At one point, director Mark Moskowitz is called “way beyond the ideal reader.” I’d say someone that spends years to track down the missing author of a book he liked is just that. Luckily this is more than just a story about how Mark played gumshoe to search for Dow Mossman. It’s a love poem by Mark, to the literary world that has filled his life. From early memories of Hardy Boys, to Joseph Keller’s Catch-22, we get an idea of how powerful books can be. As a reader myself, it was quite a fun experience.
The landscape of this world is equally important, as we’re drawn into the idyllic Pennsylvanian country side, quaint Maine towns, and the quiet beauty of Iowa. Mark makes good use of his experience as a commercial and political director. Clocking in at two hours and 20 minutes (and a version over 4 hours), you might think this could get tedious. You’d be wrong. I felt like I was there with him every step of the way. By the end you’re sorry it’s over, and want to go help Mark rake up his yard.
“The Stones of Summer” is not yet back in print, but hopefully it will be. No book has had a better infommercial made for it.
