Book Talk (Stan, Rebecca, Ava and C.I.)

 

As we did in 2021 and 2023, we're attempting to again increase book coverage in the community. After a review posts, we try to do a discussion with the reviewer.  This go round, we're talking to  Stan about "Type II Diabetes (books)" and Rebecca about "faye dunaway." Stan, starting with you.

Stan: Like Mike did recently, I decided to make my book review about something I needed to read.  I have Type II diabetes so I read about that -- four different books.  And didn't like it.  Don't like having diabetes but I especially don't like reading worthless books.  I think I could write an interesting book on the topic.  I think most of us with diabetes could.  I think idiots who supposedly write books for diabetics expose themselves as idiots when they suggest you eat this or that which can prevent diabetes from developing.  Really?  Because this is a book for diabetics so how do you think repeatedly sharing that point helps readers?  Answer: It doesn't.

You really hated three of the four books.

Stan: I did.  I felt that they were poorly written and people didn't know what they were talking about.

You noted in your review that your endo doctor had told you differently on some of the food guidelines.  I know you also see a dietician at least once a year.  You're on top of the latest and your endo doctor is very strong about monitoring food.  I really don't think many diabetic books would benefit you.

Stan: I got that from reading them.  But I mean, Trina's website alone has more to do with diabetes than any of those books.  

And she's a nurse and she factors in the recipes she passes on.  Early on, you were more open to books and I didn't know if you wanted to talk about when you were more open.

Stan: Yeah, I will.  So after being diagnosed, I would read everything I could -- book, magazine, online.  And I would try anything suggested.  One woman told me she got rid of her diabetes.  She said she'd been on insulin and got rid of it completely.  How?  By eating two tea spoons of canary seeds a day for a month.  And I was stupid enough to try that.  It ripped my stomach up but it did not drive away the diabetes.  But I would try anything like that and I did.  Over and over.

Rebecca, you went with a book on Faye Dunaway.  And you hated your book.

Rebecca: I did.  Filled with errors, missing significant films Faye did -- including two big box office hits.  It really didn't cover her life.  And I can't imagine a more fascinating life.  But the author couldn't handle that either.  It's a book to ignore.  It's a shame that there aren't books that cover Faye's career.  I didn't really get the idea that the author knew Faye's stage work and Faye was outstanding opposite Jon Voight in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE back in '73.  I don't see how you can write a book about her without noting that performance.  

Stan: And you're right about the films.  Let's say you can't mention all of her films, that you're limited on space.  You don't ignore THE EYES OF LAURA MARS and THE CHAMP.  That's stupidity.  They're not just films that were hits, they're also the films she did as a follow up to winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.  How did her performance in those films compare and look at those two years and the roles that other women played -- was Faye doing worthy roles?  There's so much to explore there.  But you are right that she has a string of films that will be remembered.

Rebecca: Right.  Such as BONNIE & CLYDE, THE THOMAS CROWNE AFFAIR, I'd say THE ARRANGEMENT, PUZZLE OF A DOWNFALL CHILD, DOC, CHINATOWN, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR, NETWORK, EYES OF LAURA MARS, THE CHAMP, MOMMIE DEAREST, THE WICKED LADY, BARFLY, DON JUAN DEMARCO, DRUNKS, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS, THE YARDS, 21 AND A WAKE-UP and the TV movies GIA and  THE DISAPPERANCE OF AIMEE.

Stan: And this is how we work in putting C.I. on the spot.  Sharon Stone had Faye Dunaway briefly as a mentor.  She failed to learn anything from Faye.  She has two hits and only two hits -- BASIC INSTINCT and SLIVER.  The rest bombed or under-performed. She's now slagging Billy Baldwin.  Thoughts?

C.I.: Rebecca has long documented the many lies of Sharon Stone -- see "" for Rebecca's latest.  Sharon can't stop lying.  Some people are asking why Billy Baldwin responded as he did?  Did they not read what she said?  She basically called him a bad actor.  Billy made SLIVER a hit.  With just Sharon, it would have been another box office disaster.  Like CASINO which didn't even make $48 million in ticket sales in North America.  She has two big box office hits -- BASIC INSTINCT and SLIVER.  Her career failures are epic and you have her in charge of casting.  BASIC INSTICT II needed a sexy guy and didn't have one.  Too many times, Sharon cast herself opposite really gross men.  Again, drop Billy out of SLIVER and you've got another film that no one wanted to see.  So for her to insult his acting and his charisma?  At what point are we all going to get honest and note that she may have shocked people flashing her privates in BASIC INSTINCT but she's never had chemistry with any man.  Most of her films are both bad and forgettable -- and that's true even after the first BASIC INSTINCT.  She's a highly limited actress.  I think THE QUICK AND THE DEAD is the best film she did.  I would also applaud her small, supporting role in THE MUSE.  But she was never a great gift to the world of film and any number of women -- especially Rebecca de Mornay -- could have played Sharon's film roles and done it much, much better.

Rebecca: Is this going up?  What you just said?  

C.I.: Yes.

Stan: We figured you'd answer the question for us but weren't sure that you would let it go up.

C.I.: I'm fine with it.  She hits Billy across the face with a two-by-four and then tries to play the victim.  She was being catty and rude -- as she's known to be -- and people late to what happened apparently think Billy has to take some hacktress calling him a bad actor.  Billy has been very effective in many films.  And for Sharon to try to high horse SLIVER when she was sleeping with Bill MacDonald and per court papers broke up his marriage?  C'mon.  It's cute the way she lies and makes everyone else the problem.  The problems on that film included her sleeping with the producer Bill and not focusing on what she calls acting.

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Book discussions:

"Book Talk (Mike, Ava and C.I.)"

"Book Talk (Ann, Marcia, Trina, Ava and C.I.)"