A Most Spectacular Narrative

Duty-bound Bob McIntyre is happily married to Amy, the love of his life. He’s looking forward to bringing his well-established career as a hospital human resources executive to a close while at the top of his game, as Amy enjoys the newfound freedom of her own retirement. This simple plan is thrown into disarray when the responsibility for a highly complex merger of two hospitals—and the potential threat of huge job losses—lands squarely on his shoulders. In contrast, his brilliant but irreverent radiologist friend, Dr. Charlie Munroe, lives a life of privilege. Jet-setting on spur-of-the moment holidays, Charlie casually shrugs off life’s stresses with a sarcastic quip and the charming grin of someone for whom everything comes easily. But when Charlie’s seemingly effortless life with his spouse and family starts to crumble around him, just as Bob’s stresses weigh him down, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. This romantic comedy about two middle-aged friends, facing unexpected challenges in their personal and professional lives, looks at the universal balancing of our commitment to careers, friendships, and family, and discovering where our priorities lie. Bob and Charlie's quirky, complex friendship is the perfect lens through which to examine life: truly, the most spectacular narrative of all.

What is the appeal of the contemporary Hollywood blockbuster? The sheer scale and impact of big special effects sequences is part of the attraction of films such as Independence Day, Jurassic Park, Titanic or Mission Impossible. But they also offer other appeals, including the dynamics of narrative. Spectacular Narratives is the first serious book-length treatment of the contemporary blockbuster, including the digital-effects-based spectacle, space fictions, the action film, war spectaculars, the recent wave of disaster movies and films evoking new technologies such as virtual reality. Consideration is also given to the impact of profitable spin-offs such as film-related theme park rides and computer games. Geoff King argues against the view that an emphasis on the spectacular has led to an erosion of the importance of narrative in Hollywood. Instead, he suggests, even the most spectacular and effects-led contemporary blockbuster offers a blend of appeals, mixing elements of spectacle and narrative. Narrative is explored at the levels of both linear story-telling and underlying thematic patterns, a particular emphasis being placed on the persistence of elements of the myth/ideology of the American frontier. Close textual analysis is combined with consideration of the industrial and social contexts of contemporary Hollywood in a readable, original and rewarding book on the cinema that dominates markets across the globe.

This best-selling book is an easy-to-read introduction to the ideas and practices of narrative therapy. It uses accessible language, has a concise structure and includes a wide range of practical examples. What Is Narrative Practice? covers a broad spectrum of narrative practices including externalisation, re-membering, therapeutic letter writing, rituals, leagues, reflecting teams and much more. If you are a therapist, health worker or community worker who is interesting in applying narrative ideas in your own work context, this book was written with you in mind.