you
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Even before class
begins, the students of
Temple Beth El's 1st
Grade sit eagerly await-
ing the arrival of an
extraordinary individual
who frequently visits
their classroom.
Which one will it be
5e,z3z ,./Zet- iFeh,
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today? Rabbi Castiglione?
Rabbi Syme? Their intriguing stories and wisdom create a special
connection with the class. Presenting an appreciation of Judaism
that goes beyond traditional Sunday School learning and truly
makes an impression.
At Temple Beth El, we connect our community with our
culture. We make an impact. And we change lives. When you
see your child dash to your car, excited to tell you about his or
her morning at religious school, you know...
Yott 6e/on
Beeh 6/.
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The open house for August 24th has been cancelled.
For more information on Temple Beth El membership or
other innovative programs call Sue Ellen Simon at 248-865-0600.
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2003
74
Arts Entertainment
POWER OF LITERATURE
At The Movies
from page 72
and have been subsequently pleased by
the success of our film," said Moskowitz.
"Still, I'm a bit anxious about the reissue
of The Stones of Summer as I very much
want the book to be well received."
Credit for reissuing the novel goes
to Steve Riggio, the CEO of Barnes &
Noble, who became involved with the
book as a consequence of seeing an
early version of Stone Reader.
'After reading the book," Riggio said,
"I felt there could be no more fitting con-
clusion to the story than to rescue this
great American novel from obscurity."
This October, Barnes & Noble
Books will reissue The Stones of
Summer nationally in a
hardcover addition.
As for the film,
Mossman recently noted
his pleasure. "Needless
Stones of Summer.
to say, I was pretty
Moskowitz's meeting
delighted, even
with the famed critic
enthralled. I've seen the
Leslie Fiedler is quite
movie about six times,
touching, as Fiedler
probably about five
speaks with equal pas-
more than I should, but
sion and insight about
I must say, every time I
books and the fate that
see it, Mark's genius for
had befallen Mossman.
storytelling gets me
The film also includes
more and more."
an interview with
Moskowitz explained
Mossman's one-time
Stone Reader is not
that
agent, the legendary Carl
a
Jewish
film, and yet,
Brandt, whose inability
Dow Mossman's novel will
"there
is
a
clear connec-
to explain how he man-
be reissued in October.
tion between books and
aged to lose contact with
religion. All religion is
a genius like Mossman
based on text, and the details in books
provides further nuance to the film.
and religious works cut through time
The trips Moskowitz takes around
and space to deliver a lasting story of
the country in search of the missing
great moral and mythical consequence.
author create a literary road trip in
"To that end, any film that deals
themselves — a Jack Kerouac in search
with
books is religious."
of the ultimate find.
Stone Reader is a grand achievement,
It is not giving too much away to
undeniably spiritual and passionately
say that eventually Moskowitz does
made.
find Mossman, living — in a perfect
For those who wish to whet their
pitch of literary irony — in his family
appetites
for the reissue of the novel,
home in Sioux City, Iowa.
Stone
Reader will be time well
viewing
The scenes of their meeting are
spent.
remarkably honest without being at all
Andkin October, when The Stones of
melodramatic.
Summer returns to stores, readers will
The story of what happened to
be in for an entirely new thrill for
Mossman during his 30 years away
which they have Mark Moskowitz,
from publishing is told by the author
Steve Riggio and, of course, Dow
himself, as he guides Moskowitz on a
Mossman to thank.
tour of his family's house.
A soft-spoken man, naturally shy and
S
The Detroit Film Theatre at the
clearly taken aback by all the attention,
DIA screens Stone Reader 7 and
he is nonetheless quite friendly and
9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 4
responds candidly to Moskowitz's gen-
and 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29-31.
tle prodding for details.
$5.50-$6.50. (313) 833-3237.
Watching Moskowitz and Mossman
Stone Reader opens Friday, Aug.
sitting in the author's childhood bed-
29,
at Madstone Theatres in Ann
room, discussing and trading books
Arbor. For times and more infor-
with the enthusiasm of young boys
mation, call (734) 994-1000.
swapping baseball cards, is truly magic.
"I was, of course, thrilled to find Dow
mystery, and before he knew it, he had
an entire film.
The final editing of the movie,
which Moskowitz titled Stone Reader,
was completed in 2002" and has result-
ed in an extraordinary work that won
the 2002 Sundance Film Festival's
Special Grand Jury Honor and
Audience Award for Best Picture. It
opens at the Detroit Film Theatre at
the DIA and at Madstone Theatres in
Ann Arbor on Friday, Aug. 29.
Much as the novel itself, Stone Reader
is an odyssey, not only a book lover's
dream but a personal epic as well.
The movie provides wonderful
interviews with old
friends and teachers of
Mossman, as well as
early reviewers of The
❑