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Joss Whedon: The Biography
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best History & Biography (2014)From the cult favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which netted four million viewers per episode, to the summer blockbuster The Avengers, which amassed a box office of $1.5 billion, Joss Whedon has made a name for himself in Hollywood for his penchant for telling meaningful, personal tales about love, death, and redemption even against the most dramatic and larger-than-life backdrops.
This biography follows his development from a creative child and teenager who spent years away from his family at an elite English public school, through his early successes—which often turned into frustrating heartbreak in both television (Roseanne) and film (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)—to his breakout turn as the creator, writer, and director of the Buffy television series.
Extensive, original interviews with Whedon’s family, friends, collaborators, and stars—and with the man himself—offer candid, behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of groundbreaking series such as Buffy, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse, as well as new stories about his work with Pixar writers and animators during the creation of Toy Story. Most importantly, however, these conversations present an intimate and revealing portrait of a man whose creativity and storytelling ability have manifested themselves in comics, online media, television, and film.
This biography follows his development from a creative child and teenager who spent years away from his family at an elite English public school, through his early successes—which often turned into frustrating heartbreak in both television (Roseanne) and film (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)—to his breakout turn as the creator, writer, and director of the Buffy television series.
Extensive, original interviews with Whedon’s family, friends, collaborators, and stars—and with the man himself—offer candid, behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of groundbreaking series such as Buffy, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse, as well as new stories about his work with Pixar writers and animators during the creation of Toy Story. Most importantly, however, these conversations present an intimate and revealing portrait of a man whose creativity and storytelling ability have manifested themselves in comics, online media, television, and film.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2014
About the author
Amy Pascale
2 books35 followersWhile Amy Pascale’s first “official” fandom was My So-Called Life in 1994, she was turning down friends’ invites to play at the age of three because she was “watching her shows” — Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers.
That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with television storytelling, understanding the importance of scheduling life around TV and perhaps most importantly: learning to judge people by the shows they watch.
Not surprisingly, she has worked in on-air and online media for over fifteen years. Amy is currently the Director of Strategy in MTV’s On-Air Promos department, where she also gets to write the words that come out of the mouths of Teen Wolves, Banshees, Hunters and Awkward kids trying to make it through high school. She co-founded and edits the offbeat online magazine PopGurls.com – which, along with her day job, is her excuse for watching as much television as she does (a lot).
She also now knows a whole lot about Joss Whedon — possibly even more than the man knows about himself.
That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with television storytelling, understanding the importance of scheduling life around TV and perhaps most importantly: learning to judge people by the shows they watch.
Not surprisingly, she has worked in on-air and online media for over fifteen years. Amy is currently the Director of Strategy in MTV’s On-Air Promos department, where she also gets to write the words that come out of the mouths of Teen Wolves, Banshees, Hunters and Awkward kids trying to make it through high school. She co-founded and edits the offbeat online magazine PopGurls.com – which, along with her day job, is her excuse for watching as much television as she does (a lot).
She also now knows a whole lot about Joss Whedon — possibly even more than the man knows about himself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
October 13, 2014
During the course of her new biography on Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and director of The Avengers, author Amy Pascale mentions several times one of the iconic t-shirts of the Whedon fandom, a riff on a line of Darth Vader’s that reads simply: Joss Whedon is my master now. I own the t-shirt, but Pascale has clearly bought into the lifestyle. Her Joss Whedon: A Biography may as well have been subtitled Pascale’s Panegyric, and seems more like a PR exercise automatically greenlit once The Avengers gross clicked over the billion dollar mark than an actual attempt to chronicle the eponymous subject’s life.
Pascale, a director at MTV and cofounder of the semi-defunct pop-culture site PopGurls, presents a functional enough recitation of the facts of Whedon’s life from his upbringing by his famously feminist mother to his work launching Marvel’s 2013 television tie-in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, but as a biography her book reads more like an annotated IMDB listing interpolated with quotations lifted from podcasts, Comic-Con panels, and Entertainment Weekly interviews. Only a trace amount of personal detail appears, so any fan of her subject’s work will know most, if not all, of the trivia on parade here, and any nonfan will hardly be wooed by her workmanlike prose or her inability to treat Whedon as a complex person rather than just as a poster child for Geek Success.
The best part of Pascale’s book is the chance it affords to relive your own experiences with Whedon’s work: the campy delight of the first season of Buffy, the heartbreak over the cancellation of Firefly, the absolute fangirl SQUEE moment of realization that you didn’t need to worry about The Avengers sucking because Joss Whedon – JOSS WHEDON – would have his hands on the reigns. Unfortunately, that trip down memory lane also serves to highlight the book’s utter unwillingness or inability to synthesize the work and the man and draw any thematic conclusions. The writer isn’t always his text, but the text is always the writer, and Pascale avoids making any but the most obvious connections, a grave error in a book about a man whose work frequently emphasizes that our stories are what make us who we are.
In the end, the real problem with Joss Whedon: The Biography is that it’s not Joss Whedon: The Autobiography, and that it’s the student taking us on the tour rather than the master. Whedon only turns fifty this year and his professional plate is fuller than ever, which means he’s unlikely to get reflective and present us with the memoir both he and his audience deserve for another couple of decades at least. When he does – if he does – I and the other acolytes will be waiting.
Pascale, a director at MTV and cofounder of the semi-defunct pop-culture site PopGurls, presents a functional enough recitation of the facts of Whedon’s life from his upbringing by his famously feminist mother to his work launching Marvel’s 2013 television tie-in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, but as a biography her book reads more like an annotated IMDB listing interpolated with quotations lifted from podcasts, Comic-Con panels, and Entertainment Weekly interviews. Only a trace amount of personal detail appears, so any fan of her subject’s work will know most, if not all, of the trivia on parade here, and any nonfan will hardly be wooed by her workmanlike prose or her inability to treat Whedon as a complex person rather than just as a poster child for Geek Success.
The best part of Pascale’s book is the chance it affords to relive your own experiences with Whedon’s work: the campy delight of the first season of Buffy, the heartbreak over the cancellation of Firefly, the absolute fangirl SQUEE moment of realization that you didn’t need to worry about The Avengers sucking because Joss Whedon – JOSS WHEDON – would have his hands on the reigns. Unfortunately, that trip down memory lane also serves to highlight the book’s utter unwillingness or inability to synthesize the work and the man and draw any thematic conclusions. The writer isn’t always his text, but the text is always the writer, and Pascale avoids making any but the most obvious connections, a grave error in a book about a man whose work frequently emphasizes that our stories are what make us who we are.
In the end, the real problem with Joss Whedon: The Biography is that it’s not Joss Whedon: The Autobiography, and that it’s the student taking us on the tour rather than the master. Whedon only turns fifty this year and his professional plate is fuller than ever, which means he’s unlikely to get reflective and present us with the memoir both he and his audience deserve for another couple of decades at least. When he does – if he does – I and the other acolytes will be waiting.
August 4, 2014
This is not a review. It is, I suppose, a comment that I apparently feel compelled to make. It is entirely unhelpful to those considering reading this book, to whom I'd say read the damn thing already because Joss Whedon is the best thing ever. He's like Sara Crewe (A Little Princess) in that he gives us the stories we need to reframe our narratives in the dark times, and he's like Santa Claus except without the kinda creepy stalker parts. It's just nice to know he exists (Joss Whedon that is, not Santa Claus) and reading this book will, if nothing else, remind you that he ACTUALLY DOES exist. (Although now that I've said that, a sudden, horrid little doubt crept in - which I am going to vehemently ignore because I can live in a world without Santa and the sky bully being real but not, I think, without Joss Whedon.)
You can probably see by now that this isn't really a book review, so I'll just get to the useless comment I felt compelled to make. Anyone who isn't insane about BTVS should refrain from reading the rest of this and just go buy the book or rewatch Dr. Horrible or something. Continuing to read this will only irritate you and make me look really loony.
I heart Joss Whedon. (That's not the comment. Here's the comment. ) I personally feel that season 6 of Buffy is the best season of network tv I've ever watched (and rewatched, and rewatched) and still my favorite even adding in HBO etc.
(I am, in saying this, choosing to pretend that a few minutes of season 6 episode 19 (Seeing Red) is some sort of horrible shared hallucination that didn't actually happen because I felt personally betrayed by what I believe was the writers breaking character for like the first time ever, in the worst of ways, to set up for season 7.)
I apparently felt compelled to say this because of how the author of this bio sort of implies that pretty much everyone (fans) disliked the directions season 6 went and had a big issue with Marti Noxon and Joss Whedon regarding the darkness. I freaking LOVED the darkness and that they actually went there. That it went so far beyond "reset" tv, that it wasn't just wrapping up the soul crushing and erasing nothingness that the meaninglessness of life sometimes leaves you with in a nice little bow and a kiss for your booboo after maybe "a very special" 3 episode arc and then going right back to jolly happiness. I could go on forever about this.
I don't know. Maybe it's just me.
But the thing about Joss Whedon and stuff like season 6 of BTVS is that it's one of the few (non-book) things out there that you can find and think "it's NOT just me."
The author did say that due to fan messageboards chastising the writers for "the darkness," they apparently pulled it back a bit as the season was progressing. If true, interesting in that I really wish I could see what it was they were originally going to do. Would I have somehow loved it EVEN MORE?
So yeah, I've outed myself as a rabid BTVS season 6 fan who felt compelled to Yawp in dissent to this bio author's clear dislike of season 6 without her actually, you know, coming out and saying it's her opinion. She did this a few times in the book at various points, but always disguised it a bit with the "fans tended to feel/agree that... blahblahblah" which I found a bit judgy and disappointing I suppose, and for me this is where I lost willing suspension of disbelief. ok I know it's a biography and so WSoD doesn't so much apply, but I suppose that's where I got a bit tetchy and prickly. No one treats BTVS season 6 like a red-headed stepchild on MY WATCH!
And yes, I see you there, backing away smiling nervously, you people who didn't know this about me, because mainly I keep quietly to myself. Don't worry, I'm not going to suddenly start rabidly babbling about anything other than this. I don't even know why this - season 6 can & does speak for itself, more eloquently than I can.
I've lost steam - just had to clean up more cat vomit -shutting up now.
(I do wonder what these reviews by obviously deranged rabid fans of JW -I include myself- must seem like to a biography-browser who sort of recognizes Whedon's name but that's about it. Less likely to read because of it, or more likely?)
You can probably see by now that this isn't really a book review, so I'll just get to the useless comment I felt compelled to make. Anyone who isn't insane about BTVS should refrain from reading the rest of this and just go buy the book or rewatch Dr. Horrible or something. Continuing to read this will only irritate you and make me look really loony.
I heart Joss Whedon. (That's not the comment. Here's the comment. ) I personally feel that season 6 of Buffy is the best season of network tv I've ever watched (and rewatched, and rewatched) and still my favorite even adding in HBO etc.
(I am, in saying this, choosing to pretend that a few minutes of season 6 episode 19 (Seeing Red) is some sort of horrible shared hallucination that didn't actually happen because I felt personally betrayed by what I believe was the writers breaking character for like the first time ever, in the worst of ways, to set up for season 7.)
I apparently felt compelled to say this because of how the author of this bio sort of implies that pretty much everyone (fans) disliked the directions season 6 went and had a big issue with Marti Noxon and Joss Whedon regarding the darkness. I freaking LOVED the darkness and that they actually went there. That it went so far beyond "reset" tv, that it wasn't just wrapping up the soul crushing and erasing nothingness that the meaninglessness of life sometimes leaves you with in a nice little bow and a kiss for your booboo after maybe "a very special" 3 episode arc and then going right back to jolly happiness. I could go on forever about this.
I don't know. Maybe it's just me.
But the thing about Joss Whedon and stuff like season 6 of BTVS is that it's one of the few (non-book) things out there that you can find and think "it's NOT just me."
The author did say that due to fan messageboards chastising the writers for "the darkness," they apparently pulled it back a bit as the season was progressing. If true, interesting in that I really wish I could see what it was they were originally going to do. Would I have somehow loved it EVEN MORE?
So yeah, I've outed myself as a rabid BTVS season 6 fan who felt compelled to Yawp in dissent to this bio author's clear dislike of season 6 without her actually, you know, coming out and saying it's her opinion. She did this a few times in the book at various points, but always disguised it a bit with the "fans tended to feel/agree that... blahblahblah" which I found a bit judgy and disappointing I suppose, and for me this is where I lost willing suspension of disbelief. ok I know it's a biography and so WSoD doesn't so much apply, but I suppose that's where I got a bit tetchy and prickly. No one treats BTVS season 6 like a red-headed stepchild on MY WATCH!
And yes, I see you there, backing away smiling nervously, you people who didn't know this about me, because mainly I keep quietly to myself. Don't worry, I'm not going to suddenly start rabidly babbling about anything other than this. I don't even know why this - season 6 can & does speak for itself, more eloquently than I can.
I've lost steam - just had to clean up more cat vomit -shutting up now.
(I do wonder what these reviews by obviously deranged rabid fans of JW -I include myself- must seem like to a biography-browser who sort of recognizes Whedon's name but that's about it. Less likely to read because of it, or more likely?)
January 16, 2017
Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 Stars
Since this is the first biography I have ever read, I feel like I have to be cautious with reviewing this, since I can't compare it to other books of thie genre.
I think this book was, for someone who didn't know all of Joss Whedon's work, really, really great. It gave a good and wide overview of all of his projects, but to those projects of him I knew, like Firefly, The Avengers or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, I didn't get to know more than I already knew. So, I think for a hardcore fan of Joss Whedon, this biography could be a bit problematic, since I don't believe they would get much more information than they might already have.
In addition, I wished there would have been more about Joss Whedon as a person himself. He is such an extraordinary person with a unique mind that I missed reading more about his thoughts and emotions and everything, but I guess that's just a general problem with biographies.
Overall, as a "casual" fan of Joss Whedon, this book was great to get to know him and his work better, but I wouldn't recommend it to a hardcore fan who wants to learn new things about him.
But still, read it, because, well, it's Joss Whedon.
Since this is the first biography I have ever read, I feel like I have to be cautious with reviewing this, since I can't compare it to other books of thie genre.
I think this book was, for someone who didn't know all of Joss Whedon's work, really, really great. It gave a good and wide overview of all of his projects, but to those projects of him I knew, like Firefly, The Avengers or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, I didn't get to know more than I already knew. So, I think for a hardcore fan of Joss Whedon, this biography could be a bit problematic, since I don't believe they would get much more information than they might already have.
In addition, I wished there would have been more about Joss Whedon as a person himself. He is such an extraordinary person with a unique mind that I missed reading more about his thoughts and emotions and everything, but I guess that's just a general problem with biographies.
Overall, as a "casual" fan of Joss Whedon, this book was great to get to know him and his work better, but I wouldn't recommend it to a hardcore fan who wants to learn new things about him.
But still, read it, because, well, it's Joss Whedon.
June 2, 2015
Numfar! Do the dance of a job well done!
When I was approved for the ARC of this book from Netgalley, it would be a drastic understatement to say I was excited. I have been a worshipper at the feet of the Whedon for a very long time now, and I was ready to throw the book I was reading aside and dive headfirst into this. I expected to finish it in hours, not days.
And then in the "You're approved!" e-mail, I saw We do ask that you hold your review until the book's publication month.
I couldn't read it right away. Having to wait to post a review, I would lose any thoughts and feelings I'd once had. If I wrote the review then and there, and waited to post it, reading it back over I'd probably want to adjust it, and remove the spontaneity.
Why god, why?!?!?
Needless to say, July 31st I dived back in. And killed my phone two times a day being absorbed into the story of Joss Whedon.
I'll be the first to admit, I am super biased to the subject matter. I like to joke that I was a fan of Joss Whedon before I even knew I was a fan. I was a big fan of the first Toy Story, so finding out he'd been involved in that process, bam. Early Joss fan.
Then I found out his father wrote for the Golden Girls. HUGE fan of the Golden Girls growing up. I've always been a Whedon fan! Grandfather wrote for what?! Jesus, that's my entire Nick at Nite childhood!
Cut to a few years ago, reading a book about Sesame Street, and Captain Kangaroo. Guess whose name appears one more time.
And I was one of those 10 people who adored the movie version of Buffy.
Then in this book, I actually find out which episodes of Roseanne were written by Joss himself, one of which being one of my favorites, the episode where Darlene has to write a poem and read it for class.
Yeah. I'm a three generation Whedon fan. I apparently was destined to fall in love with a spunky blonde with a pointy stick, and follow her creator through hell and cancellation.
I did go into the book hesitant, though. The trouble with biographies is the same trouble Joss had when making Serenity. The biggest draw will be the people who are already invested. Those of us who have followed Joss, who railed against the WB, railed against Fox, took part in the campaigns. We are the readers.
But what about everyone else? What about the people who see this book while passing their eyes over a shelf full of biographies, and say, "Who's this guy? Oh, The Avengers? Yeah, that movie kicked ass. Okay, I'll read it." Will this biography hold the interest of someone who's never heard the term Browncoat?
I think it will.
This book is jam packed with information, without being heavy. You get bits from every aspect of his life without feeling like you're stuck in one part. The origin story (as it were) is clean, and succinct. Grandparents, parents, siblings, born. School, comics, England. Bam bam bam. And plenty of good Jossy soundbites in between.
And really, I read this for the Jossy soundbites. I've read at least half of the big quotes in this book, but some of them I haven't read in 10 years, and getting a refresher was like talking to an old friend. Reminding myself why I follow this man to every new project. I even learned things I hadn't known, and that was fantastic.
I can never have enough lip service to Buffy, it is my original fandom, my original love. I think the portions dedicated to that time on the show are well fleshed out. Maybe I'm projecting, but I think you can really tell the author's preferences, likes and dislikes, regarding the show. Much attention is given to the first three seasons, then she just...stops describing. Barely anything about seasons 4 and 5, other than talking about The Gift.
And again, maybe projecting a tad, but I think she and I have the exact same opinions about season 6. I was very interested to see that she mentioned the extreme fan....dislike....for Marti Noxon. Not that I'm guilty of that or anything. ::cough::
Ms. Pascale was a Bronzer, and the cast and crew did frequent that board a lot. But as someone who found her own family via an online Buffy forum, just a tiny mention of the other Buffy forums online would've been nice? I know we never got a visit from Joss (well, that he made himself known, anyway), but still. AOL Buffy boards. Hi. ::waves::
We did find who we believed to be Tim Minear once. I don't know if anyone had the balls to say hi to him, though.
Speaking of. I was interested to see if she would mention any of the tensions regarding the Buffy and Angel set. I've heard rumors, two of which were definitely substantiated. And those were the ones talked about, though it feels like they were greatly sandpapered over. The Jeff Pruitt battle, for one, and what was done to Charisma Carpenter.
I'm glad they're included, and I wasn't expecting (or wanting) Joss to be dragged through the dirt. But still. Kind of felt like the edges were sanded a bit heavily.
Last thing: I know someone mentioned in the acknowledgements. I promptly ran to her Facebook page to crow about it. Because I am a nerd who reads the acknowledgements.
I cannot say enough how pleased I was by this book. Pleased enough to get a little emotional at times, remembering how much being a fan of his has given me over the years. I will be buying this book, and it will have a good spot on my bookshelf.
Again, though. I am very biased.
(Note: Review also posted to my Tumblr account)
August 29, 2014
Truly, a must-read for fans. The author laid it out nicely, from his childhood to his early days as a script doctor in Hollywood right up to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
This is a great time for a bio to be written as, even though his story isn't over, what has happened so far gave the book a happy ending. The author sees Joss through frustration and aborted projects to triumphs and the recognition he's always deserved.
People who love his shows and movies will be excited about the number of actors the author interviewed for the book-Nathan Fillion was probably quoted the most. And wonderful tidbits from the man himself abound.
Interesting and well-written, this was one of the most enjoyable biographies I've read.
This is a great time for a bio to be written as, even though his story isn't over, what has happened so far gave the book a happy ending. The author sees Joss through frustration and aborted projects to triumphs and the recognition he's always deserved.
People who love his shows and movies will be excited about the number of actors the author interviewed for the book-Nathan Fillion was probably quoted the most. And wonderful tidbits from the man himself abound.
Interesting and well-written, this was one of the most enjoyable biographies I've read.
September 18, 2014
I thought this biography was just okay. I don't do hero-worship of any kind, because no one -- and I literally mean no one -- is ever that good. That said, I do like quite a lot of what Whedon has done. I enjoy the way he crafts stories, I agree with his general outlook on life, I've liked most of the TV shows he's created and both films he's directed.
But even as a casual fan, I already knew most of the stuff in this book. There are no real revelations here, aside from his close ties to a former teacher. On that level, the book is a disappointment.
It's well-written, I'll give it that, but at the end of the book in her acknowledgements, author Pascale mentions she thought they wanted her to write a magazine article about Whedon and that is exactly what this strikes me as: a 500-page magazine article.
This is not a warts-and-all book. It's breezy and mostly surface stuff. While it is interesting to see how certain movies came together or fell apart, the interest is mild rather than intense. Disagreements are quickly swept away as if they were no matter.
It was also far less humorous than I would have expected. The humor is there in the interviews, but it's not expressed well. If you weren't already familiar with these people, you'd have no idea when they were being ironic or arch or merely jesting. That's a job for the author, to help underscore the nuance, to call out for the unfamiliar reader when an interviewee was being facetious.
If you need all this information in one place, this is the book for you. But something Whedon said about a fellow student in college applies to this book, "This guy's a puddle."
But even as a casual fan, I already knew most of the stuff in this book. There are no real revelations here, aside from his close ties to a former teacher. On that level, the book is a disappointment.
It's well-written, I'll give it that, but at the end of the book in her acknowledgements, author Pascale mentions she thought they wanted her to write a magazine article about Whedon and that is exactly what this strikes me as: a 500-page magazine article.
This is not a warts-and-all book. It's breezy and mostly surface stuff. While it is interesting to see how certain movies came together or fell apart, the interest is mild rather than intense. Disagreements are quickly swept away as if they were no matter.
It was also far less humorous than I would have expected. The humor is there in the interviews, but it's not expressed well. If you weren't already familiar with these people, you'd have no idea when they were being ironic or arch or merely jesting. That's a job for the author, to help underscore the nuance, to call out for the unfamiliar reader when an interviewee was being facetious.
If you need all this information in one place, this is the book for you. But something Whedon said about a fellow student in college applies to this book, "This guy's a puddle."
December 20, 2014
I am not generally a biography kind of girl. However, that being said, I am a huge geek at heart and let's face it, Joss Whedon knows exactly how to speak right to us geeky type people; probably because he himself is one. So when I saw this book on Netgalley, I just had to try to get it. I was thrilled when I was accepted.
Since I don't read many (any) biographies, I honestly can't tell how it stacks up to others of its genre. I can say that reading about Joss Whedon's life, from a history of his grandfather and father all the way up to his recent success with the Avenger's movie was done in such a way, that I felt like I really got to understand what drives him. The stories, quotes and interviews with his friends, family and co-workers shared the many sides of the man. It was told in such a way that it was very easy to follow his journey to the top of the geek mountain. I learned so many interesting things, and though some myths were debunked, finding out others just made him more interesting.
As a fan, I thought I knew quite a bit about him. I learned that what I did accurately know, was just the surface. After reading about the struggles and obstacles throughout his career, it gives his successes and victories that much more meaning. Reading this biography has simply made me a bigger fan. I can't imagine telling the story of a world-class storyteller would be easy, but Amy Pascale did it with grace and aplomp. This was a fantastic read, worthy of 4 stars.
Since I don't read many (any) biographies, I honestly can't tell how it stacks up to others of its genre. I can say that reading about Joss Whedon's life, from a history of his grandfather and father all the way up to his recent success with the Avenger's movie was done in such a way, that I felt like I really got to understand what drives him. The stories, quotes and interviews with his friends, family and co-workers shared the many sides of the man. It was told in such a way that it was very easy to follow his journey to the top of the geek mountain. I learned so many interesting things, and though some myths were debunked, finding out others just made him more interesting.
As a fan, I thought I knew quite a bit about him. I learned that what I did accurately know, was just the surface. After reading about the struggles and obstacles throughout his career, it gives his successes and victories that much more meaning. Reading this biography has simply made me a bigger fan. I can't imagine telling the story of a world-class storyteller would be easy, but Amy Pascale did it with grace and aplomp. This was a fantastic read, worthy of 4 stars.
May 9, 2020
Even though I love Joss Whedon, I didn't expect to love this book. I mean, it's a biography...usually that means dry and boring, even when the topic is someone fascinating. Or maybe that is just my personal experiences with biographies. But this, I loved. Buffy is my all-time favorite show. It was my everything in my late teens and early 20's. I recorded every episode on VHS. I also loved Angel, Firefly, and even Dollhouse. So, while I am fairly well-versed in the Whedonverse, I found the behind the scenes peeks extremely interesting. I love Joss's sense of humor and the way he uses language. This is one of those books that I was constantly regaling my husband with "Hey, listen to this..." snippets. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Whedon's work, is interested in writing or film making, or likes reading about people who are passionate about their work.
August 20, 2014
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Do I need a synopsis for this? It's a biography on Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and so many other amazing pieces of entertainment. I've been trying to figure out how to write this review, because I'm afraid it's going to come out as more of a review of Joss Whedon's life than it is a review of the author's book. I guess I've never reviewed a biography before.
Well, first let me just say that this book was pretty long, and yet I still would have happily kept reading forever. The author did an excellent job of keeping a narrative going throughout the book. She devoted separate chapters to separate projects of Joss's, while also keeping things chronological even though he hopped from one project to the next and back again. I almost felt like I was reading a fictional story, with character development, foreshadowing, conflict, tension, and resolutions. I also think the author did a great job of piecing together many different people's thoughts while working on various projects in order to give the reader a complete idea of what it was like to be there with Joss at that time.
So basically I'm saying that this biography was excellent. Excellent excellent excellent. I was fascinated the entire time…
And that, of course, is why I feel like I should be reviewing Joss the person rather than this actual book. I don't want to take away anything from the wonderful job the author has done, but I obviously wouldn't have been so invested in reading a biography if I wasn't so obsessed with its subject. Joss Whedon has been probably my biggest hero for a really long time, in the sense that I admire his work--both as a consumer of it for entertainment, and as a creator myself.
While he writes scripts and I write novels, I feel like the fundamentals of storytelling are the same. And I found so much inspiration in hearing exactly how Joss creates his stories. One tidbit I especially enjoyed was how he talks about writing episodes of Buffy. While the show is told in a very monster-of-the-week format, especially in earlier seasons, Joss was adamant about keeping the conflict of each episode grounded in the emotional conflicts of the characters. He always asked himself and his other writers, "But what's the Buffy of it?" I think I need to write this on the top of my dry-erase board when I'm making notes for a novel, perhaps substituting "Buffy" with my own MC's name. Or then again, perhaps not!
I know I'm not the first person to say this about him, but another thing I really admire about Joss is the way he cultivates his own family of creative and talented people, keeping them close around him. If you watch his shows, it's obvious that he uses a lot of the same actors for many different projects, but he also uses the same writers, etc. I can understand why he does this, and I also feel most comfortable when I'm around other creative people. While I can't cast my friends in TV shows, I appreciate how Joss does this. It is also interesting how he has created his own family, while he often talks about that idea as being a big theme in his shows. And the fact that his "family" gathers at his house to give Shakespeare readings just makes my heart swell a little bit.
I also feel like I share so many personal beliefs with Joss, about humanity, feminism, religion…and it was great getting to read his thoughts on the subjects and about how his beliefs have shaped his work. I already knew that he was an atheist, but I found myself majorly connecting with him during moments of this book, especially whenever he takes issue with the idea that you need to have religion in order to have a sense of morality.
There are countless other reasons I could give for why I pretty much worship Joss Whedon, but I think maybe I'll save that for a separate post. I'm just going to end this with a few Joss quotes I found in this book that really kind of hit me in the gut.
"Very often you'll be in a group and you'll discover that every single person in it feels like they're the one on the perimeter."
"…we, all of us, are alone in our own minds, and I was very much aware of that from the very beginning of my life. Loneliness and aloneness--which are different things--are very much…[among the] main things I focus on in my work."
"It made me realize…that every time somebody opens their mouth they have an opportunity to do one of two things--connect or divide. Some people inherently divide, and some people inherently connect."
"I believe the only reality is how we treat each other. The morality comes from the absence of any grander scheme, not from the presence of any grander scheme."
"The enemy of humanism is not faith. The enemy of humanism is hate, is fear, is ignorance, is the darker part of man that is in every humanist, every person in the world. That is what we have to fight. Faith is something we have to embrace. Faith in God means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers."
And finally, a quote from Amy Pascale that I wholeheartedly agree with:
"When I say that Joss Whedon changed my life, I'm not being hyperbolic. If anything, it seems inadequate to say that he changed it only once."
(Check out this review and others on my blog at http://tammywritesya.blogspot.com.)
Do I need a synopsis for this? It's a biography on Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and so many other amazing pieces of entertainment. I've been trying to figure out how to write this review, because I'm afraid it's going to come out as more of a review of Joss Whedon's life than it is a review of the author's book. I guess I've never reviewed a biography before.
Well, first let me just say that this book was pretty long, and yet I still would have happily kept reading forever. The author did an excellent job of keeping a narrative going throughout the book. She devoted separate chapters to separate projects of Joss's, while also keeping things chronological even though he hopped from one project to the next and back again. I almost felt like I was reading a fictional story, with character development, foreshadowing, conflict, tension, and resolutions. I also think the author did a great job of piecing together many different people's thoughts while working on various projects in order to give the reader a complete idea of what it was like to be there with Joss at that time.
So basically I'm saying that this biography was excellent. Excellent excellent excellent. I was fascinated the entire time…
And that, of course, is why I feel like I should be reviewing Joss the person rather than this actual book. I don't want to take away anything from the wonderful job the author has done, but I obviously wouldn't have been so invested in reading a biography if I wasn't so obsessed with its subject. Joss Whedon has been probably my biggest hero for a really long time, in the sense that I admire his work--both as a consumer of it for entertainment, and as a creator myself.
While he writes scripts and I write novels, I feel like the fundamentals of storytelling are the same. And I found so much inspiration in hearing exactly how Joss creates his stories. One tidbit I especially enjoyed was how he talks about writing episodes of Buffy. While the show is told in a very monster-of-the-week format, especially in earlier seasons, Joss was adamant about keeping the conflict of each episode grounded in the emotional conflicts of the characters. He always asked himself and his other writers, "But what's the Buffy of it?" I think I need to write this on the top of my dry-erase board when I'm making notes for a novel, perhaps substituting "Buffy" with my own MC's name. Or then again, perhaps not!
I know I'm not the first person to say this about him, but another thing I really admire about Joss is the way he cultivates his own family of creative and talented people, keeping them close around him. If you watch his shows, it's obvious that he uses a lot of the same actors for many different projects, but he also uses the same writers, etc. I can understand why he does this, and I also feel most comfortable when I'm around other creative people. While I can't cast my friends in TV shows, I appreciate how Joss does this. It is also interesting how he has created his own family, while he often talks about that idea as being a big theme in his shows. And the fact that his "family" gathers at his house to give Shakespeare readings just makes my heart swell a little bit.
I also feel like I share so many personal beliefs with Joss, about humanity, feminism, religion…and it was great getting to read his thoughts on the subjects and about how his beliefs have shaped his work. I already knew that he was an atheist, but I found myself majorly connecting with him during moments of this book, especially whenever he takes issue with the idea that you need to have religion in order to have a sense of morality.
There are countless other reasons I could give for why I pretty much worship Joss Whedon, but I think maybe I'll save that for a separate post. I'm just going to end this with a few Joss quotes I found in this book that really kind of hit me in the gut.
"Very often you'll be in a group and you'll discover that every single person in it feels like they're the one on the perimeter."
"…we, all of us, are alone in our own minds, and I was very much aware of that from the very beginning of my life. Loneliness and aloneness--which are different things--are very much…[among the] main things I focus on in my work."
"It made me realize…that every time somebody opens their mouth they have an opportunity to do one of two things--connect or divide. Some people inherently divide, and some people inherently connect."
"I believe the only reality is how we treat each other. The morality comes from the absence of any grander scheme, not from the presence of any grander scheme."
"The enemy of humanism is not faith. The enemy of humanism is hate, is fear, is ignorance, is the darker part of man that is in every humanist, every person in the world. That is what we have to fight. Faith is something we have to embrace. Faith in God means believing absolutely in something with no proof whatsoever. Faith in humanity means believing absolutely in something with a huge amount of proof to the contrary. We are the true believers."
And finally, a quote from Amy Pascale that I wholeheartedly agree with:
"When I say that Joss Whedon changed my life, I'm not being hyperbolic. If anything, it seems inadequate to say that he changed it only once."
(Check out this review and others on my blog at http://tammywritesya.blogspot.com.)
June 8, 2015
I think I’m the perfect audience for this book: I am a massive Whedon fan but not much of a fan-girl. In other words, I have watched most of his movies and television shows (some repeatedly), have visited the Whedonverse website on occasion, and have read quite a bit about certain of his productions. Yet I am not someone who scavenges the web for every detail about Joss Whedon and there was much I didn’t know and was at least moderately interested in discovering.
One of the criticisms I’ve seen of Pascale’s biography is that she hasn’t uncovered new ground, but much of it was new to me. So why did I find the book so ultimately disappointing? It’s certainly thoroughly researched and simple to follow; Pascale structures the book in a linear manner, offering a bit on each of Whedon’s creative endeavors, of which there are many. Unfortunately, it is heavy on factoids but remarkably weak on insights, a relatively massive tome of diligent, factual research. Taking into consideration its subject—someone who is personal, witty and thought-provoking, and who brings an abundance of unique perspectives to his work—this book is incredibly disappointing.
Still, the information itself is often interesting, though told in a rote manner. (My favorite tidbit: before working in television, one of Whedon's fun creative projects was a musical based on Oliver North that used the music from Oliver.) No doubt, said I to myself, the author is relying solely on research, and doesn’t have the access for unique or profound insights. At least, that’s what I thought until the end of the book, in which her acknowledgments indicate numerous interviews with not just Whedon and his wife, but many of the principals involved in Whedon’s various productions.
A good biography does not just proffer an unconscious recitation of facts, dates and figures; perhaps Pascale’s access made her hesitant to offer any observations that might disappoint/anger the House of Whedon. The result is a book that seems like a very well-ordered compilation of brief and superficial articles on Joss Whedon’s life and times, all written or re-written by the same author for consistency. The subject deserves better—a memoir, perhaps?
One of the criticisms I’ve seen of Pascale’s biography is that she hasn’t uncovered new ground, but much of it was new to me. So why did I find the book so ultimately disappointing? It’s certainly thoroughly researched and simple to follow; Pascale structures the book in a linear manner, offering a bit on each of Whedon’s creative endeavors, of which there are many. Unfortunately, it is heavy on factoids but remarkably weak on insights, a relatively massive tome of diligent, factual research. Taking into consideration its subject—someone who is personal, witty and thought-provoking, and who brings an abundance of unique perspectives to his work—this book is incredibly disappointing.
Still, the information itself is often interesting, though told in a rote manner. (My favorite tidbit: before working in television, one of Whedon's fun creative projects was a musical based on Oliver North that used the music from Oliver.) No doubt, said I to myself, the author is relying solely on research, and doesn’t have the access for unique or profound insights. At least, that’s what I thought until the end of the book, in which her acknowledgments indicate numerous interviews with not just Whedon and his wife, but many of the principals involved in Whedon’s various productions.
A good biography does not just proffer an unconscious recitation of facts, dates and figures; perhaps Pascale’s access made her hesitant to offer any observations that might disappoint/anger the House of Whedon. The result is a book that seems like a very well-ordered compilation of brief and superficial articles on Joss Whedon’s life and times, all written or re-written by the same author for consistency. The subject deserves better—a memoir, perhaps?
March 24, 2015
Any Whedon fanatic may tell you they know everything there is to know about the man and the world he created. This book might just teach them something new. While large portions were details that most fans will be familiar with, there was enough new information that it made the read worthwhile. The book does seem to become more of a history of Mutant Enemy near the middle, as the focus drifts towards the work and less towards Whedon himself. In the end, I am just grateful it wasn't an autobiography as that would mean Whedon would have to murder someone to stay true to his craft.
January 4, 2015
I really loved the deep inside look at TV and movie production and Whedon's experience. I am not a Whedonverse person so most of the shows and movies I have not seen. There is very little about his personal life, very few pictures. But it is an excellent dive into the How and why of why things ended when they did or never got off the ground. I suspect there are more than a few lessons for aspiring TV and filmmakers.
June 17, 2015
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/acro...
Few people have had the sort of impact on the pop culture landscape that Joss Whedon has brought to bear over the past two decades. From “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to “The Avengers,” Whedon is one of the most formidable – and most beloved - figures in entertainment.
His story unfolds in a new biography, the aptly named “Joss Whedon: A Biography”. Writer Amy Pascale has engaged in exhaustive research, engaging in in-depth conversations with people from all aspects of Whedon’s life, up to and including the man himself.
Pascale unpacks Whedon’s life from its beginnings. A creative and somewhat callow youth, Whedon was greatly influenced by his mother (a feminist educator) and father (a television writer) alike. His childhood was spent surrounded by artists and intellectuals. He also spent a few years attending an honest-to-goodness English boarding school before attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut. It was at Wesleyan that he encountered Jeanine Basinger, a film studies professor who would serve as a muse and mentor for Whedon for many years to come.
From there it was off to Hollywood, where he worked as a writer for a number of sitcoms – “Roseanne” chief among them. Then came his screenplay for the film “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” along with various others and assorted script doctoring gigs.
But it was the chance to revisit Buffy that served as the Big Bang moment that would lead to the inception of the “Whedonverse.” From there, Whedon rocketed to prominence. “Buffy” begat “Angel.” In turn, those shows led to “Firefly” and “Dollhouse.” Before you know it, Whedon is helming “The Avengers.” All the while, a rabid and fiercely loyal fan base was building all over the world thanks to the advent of the internet – a fan base that continues to grow to this day.
Perhaps it’s unfair, but the biggest criticism of this book has nothing to do with the author (who has clearly done her homework) or the subject (Whedon’s impact on popular culture more than warrants biographical exploration). In truth, the largest issue with “Joss Whedon” is simply the lack of real conflict. The man has by all accounts lived an exceptionally happy life. By no means is this a bad thing, but the absence of struggle reduces the book’s impact somewhat.
Whedon has been wildly successful in his personal life; what early struggles he had sprang from not having his voice heard in various television writers’ rooms and directors taking his screenplays in different directions – problems many truly struggling writers would love to have. Yes, he had TV shows get cancelled before their time – “Firefly” springs immediately to mind - but even those cancellations inspired the sort of fan fervor that the medium had never really seen. He was hit hard by the Writer’s Guild strike – only to use that down time to create a beloved internet property in “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” And when his genre-flipping film “Cabin in the Woods” got delayed, his consolation prize turned out to be the chance to write and direct the third-highest grossing film in box office history.
All this plus a happy, healthy marriage and loving family, a loyal and ever-expanding cadre of acting and writing acolytes and perhaps the most fervent fan base of any TV/film writer in the 21st century. No doubt, Joss Whedon has had some problems – and we see glimpses during his formative years – but even then, he had loving and supportive parents and teachers alongside him at almost every turn.
But you can’t fault someone for having a great life. And there’s no doubt that Whedon is in many ways a fascinating subject. While Pascale definitely mines some wonderful stuff from Whedon himself, the book shines brightest when she speaks to those who have worked closest with Whedon. Without fail, everyone who has spent time in Whedon’s orbit offers heartfelt praise for the man. Of particular note are his fellow writers – particularly those who worked with him on “Buffy.” And mention must be made of actor Nathan Fillion, who worked with Whedon on “Firefly” and his adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Fillion’s affection and respect for Whedon is so in-depth and far-reaching that some of his thoughts actually wound up becoming the book’s foreword.
Hardcore Whedon fans might not find anything new here, but the Whedonverse dilettantes are likely to find some fascinating revelations in “Joss Whedon: A Biography.” Its main reward is the behind-the-scenes glimpse it offers; a look at someone who has so clearly found a mainline connection to the zeitgeist.
Few people have had the sort of impact on the pop culture landscape that Joss Whedon has brought to bear over the past two decades. From “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to “The Avengers,” Whedon is one of the most formidable – and most beloved - figures in entertainment.
His story unfolds in a new biography, the aptly named “Joss Whedon: A Biography”. Writer Amy Pascale has engaged in exhaustive research, engaging in in-depth conversations with people from all aspects of Whedon’s life, up to and including the man himself.
Pascale unpacks Whedon’s life from its beginnings. A creative and somewhat callow youth, Whedon was greatly influenced by his mother (a feminist educator) and father (a television writer) alike. His childhood was spent surrounded by artists and intellectuals. He also spent a few years attending an honest-to-goodness English boarding school before attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut. It was at Wesleyan that he encountered Jeanine Basinger, a film studies professor who would serve as a muse and mentor for Whedon for many years to come.
From there it was off to Hollywood, where he worked as a writer for a number of sitcoms – “Roseanne” chief among them. Then came his screenplay for the film “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” along with various others and assorted script doctoring gigs.
But it was the chance to revisit Buffy that served as the Big Bang moment that would lead to the inception of the “Whedonverse.” From there, Whedon rocketed to prominence. “Buffy” begat “Angel.” In turn, those shows led to “Firefly” and “Dollhouse.” Before you know it, Whedon is helming “The Avengers.” All the while, a rabid and fiercely loyal fan base was building all over the world thanks to the advent of the internet – a fan base that continues to grow to this day.
Perhaps it’s unfair, but the biggest criticism of this book has nothing to do with the author (who has clearly done her homework) or the subject (Whedon’s impact on popular culture more than warrants biographical exploration). In truth, the largest issue with “Joss Whedon” is simply the lack of real conflict. The man has by all accounts lived an exceptionally happy life. By no means is this a bad thing, but the absence of struggle reduces the book’s impact somewhat.
Whedon has been wildly successful in his personal life; what early struggles he had sprang from not having his voice heard in various television writers’ rooms and directors taking his screenplays in different directions – problems many truly struggling writers would love to have. Yes, he had TV shows get cancelled before their time – “Firefly” springs immediately to mind - but even those cancellations inspired the sort of fan fervor that the medium had never really seen. He was hit hard by the Writer’s Guild strike – only to use that down time to create a beloved internet property in “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” And when his genre-flipping film “Cabin in the Woods” got delayed, his consolation prize turned out to be the chance to write and direct the third-highest grossing film in box office history.
All this plus a happy, healthy marriage and loving family, a loyal and ever-expanding cadre of acting and writing acolytes and perhaps the most fervent fan base of any TV/film writer in the 21st century. No doubt, Joss Whedon has had some problems – and we see glimpses during his formative years – but even then, he had loving and supportive parents and teachers alongside him at almost every turn.
But you can’t fault someone for having a great life. And there’s no doubt that Whedon is in many ways a fascinating subject. While Pascale definitely mines some wonderful stuff from Whedon himself, the book shines brightest when she speaks to those who have worked closest with Whedon. Without fail, everyone who has spent time in Whedon’s orbit offers heartfelt praise for the man. Of particular note are his fellow writers – particularly those who worked with him on “Buffy.” And mention must be made of actor Nathan Fillion, who worked with Whedon on “Firefly” and his adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Fillion’s affection and respect for Whedon is so in-depth and far-reaching that some of his thoughts actually wound up becoming the book’s foreword.
Hardcore Whedon fans might not find anything new here, but the Whedonverse dilettantes are likely to find some fascinating revelations in “Joss Whedon: A Biography.” Its main reward is the behind-the-scenes glimpse it offers; a look at someone who has so clearly found a mainline connection to the zeitgeist.
November 20, 2016
Reading this book made me re-live some of the experiences Joss Whedon has given me over the years, from the beautiful, empowering world of Buffy to the devastation of Firefly's cancelation to the fun and utterly personal Much Ado About Nothing. This book had me re-watching several episodes (and fast-forwarding through several more to re-watch Spike's transformation - Team Spike all the way).
That said, when I started this book I was convinced I wouldn't finish it. It was so utterly dry and lacking in any of the brilliance and wit that make people fall in love with Joss Whedon in the first place. It was linear and factual, and I learned a lot, but the only colorful bits were when the author was quoting people. I was determined to finish it since it was my book club's selectuon, but I thought I was going to give it a really low rating.
To be fair, I had just finished reading Felicia Day's memoir which was written with such a wonderful voice that it was like watching her on-screen. Moving to Pascale's book was rather jarring. But I did finish it and after she started talking about his work I got more into the book. Which is a bit odd, since one of my major criticisms of this book is that it does not talk about the man Joss Whedon very much. This book offers very little insight into who Joss Whedon is as a person and an artist that I did not already know through either watching his work or listening to what he had to say about his work and his fans.
Also, I got into the book because I love Joss Whedon. I'm a huge fan-girl and I've seen everything he's made (that is officially available anyway) and I've read many of his comics. I think he's a genius. And I think he has produced some of the most entertaining and important television in my lifetime. And through this book I got to re-live watching his stuff for the first time. And I learned a few things I did not know about some of those productions, which was fun. That said, a reader who is not a fan of Joss Whedon's work would HATE this book. It really isn't much more than a snapshot of each of the things that Joss had worked on. It is a thorough sampling of his CV, but it does not go in depth on anything and it's not really anything more than an examination of his resume.
Since most of it was so factual, I was a little offended a couple of times when Pascale's opinion appeared too heavily in what she was writing. Her criticism of the 6th season of Buffy, for example, which was very dark, but utterly appropriate for the character arcs of his main characters. While she framed the criticism in terms of fan opinions, she did so in the same factual way as the rest of the book, but in such a biased way that it felt like she was privileging her own opinion.
In fact, I think she did this a lot; I just happened to agree with her most of the time. Which tells me that she's a fan, too. To her credit, Joss Whedon is not portrayed wholly godlike in this book. There are moments when his flaws shine through and a couple of moments when you think, "wow, what a dick." But in the end that overwhlemingly positive opinion that many people who have worked with him always seem to have wins out.
TLDR; if you are a huge fan of Joss Whedon and want to re-live his career, read this book. If you are not a fangirl/boy, don't bother.
That said, when I started this book I was convinced I wouldn't finish it. It was so utterly dry and lacking in any of the brilliance and wit that make people fall in love with Joss Whedon in the first place. It was linear and factual, and I learned a lot, but the only colorful bits were when the author was quoting people. I was determined to finish it since it was my book club's selectuon, but I thought I was going to give it a really low rating.
To be fair, I had just finished reading Felicia Day's memoir which was written with such a wonderful voice that it was like watching her on-screen. Moving to Pascale's book was rather jarring. But I did finish it and after she started talking about his work I got more into the book. Which is a bit odd, since one of my major criticisms of this book is that it does not talk about the man Joss Whedon very much. This book offers very little insight into who Joss Whedon is as a person and an artist that I did not already know through either watching his work or listening to what he had to say about his work and his fans.
Also, I got into the book because I love Joss Whedon. I'm a huge fan-girl and I've seen everything he's made (that is officially available anyway) and I've read many of his comics. I think he's a genius. And I think he has produced some of the most entertaining and important television in my lifetime. And through this book I got to re-live watching his stuff for the first time. And I learned a few things I did not know about some of those productions, which was fun. That said, a reader who is not a fan of Joss Whedon's work would HATE this book. It really isn't much more than a snapshot of each of the things that Joss had worked on. It is a thorough sampling of his CV, but it does not go in depth on anything and it's not really anything more than an examination of his resume.
Since most of it was so factual, I was a little offended a couple of times when Pascale's opinion appeared too heavily in what she was writing. Her criticism of the 6th season of Buffy, for example, which was very dark, but utterly appropriate for the character arcs of his main characters. While she framed the criticism in terms of fan opinions, she did so in the same factual way as the rest of the book, but in such a biased way that it felt like she was privileging her own opinion.
In fact, I think she did this a lot; I just happened to agree with her most of the time. Which tells me that she's a fan, too. To her credit, Joss Whedon is not portrayed wholly godlike in this book. There are moments when his flaws shine through and a couple of moments when you think, "wow, what a dick." But in the end that overwhlemingly positive opinion that many people who have worked with him always seem to have wins out.
TLDR; if you are a huge fan of Joss Whedon and want to re-live his career, read this book. If you are not a fangirl/boy, don't bother.
October 16, 2014
Being a fan of Joss Whedon, it's no surprise that I liked this book. Pascale does a great job of describing the situations, development and impact of Joss Whedon's work — not just the stuff he has become famous for, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Avengers, but also things that are little known, such as his 1990s script doctoring work, or things that never came fully to fruition, such as his film Goners. Perhaps the most successful aspect of the way Pascale weaves Whedon's story is in showing how engaged and prolific he is. Although the chapters are split into somewhat discrete project-based units presented in chronological order, there is still a great sense of overlap, and messiness, to the order in which Joss took on those projects. For example, I never realized before that Nathan Fillion's appearance on Buffy and Gina Torres' and Adam Baldwin's appearances on Angel all occurred after Firefly was canceled.
If there's one significant criticism I have, it's that I wish there were more information about Whedon's movie In Your Eyes, which was released released in April this year as a digital-only rental. There are four references to the film throughout the book, which give minimal information about the film as it was produced by Bellwether Pictures (Joss and Kai Cole's production company, which also produced Much Ado About Nothing) and released online. Joss has stated that the film came "from an old script" he wrote, and the film's female lead, Zoe Kazan, has dated that script in or around 1992—the same year that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie came out. I can understand why Pascale wouldn't be able to write about the movie's impact (or lack thereof) upon its release, but even a sentence or two about the initial writing of the script in the early '90s would have been a nice bit of detail, and certainly such detail would be germane given the references to a number of other scripts which never were produced.
All in all, however, this biography will definitely appeal to anyone who has enjoyed Whedon's work, and likely to many who have not enjoyed his work, but who are interested in artistic process.
A more in-depth review is available here.
If there's one significant criticism I have, it's that I wish there were more information about Whedon's movie In Your Eyes, which was released released in April this year as a digital-only rental. There are four references to the film throughout the book, which give minimal information about the film as it was produced by Bellwether Pictures (Joss and Kai Cole's production company, which also produced Much Ado About Nothing) and released online. Joss has stated that the film came "from an old script" he wrote, and the film's female lead, Zoe Kazan, has dated that script in or around 1992—the same year that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie came out. I can understand why Pascale wouldn't be able to write about the movie's impact (or lack thereof) upon its release, but even a sentence or two about the initial writing of the script in the early '90s would have been a nice bit of detail, and certainly such detail would be germane given the references to a number of other scripts which never were produced.
All in all, however, this biography will definitely appeal to anyone who has enjoyed Whedon's work, and likely to many who have not enjoyed his work, but who are interested in artistic process.
A more in-depth review is available here.
November 7, 2014
You’re reading this review or this book because you’re a Joss Whedon fan, or superfan, or so-creepy-he-may-need-to-contact-the-authorities-fan, or maybe you’re curious because you’ve seen the name Joss Whedon plastered everywhere and you’re wondering, is this a real person that writes, directs, produces this many projects or is there a robot or computer system with the same name? Either way, you probably have some passing familiarity with projects Whedon has written, co-written, produced, directed, some little projects like: Toy Story, Speed, Twister, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, The Avengers, Roseanne, The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse, Much Ado About Nothing, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, comics, and so much more.
Writing apparently is in the Whedon blood, his Dad, Tom Whedon worked on The Golden Girls, Captain Kangearoo, etc. and his grandfather John Whedon worked on a few little projects such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Donna Reed Show, Leave It To Beaver, etc. His brothers Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon are also in the business.
In this interesting and revealing biography by Amy Pascale with a foreword by Nathan Fillion, we see Joss Whedon from angles, he’s a puzzle to be explored.
Why does so much of his work focus on restored hope and helplessness overcome?
Why is his storytelling is so compelling yet always leaves us wanting more?
Authentic seems to roll off Whedon in waves. His story twists are clean and startling, never any loose threads or justifications. The dialogue is snappy, wacky, and often trendsetting yet underneath is always a darkness, a loneliness.
My favourite part of Whedon’s work, beyond its comprehensive, breath-taking brilliance is that his base message never waivers - people, especially women are braver than they think they are and no matter how defeated and overwhelmed you might feel, you have the inner strength to fight back; you’re beaten, not broken. That is Whedon’s gift to his audience, hope. And because of all that, he’s my vote for sexiest mind in the world.
Writing apparently is in the Whedon blood, his Dad, Tom Whedon worked on The Golden Girls, Captain Kangearoo, etc. and his grandfather John Whedon worked on a few little projects such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Donna Reed Show, Leave It To Beaver, etc. His brothers Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon are also in the business.
In this interesting and revealing biography by Amy Pascale with a foreword by Nathan Fillion, we see Joss Whedon from angles, he’s a puzzle to be explored.
Why does so much of his work focus on restored hope and helplessness overcome?
Why is his storytelling is so compelling yet always leaves us wanting more?
Authentic seems to roll off Whedon in waves. His story twists are clean and startling, never any loose threads or justifications. The dialogue is snappy, wacky, and often trendsetting yet underneath is always a darkness, a loneliness.
My favourite part of Whedon’s work, beyond its comprehensive, breath-taking brilliance is that his base message never waivers - people, especially women are braver than they think they are and no matter how defeated and overwhelmed you might feel, you have the inner strength to fight back; you’re beaten, not broken. That is Whedon’s gift to his audience, hope. And because of all that, he’s my vote for sexiest mind in the world.
January 1, 2015
This was a really well written look at Joss Whedon's life and accomplishments so far that walked the fine line of staying interesting and feeling inviting but not crossing into making you feel like you're a peeping tom in someone else's life.
This is a must read for Joss Whedon fans. Wherever you came into the fandom you'll find yourself in this book. I found myself verclempt at points of the book because I was just taken back to how I felt during certain moments of being a Joss Whedon fan. For example, I was one of the fans who was sending Graduation Day VHS tapes to fans in the US when the episode got pulled. That's a story which doesn't get mentioned a lot but it was a moment where I could participate in fandom beyond posting on a message board. It meant something more to me than just sending tapes in the mail. I watched that episode over and over and over while copying it and the moment where the students of Sunnydale band together - that's what I felt at the time being a part of the fandom rallying against a network decision which I felt was really unreasonable and one that seemed to accept the blame television violence was getting for actions rather than fighting back and pointing out that Buffy wasn't mindless, the violence was a part of something bigger and the fight was one that needed to be seen. I was too young to go to the posting board parties for the Bronze but I still connected with other Whedon fans and felt that moment of doing something right.
I would also say this book is a must read for creative people who are in the business of telling stories. There are some amazing writing lessons in here about how to look at a story and how to give it the attention it needs and guide it in the direction that you want. If Joss ever was to teach a writing seminar I can see how valuable it would be. Kudos to Pascale for bringing new light to familiar stories and for putting together a book that was an engaging delight to read. I'm torn between putting it on my shelf for Whedon books or on my shelf for writing resources!
This is a must read for Joss Whedon fans. Wherever you came into the fandom you'll find yourself in this book. I found myself verclempt at points of the book because I was just taken back to how I felt during certain moments of being a Joss Whedon fan. For example, I was one of the fans who was sending Graduation Day VHS tapes to fans in the US when the episode got pulled. That's a story which doesn't get mentioned a lot but it was a moment where I could participate in fandom beyond posting on a message board. It meant something more to me than just sending tapes in the mail. I watched that episode over and over and over while copying it and the moment where the students of Sunnydale band together - that's what I felt at the time being a part of the fandom rallying against a network decision which I felt was really unreasonable and one that seemed to accept the blame television violence was getting for actions rather than fighting back and pointing out that Buffy wasn't mindless, the violence was a part of something bigger and the fight was one that needed to be seen. I was too young to go to the posting board parties for the Bronze but I still connected with other Whedon fans and felt that moment of doing something right.
I would also say this book is a must read for creative people who are in the business of telling stories. There are some amazing writing lessons in here about how to look at a story and how to give it the attention it needs and guide it in the direction that you want. If Joss ever was to teach a writing seminar I can see how valuable it would be. Kudos to Pascale for bringing new light to familiar stories and for putting together a book that was an engaging delight to read. I'm torn between putting it on my shelf for Whedon books or on my shelf for writing resources!
October 7, 2014
Amy Pascale is clearly a big fan and treats her subject with reverence. This is a biography of Joss Whedon through his work. That suits me fine because I hoped to learn something from it.
I didn't watch Buffy when I was a teenager (despite being right in the middle of the target demographic at the time). The first time I came across anything by Joss Whedon was when I watched Dr Horrible. I totally loved it. I want cowboys singing my text messages like they do for Bad Horse.
Likewise, I adored Firefly, Serenity and Dollhouse. I admired the writing. A lot.
As I mentioned, I didn't watch Buffy. But, having watched a couple of episodes now, I realise that I talk like the characters in it. I probably picked this up from people around me, who picked it up from Buffy. Joss Whedon shaped the way I talk. Influential, much?
So, what did I learn from all this?
1) Joss is very talented.
2) He's a nice guy and likes to work with people he gets on with.
3) He tends to like people who are very bright and good at what they do (is the flipside of this 'doesn't suffer fools'?)
4) He expects a lot from himself and others.
5) He works ridiculously hard. This guy works so hard there should be a new word to describe it.
I also learned the answer to something that has bothered me for years: Why did Wash have to die?? (Alan Tudyk fangirl, me).
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Joss Whedon's work. Read, absorb and learn.
I wish I'd bought it in hardback because it's the sort of book I'd dip into for motivation.
I didn't watch Buffy when I was a teenager (despite being right in the middle of the target demographic at the time). The first time I came across anything by Joss Whedon was when I watched Dr Horrible. I totally loved it. I want cowboys singing my text messages like they do for Bad Horse.
Likewise, I adored Firefly, Serenity and Dollhouse. I admired the writing. A lot.
As I mentioned, I didn't watch Buffy. But, having watched a couple of episodes now, I realise that I talk like the characters in it. I probably picked this up from people around me, who picked it up from Buffy. Joss Whedon shaped the way I talk. Influential, much?
So, what did I learn from all this?
1) Joss is very talented.
2) He's a nice guy and likes to work with people he gets on with.
3) He tends to like people who are very bright and good at what they do (is the flipside of this 'doesn't suffer fools'?)
4) He expects a lot from himself and others.
5) He works ridiculously hard. This guy works so hard there should be a new word to describe it.
I also learned the answer to something that has bothered me for years: Why did Wash have to die?? (Alan Tudyk fangirl, me).
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Joss Whedon's work. Read, absorb and learn.
I wish I'd bought it in hardback because it's the sort of book I'd dip into for motivation.
October 4, 2014
While I do not own a "Joss Whedon Is My Master Now" t-shirt, I would wear one with pride. I liked Buffy (the series, not the movie), loved Angel, was and still am completely and inalterably devoted to Firefly, think his take on Much Ado About Nothing was the best Shakespeare in the last 50 years and believe Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers to be two of the best big budget mainstream movies of the last decade. And don't get started on the incredible coolness of Dr. Horrible!
So, yeah, I'm a fan. So is Amy Pascale as she makes clear both in her treatment of her title subject and in her afterward. To her credit, though she sometimes crosses over the line into a hero worship tone regarding Joss Whedon , the man, she is pretty balanced on his work, unafraid to call out issues with some of his less successful ventures or particular episodes though she clearly loves his overall body of work as much as I do. Her writing is clear and insightful, particularly regarding the influence of his parents (something Joss has been very open about) on his characterization skills and the backgorund information aboutr his formative years is fascinating. I also particularly appreciated her attention to all his work, not just the universally loved and/or respected movies and televsion shows. So, now excuse me while I go pop "Out of Gas" into the DVD player and continue my ongoing alternate life in the Whedonverse.
So, yeah, I'm a fan. So is Amy Pascale as she makes clear both in her treatment of her title subject and in her afterward. To her credit, though she sometimes crosses over the line into a hero worship tone regarding Joss Whedon , the man, she is pretty balanced on his work, unafraid to call out issues with some of his less successful ventures or particular episodes though she clearly loves his overall body of work as much as I do. Her writing is clear and insightful, particularly regarding the influence of his parents (something Joss has been very open about) on his characterization skills and the backgorund information aboutr his formative years is fascinating. I also particularly appreciated her attention to all his work, not just the universally loved and/or respected movies and televsion shows. So, now excuse me while I go pop "Out of Gas" into the DVD player and continue my ongoing alternate life in the Whedonverse.
August 8, 2014
I normally cannot stand biographies. I often find them to be dry and boring chronicles of the minutiae of lives of famous people whose appeal lies in their mystery. I bought this book though on a whim due to my love of all things created by Joss Whedon and an interest in knowing his backstory. This biography blew away my prior expectations for a biography. It was witty, irreverent, but did not shy away from the both the good and the bad of the life of Joss Whedon in Hollywood. As a huge fan of him and his work, I gained a newfound depth of understanding for the TV series and films that I already love. I enjoyed the many quotes from Whedon himself as well as the anecdotes from the other writers and actors and people who work with him. Some things I had heard before, like his speeches at Equality Now, but now it came with the new understanding of his mother and the background of feminism that he comes from and that inspired all of his work. I highly recommend this work to any Joss Whedon fans. Fair warning: don't read it if you haven't seen some of his movies or TV shows, but intend to watch it. The big twist for Cabin in the Woods is spoiled in a couple different chapters, so watch the movie first before you read this book. That way you will also have a better understanding of what you are reading anyway. :)
August 7, 2015
I have been obsessed with Joss Whedon for over a decade. My essay to get into college was about Joss Whedon. I've listened to just about every commentary, read and watched just about everything of his I could get my hands on. Hunted out everything on the internet I could find.
So this book is good for me. It was made for me. When it talks about his early life, behind the scenes life, his time with his wife, it's great. It's enlightening. And it's wonderful.
But then there's the stuff that I did know. The stuff that coasts through his life like this is a primer course of who he is. It's for people who only know him slightly but want to know more. The people who wanna know what I know. Mostly this book is for those people.
Someday we'll have an insane, comprehensive biography that covers all of his life and not just something that covers an exciting first half. This isn't that, but then again, it was never going to be because we have so much more to look forward to.
Love this mad genius man.
So this book is good for me. It was made for me. When it talks about his early life, behind the scenes life, his time with his wife, it's great. It's enlightening. And it's wonderful.
But then there's the stuff that I did know. The stuff that coasts through his life like this is a primer course of who he is. It's for people who only know him slightly but want to know more. The people who wanna know what I know. Mostly this book is for those people.
Someday we'll have an insane, comprehensive biography that covers all of his life and not just something that covers an exciting first half. This isn't that, but then again, it was never going to be because we have so much more to look forward to.
Love this mad genius man.
August 26, 2014
I am in awe of people like Joss Whedon - and they are few and far between. For me personally, it's all about his storytelling. To read a biography on a master storyteller is awesome because we hear all other (very prominent / famous) voices - the Nathan Fillions and the Neil Patrick Harrises and the Robert Downey Jrs - speak of the wondrous Mr Whedon in harmony, which makes up for the fact that we don't actually get to hear Joss' story in his own voice. It was a great read, in spite of a few typos / grammar issues here and there, but then the thing is, anything about Joss Whedon is usually a great read... I can't wait until I go on holiday later this year so that I can re-read it at the beach.
August 26, 2014
I'm a big Whedon fan, obviously. A browncoat, even. This was a good read, and I enjoyed finding out more about Joss Whendon's experiences at school in England. I knew he was a Shakespeare nut, but it was also good to read more about that, too.
It was also interesting to read more about the relationship between Joss and his writing team, and the Buffy/Angel fans on the Bronze, way back in the early days of the web. It's hard to imagine show runners and the fan base being that interconnected today, and maybe some shows would benefit from that kind of connection.
All-in-all, this was a good read. If you don't like Joss Whedon or his shows, I'd probably recommend this book even more, since I think it would clear up some misunderstandings and misconceptions about the man and his work.
It was also interesting to read more about the relationship between Joss and his writing team, and the Buffy/Angel fans on the Bronze, way back in the early days of the web. It's hard to imagine show runners and the fan base being that interconnected today, and maybe some shows would benefit from that kind of connection.
All-in-all, this was a good read. If you don't like Joss Whedon or his shows, I'd probably recommend this book even more, since I think it would clear up some misunderstandings and misconceptions about the man and his work.
January 10, 2015
I was completely enthralled with this gem! This book brought back so many memories of the TV I watched as a teenager. And, as a HUGE fan of Buffy & Angel, the references, quotes, and anecdotes from cast/crew were meaningful to me. I really liked how, although Amy Pascale highlighted necessary points of Joss' family and youth, it wasn't bogged down in boring details of his childhood - this was refreshing for a biography. Instead, I was really able to re-live Joss' creative journey. I even discovered a few projects I hadn't realized he was a part of (ex. Much Ado About Nothing; and HOW did I NOT know of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog?!?! I ordered it immediately from Amazon!) Fans of Joss Whedon will really appreciate this book, I think.
August 23, 2014
I have been a fan of a majority of Joss Whedon's works. From Buffy, Angel, Firefly, and his work with Marvel, Joss' impact on pop culture has been extraordinary. Yet I'll admit the biography is a weird concept for a director/writer/dictator who is still very much active and involved in dozens of projects. The biography starts with explaining Joss' roots namely his grandfather, father, and mother before skimming through his early childhood and schooling. It focuses most of its time on Mutant Enemy and the shows generated through that.
Final recommendations: If you like Joss Whedon, it's a great excuse to learn more about him.
Final recommendations: If you like Joss Whedon, it's a great excuse to learn more about him.
June 19, 2015
This took me so long to read. I love Buffy with a fiery passion, and love most of Joss's other work. His biography deserved more passion. If you love his work, you should probably read this book for the back stories, but not for a wondrous story. I got bogged in details, and felt it lacked some personal details from the last decade. (His stepfather's death, for example, is only mentioned as an aside, while covering professional events 10 months later.) I don't want to sensationalize and pry, but large chunks felt like merely his resume and not his biography.
But if you're a Joss fan, you should read it anyway.
But if you're a Joss fan, you should read it anyway.
August 7, 2014
*I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, Chicago Review Press, in exchange for an honest review.*
I really enjoyed reading this biography! It was well done and I quite enjoyed learning more about Joss Whedon's life and career. The best parts were the tidbits and interviews of the people who have worked closely with Whedon.
You can see my full review for this book over at Jessie Reads Everything.
I really enjoyed reading this biography! It was well done and I quite enjoyed learning more about Joss Whedon's life and career. The best parts were the tidbits and interviews of the people who have worked closely with Whedon.
You can see my full review for this book over at Jessie Reads Everything.
August 27, 2014
Delightful! Full of fun facts and anecdotes about the making of the whole entire Whedonverse. If you're an avid Whedonite (like my husband), you will probably know a lot of those anecdotes already...which is a little unfortunate, but the stories really are fun to read, so it's probably not a big deal. :) The huge amounts of praise for Joss by others got to be a bit much at times (we KNOW he's awesome, you don't have to keep beating us over the head with it!), but that's my only real complaint.
August 25, 2014
I'm not a big fan of biographies, but this guy is pretty special so I gave it a go. It didn't tell me a lot of things I wasn't already aware of, but it did put them all together in one place quite nicely, and I did enjoy the stroll down memory lane.
It also reminded me that this was the man who taught me two very important lessons...
"Now that's everything, huh? No weapons... No friends...No hope. Take all that away... and what's left?
Me"
and
"If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do"
It also reminded me that this was the man who taught me two very important lessons...
"Now that's everything, huh? No weapons... No friends...No hope. Take all that away... and what's left?
Me"
and
"If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do"
September 13, 2014
I love reading about the creative process, especially when it's someone whose work I admire and enjoy. The book gives you a great overview of Whedon's career, but delves into the specifics of how he works, how he develops ideas, and how he's managed again and again to turn creative failure into success down the road. You get a close enough look at his formative years to understand what makes Joss tick, and then the book more or less steps away from his personal life to focus on the work, which is as it should be, as the work is the interesting part.
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