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londonmabel's review against another edition
3.0
There's lots of good ideas packed into Vogler's application of the hero myth to movies, and that's what I would use it for--to spark ideas. But I can see why the book has also been criticized and is sort of out of fashion.
Once he said the "Ordeal" isn't the climax, he lost me. Even the unusual structure of Wizard of Oz, with a longish stretch between facing the witch and learning the lesson, still definitely climaxes at killing the witch--in terms of tension. After the ordeal, in modern stories, it's just dénouement--and unlike Tolkien, you can't spend half the book on it.
At that point, the monomyth pattern just starts to feel shoe-horned onto modern storytelling style (in late, out early).
Once he said the "Ordeal" isn't the climax, he lost me. Even the unusual structure of Wizard of Oz, with a longish stretch between facing the witch and learning the lesson, still definitely climaxes at killing the witch--in terms of tension. After the ordeal, in modern stories, it's just dénouement--and unlike Tolkien, you can't spend half the book on it.
At that point, the monomyth pattern just starts to feel shoe-horned onto modern storytelling style (in late, out early).
patrick_'s review against another edition
4.0
The first two sections on archetypes and story structure are very skimmable to get the high points. The third section and the appendix add concrete examples of the principles in the first two sections.
The only flaw is some of the movie references are dated and their context briefly explained.
The only flaw is some of the movie references are dated and their context briefly explained.
jaymeeloo's review against another edition
4.0
Volger gives great insight about the fundamental parts of a great novel, screenplay, play, etc.
The examples he gives for each part of the journey are excellent.
The examples he gives for each part of the journey are excellent.
devin47f04's review against another edition
2.0
One of those books that I wanted to have already read more than I wanted to actually be reading. A lot of it was useful background, but the overall style was irritating and full of dubious psychologizing. The questions provided for each stage of the hero story are potentially very useful though.
gengelcox's review against another edition
3.0
Stuck in a 5-hour car ride is one of my better reasons for reading a book. I find it impossible to write in a moving car, but, unless the vehicle is on a twisty mountain road, I usually can read. Since I’m in the midst of writing my own novel, I've been mostly avoiding reading other people's novels. I have a tendency to mimic, and some writers have styles that would lend themselves to copying. Instead, I'm reading writer's guides on the chance that some word of advice might come in handy if I run into trouble with my writing. Vogler's book was pleasant enough reading, but nothing stuck with me. His approach is a bit too lofty for my current workmanlike focus of the moment. I might return to this book at a later date and reread when the writing I’m working on is more in the ideation phase rather than the implementation.
depleti's review against another edition
2.0
Not a bad book, but I got a bit tired of reading about the Hero's Journey, so I stopped after reading about all the different stages and archetypes. I think I've had my fill of the notion, and didn't really come away with anything new. However, since I stopped early, there could have been gems of insight I just didn't get to later on. Maybe I'll come back to this.
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