THEODORE DREISER

[diane]

I just finished reading "The Financier" by Theodore Dreiser and I think
it would make a super movie. When we moved I put a few books out
in the sunroom, thinking I would read them and put them in Goodwill.
Not only am I not going to give this one away - I am looking for the
sequel "The Titan" to buy!!!
It is about a financial wizard, who becomes involved in state politics,
buying and selling shares and borrowing money from the treasury.
That's about as far as I can understand all the tactics that go on but
the book sweeps you along - the characters are so vital. Frank A.
Cowperwood is an 1870 equivilant to Gordon Gecko from "Wall Street",
his motto is "I satisfy myself". Although he hasn't done anything "wrong"
he is made a scapegoat and sent to jail. He has been having an affair
with a businessman's daughter - one that has helped him and been a
great friend. He does a lot of soul searching in jail and at the end of
the book decides to start afresh and go out West.
I just thought with all the remakes and CGI films around, why don't
some of these executives actually read a few good books and get some
new ideas. I think that this story would be quite relevant in today's
financial climate - it shows that even around the Civil War they were
having the same sort of problems. It would also make a beautiful period
film - Aileen, the book's heroine, is very minutely described and also
her gowns - which sound gorgeous.

[rmichaelpyle]

Apr 14, 2009 15:24:25 GMT -6 diane said:

I just thought with all the remakes and CGI films around, why don't some of these executives actually read a few good books and get some new ideas.

If only they could read...

[Midge]

Apr 15, 2009 4:33:22 GMT -6 rmichaelpyle said:

If only they could read...

R. Michael, you're playing my song! We've had a couple of generations of young people growing up in the age of music videos, the Internet, video games and brainless action movies with an edit every three seconds.

No wonder so many people today don't have the attention span to sit down with a book and spend hours letting the written word fire their imaginations. They are too accustomed of being spoon-fed entertainment that requires nothing of them and doesn't challenge their minds. A corollary of this narrowing of the mind is that I've noticed a lot of people these days don't want to listen to any ideas except the ones that confirm their preconceived beliefs.

Sorry to be off-topic, but you hit a nerve.

[Larry's 66 Diner]

I wish I could add just a little more to this, but I think Midge pretty well summed it all up!

Thank you, Midge!

BTW, thank you, Diane, for a great review of what appears to be a great book!

[Kimmer]

Great points, Midge!

[Midge]

Thanks. People are wondering why there seem to be so many more children these days with ADD and learning disabilities. I can't help but wonder if all this sensory overload is affecting the way young brains process information.

[diane]

Thanks Larry.

[Hedvig]

Apr 28, 2009 14:07:04 GMT -6 Midge said:

Thanks. People are wondering why there seem to be so many more children these days with ADD and learning disabilities. I can't help but wonder if all this sensory overload is affecting the way young brains process information.

That's something that worries me too. Of course I grew up with television, but we only had four channels and childrens' shows were only at a certain scheduled time of day. We did watch a lot of films, Mary Poppins, Disney shows, Swedish children's shows... They didn't hinder our imagination, we were certainly very imaginative! On the other hand we learned to appreciate books too, that probably helped. My parents read aloud to me before I began to read. I don't think today's children need to be spoiled, it's up to the effort of the parents. Nor do I buy that yesterday's children had better imaginations - remember Scout's description of the children in Maycomb ca 1935 in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Back to topic - I couldn't agree more Diane! I always think, why do they keep on re-using the same old stories when there are so many others that could benefit from film treatment - books that are slightly dated now could be given new life, old classics could be highlighted again. A good film adaptation is an adaptation that brings a new angle to a book, and there are many books I would love to get a new perspective on.