Whew – this Yuletide season went by so fast! The holiday(s) are upon us. So consider this gift guide a few more ideas that might be good for (a) late-gifting or (b) self-gifting. We’re not judging.
Sergio Leone: The Revolution of the Western
written and illustrated by Amazing Ameziane
I’ve been really enjoying the You Must Remember This podcast, celebrating the “secret” history of films and film makers. It’s a shame that Karina Longworth has slowed down the release schedule of new episodes.
But a book like this really helps scratch that itch.
The French cartoonist, Amazing Ameziane, has a wonky style. Or maybe I should styles, as he is constantly switching up his page layouts and illustration style. And that works perfectly with this book.
This book is set up as if Serio Leone, at different stages of this life, is speaking directly to the us, the reader, and telling us his history. And there is a lot of fascinating Hollywood cinematic history for go over too. This book is getting me excited to for a Sergio Leone movie focus in 2026. I’m going to start with those three Clint Eastern westerns. I haven’t seen them in forever.
Kudos to Titan Books for publishing this one – and the other GN’s in Amazing Ameziane’s Cineste series. I’m going to be look for those too!
Sergio Leone: The Revolution of the Western
written and illustrated by Amazing Ameziane
Publisher: Titan Comics
Print length: 192 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1787747562
Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce lee
by Daryl Joji Maeda
I borrowed this one from the library. It was one of those books that I wasn’t looking for, and I wasn’t expecting to read. You can understand how a guy named Catto (pronounced as Kato) always is aware of Bruce Lee.
Impulsively, I checked it out of the library it, and I’m glad I did.
I’m not a huge Bruce Lee fan or an anything close to an expert so much of this was new to me. And wow – I really enjoyed learning about this life and his quest for fame. His life post-Green Hornet was fascinating on so many levels. His last days and his tragic death were sad to read. And I didn’t know about the cover-up, which sounds so crazy by today’s standards.
Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce lee
by Daryl Joji Maeda
Publisher: NYU Press
HC/SC: 356 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1479830732
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Next week : Let’s wrap up this year!
