As a massive movie fan, this novel is a loving testament to the era of silent films. It tells the story of Jun Nakayama, a young Japanese-American who became a huge star during the birth of Hollywood for about a decade and then disappeared until we find him again in his 70's who then receives a call from a journalist interested in the pictures of old; this ignites reliving memories Jun has been keeping locked away for over 40 years and sets off motions that are beautifully vivid and startling in nature.Nina Revoyr does a brilliant job illustrating how sorrowful and ignorantly bliss the main character lives life and connects to others around him in ways even he doesn't fathom right away. The story is sad, sweet, and gratefully ends with the same feeling of charm that the black and white moving pictures enticed in those who witnessed their majesty. Also the unsung hero of the work is Mrs. Bradford, the wonderful companion of older Jun, she is simply marvelous. Earlier this month I went to a silent film workshop in Virginia where attendees were treated to unidentified silent films (complete with live musical accompaniment) from various film archives around the world in hopes that some information can be revealed about them: their title, their actors, possible directors and crew, the year it was made, the place it was filmed. It was something really fun and challenging to do. Viewers devoured every detail of the films in question, scoured reference books, voraciously searched for information using their phones and tablets, and yelled out whatever clues they thought would be helpful in figuring out the origins and identities of extremely rare and ancient silent films. It was fun! In anticipation of that event, I checked out five books about silent film from my university library. All of them nonfiction except for one. I didn't get to thoroughly read any of the nonfiction. There just wasn't time. I leafed through them and gleaned the most I could for about two days. I didn't want to pack them all in my luggage. One book I did decide to take was the one novel I picked out (because I love reading fiction on planes). I thought it was perfect! It had the right amount of intrigue and it sounded like an original story. I wasn't disappointed to have chosen this book. The details of early Hollywood were fun and engaging to read. I really like thinking about what life must have been like during that time--the excitement of developing a new artistic medium, the freedoms, the parties, the glamor. However, as I was able to see in some clips from the silent film workshop and in the book, the evidence of racism during that time was beyond shameful. It is absolutely painful to imagine. Nina downplays this in her storytelling, but the insinuations of marginalization and hate toward minorities in the 1910s-20s are still very apparent in the narrative.Nina Revoyr's writing style is very eloquent. There is no doubt that I was absolutely entranced by Jun Nakayama's narration from the very beginning. I was drawn in by her characters and the story overall. There were gradual changes, of course, that eventually reveal tragedies that echo some of the more harrowing downfalls of stars from that era. Jun as an old man is not who he seems, does not like to draw attention to himself, who is wracked by internal scars from his past. However, most of the people he encountered in his life are not who they seem, either. Jun is the hero of his story, but he is by no means completely moral and good. He is morally ambiguous and that is what rings most true about this book. It was a pleasure to read. Enough so that I will probably try reading more from this author.
What do You think about The Age Of Dreaming (2008)?
This is a great book! The writing is beautiful and the story is very compelling.
—Beth
Most satisfying book I've read lately. Loved Wingshooters as well.
—smw
