“If you think that happiness means total peace, you will never be happy. Peace comes from the acceptance of the part of you that can never be at peace. It will always be in conflict. If you accept that, everything gets a lot better,” he said. “To accept duality is to earn identity. And identity is something that you are constantly earning. It is not just who you are. It is a process that you must be active in. It’s not just parroting your parents or the thoughts of your learned teachers. It is now more than ever about understanding yourself so you can become yourself.”
I typically read fiction, but once in a while I like something a little different. Today's review features a nonfiction book I read a bit ago. Namely, a biography.
You know that hypothetical scenario where you get to sit down for a drink with any celebrity?
I might pick Joss Whedon. (Or James Marsters... Or Colin Firth...)
Anyway. Joss Whedon.
I don't read a lot of biographies for fun, so I suppose my base of comparison isn't great. But I really did think this book was well done. There are extensive quotations and interviews with Whedon, his family, friends, and coworkers.
I loved reading about his early frustrations on Roseanne, the Buffy film, and Speed. I learned a lot about Hollywood contracts and business dealings.
In case you didn't know (because apparently we've never met and this is the first time you stumbled upon this blog), I'm a bit of a nerd.
So a lot of things that Joss Whedon has done, I LOVE.
Yes, capital letters love.
The dude built a theatre on his property where he hosts readings and performances of Shakespearean plays with his friends for fun.
Yes.
For fun.
In fact, that's how the 2012 film, Much Ado About Nothing, came to be.
The man created Buffy and Angel (and SPIKE!). He gave us Firefly. He gave us Cabin in the Woods and Toy Story and the Avengers and Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. (Because, again, he and his friends hang out and sing musicals. Yes.)
He promotes writing and witticisms and creativity and involvement. He is so smart and sometimes rough around the edges. This biography really captured that.
You might not recognize Joss Whedon's name, but I'm sure you've seen pieces he's worked on or created.
And, once you do know his work, you recognize his tone and style in different things. "That's a total Whedonism!" you might say watching a kick-ass scene with a witty pun.
It's a few years old and answers the question he gets most often. This video became rather famous. (Plus, he gets introduced by Meryl Streep!)
“My generation, we were kind of raised on the super-cool, “I can handle anything” with a gun in his hand hero. Any situation you throw at him, he can handle it—with catchphrases. It was very cool. But Joss Whedon’s version of a hero doesn’t always win. He loses more than he wins, and when he wins, the victories are tiny, but he takes ’em. “That’s a victory! I call that a victory!” It’s a tiny victory—he takes it, and that’s what he walks away with. And that’s something I can actually relate to.”
This biography allowed me to get to know Joss Whedon, whose work I really admire and respect, a little better.
It has a lot of information, but I never felt like it was heavy or dragging. More than once I called or texted my husband to say, "Hey! Did you know Joss...?"
(Yes, we're on a a first-name basis. Or at least I am.)
He's one of my favourite writers today. Definitely my favourite entertainment writer. And through reading this, I learned more and was reminded of all the things I already love.
And if that isn't the purpose of a biography, what is?
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to rewatch Buffy. Or maybe Serenity.
Any other fans of Whedon out there? What's your take on biographies?
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