A recent review in Booklist gives a thumbs-up to Roger Ebert’s new book, Awake in the Dark: Forty Years of Reviews, Essays, and Interviews:

Ebert, probably the most prolific film critic of all time, here distills his massive life’s work into a single volume. After a nostalgic introduction recounting his initial forays into criticism, he presents reviews of the best films of each of the last 38 years, from Bonnie and Clyde to Crash, and a selection of foreign films, documentaries, and ‘overlooked and underrated’ works. More compelling are longer ‘think pieces’ on such topics as colorization, the movie ratings system, digital projection, and Star Wars’ deleterious effect on Hollywood. Those, and a selection of star profiles and interviews, allow him to share his expertise and voice his passion in a fashion that daily reviewing seldom permits.

You can see previews of Awake in the Dark on Ebert’s own Web site, which this month features some of the reviews, interviews, and other pieces from the book. Excerpts from the book are also being featured in the movie section of the Sunday edition of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Ebert continues to recover from a recent surgery, but will return to writing reviews soon, according to the Sun-Times. In the meantime check out this collection of essential writings from the film industry’s most influential critic.