The most interesting thing about this book is that there is so, so much detail but there is still so much we don't actually know. Thanks to NetGalley, I was given access to the audiobook. The narrator spoke very matter-of-factly, with no judgment, which was good, because there were a lot of events and statements that were so unusual. Kubrick was obsessive with his ideas, and it was interesting to see how he would follow up on an idea years later. Obviously brilliant, and his movies were so original, some of my favorites. I recommend this to all people who really love movies.

Kubrick: An Odyssey
Written by Robert P. Kolker and Nathan Abrams
Read by Perry Daniels
Book 26/250
Genre: Non-Fiction, Film, Biography
Format: Audio/Digital, ARC
Pages/Time: 656/24hr 30min
Published: 2/6/2024
Rating: 9/10
Narration: 8/10

Kubrick is widely considered to be a master of filmmaking. From Spartacus to 2001 to The Shining, Kubrick's films have a commanding presence in the modern zeitgeist. Kolker and Abrams' definitive biography of the director illuminates his celebrated career. This book was super interesting and has really inspired my to read the rest of Kubrick's filmography.

As a director Kubrick is one of the best and one of my all time favorites. This book sheds some new light on the life of Kubrick. I have read a lot of previous works on this man and this is the new quintessential biography

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I found the narrator to be too clinical almost to the point of boredom. There were a lot of dates and a high level view without personal details or context or inflection. Thank you for the opportunity.

Kubrick: An Odyssey is an exhaustive behind the scenes account of Kubrick's legacy, and it's endlessly fascinating in that regard. It is not, however, much of a biography, leaving the man just as much an enigma as ever. At the other end of the spectrum, the book doesn't offer much other than fleeting glimpses of actual film criticism, mostly reporting on various interpretations by others. It is then, in the end, little more than a film history, though a fascinating one, full of trivia and minute detail, but offering very little actual insight into either the man or the films. That said, it was remarkably readable and for all of teh book's bulk, moved very quickly,

I always know I have found a five star book when I’m sad it’s over. I did not want this book to end! I found myself dragging my feet for the last 10 hours to savor every bit! I don’t think I can say that about any other book. Kubrick: An Odyssey is a powerhouse of a book. It provides a very detailed history of Stanley Kubrick - the man, the myth, the legend. This book is 100% worth the 24+ hours and it is fantastically narrated by Perry Daniels.

I would classify Kolker and Abrams’ work as a “living book” because of the attention to detail and the ability it provides readers to vividly imagine Kubrick’s life.

Growing up I was exposed to Kubrick’s work early thanks to a few of my eccentric middle school teachers (we watched Spartacus in 6th grade and 2001: A Space Odyssey in 7th) as well as my love of horror. The Shining continues to stand as my favorite horror movie. I was enthralled by the documentary Room 237 and definitely made assumptions about Kubrick based off of it. He seemed very mysterious and intentional. Now I know he was!

In Kubrick: An Odyssey we learn about Kubrick’s start with photography and later his tendency towards privacy due to critical opinions about 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was interesting to learn how the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. gave Kubrick the time to make edits in this film after initial criticism. The times that Kubrick grew up in, being Jewish and avoiding the Vietnam draft all played heavily in his influence.

I loved learning about Kubrick’s obsession with psychoanalytic topics and Napoleon and how the conflict of the 70s set the right environment for A Clockwork Orange to be received. I would not have imagined that Kubrick faced threats and accusations of fascism after making A Clockwork Orange, but he did!

I loved learning so much about one of the most influential directors of all time. I especially loved how much Kubrick focused on his family and animals. I laughed out loud imagining the poor people trying to archive his belongings that were covered in cat urine. I suppose that was Stanley. I am grateful to have a better picture of what he was like outside of the classic assumption that he drove Shelley Duvall mad.

Kolker and Abrams’ bring this book to life, allowing you a very unique view into the life of Stanley Kubrick.

Thank you so much to Tantor Audio, RB Media, and NetGalley for and ALC of this audiobook.