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that_glitter_chick_'s review against another edition
fast-paced
0.25
This wasn't for me. Don't read this. It's queer baiting and unhinged!
ellejaoy's review against another edition
4.0
I am ridiculously in love with James Franco's mind. I think he is a very intelligent and creative guy and I find anything that he does to be interesting. In saying that, it doesn't have to mean I like everything he does. My biggest issue with this book is that for some reason it's classed as a poetry book. It's not. While some of the works could be classed as poetic, it's more of a work of meandering, interesting thoughts from an artist. I felt its biggest weakness came when it felt like you were reading a promo for a movie and its biggest triumphs came when you saw part of Franco's character (whether that be his real or fake persona) or when it was just good writing and it didn't matter that Franco is also an actor or director.
Overall disappointing as a collection but still interesting reading it as a fan.
Overall disappointing as a collection but still interesting reading it as a fan.
dimples0508's review against another edition
4.0
Interestinf little poetry book from Franco. Surprise inspo from Lana Del Rey.
itsalexjackman's review against another edition
2.0
In Straight James/Gay James, Franco explores themes of fame, personal identity, public identity, youth duality and sexuality. The title, and the interview/essay it comes from, is seemingly a thesis statement for much of the book - attempting to reconcile the James Franco we know as the public, and the James Franco we will never know as the public. Fans of the artist will enjoy some behind the scenes info on a few of Franco's projects, and may recognize anecdotes that made their way into his other works (most notably Palo Alto). All in all, Straight James / Gay James is another entertaining headscratcher from Hollywood's most mysterious rebel.
iantaylor's review against another edition
1.0
I double dog dare James Franco to never, ever write anything again.
ellejayz's review against another edition
4.0
I am ridiculously in love with James Franco's mind. I think he is a very intelligent and creative guy and I find anything that he does to be interesting. In saying that, it doesn't have to mean I like everything he does. My biggest issue with this book is that for some reason it's classed as a poetry book. It's not. While some of the works could be classed as poetic, it's more of a work of meandering, interesting thoughts from an artist. I felt its biggest weakness came when it felt like you were reading a promo for a movie and its biggest triumphs came when you saw part of Franco's character (whether that be his real or fake persona) or when it was just good writing and it didn't matter that Franco is also an actor or director.
Overall disappointing as a collection but still interesting reading it as a fan.
Overall disappointing as a collection but still interesting reading it as a fan.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
STRAIGHT JAMES/ GAY JAMES
Written by James Franco
2016, 60 Pages
Genre: poetry
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.)
★★★1/2
I was really curious to read this poetry book written by Hollywood actor, James Franco. He has written two books and I have not heard too much about his writing. I started this chapbook with no expectations and am glad I did. I found the writing to be almost free flow and raw. He uses poetry as an outlet for what he is thinking. He questions many things we all do but also about Hollywood and his own involvement. I am looking forward to his other books.
k (My Novelesque Life)
Written by James Franco
2016, 60 Pages
Genre: poetry
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.)
★★★1/2
I was really curious to read this poetry book written by Hollywood actor, James Franco. He has written two books and I have not heard too much about his writing. I started this chapbook with no expectations and am glad I did. I found the writing to be almost free flow and raw. He uses poetry as an outlet for what he is thinking. He questions many things we all do but also about Hollywood and his own involvement. I am looking forward to his other books.
k (My Novelesque Life)
cadmiumcamera's review against another edition
2.0
I received a free review copy from Netgalley
All I can say is: What the heck?
I enjoyed the couple poems about his brothers. But the rest was just weird. The poem about Dumbo was funny. But yeah weirdness. I like James Franco in movies, but as I have gathered from this book he plays different versions of himself in his work and his life. I guess I find this version strange and unusual.
All I can say is: What the heck?
I enjoyed the couple poems about his brothers. But the rest was just weird. The poem about Dumbo was funny. But yeah weirdness. I like James Franco in movies, but as I have gathered from this book he plays different versions of himself in his work and his life. I guess I find this version strange and unusual.
giselav's review against another edition
3.0
I tried to ignore the fact that James Franco wrote this when I picked it up as I am not his biggest fan and I didn’t want that to cloud my judgement.
Spoilers: it didn’t work. Since all the poems are about him and his Hollywood persona, it's pretty hard to ignore who wrote them, not to mention all the poems are that self-aware brand of weird that is so quintessential James Franco TM. Nevertheless, once I was absorbed in the reading -- which happened pretty quickly during a 10 hour bus trip in the dead of night from Lisbon to Madrid -- I didn't much care for who wrote what.
I’m definitely in a cross between thinking this collection of poems might be brilliant or it might be the worst book I’ve picked up in 2016, which is why I gave it a safe and standard 3 stars.
There are no subtleties In James Franco’s writing. No metaphors or deep meanings or any content that makes you reflect before you make a judgement. All of the poems superficial skin and bones.
On one hand, I appreciate this since it means I don’t have to take 5 literature classes and spend hours studying context and subtext just to understand a single poem, which happens to me more often than not, but on the other hand a lot more work could have been put into these. Some of the hidden gems in Straight James/Gay James are “I once was a robber, now I’m a robber Of Souls” or the classic, straight out of a Snoop Dogg rap “Bury me in my Gooch, Entomb me in cooch”.
But within the thoughtless and ridiculous there’s a lot of honest lines. I loved the poems about his brothers in particular. “I gave him the bed, and he slept with the cats, my cats, Harry and Arturo. He fed them, and wooed them to his side. (…) When he moved out of the Bette David place, the cats went with him. I let them all go, with my everlasting love.”
The ones about him wanting to be a woman and discussing how he’s gay spiritually (??) but not physically were unexpected, but surprisingly touching.
Basically, is this a poetic masterpiece? Nope. Is it an interesting read? I’d say so, yeah.
Spoilers: it didn’t work. Since all the poems are about him and his Hollywood persona, it's pretty hard to ignore who wrote them, not to mention all the poems are that self-aware brand of weird that is so quintessential James Franco TM. Nevertheless, once I was absorbed in the reading -- which happened pretty quickly during a 10 hour bus trip in the dead of night from Lisbon to Madrid -- I didn't much care for who wrote what.
I’m definitely in a cross between thinking this collection of poems might be brilliant or it might be the worst book I’ve picked up in 2016, which is why I gave it a safe and standard 3 stars.
There are no subtleties In James Franco’s writing. No metaphors or deep meanings or any content that makes you reflect before you make a judgement. All of the poems superficial skin and bones.
On one hand, I appreciate this since it means I don’t have to take 5 literature classes and spend hours studying context and subtext just to understand a single poem, which happens to me more often than not, but on the other hand a lot more work could have been put into these. Some of the hidden gems in Straight James/Gay James are “I once was a robber, now I’m a robber Of Souls” or the classic, straight out of a Snoop Dogg rap “Bury me in my Gooch, Entomb me in cooch”.
But within the thoughtless and ridiculous there’s a lot of honest lines. I loved the poems about his brothers in particular. “I gave him the bed, and he slept with the cats, my cats, Harry and Arturo. He fed them, and wooed them to his side. (…) When he moved out of the Bette David place, the cats went with him. I let them all go, with my everlasting love.”
The ones about him wanting to be a woman and discussing how he’s gay spiritually (??) but not physically were unexpected, but surprisingly touching.
Basically, is this a poetic masterpiece? Nope. Is it an interesting read? I’d say so, yeah.