Jennifer M. (Kaydence) reviewed Hollywood, Dead Ahead (43 Old Cemetery Road) on + 380 more book reviews
Summary:
After the success of the 43 Old Cemetery Road stories, a movie producer in Hollywood asks if he can make a movie out of the trio's work. Ignatius is against it, but Olive and Seymour overrule and they agree to become movie stars. The contract comes and Ignatius signs it without reading it. Ignatius and Seymour hurry to Hollywood with Olive a little bit behind. Once Iggy and Seymour make it to Hollywood, they realize that the movie isn't at all as they pictured it. It's about a ghost named Evilo (Olive spelled backwards) that terrifies the older man and his son within the house. The story is going to be scary and none of the 43 Old Cemetery Road residents will actually be in the movie. They've cast Ivana Oscar as Evilo, leaving Olive out completely. Ivana encourages Seymour to make up a fake name and audition for himself and Iggy is in teeth make-over hell. This is when things really get weird, somehow the contracts are worded in a way that leaves everyone with nothing and the studio with everything. How are our beloved characters going to survive Hollywood and make it back to give another 3 chapters of 43 Old Cemetery Road?
My thoughts:
This is such a fun series. Reading straight through this book, it takes a little less than an hour. I recommend another glance through though, the details in every letter, news article, or postcard are just stunning. It's so much fun! I also love how the characters are clearly identified through font. Even if you don't read the to or from, it's easy to figure out what character is doing what by the type of script that is used. Seymour grows a good amount within this book. He accidentally stumbles in and out of stardom without ever understanding what is going on. This actually ends up helping him realize what is truly important. Compared to the overwhelming amounts of the humor in the first books, this one is a little bit darker. There is attempted murder and cutthroat business tactics within this book, so it's a little bit more than the first four within the series. If you are reading to younger ones, keep that in mind.
After the success of the 43 Old Cemetery Road stories, a movie producer in Hollywood asks if he can make a movie out of the trio's work. Ignatius is against it, but Olive and Seymour overrule and they agree to become movie stars. The contract comes and Ignatius signs it without reading it. Ignatius and Seymour hurry to Hollywood with Olive a little bit behind. Once Iggy and Seymour make it to Hollywood, they realize that the movie isn't at all as they pictured it. It's about a ghost named Evilo (Olive spelled backwards) that terrifies the older man and his son within the house. The story is going to be scary and none of the 43 Old Cemetery Road residents will actually be in the movie. They've cast Ivana Oscar as Evilo, leaving Olive out completely. Ivana encourages Seymour to make up a fake name and audition for himself and Iggy is in teeth make-over hell. This is when things really get weird, somehow the contracts are worded in a way that leaves everyone with nothing and the studio with everything. How are our beloved characters going to survive Hollywood and make it back to give another 3 chapters of 43 Old Cemetery Road?
My thoughts:
This is such a fun series. Reading straight through this book, it takes a little less than an hour. I recommend another glance through though, the details in every letter, news article, or postcard are just stunning. It's so much fun! I also love how the characters are clearly identified through font. Even if you don't read the to or from, it's easy to figure out what character is doing what by the type of script that is used. Seymour grows a good amount within this book. He accidentally stumbles in and out of stardom without ever understanding what is going on. This actually ends up helping him realize what is truly important. Compared to the overwhelming amounts of the humor in the first books, this one is a little bit darker. There is attempted murder and cutthroat business tactics within this book, so it's a little bit more than the first four within the series. If you are reading to younger ones, keep that in mind.
