Hey folks,
Confession time: I have never read a Nicholas Sparks book. I try my best not to be a snob, but I've felt that his writing is just something that I don't have time for. Romance is not my favorite genre to begin with, and the fact that he's unmitigantly sappy, well I have decided to pass. Now just to be clear I do not have a heart of stone. But I'd rather have my love stories be realistic and witty. I have to believe in the characters in order to become invested in their emotional plight. Otherwise I just roll my eyes and move on.
However last month Sparks gave a wonderfully horrible interview in USA Today with teen darling Miley Cyrus. In this interview Sparks proceeded to do the following:
-Compare himself to Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen, and Shakespeare.
-State: "Nobody writes stories like mine."
-Also states: "I don't write romance novels." His preferred terminology: "Love stories — it's a very different genre."
-Also: "A Farewell to Arms, by Hemingway. Good stuff. That's what I write," he says.
-Cite his own book A Walk to Remember as a seminal coming of age story. Then state that "well everyone has to say To Kill A Mockingbird" as if it were an afterthought.
-Trashes Cormac McCarthy, specifically Blood Meridian.
Well to read more, just click here.
After reading the interview I was a bit stunned. I had no idea that Nick Sparks was that big an ass. In one interview he managed to anger a major part of his audience: female authors and their readers. Seriously, why would you do that? If he doesn't want to be equated with the romance genre, then why use tragic love stories as the center to all your plots. And what's wrong with the romance genre? It's only been a major literary industry since the dawn of time. Romance readers are relentlessly loyal and will follow their writers to other genres. This phenomenon spawned the female literary movement which became known as "chick-lit." Sparks is noticeably distancing himself from a major genre that feeds into his readership. In my opinion this is a disasterous mistake.
Again I don't like making judgments based on something or someone whose work I haven't read myself. Hence, consider this a introduction to a three-part series over the next few weeks where I subject myself to the works of the son of Hemingway, Nicholas Sparks.
Enjoy! Book Slave.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
2010-04-19
2008-10-16
Stephen King and his It
Hey world,
So you knew it was coming and it is the proper season. As I've mentioned before I picked up It in 8th grade, to read about that click here. As I was blazing through Stephen King's canon this magnum opus became one of my faves. I think it emphasizes what King as a writer does best.
King as a storyteller has two major strengths. He is able to take the fears that we all have and give them a physicality. His monsters are really metaphors for those things that we cannot control in the world and our own selves. I think that King also excels at building a world. In It that world is Derry Maine. Derry is not a real place, but King manages to give it a rich history that goes back 300 years. Whether it is The Barrens or the Black Spot King fills this place with a physical geography that is Tolkienesque. BTW Derry also appears in Insomnia, Dreamcatcher, and Lisey's Story, among others.
Admittedly I fell away from King's writing after The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I think that I either grew out of the genre and Stephen started needing an editor. Yes, the man can churn out the books. I think that he peaked creatively around the mid-80s with The Stand and It. I haven't really seen anything that interested me enough to pick up in his latest offerings. We'll see what comes up in the future. Apparently Stephen's going to die at the typewriter with over a 1000 novels to his name.
So hold on to your seats kids because it's another edition of:
Lessons from Literature: It written by Stephen King
1. Adults cannot be counted on. Each of the members of Loser's Club have either been abandoned by their parents, or their parents are harmful to them. Beverly's father is flat out abusive, while Eddie's mother is overprotective. Ben's single mother tries to overcompensate with food and guilt. In a powerful scene Beverly is being attacked by hoodlums and she watches as multiple adults turn a blind eye. However, ultimately Bev is saved by an elderly woman who stops her car and scares off the boys. In the world of Derry it is the kids who have to step up and fight the monsters.
2. Kids are stronger than we think. King sets up each of his characters with a weakness which makes them a social outcast. Bill is a stutterer, Bev is poor, Mike is black, etc. But also they have a strength which allows them to battle the monster that preys on other children.
3. Good will win over evil. These kids are able to battle unimaginable evil. Later on when they are called back as adults to finish the job some of them are filled with fear. However they rise to the occasion because this evil must be stopped. It's not cool to prey on children.
4. It's valuable to learn a town's history. Mike, the only man who stays behind in Derry, becomes a historian as a result. His research makes up The Interlude chapters in between each Month chapter. It's easy to skip these chapters but if you do so you are missing out. Again here's King doing his patently world-building which makes this story Epic. By knowing the over-arching history of his town, Mike is able to see the bigger picture. He is able to rally the Loser's Club by showing them what heroes they really are.
5. Your local bully may be a budding psychopathic/sociopathic killer. I'm just saying.
6. Being the lone girl in a group of social outcasts means they will all have a crush on you. Yep I'm looking at you Beverly Marsh.
7. Haiku's can be romantic. Ben is able to put all his longing into 17 syllabyls. Man some people can't do that in a hundred pages.
8. 7 is a magical number. Listen to Richie, he knows that you need seven members for The Losers Club: Bill, Richie, Ben, Stan, Eddie, Beverly, and Mike. These kids find friendship in each other over the course of a summer. When you're a kid that stuff can happen and it's awesome.
9. In a fight against evil there will always be noble sacrifices. Not telling who, but at least one loss was shocking.
10. Clowns are damn scary. Seriously folks.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
So you knew it was coming and it is the proper season. As I've mentioned before I picked up It in 8th grade, to read about that click here. As I was blazing through Stephen King's canon this magnum opus became one of my faves. I think it emphasizes what King as a writer does best.
King as a storyteller has two major strengths. He is able to take the fears that we all have and give them a physicality. His monsters are really metaphors for those things that we cannot control in the world and our own selves. I think that King also excels at building a world. In It that world is Derry Maine. Derry is not a real place, but King manages to give it a rich history that goes back 300 years. Whether it is The Barrens or the Black Spot King fills this place with a physical geography that is Tolkienesque. BTW Derry also appears in Insomnia, Dreamcatcher, and Lisey's Story, among others.
Admittedly I fell away from King's writing after The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I think that I either grew out of the genre and Stephen started needing an editor. Yes, the man can churn out the books. I think that he peaked creatively around the mid-80s with The Stand and It. I haven't really seen anything that interested me enough to pick up in his latest offerings. We'll see what comes up in the future. Apparently Stephen's going to die at the typewriter with over a 1000 novels to his name.
So hold on to your seats kids because it's another edition of:
Lessons from Literature: It written by Stephen King
1. Adults cannot be counted on. Each of the members of Loser's Club have either been abandoned by their parents, or their parents are harmful to them. Beverly's father is flat out abusive, while Eddie's mother is overprotective. Ben's single mother tries to overcompensate with food and guilt. In a powerful scene Beverly is being attacked by hoodlums and she watches as multiple adults turn a blind eye. However, ultimately Bev is saved by an elderly woman who stops her car and scares off the boys. In the world of Derry it is the kids who have to step up and fight the monsters.
2. Kids are stronger than we think. King sets up each of his characters with a weakness which makes them a social outcast. Bill is a stutterer, Bev is poor, Mike is black, etc. But also they have a strength which allows them to battle the monster that preys on other children.
3. Good will win over evil. These kids are able to battle unimaginable evil. Later on when they are called back as adults to finish the job some of them are filled with fear. However they rise to the occasion because this evil must be stopped. It's not cool to prey on children.
4. It's valuable to learn a town's history. Mike, the only man who stays behind in Derry, becomes a historian as a result. His research makes up The Interlude chapters in between each Month chapter. It's easy to skip these chapters but if you do so you are missing out. Again here's King doing his patently world-building which makes this story Epic. By knowing the over-arching history of his town, Mike is able to see the bigger picture. He is able to rally the Loser's Club by showing them what heroes they really are.
5. Your local bully may be a budding psychopathic/sociopathic killer. I'm just saying.
6. Being the lone girl in a group of social outcasts means they will all have a crush on you. Yep I'm looking at you Beverly Marsh.
7. Haiku's can be romantic. Ben is able to put all his longing into 17 syllabyls. Man some people can't do that in a hundred pages.
8. 7 is a magical number. Listen to Richie, he knows that you need seven members for The Losers Club: Bill, Richie, Ben, Stan, Eddie, Beverly, and Mike. These kids find friendship in each other over the course of a summer. When you're a kid that stuff can happen and it's awesome.
9. In a fight against evil there will always be noble sacrifices. Not telling who, but at least one loss was shocking.
10. Clowns are damn scary. Seriously folks.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
2008-06-17
Hot Time! Summer in the City!
Hello,
Yes I now live in an oven. It's the consequence of being surrounded by concrete I suppose. At least I work in air conditioned buildings. On days like today you couldn't pay me to be a construction worker.
On another front I am currently obsessed with Euro2008. Two international games a day! I'm in Heaven! However this does cut down on my reading time so rather than give you a short entry today I'm gonna combine entries. I've promised you a special focus on the book Quiet Please by Scott Douglas so I'm gonna throw it in here. Don't worry you'll also get a review and current reading list. Just gonna throw in a little extra. So let's get it going already!
Special Focus: Quiet Please
When I heard about this memoir I had to pick it up. Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian written by Scott Douglas tells the story of a young man who starts out as a lowly page in the Anaheim Public library system. He decides reluctantly to become a librarian and the book chronicles his journey through 6 years of service. A little autobiography and context to start off. As any constant reader may surmise I spend some of my days as an assistant librarian. I have spent the majority of my life in libraries because my mom has served, and continues to do so, as a librarian for 30 years. Her dedication to public service deserves to be admired, and I am happy to follow her lead.
As I read this book I was struck by the author's raw, sometimes bitter, honesty about everything. This includes his fellow co-workers, patrons, and enemies. Having worked in libraries myself I often laughed and empathized with Douglas. His no hold barred honesty was refreshing and I think eye-opening.
In my opinion every librarian working today should read this memoir. Many co-workers I've had, young and old, have been burned-out by the negative experiences that they've had. Instead of glossing over those experiences Douglas brings them to light. When he states that he often fears that one of his patron will kill him he is half serious. Poignantly he discusses how there are problem patrons that drive him crazy, but he misses them when they disappear. These chapters were enjoyable and eye-opening.
I took Douglas's commentary to heart, especially when a co-worker reminds him "never to put himself above the public." Librarians are "public servants"-a fact that I think is often forgotten. Again I think that all librarians should read this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
FYI Scott Douglas blogs here. Check it out.
Reviews
DC Comic Guide to Writing Comics
This instructional book by legendary comic writer Dennis O'Neill was very interesting and informative. I recommend this book to any teen/adult who wants to write comics. O'Neill offers technical and story advice in an easy fun format. He also includes great examples from real comics, however I would like to see an updated version that includes 52, a weekly series, or mega-events that are common today.
What's In My Bag
Comic
Rasl #1
Magazine
Film Comment
Books
Assassination Vacation
Suspicions of Mr. Whicher
Check Out Count: Under Control. I hope.
Alright time to sit in front of the fan and watch nations collide on the soccer field of battle. Enjoy! Book Slave.
Yes I now live in an oven. It's the consequence of being surrounded by concrete I suppose. At least I work in air conditioned buildings. On days like today you couldn't pay me to be a construction worker.
On another front I am currently obsessed with Euro2008. Two international games a day! I'm in Heaven! However this does cut down on my reading time so rather than give you a short entry today I'm gonna combine entries. I've promised you a special focus on the book Quiet Please by Scott Douglas so I'm gonna throw it in here. Don't worry you'll also get a review and current reading list. Just gonna throw in a little extra. So let's get it going already!
Special Focus: Quiet Please
When I heard about this memoir I had to pick it up. Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian written by Scott Douglas tells the story of a young man who starts out as a lowly page in the Anaheim Public library system. He decides reluctantly to become a librarian and the book chronicles his journey through 6 years of service. A little autobiography and context to start off. As any constant reader may surmise I spend some of my days as an assistant librarian. I have spent the majority of my life in libraries because my mom has served, and continues to do so, as a librarian for 30 years. Her dedication to public service deserves to be admired, and I am happy to follow her lead.
As I read this book I was struck by the author's raw, sometimes bitter, honesty about everything. This includes his fellow co-workers, patrons, and enemies. Having worked in libraries myself I often laughed and empathized with Douglas. His no hold barred honesty was refreshing and I think eye-opening.
In my opinion every librarian working today should read this memoir. Many co-workers I've had, young and old, have been burned-out by the negative experiences that they've had. Instead of glossing over those experiences Douglas brings them to light. When he states that he often fears that one of his patron will kill him he is half serious. Poignantly he discusses how there are problem patrons that drive him crazy, but he misses them when they disappear. These chapters were enjoyable and eye-opening.
I took Douglas's commentary to heart, especially when a co-worker reminds him "never to put himself above the public." Librarians are "public servants"-a fact that I think is often forgotten. Again I think that all librarians should read this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
FYI Scott Douglas blogs here. Check it out.
Reviews
DC Comic Guide to Writing Comics
This instructional book by legendary comic writer Dennis O'Neill was very interesting and informative. I recommend this book to any teen/adult who wants to write comics. O'Neill offers technical and story advice in an easy fun format. He also includes great examples from real comics, however I would like to see an updated version that includes 52, a weekly series, or mega-events that are common today.
What's In My Bag
Comic
Rasl #1
Magazine
Film Comment
Books
Assassination Vacation
Suspicions of Mr. Whicher
Check Out Count: Under Control. I hope.
Alright time to sit in front of the fan and watch nations collide on the soccer field of battle. Enjoy! Book Slave.
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