotlines and characters, along with speculation as to how they may be interlinked. The authors analyze the show's predecessors-Gilligan's Island, Jurassic Park and the Stephen King novella, The Langoliers-and posit "Lost's ongoing narrative drive is modeled, in what may be a television first, on the storyworld of video games." Loftier questions dealing with philosophical and spiritual concerns (Is technology good or bad? How do people define who they are? Does man have free will, or is he controlled by destiny?) are posed and left to the reader to ponder. The writers are remarkably conversant with the show and the subculture it's spawned, and though this makes for an insightful and satisfying read, the narrative can get bogged down in debating contradictory or insignificant details. With easy-reading plot summaries, intriguing predictions and swift overviews of the show's philosophical underpinnings, the book is sure to be a hit with fans.
Copyright © Reed business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
In just a little under two seasons, the ABC drama Lost has already garnered a devoted and fervent fan base and helped turn things around for a struggling network. Porter and Lavery venture inside the phenomenon, examining the different aspects of the show that have garnered it such a loyal audience. From a title that carries meaning on many different levels to the religious symbolism in the show to characters that defy the stereotypes they first appear to fit so neatly into, Porter and Lavery show just how inventive Lost is. They also delve into how the show's creators and writers created buzz for the show, building excitement through hype before the show even began. They've retained that fan base by going far beyond the hour of new drama each week--official Web sites tease and illuminate the show's mysteries, and the writers and cast even take time to visit fan sites to gauge audience reaction and theories about the show. An all-encompassing guide for those who want to dig deeper into this complex, compelling show. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Shop Bookstores:
Books
Resources
Most Watched Book Auctions
Australia at Sduf
News To Peruse
More Subjects
Book Review Directory
Reviewed Authors
Reviewed Titles
Review List
Site Map
