Pam Houston

Author Pam Houston (Cowboys Are My Weakness, Waltzing the Cat), director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of California at Davis, talks about her personal life, delves into the nuances of her work, and explores the nitty-gritty of the writing process in this documentary profile from Book Club Productions' From the Author's Perspective series. Arranged into five mini-films meant to be viewed separately (and not necessarily sequentially), Houston candidly narrates her life story here in a smart, chatty, and refreshingly down-to-earth manner in first-person interviews coupled with ample footage of her bookstore readings, which capture the flavor of her autobiographical writing style (the program also features a few scenes from a one-man play—starring Martin Buchanan—adapted from Houston's first novel). Drawing on photos from her childhood and early adulthood, as well as footage from seminars, workshops, and home life, Houston shares intimate details about her parents' alcoholism, suffering physical abuse, and taking refuge in her love for pets. During the interviews, Houston also talks at length about her novels and short stories: discussing title choices, the particulars of a specific character's motivations, and the many micro and macro themes that permeate her work—in short, the kind of details book club members love to haggle over. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (A. Cantú)