At this blog I discuss the books, televisions, movies etc which interest me. I also focus on the creative people out there who make you think "Wish I'd thought of that!" People like Jane Austen, Peter Jackson, Susannah Clarke etc etc. come to mind.
Showing posts with label creative genius. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creative genius. Show all posts
Every book lover has experienced pure joyful discovery. This is not only the moment you discover a good book, but the slow dawning realization that you've found a really great book. A great book that will stay with you for years to come. This sensation actually doesn't occur very often, so it is an experience to be treasured.
One of my favourite Pimpernel book covers.
I don't recall the exact moment I picked up Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel from our school library, but I still remember the sensations of utter delight I felt while reading it. To say the least, I was captivated by Orczy's suspenseful adventure of the mysterious hero rescuing people from the guillotine during the French Revolution. I couldn't understand how I had apparently never heard of this engrossing, unforgettable and dashing hero before. I am still surprised that more people don't love the adventures of this enigmatic man who well preceded Batman as a modern day hero in disguise.
Fortunately enough people loved the character so Orczy's stage play about him was turned into a novel. Her style might seem a bit too dramatic for some, but she handles her characters masterfully and builds wonderful suspense. Her ability to incorporate twists and surprises is spectacular. Just what you need in a beguiling adventure.
I am so glad the love of the character ensured that there were many more books. The sequels I've read so far have not been as good as the first one, but they are worth it for more adventure and further scenes of the character.
The character's popularity has also prompted filmmakers to put the Pimpernel in tv series, films and radio plays. (I recently finished listening to an excellent adaptation starring James Purefoy.)
If you read the book, you should definitely have a look at the tv series starring Anthony Andrews. My review " 'They seek him here, they seek him there' - Find the Best Scarlet Pimpernel Right Here!" details some of the great delights in this one. You should also seek out the film version starring Leslie Howard as I believe I prove in "Experience the Allure of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)" It is not often a book you love has not one but two excellent adaptations. It's very difficult to choose between the two productions mostly because the lead actors inhabit the character so well. But this is a wonderful dilemma to have.
If you're looking for a new hero to root for, new adventure and a story that truly engrosses you. No need to seek further.
Well, the 2017 edition of the famous Bocas Lit Fest has ended, and I am still crafting a blog post on it several days later, but I am determined as a Jane Austen character might say. Voilà Part I!
I was happy to have a chance to attend this year’s festival. As usual there was an eclectic mix of inspiring me to write more, and for that alone I truly appreciate its existence and hope it keeps up the excellent momentum its generated.
The very interesting Bocas Book Nook
interesting activities - spoken word, live readings, story telling, discussions. There was even
a Book Nook where people could take a book as long as they left one in exchange, an idea that delighted me in its simplicity even more so because I actually saw people using it. As usual the festival left me inspired.
I attended two seminars. The first one featured four people involved in publishing and writing giving information for “budding and self-published authors on crucial aspects of the book business”. They each spoke briefly giving advice for a few minutes and then took some questions from the audience.
This was an interesting session, and I’m glad I attended. Each of the presenters seemed just a tad unnerved at the thought that they might have to speak for twenty whole minutes. But
I suppose it was because they each were hoping to have an informal talk and were a bit worried that people expected something long, involved and more technical. They all in the end were informal which the audience appreciated.
This casual approach worked well.
The True Confessions of a Literary Agent
Malaika Adero’s (of Adero's Literary Tribe) talk was entitled “The True Confessions of a Literary Agent”. She reminded the audience that “You cannot write anticipating a bestseller”.
She seemed aware of the unfortunate situation we have locally where authors must fall back on self-publishing if they want their work out there. She talked about knowing why you want to write and why you want to do this particular
work.
She emphasized having a manuscript read by people - people with names even if you want to self-publish because you’ll need endorsements. I thought this might be tricky for a beginning
writer. There may be authors out there who might be willing to support them, but how do you get to them? How do you avoid bombarding them with requests to read and endorse their work?
Media Relations for Writers
Just before the sessions began
Franka Phillip the features editor of The Trinidad Guardian gave me a lot to think about as she talked about “Media Relations for Writers”. She gave a lot of good information
about how authors could get newspapers to review their books for the paper. She suggested -
· Sending a press release
· Sending an excerpt of the book
· Sending an audio of the book being read
· Sending high resolution pictures of the book cover and the author
· NOT sending DVDs and CDs
· Sending everything by flash drive or drop box
· Giving lots of options to contact the author
All this will hopefully encourage the editor to assign a freelancer to read the book and review it.
Franka actually gave me ideas for two possibilities. I proceeded to jump up during the Q&A to ask her a question. After apologizing profusely and crossing in front of several other participants,
I excitedly asked if they were interested in getting some more book reviewers. (Ah ha an opportunity for one of my dream jobs.) Alas Franka, quite frankly (ha!) explained that she wasn’t hiring any reviewers right now.
The Trinidad Guardian let a lot of people go recently, so they are not in the market for new people.
My other idea involved the options she gave of authors promoting themselves. I think that is something that can tie into the services I already provide. I’ll be posting about that
quite soon.
How to Win at Social Media
I’d never heard of Nicole Dennis-Benn’s book Here Comes the Sunbefore the seminar. She held it up right in front of her as she spoke and drew attention to it as she talked about the importance of promoting
your work and not being afraid to do it. She noted that women, especially Caribbean women, aren’t socialized to talk about themselves. It brought back memories of times when I’ve had people try to squelch me if
they thought I was being boastful in some way.
The fact that Nicole was born and raised in Jamaica is inspiring though she lives in New York now. The part about living abroad always deflates me. It makes me fear that getting published is almost impossible
outside the states, but other information I’ve received suggests that it’s not. More on that later.
Nicole’s topic was “How to Win at Social Media”. She certainly seems to have achieved it with her best selling book “Here Comes the Sun”. Her publisher has provided her with lots of marketing support through publicists of course, but she's certainly done her part with her own social media. Nicole talked
about the fact that she built her platform as a blogger. (Encouraging!) When someone asked about how she dealt with the “darker” side of interacting with folks on social media, she said that she hadn’t really
had a negative experience. Maybe she hasn’t had much exposure to it though because she noted that her method of dealing with anyone “trollish” is to block them immediately. I always hear good arguments for and against engaging trolls myself. I suppose I’ll see what I feel like doing if I ever draw any.
5,000 and Counting: How to Make your Book a Best seller
I think everyone was just delighted with Betty Peter who presented on “5,000 and Counting: How to Make your Book a Best seller”. When the MC said that she probably had one of the most best selling book in Trinidad, I think everyone took notice.
We surely didn’t expect the cheerful, sunshiny, motherly lady who got up on stage. No wonder when people got up to ask her questions, several of them asked if they could call her “Aunty Betty”. She happily
agreed to this.
Of all the presenters, I think she inspired her audience the most with her sunny attitude. She was clearly devoted to her book Brown Sugar and Spicewritten for children and set during World War II. Her advice consisted of three Ps: personality (including not being afraid of rebuffs); passion (which involves
believing in the quality of your book and talking about your book to everyone) and purpose. I was particularly struck by her idea of talking about your book as I tend to not be very vocal about my own writing,
but I’m working on improving in that area.
Aunty Betty has been talking about her book in schools across the country, and this apparently has helped with sales. She’s also received requests for her book from people all
around the world. On top of that, before she was finished speaking, more than one person had gotten up, stepped up to the microphone and expressed interest in working with her and wanted to talk to her after the forum! You
couldn’t really deny that we saw her own advice playing out before her eyes.
,
Another aspect I found of interest is that Aunty Betty didn’t self publish as so many people have done. Like me, she preferred working with a publisher. She found one that was
willing to print her book, and from her description they did the bare minimum as our local printers always seem to do for fiction books. They also didn’t seem too concerned when she chose to take her book to another
publisher. Surely they could have capitalized on this emerging local best seller, but I guess not.
My only issue was that this was yet another Caribbean book set in the past. It sounds delightful, and I’d love to read it, but sometimes I wonder if those are the only Caribbean
books that are allowed to pass public approval. There are more genres to explore.
Anyway as usual, I found this Bocas Lit seminar pretty inspiring, and I left with the dough of several half formed ideas. It’s time to find the strength to shape them into something
really tasty to share with everyone.
In Part II of this blog, I’ll discuss the other workshop I attended.
If you attended this seminar at the Bocas Lit Fest or any other workshops or events etc, please comment and let me know what you thought of your experience!
If you know anything at all about Aardman Animations' work, you will know that they are as reliable as Pixar in creating quality stuff, so I didn't have much apprehension when I went to see Shaun the Sheep: The Movie at the European Film Festival this year. I knew I was probably going to enjoy it.
Aardman Animations is behind the characters Wallace and Grommit who are charming, but I don't love them as much as I do the characters of the Mossy Bottom Farm crew - a community of sheep, a responsible dog, some piggish pigs and a slightly dim witted farmer. All are designed in the signature fashion of this company. The characters are awkward, long legged creatures with little white teeth and awkward smiles. Shaun is a very intelligent sheep who is the natural leader of the flock as the rest are far more sheep-like in their behaviour than him. His endless cleverness is endearing. Shaun's cousin Timmy, a little lamb, had his own TV show, featuring his adventures in pre school. That show gave my family continuous delight, so I was inclined to love the whole sheep family and this movie, and thanks to the good work of Aardman Animations, this was very easy to do.
In the movie, all Shaun wants is a change from the dull monotony of his life which follows the exact pattern you'd expect of a flock, but this bores Shaun immensely. He comes up with his first ingenious plan to get the farmer out of the way, so they can all have a holiday, but a series of unforeseen and convenient accidents catapults them into an adventure which they did not count on and which proves to be much more stressful for Shaun. Very stressful indeed. If I were Shaun, I'd want a holiday by the time the adventure finally comes to an end.
The story is inventive and cleverly executed as Shaun and the flock try to navigate the city to find the farmer and avoid an insane (no other way to describe him) animal control officer. Whenever Shaun comes up with a plan, I found myself waiting in anticipation to see what this clever sheep had come up with next. After seeing this movie, I think it's safe to say that I feel the same way about the Aardman Animations team. They've created a madcap story which had me laughing hard and long, and they put together clever scenarios which come together into an amazing, delightful fabric of adventure, ingenuity and family. The last, by the way, inspires some poignant moments which will surely pluck at your emotions. As with everything else it is done exceptionally well.
I don't bother much with whether a movie is meant for children or not. I'm more concerned with whether it's good or not, and this is a great one. If the audience for this movie is a deal breaker for you though, be assured that this is a movie that will appeal to young and old alike. Don't hesitate. You won't regret it.
I admit that a little more than a year ago, web series were a bit of a mystery to me. I saw people tweeting and posting about various ones with names I did not understand, and I only had a vague awareness of their existence.
At some point during my unfocused internet browsing I saw someone mention "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries". I cannot remember who this earthly messenger was, so I cannot give my grateful thanks to them. I only know one day I watched an episode, and I kept watching, delighted that I could keep following the path of this story, familiar yet unfamiliar and then.....well this explains it best:
``I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which
laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that
I had begun.''
A web series is basically a set of videos posted on the internet which tell a story. "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" is in the form of a vlog (i.e. a video blog or journal which allows people to spout off, rant, chat or communicate in whatever way they like on the internet.) The difference with "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" (or "The LBD" as it is affectionately called . See I'm hip! Do people still say "hip"?) is that the vlog is not about a real person; it tells the story of a particular literary character who should be familiar to many of you if you've ever read this blog. If you're feeling a bit slow today, think Pride and Prejudice and you should be fine. The result was one hundred videos of roughly four to five minutes in length which gained a record number of fans and recognition and gained the creators an Emmy.
The incredibly creative team behind the series produced an addictive entertaining series which modernized the story of Pride and Prejudice, reproducing most of the characters and themes in an engaging way and making alterations where necessary that enhanced the story instead of diluting it as some modern adaptations have done in the past. I truly had a eureka experience with them. The series had already been running for some time when I found them. After watching one or two of the videos, I was drawn into a feast of the existing twenty-five episodes which I ploughed through with vigor. Afterward I was reduced to the predicament of the fans who were with the series from the beginning and who had to wait for each of the two short episodes per week to be uploaded. Anticipation is a strange phenomenon: you both enjoy it and hate it. In building suspense and keeping the enthusiasm of the fans flaring, the series' showrunners vastly succeeded.
The whole experience was enhanced by the use of transmedia, another concept I was not very familiar with before. (Really this series has proven to be very educational.) While the main story played out on the blog, the story was also continuing in other platforms. Most of the characters had twitter accounts. Crazy Lydia decided to do her own vlog. When Darcy was revealed to be the CEO of a thriving company called Pemberley, a professional looking website with a company profile and all the trimmings came into existence. Talk about an all inclusive experience. I loved it.
The quality of the series was also excellent. Despite all the modern media, the art of storytelling really was evident throughout the series. The series' Lizzie (Ashley Clement) can tell a captivating story, enhanced by her ability to do some hilarious impressions, and it astonished me how engrossed I was even when it was just her talking about her Lizzie Bennet life.
The characters are also a delight. In particular, all the sisters were well done. I have to commend the actress who played Lydia who proved to be very obnoxious and rather overwhelming (as she should be) but yet didn't make me dislike her, and that is a difficult task. Her part in the story is the most altered, and as usual I wasn't overjoyed when her situation encroached on Lizzie's story, but I found myself invested in the changes and more concerned about Lydia than I have ever been. Sister Jane is such a strange creature. Usually characters with unfailing optimism are universally disliked, but from my limited observations, Jane rarely is. A good Jane inspires empathy not dislike and this Jane manages it.
Of course Darcy is a major factor in any Pride and Prejudice adaptation, and here he is portrayed by the impossibly good looking Daniel Vincent Gordh. By the time, the series ended I had decided that he is one of my favourite Darcys in adaptations. I realize that there are not a lot of Darcys out there, but that's still a huge endorsement from me. Trust me. DVG is not perfect in his portrayal, but by the end of the series I was completely invested in him and his many positives overwhelmed his few negatives.
I can't stop to go into how much I liked this series' Charlotte, Mary, Bingley, Georgiana etc. etc, but there's a good chance that your favourite characters from the book will bring you joy.
So yes, if you like Pride and Prejudice , you should feel obligated to look this one up.
One of the other great outcomes of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries are the inevitable "copy cats". After seeing how well "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" was received, others have started dreaming of what other classical adaptations could appear in short video chunks. From the same team has come an adaptation of Jane Austen's unfinished novel "Sanditon" and I have seen passing mention of an adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" and "Phantom of the Opera". I choose to recommend "The Autobiography of Jane Eyre" which has managed to duplicate my wild anticipation for new video instalments each week. It's terribly compelling and features another great lead actress. As Jane Eyre, Alysson Hall often has to give poignant and sad monologues which are consistently touching and real. The story also plays with the format more than the Lizzie Bennet Diaries which filmed in limited locations. For example, sometimes Jane goes outside. Sometimes she only films what she wants others to see and has little screen time herself.
This series has not ended yet, and we are currently embroiled somewhere in the middle of the novel, and I cannot wait for the next video after I see the current one. Rochester is also a younger version of the book with funky men's socks and tattoos and who is at present clearly smitten with Jane. Again his portrayal is not perfect, but the overall impression he's left on me is strong. I long to see him again, and if you start to watch, you will too.
Because of the success of "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries", one of the most anticipated series out there is The LBD team's official full length follow up to it: "Emma Approved". This modern adaptation of another of Jane Austen's more famous novels looks beautiful and polished and features some great acting by series star Joanna Sotomura who embodies a bossy, rather egotistical Emma. She is so in control and sure of herself, it will be interesting seeing her begin to lose her edge as Emma's many plans begin to lose their structural integrity. I don't feel as invested in this series as in the other two as yet. Even Mr. Knightley (though tolerant, cheerful, practical and firm as he ought to be) doesn't have a hold on me as yet, but I am willing to keep watching, and I feel safe in recommending it.
Even if any of these ultimately disappoint, it is clear that I have many other options out there to consider. While looking through an article about these web series, I saw comments about series about William Shakespeare and another about fairy tale characters set in universities just to name a few. The possibilities for amusement are endless.
What do you think of this trend? If you're a fan of any of these series, feel free to express your opinion of them in the comments and please, please recommend any other literary-like web series, so we can explore!
I can't believe that over a year has passed by since prolific author passed away. Fellow author Robin McKinley went to her memorial service, and wrote this lovely post on it. diana Mrs Jones seems to have been a great friend to many famous authors: Neil Gaiman for instance. She was clearly loved and cherished by many of them. Here is the post I wrote upon her death. Many Worlds Have Come Crashing Down
Every now and then I get an attack of missing Calvin and Hobbes. I can’t believe that this strip has been retired for fifteen years. I still wish I could open the pages of the newspaper and find adventures featuring Calvin and his best buddy arguing, playing and philosophizing: doing their thing. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this strip, and if you disagreed with me and proclaimed that you don't I would just assume you don't like comic strips in general.
I think my main reason for adoring it is because the strip’s creator Bill Watterson is a genius. I know people often use that word carelessly, but it is the strongest descriptor I have to represent my feelings for this man. Different people may have different views of what genius is but Bill Watterson often made me believe I was witnessing it in his work. My reasons? Watterson was able to take the deceptively simple life of a six year old and present complex messages in a way which were not obtrusive and obvious and which rang true whenever you read them.
You know sometimes, you see something clever, and you think, “I could have thought of that myself, but it is very good.” For me with Watterson I was more likely to think, “How did he possibly come up with that?” His ideas were amazing, and I felt awed and humbled when I saw them because I felt I could never have come up with a similar concept or present them humourously, not if I thought for a decade. Aren’t we supposed to be awed in the presence of genius? I know I often was.
Maybe Bill Watterson had trouble with his creation after all.
I also liked that Watterson firmly eschewed commercialism. Calvin often displayed the traits about commercialism that Mr. Watterson deplored. However, one fascinating aspect of this element of Mr. Watterson’s philosophy was that he lived the viewpoint he preached! (And we all know that this is not a common thing!) If you’ve ever wanted to buy a Calvin and Hobbes shirt, video game, toilet paper holder or cell phone cover, you will be unable to find anything official. Why not you ask? It’s because Bill Watterson did not appreciate how commercialism can cheapen a product, and he decided against it, and years later he’s stuck to his word! Like most geniuses, he expressed himself more succinctly than I. "Actually, I wasn't against all merchandising when I started the strip, but each product I considered seemed to violate the spirit of the strip, contradict its message, and take me away from the work I loved. If my syndicate had let it go at that, the decision would have taken maybe 30 seconds of my life."
While doing research for this post, I noticed that some people seemed to take issue with Watterson for making this decision, but I cannot fault him. While some people grumble now, quite a few I suspect would have been on his case about “selling out”. I find I have to admire someone who sticks to their principles, principles with noble motivations on top of that. I cannot grumble about that.
Of course, my real initial adoration for Watterson arises from his most popular creation. We all know them and love them.
No one is safe from Calvin
Calvin – a precocious six year old too wise beyond his years, but who is grounded by a childlike love of fun and danger, a limitless imagination and often the loneliness of a sensitive child
Hobbes – his inseparable and cheerful companion, Calvin’s other half. Sometimes a sensible friend; sometimes a wild beast; sometimes a cunning opponent
Mom and Dad – the down to earth parents, caught up in raising a son who they know very well and yet cannot know entirely
Susie – another lonely child, with a snap cracker strength
Roslyn – the dreaded and clever and able babysitter
The universal appeal of the strips is more than evident. Many people often express nostalgia for Calvin and Hobbes. The pages of the newspapers have not been the same since they left. Not only are they emptier, but even to an amateur like me, you can see other strips which draw from Watterson’s style and ideas. Clearly I’m not the only one who is awed by this man’s work. The fan art at the link below highlights the fact that Calvin and Hobbes may be gone, but they are still missed, and from some of the themes in the pictures, we see what people miss: the camaraderie between the boy and his friend, the uninhibited fun they used to have and the unlimited imagination which pervades their world. http://geekartgallery.blogspot.com/2011/04/gallery-calvin-and-hobbes-fan-art.html
I feel that it is safe to say that I’m not the only one who misses Calvin and Hobbes and misses the opportunities we had to wander with them in the world Watterson had created. It’s no wonder that some of us keep wanting to go back there. They came alive to us so vividly that they can’t completely go away. To paraphrase A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie-the-Pooh, in the enchanted place Bill Watterson created, a boy and his tiger will always be playing.
What did you like best about Calvin and Hobbes? Do you miss them? What's your favourite Calvin and Hobbes comic strip? If you have a link to it, post it in the comments. And if C&H isn't your favourite comic strip, what is?
I really enjoyed this video for a number of reasons. It reminds me of the many tips in the past which I have read, and though there are someone I won't be doing (Drink coffee?!) I feel inspired to try some of them once more. The whole format of the video is the most inspirational aspect of it though. Everything: the use of graphics, music, the simple phrases and the concrete and abstract images which awake all kinds of ideas in my mind helps gently invoke a creative atmosphere. You feel like you can really get out there and take this advice. Excellent!
I feel as if I've lost something significant. One of my favourite authors, Diana Wynne Jones, British author recently passed away. Anything you read will tell you that she was a creative, fun woman who was adored by many. She fought a long hard battle against cancer, and lost, and it's heartbreaking that we've lost another person to this disease. In addition to that tragedy, it is heartbreaking to remember that Diana Wynne Jones was a very prolific author, and she wrote imaginative, fascinating books, and she is no longer around to write them. Not only has a wonderful human being left this earth, but I feel as if many, many worlds have come crashing down.
My father gave me my first Diana Wynne Jones book Charmed Life many years ago, and I was swept into a world of the unforgettable enchanter Chestomanci, creative magic, unexpected plot twists, and one girl who I still think of as one of the most insidious villains I've ever read about. Chrestomanci was the standout character for me, and I think Ms. Jones liked him too. He figured in several more books over the years: a debonair, dry witted enchanter who knew how to dress, and could pull off a vague, absent minded persona to disarm his enemies. Many of Ms. Jones' books featured Chrestomanci as a primary or secondary character. Besides him, what I treasured most were the elements in the books which brought to light the inner life of this character. It's something akin to being a fan of a celebrity or historical figure and eagerly tallying up all the fascinating details of their lives because they interest you so much. Great authors create characters like that. Part of my sadness stems from the fact that we won't be learning more about Chrestomanci, his family and his friends any more. Sure other authors may write and speculate, but Ms. Jones' vision is the true one for me, and it's gone with her. Forever.
The only small comfort fans may draw from this is that Ms. Jones' passing may introduce her books to people who've never read her before. That's one of the joys of reading and discussing with fellow readers isn't it? Will other people new to Jones think she's just as good or better than J.K. Rowling. (I think she's better, more engaging and mind boggling with her creativity.) Will others be looking out for the cats in her stories? (It's almost inevitable that a cat will figure in Jones' stories, often as an important part of the plot. Even if you don't like cats, you can end up being fascinated like me at how well she captures "catty" personalities.) Will others fall in love with Howl's Moving Castle? (One of her most popular novels from what I see. It was made into a well received film by acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, a fact which delights me when I think of how imagination and creativity can reach out and link people across cultures.)
One thing I am sure of is that new readers and fans will be disappointed that Jones is no longer around to build her worlds and develop them. This fact will always sadden me, but I will try to keep in mind that like all authors she left her works behind her, and this means that they will never disappear forever nor can they be destroyed. She was able to achieve what all writers long for: immortality through her work. I hope that this can bring some small comfort to her family and friends. I know none of my small, shallow feelings about her passing can even come close to their sensations at her loss. We will all miss you terribly Ms. Diana Wynne Jones, each in our own way.
Check out her bibliography if you want to get to know her too.
She was going to be kissed. On one side of a kiss ws childhood, sunshine, innocence, toys and, on the other, people embracing, darkness, passion and the admittance of a person who, no matter how loved, must always have the quality of otherness, not only to her confidence but somehow inside her sealing skin. ~ The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance - Margaret Mahy
I was eleven years old when I found my favourite book. Not everyone is as lucky to find this at such an early age, but when you do it is the most amazing experience: the type that makes you realize you've been changed forever. Margaret Mahy, is a celebrated writer from New Zealand, who is not well enough known in other countries which is a fact that saddens my heart. She wrote my favourite book and of course became my favourite author in the process.
I don't know what made me grasp a copy of The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance at the old library with no air conditioning all those years ago, but I think of this moment as one of the high points of my reading life. Do not let the pleasant looking woman in the photograph above spark off misconceptions in your minds. Mahy writes charged, dark, beautiful, erotic prose. I remember reading her descriptions of complex emotions and thinking, "That's exactly how I feel? How does she know that?" Her turns of phrase fill me with admiration and hopeless envy. I've read books and thought I could do better. It's humbling, awe-inspiring and...sad to read a book and think that there's no way you could achieve this level of skill and talent.
The Changeover delivered everything its title promised. It features my favourite hero, a troubled, sexy yet vulnerable young man who happens to be a witch. The heroine is sharp, very, very real and difficult to dislike, and she holds her own in a terrifying situation with courage. The adventure they encounter together is chilling. No typical horror movie set up can be found here. The story literally goes deeply into the psyche and into fairy tales with vivid, unusual images which are hard to skim over. Yet it's all firmly grounded in reality so things like tomato sandwiches, telephones and oil drums in a construction site can remind us that we are in a real world where extraordinary things are happening. Mahy does an excellent and realistic portrayal of family life in this book as well, and if you go on to read her other ones, you'll see that that's one of her hallmarks. She's often praised for it with good reason.
I have such a strong, all abiding love for The Changeover that it is not surprising that I don't love her other books as much. By this of course, I do not mean that they are not excellent. It's just that I expect every book to be like this one, and this is unfair, and my problem not hers. Her other books boast of the same jealousy-inducing prose. Family relationships are explored and presented in ways that astonish you because it feels so familar (particularly in The Tricksters). Supernatural occurrences are unique, surprising and astonishing, and her romance is delicious and engrossing (like in her Catalogue of the Universe).
I've never read Mahy's children's books, but I should probably take a look at them next shouldn't I? They've been described as delightful, and they must be quirky with names like The Chewing Gum Rescue and the Man Who's Mother Was A Pirate. No wonder she was given the Hans Christian Anderson award in recognition for her "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Mahy herself seems to be a kindred spirit. Years ago, I decided I must write to her, and I sent a letter to her publisher with the vague hope that she would receive it though not expecting a response. What an amazing and wonderful delightful experience it was to get a reply! It was truly one of the greatest letters I've ever received, filled with Mahy's charm and originality. I treasure it. Her interviews seem to reflect that. She's said of her readers, "I hope they have the same sort of relationship [with her books] that I had with the ones I read as a child." I don't think that she needs to fear that in my case. She seems to reflect my own feelings about her books as well. She's stated, "I still read them, and they sort of become part of your life." See? A kindred spirit indeed.
No wonder I can't wait to see what she's writing next. Apparently she's "edging" her way to the end of another book. Since I'm "edging" in my own writing, I can understand this, and after years of so much excellent work I won't press her. She's been doing this for 75 years, and I think she's proved her method is flawless.
What's your favourite book/author? What book do you just want to share with the world? Have you ever written to someone you admire and received an answer? Tell me.
March 2 is the birthday of the great Theodore Geisel who you all have heard of. Or at least, you know him if you've ever read or heard of "The Cat in the Hat", or wondered if you like "Green Eggs and Ham" or if you've called someone a Grinch. Mr. Geisel, or as you know him Dr. Seuss, truly left a lasting impression on the world. I consider him the king of writing amazing children's books and even more astonishingly of children's books that adults enjoy. If you don't agree, just try reading "Green Eggs and Ham" or "The Butter Battle Book" out loud without having fun. I dare you. I can't believe Dr. Seuss has been gone for twenty years now. I'm grateful for his creativity, for his cleverness and for his unlimited imagination.
Take a look at the tribute I wrote to the great Doctor a few years ago in honor of his birthday.
Here's an extra bonus: Rachel Ray reading the full text of "Green Eggs and Ham" complete with Dr. Seuss' incomparable and quirky illustrations. Ray reads with enthusiasm and joy though I don't think she's perfect. However, it's almost impossible not to enjoy the adventures of Sam-I-Am and his finicky friend. Try it, try it, you will see.
My first post of the year! Belated Happy New Year everyone! I don't usually make serious, set in stone resolutions, but what I am trying to do as always is write more. I hope to do more posts on people who inspire me with their creative genius, so here's hopefully to happy writing in 2011.
During a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory, I was supposed to be paying attention to an argument between two characters: Raj and Leonard, but I was almost completely distracted looking at another character who had no part in the conversation. Jim Parsons's Sheldon Cooper was watching the actions of the others with his trademarked intensity and unnerving concentration. As usual in his posture, in his mannerisms, his everything Parsons was truly being his character.
I'm no expert I admit, but I think if an actor is so wholly capturing my attention and fascinating me(even in the background), they're doing their job and doing it splendidly. To top it off, my opinions are fortified by quite a few acting accolades: Emmys, Golden Globes, you name it. Others have noticed that Jim Parsons has inhabited a character with originality and creativity. He puts his own unique, fascinating and humourous twist on his lines and scenes, elevating them from the commonplace to charming and delightful.He makes a character who could be insufferable, sympathetic and quirky and fascinating. It is not easy to depict a personality who frustrates the other characters without annoying the audience, and Jim Parsons holds his own in his portrayal almost everytime.
His many memorable scenes are vast. This one is a favourite of mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8pl9z2SscY
Parsons' wardrobe is perfect, but he has no control over that. His look is invaluable to his character, but the credit for that must mostly go to his parents. His lines are hilarious, but the writers can be lauded for that. Parsons brings his own astonishing talent to this scene. We know exactly what is being said to him over the phone. We get clear indications of the relationship between him and his mother, and a very good idea of how they've probably dealt with each other for many years. His body language is mesmerizing and my personal favourite is his expression of confusion and small boy petulance after he hangs up the phone.
There's no doubt at all in my mind that Jim Parsons is a creative genius, and I hope that his current accolades are just the beginning of the recognition of his abilities. Even though I am not an actor myself, creative genius can be inspiring. It is wonderful to see and fills me with admiration and awe to see such amazing expertise(and dedication no doubt) in one person. Jim Parsons is definitely one of my creative inspirations.
Any other Big Bang Theory fans out there? What do you think of Jim Parsons' acting talents? Does he deserve all the recognition?
Once while I was struggling through the obstacle course required of those hapless mortals compelled to write a Master's thesis in English Literature, one of my professors asked me about the author I had chosen for my topic, Octavia Butler. I explained that she was a groundbreaking science fiction writer, a pioneer for black women in the field where they are almost non-existent. When I explained that she lived somewhere on the East coast of the United States, he suggested I write to her as I was living in Miami at the time. He thought she would be glad to hear from someone interested in her work. I thought it was a good idea though I wasn't sure how I would get the letter to her. Eventually the task shrivelled away, overwhelmed by the presence of other, more looming, tasks, though I hung on to the concept. Someday I would do it.
In my head, I planned what I would say. Ms. Butler's books are among the most disturbing I have ever read. Sometimes I've had to put them aside to give myself some relief from the images they’ve created in my mind. They are not at all typical horrors or science fiction with clear cut figures of good and evil, but curiously vivid situations where flawed human beings had to make terrible choices which could leave them changed and broken whatever the choice. Nothing is ever simple.
For example, in her Xenogenesis saga, Butler's main character Lilith must work with the aliens who have basically taken over the future of human beings. They wish to bond with mankind to help it survive, but this means changing the way humans live, breed and exist. Lilith is seen as a traitor by many humans, but how can she openly resist them without destroying them all? In Kindred a young woman is mysteriously transported to an antebellum plantation in the old South and discovers that to ensure her family's survival she has to condone the possible rape of one of her ancestors. Butler was interested in looking at the difficult options humanity has to face. There's no doubt that her works suggested a boundless imagination. As a writer myself, I was intrigued by her original ideas nurtured by her interests in medicine, cloning and what makes us human. While she sometimes horrified me, she compelled me with her juggling of possibilities and with her amazing ideas.
I was fascinated by her herself: reportedly shy, quiet and introspective, she found the creativity and courage to write and succeed in a field populated by white males. At the age of ten, she started writing her own science fiction, unfazed and unconscious of the trail she was breaking. She never stopped writing after that. I have to remember that.
The content of that hypothetical letter to her dwelled in my mind even as I procrastinated. I believe I would have thanked Ms. Butler for her single minded determination to do what she wanted to do. I would have thanked her for opening the eyes of people of many ethnicities to the fact that science fiction and fantasy wasn't just for Them. Somehow I would have tried to express my gratitude for the way she has terrified, inspired and challenged me ever since I got to know her. I would have also thanked her for exposing me to the worlds in her stories, and to the whole experience of immersing myself in that world as I trudged through my thesis.
I would have enjoyed writing that letter. Octavia Butler died far too early at the age of fifty-eight. That was four years ago. The solitary woman was alone when she died. As her birthday approaches (June 22), I think of her and again I am glad that her astonishing work was acknowledged and admired during her lifetime. She won every major award in science fiction, and she generated a large fanbase which spans age, race and ethnicity. Hopefully, she knew that her worth was recognized. Perhaps my one simple letter would have not had much impact upon her. Or perhaps she would have been pleased to hear from yet another person she had inspired. Mentioning as much to my sister, she observed, "At least she knowns now." Perhaps she does
Had to make mention of this article I found on a website I've never heard of. It's basically a listing of the 100 most creative people in the business, and my new kindred spirit J.J. Abrams is #14. Look at him. He looks like the kind of person who is really invested in his creative work, and reminds me of Jim Henson and George Lucas who always projected this deep commitment to reproducing their ideas. I love these geeky beautiful minds. Props to you J.J.
Since my blog is supposed to celebrate creativity and such, I couldn't pass this up. Check out the list at this link.
I confess I still need to peruse it in full, but I give them advance props for listing writer Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is a very good and very imaginative writer, a fact I can appreciate even if I do not absolutely love something he has done. I am so pleased at this I will even forgive them for including Tya Banks on that list. I may even blog about Neil sometime in the future. For now this is J.J.'s moment.
I wanted to being my post in honour of Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2) with some witty remarks in verse, but I found that nothing sufficiently droll and “Seuss-ian” came to mind. This of course reminded me, how the great Theodore Geisel AKA Dr. Seuss would have probably been able to produce something fun, clever and delightful in no time flat (or maybe longer, after all these things can take time even for genii).
After all, the good doctor produced some of the best children’s books ever. Books which can appeal to adults too (even to some of you lifelong adults if you stop looking down your noses at anything which is ostensibly targeted to people over twenty). Like all good children’s books, Dr. Seuss’ works transcend the boundaries of the genre, and like most true classics, they are engrained in our psyches.
Even if you haven’t heard of Dr. Seuss, surely the phrase “the Cat in the Hat” sounds familiar to you. And even if you’ve never seen green eggs and ham, you know they exist somewhere. And if someone says you’re a Grinch at Christmas, you might give them the stink eye because you know that’s not a nice thing to be. This is because Seuss’ over sixty children’s books, which feature these and many other unforgettable images, are all a permanent part of the literary landscape.
For me, his work captured my interest from an early age because it was just crazy fun. I liked reading The Cat in the Hat to my sister because it was the story of a six foot cat causing mayhem in two children’s lives. I like his Green Eggs and Ham because it features determined little salesman Sam-I-Am who is striving to get his finicky friend to eat his oddly coloured breakfast food.
Seuss’ use of words is lovely and fun too. I liked reading the books because they were fun to say out loud. A fun but creepy character called the Glunk was “greenish, not too cleanish and he sort of had bad breath”. At one point in the How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch “got an idea! An awful idea! The Grinch got a wonderful, awful idea!” So fun.
Of course, Seuss would not be Seuss without the doctor’s trademark illustrations. The scratchy drawings, the lopsided trees and buildings; the interesting but sometimes faintly menacing villains; the really weird names and objects (e.g. Whos; The Lorax and some place called Solla Sollew.) Dr. Seuss' narrative is nothing without his drawings.
The really amazing thing is that even while getting carried away with Seuss’ stories, the lessons to be learned from them were apparent and invariably cleverly done. There were simple lessons like trying something before you decide you don’t like it (Green Eggs and Ham) and bigger lessons like the importance of life “no matter how small” (Horton Hears A Who) and the meaning of Christmas (how else did the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes that day?) With stories so deceptively simple and so simply told, it is amazing how affecting they can be. I am yet to read The Butter Battle Book
but the TV adaptation (a faithful one, according to Dr. Seuss) depicts two warring nations of creatures each bent on defeating the other side by creating bigger and bigger weapons. In the end, there is a stalemate as each group debates whether to drop their identical bombs and wipe out everyone. Anti- war propaganda some said; the basic ingredients of war I say: what it all comes down to in the end - all in a book supposedly for kids.
Not every Dr. Seuss adaptation is as well done (shudder with me as I point toward the movies for The Grinch and the Cat in the Hat), but I’ve heard good things about last year’s Horton Hears a Who which I will eventually see. Special mention must be made of animated short of How the Grinch Stole Christmas – the ultimate Christmas classic. Directed and produced by uber genius Chuck Jones, this is quality stuff, and definitely complements and enhances the book with narration and voices by Boris Karloff and the famous “You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch” song. I can’t be the only one who has to watch this at least once during the Christmas season, and the animation when the Grinch gets his awful idea is pure wicked delight. Again Dr. Seuss has woven a golden thread into my childhood quilt of memories. Thank you sir!
The good doctor was eighty-seven when he died in 1991, and I think he went way too soon. Like any good poet, he wove pictures with words and produced an unforgettable weird, crazy mix which charmed and delighted and was never overly cutesy. I think his contribution to literacy is invaluable. I think his themes were timeless. I think his "wordsmithery" was genius, and he deserves his place in the hall of great poets in my opinion whether it be Keats, Wordsworth, Milton and the like.
Please permit me to wish you a most happy belated birthday. You may be surprised to receive such a message from me - a person who you never saw in your life, but if you had even an inkling of the number of people who have been inspired, delighted, altered by the your work, you might understand a bit more.
Allow me to express how ardently I admire your work Ms. Austen. From the moment I apprehensively picked up your Pride and Prejudice and realized that the first chapter was amusing, clear and devoid of heavy, incomprehensible description, I was devoted to your compositions. From the moment, I sat down to watch the television series based upon your novel and realized how beautifully your words could be brought to the screen, I was committed. (You would have found television interesting I think. There is as much to amuse as to annoy on it. I think you would have found a great deal to marvel and laugh at.) I must thank you Ms. Austen for enriching my life with your novels.
Thank you for your heroines - for delightful people like Elizabeth Bennet, Catherine Morland and even opinionated Emma Woodhouse. Young women who I wish to emulate. They are flawed yet principled. Intelligent, but with a lot to learn. Some of them are witty. All are wonderful in their own ways. I can hope that someday I can learn to be more like them.
Thank you for your heroes – true they have spoiled me for having real life relationships with the boring men of the world, but ah well - I would not pass up making the acquaintance of your Mr. Darcy and Mr. Tilney and many of your other gents for the world. Your gentlemen are kind and wonderful. They show us what true nobility is. Mr. Tilney particularly is witty and adorable in every sense of the world. I envy your creation of him as I envy so many other aspects of your work.
Your ability to construct concise, loaded, truly hilarious sentences strikes me every time. If ever I can learn to express myself as you do, I would believe that I had reached the epitome of writing ability. You may think I exaggerate to flatter, but I do not. I speak the absolute truth. I do not wish to weary you with a lengthy Mr. Collins-style epistle (you characterized him and your many other bores excellently by the way. I fear that you suffered the company of many such types in your short life). I will conclude directly. I cannot end though without saying that I love your villains. They are real. John Thorpe is so vivid in my imagination. Also many of the movies your novels have inspired are fantastic, and I have spent considerable hours enjoying them. It is because of you that I have been introduced to the amazing skills of the likes of Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, J.J. Feilds and many others. Perhaps you have a suspicion now of the pleasures you introduced into my existence. I can honestly say my life is better because you lived on this earth for forty-two short years.
Perhaps, you a white, British woman did not realized that one day your “bits of ivory” would touch the heart and mind of a young, black West Indian woman, but that is the beauty of writing isn’t it? We reach through the pages we write to touch other human beings; we cannot know how far the vibrations will go. Yours go very far indeed, and I hope you are aware of this in some way.
