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Reviews – what should I do?

Sara Crowley3 Comments

Reviewing is taking up a fair bit of my time lately. I think I should probably spend more time writing my own stuff than writing about others, but I love reading, and when I find something brilliant I really want to share.
Anyway, I pride myself on integrity and honesty and all that good stuff.
But.
Yes, but.
I am not putting up reviews of books I don’t like.
I feel concerned for the author; they may be offended, they spent time writing the book, who the fuck am I to trample on their words?
And yet…

A lot of the books I recently read were proof copies. I read 9 proofs in the last few months, and of the 9 I thought that 1 was good. Not my kind of book, but good. I expect it to do well and I will be glad when it does. The other 8 were varying degrees of not good. From disappointing to utterly shite. Now they are appearing in the bookshop, being reviewed in the papers and online. I am feeling a wee bit disgruntled actually. There is definitely a jealousy thing going on. A “this crap is published whilst I struggle” feeling.

I read a review on a respected blog yesterday that said one was ‘a cracker’. I found it trite, obvious, dull. I was going to post a reply to that effect, but then the publisher posted, said how pleased they were with it, how hopeful they were for its success. I’d be wrong to damn it, not that I think loads of people listen to me, but…

What if that was my book? What if finally I finished my novel, and it was published, and someone influential said it was ace, and then someone else said, no, actually I though it was caca? How would I feel?

So. What do you think? Is it best just to keep my mouth shut?

Reviews, proofs, and marketing untruths

Sara Crowley5 Comments

I began putting short reviews of books I had read here on my blog so that when I inevitably forget what I thought of such and such a title I can check! Yup, I really am that vague. Now I review for several different places, which is kinda a mixed blessing.

When buying books I am careful, I know what I will probably like, I avoid what I’ll probably loathe. One of the reasons I signed up to read and review proofs for work was to force myself to read outside of my usual range. Most times my impulses are right and I have to force myself to grind on through, hating it, and yes, frankly resenting the fact that somehow the author has managed to get a book deal. Once so far, out of say 15 books, I have read something that I would never have picked, and I thought it was okay, good even. I can see there will be a market for it. Big whoop.

What is fascinating to me though is the marketing that goes with these as yet unpublished books. They come with covering letters and blurbs hailing the author as a fresh, new talent, the next [add name of famous author], an exciting voice etcetera. I usually roll my eyes and ignore. However this latest made me really quite grr.

“This is a true word-of-mouth bestseller and a classic bookclub read.”

Now call me pedantic, but to be a ‘true word of mouth bestseller’ I would have thought that the book would have had to be published, no? And talked about? And to be a ‘bestseller’ erm, wouldn’t it have had to have sold a lot?

Best of the year, with salt, 2007

Sara Crowley3 Comments

Book of the year
Miranda July ‘ No One Belongs Here More Than You’
I am a little surprised that this is my book of the year but it undoubtedly is. It is a collection that has stayed with me, the characters and voice resonating long after. I believe one of my initial criticisms was that the voice of the characters was always the same voice, but now I think of it as being so strong that I’m not sure it matters.

Film of the year
Miranda July ‘Me and You and Everyone We Know’
So, I was inspired by her short stories to look out her film, and it’s a good’un! The voice is the same as that of her stories, and yeah, for sure, it’s a quirky film, but brilliant too. Where July succeeds so well is in showing what is beneath the surface of people. She highlights the odd, the askew, the searching and yearning of folk. The film is romantic, but peppered with disturbing comedy. And who is the star of the film? Why, it’s none other than July herself. She is an artist/writer/director of undoubted talent. And she’s beautiful too. Sigh.

Most tediously hyped book of the year
Ian McEwan ‘On Chesil Beach’
I am sooooooooo sick of selling this book. It has been in every promotion, every display, every magazine, every window, on every table, in every paper. Yes, Ian McEwan has a book out, some other people do too, not that you’d know, what with all the fucking piles of Chesil Beach everywhere. Enough already!

Sleb of the year
In the heat/perez world of sleb only one has stood out like a shiny beacon of loveliness, and I have fallen a little in love with her, so it gives me great pleasure to name Alesha Dixon my sleb of the year. She was inspirational on Strictly as she played out her Cinderella will go the ball story. She looked gorgeous, danced amazingly, bounced and screamed and wiggled and smiled. She exuded positivity and the ethos of hard work and integrity. Viewers all over the country delighted at the thought of love rat Harvey weeping into his hands as he saw what he had lost.

TV of the year
For froth you couldn’t beat Strictly come dancing. And I’m not ashamed to admit shedding a tear or two of joy at the final! But televisual event of the year has to be the Sopranos finale. I’m still wondering what the fade to black was! It was a superb ending to an intelligent show blessed with the most fantastic cast.

Game of the year
Has to be Scrabulous on Facebook. Thanks to the makers for updating Scrabble and bringing the joy back without any of the tedious sitting and waiting for an opponent to make a move.


Once more with feeling…

Happy new year

x



Excuses…or life…or blether…

Sara Crowley4 Comments

I’m not online much due to a mix of computer issues and ongoing health problems.
Bleurgh.
I think I have decided to buy a MacBook very soon though, and I will try to stick to this decision as I have wasted way too much time debating the pc vs Mac thang with myself and anyone who I can make join in. The upshot seems to be that Mac users become evangelical about the intuitive joys of Mac, and PC users think Maccers are suckers for buying into image. Today in despair I turned to my mum for advice (this is not something I do lightly) and she pointed out that I’d just sulk if I didn’t get a Mac so i’d best just get on with it!

I saw an elderly man in falling down trousers in his front garden using a make shift catapault and aiming stones at his roof where a seagull and her babies are nesting. It seemed all kinds of wrong.

Public shame inspired by boob pencil.

Sara Crowley10 Comments

Boob pencil (link over there on the right) sometimes transcribes pages of her 1985 diary and posts them on her blog. This struck me as funny and interesting, then I noticed that she had put up a photo of her diary, and I recognised it as being the same style Adrian Mole 1985 diary that I kept back in the day. Ha! Anyhow, I was looking for an old note book the other day and whilst rummaging through the box of old journals and pads found mine. I told Clare that we could swap a day, and she said, yeah, go on, 15th April. Now that I have read my entry for that day I see that not only is boob pencil funny and interesting, she also is very brave, as it takes some sass to expose the truth of one’s teen self. I have decided to transcribe exactly the words I wrote for that day, despite my desire to censor myself. So, here’s mine;

“I finally cried myself to sleep last night and woke up clutching Floppy and peering out of the puffiest eyes I’ve ever seen. It was about 10.30 a.m before Matthew arrived, and just as he got here mum had a go at dad about the way he treated me last night, it didn’t exactly help, it merely made him more resentful towards me. Me and Matthew went into town and I bought “Do what you do” by Jermaine Jackson cos the words remind me of me n’ Si and make me cry, oh wow, heavy meaningful lyrics eh? We came back here, went round to his aunts and then back here once more. In the evening I went down the pub to meet Debesh and RAB minus Joe turned up. I talked to Lisa and told her about Simon, had a quick chat with Duncan/Adam/Jim and then returned to my sulk about Simon. In the end I went and sat with Mark who listened to me winge on and on about Si and how much I cared about him. He kept telling me that I was really attractive thus returning a little of my dwindling self confidence to me. I could get off with him quite easily you know. Simon, please want me.”

Aaaaarrrrggggh! The shame.
Incidentally, Simon is now my husband, so it all worked out OK, phew eh?

Barenaked Ladies at the Brighton Dome

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When they came on stage I smiled, I continued to smile throughout the evening, realising after that I am such a po faced gal these days it’s rare for me to feel such contentment.
What’s not to love? They display consummate musicianship. Their songs are shiny sing-a-longy witty slices of pop rock. They are clever and caustic yet warm and wonderful. The on-stage banter between Ed and Steve is funnier than most comedians can manage, the harmonies shimmer, Steve’s dancing is amazing. They free styled a great rap about a ride on Brighton pier. Watching them is like watching friends that you adore, people that “get” you. I can so easily imagine being their chum, I assume that most of their fan base think the same.
Oh, and great puns. I only just worked out that their recent albums “BNL are me”, and “BNL are men” pun into BNL army and BNL amen. Ha ha ha ha.
They ended with Steven Pages enormous voice soaring into “Midnight, not a sound from the …” tossing off the classic musical number so effortlessly, just because, y’know, he can.
They make their talent look easy, I know that it is not. There have been many years of honing their craft, tears and pain and depression and struggle, success and glittering accolades followed by perceived failure. Throughout they have carried on, working through, shining, trying. They have their own independent label and are constantly looking for new ways of reaching their fans. They held a successful cruise this year “Ships and dips”, they are repeating it in January (fuck, I’d love to go on it…) they make USB sticks of each performance available straight after the concert, downloads of each show are also available online. Far as I am concerned they are awesomeness personified. AND they have a double bass player. Enough said.

Dear people who like books…

Sara Crowley6 Comments

I have been reminded that the British Book Awards (the Galaxy British Book Awards to be exact) are taking place very soon. The shortlists were announced yesterday, and a right mixed bunch they are too.

The fun part is that you can vote for your own particular faves, and it will only take a few moments of your time. Not only do you get to have your say, but you might win some book tokens too. Hurrah.
http://surveys.bookmarketing.co.uk/awardsvote.htm

I think that the inclusion of popular lit chicky stuff etc may well put some off. It’s not your usual literary list after all. I am soooo guilty of incredible snobbishness when it comes to the books and writers I love, but I AM WRONG TO BE THAT WAY. I read Nick Hornby’s “Complete Polysyllabic spree”

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=3892754
and he cured me of my stinky attitude. Reading is good, it should be fun, my fun is not necessarily your fun, your favourite writer not mine and so on. If a person derives pleasure from a book that’s a great thing. Lately I have been listening to Elvis, and I have been astounded by his range, depth and power. I am currently reading Raymond Carver, and his stories are wonderful. Both of these men are hugely popular, neither anywhere near being crap. Popular is defined in the dictionary as meaning “regarded with great favour, approval, or affection especially by the general public”, not such a bad thing eh? Dan Brown is still shit though, not that he’s anywhere in this years lists, I just felt like saying!

One Last Drink Before Morning.

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I have a very talented friend, Paolo Cabrelli, who has co-written a rather brilliant short film called “One Last Drink Before Morning.” It was recently screened at the first London Film Makers Convention, and at the Short Film Festival of India in Chennai, the film has now been accepted by the Cinequest Online Viewers Voice competition and can be viewed and rated on their website. To watch and rate the film you must first register (free) with Cinequest. You can do this at:
http://www.cinequestonline.org/2007/registration/index.php
Then login and go to the Viewers Voice section and select the letter O at the bottom to find the film. Or you can go directly to the film by entering: http://www.cinequestonline.org/2007/theater/detail_view.php?m=1152
To rate the film, you must view it completely and then click on one of the stars at the bottom. One short film will win official entry into the Cinequest Film Festival during each of the following voting periods: February, Mar -June, July – Oct and Nov – Jan. Cinequest Film Festival (San Jotse, California) was recently named the Top 10 festival in the world by the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide.

It’s a bit of a faff to sign up and download stuff I know, but it’s well worth it as it gives you access to a huge range of films and info. I hadn’t heard of Cinequest but in their words their “vision” is to provide “a leading-edge means of getting films to their fans while providing additional educational and historical value to student and professional film makers.” which can only be good.