Collected Miscellany

Mark at the Elegant Variation pointed us toward this story about a book signing in flight. Imogen Edwards-Jones, author of Tuscany for Beginners, was talked into having a book signing on a flight to Italy. Not being a big fan of these affairs to begin with she is nervous but things seem to turn out fine in the end. The passengers get a free signed copy of her book and she ends up with a few more readers.

But one particular section made me laugh out loud. After passing out the books the author and her publicist take their seats for takeoff and have this conversation:

Ten minutes later, Kerry and I are in our seats, awaiting take off.

“Well, that wasn’t too bad,” she says.

“Do you think they are reading it now?” I ask her, nervously.

“Of course,” she says. “What else is there to do on a plane?”

“All I can think of is the opening sex scene,” I mutter. “Where the husband is at it with the next-door neighbour like a terrier.”

“Oh,” says Kerry. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have given it to that six-year-old.”

I have a music review posted over at Blogcritics that might interest readers here. The CD in question is a Rounder compilation album entitled Bill Morrissey: The Essential Collection.

Although I occasionally post my music reviews here, this artist has a stronger connection to the book theme of this blog. That’s because in addition to being a first class folk singer and songwriter Bill Morrissey is also the author of a novel. In 1996 Morrissey released his first and only novel, Edson. To top it off Edson was edited by the highly acclaimed Gary Fisketjon who has worked with the likes of Cormac McCarthy, Jay McInerney, Richard Ford and Kent Hauf.

It is not really surprising that Morrissey would write a novel given that he is such a talented storyteller in his music. Here is a taste of my review:

These twenty songs capture the amazing talent and consistency that Morrissey was able to sustain over the course of his career. The collection begins with the first song from his first album, and one of my favorites, Barstow – a playful yet melancholic song about a man who “pissed his twenties away” but promises his sweetheart “if you take me back this time baby, I promise I’ll stay.” As you can probably tell already, if you are looking for happy-go-lucky bubble gum pop music you have come to the wrong place. No, what Morrissey produces is beautiful, poignant, but often heartrending stories of those for whom life hasn’t quite worked out.

Read the whole thing here.

Forget Flying!
Am I the only human being on earth who’s had it with flying? Not only are the planes increasingly unsafe — please save me from the proselytizer who would insist that cars are less safe than airplanes (which they may be, but it’s because of the drivers, not the machines) — they’re a decidely uncomforable way to travel! Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the aisles getting thinner, the seats getting smaller, and the space between you and the person in front of you, shrinking like an invisible vise somewhere is slowly moving the rows closer together?

Save me from inconsiderate airlines and their coffin-like seating arrangements! Someone, please, help science move forward on inter-spacial travel…as in, “Beam me up, Scottie.”

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I have been in a bit of a late August lull of late so content has been sparse. Lacking any particular insight or theme, I thought I would post miscellaneous comments on posts I stumbled upon around the lit blogosphere.

– Amazon Rant? Jason Star is guest blogging over at Sarah’s Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind and he speaks his mind about what he sees as the faults of on-line booksellers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. His gripes come down to two issues:
1) Selling used books alongside new books.
2) Displaying reviews alongside books.
Please read his whole post, but basically Jason feels that these policies hurt authors. As I understand his position, selling used books alongside new ones undercuts the profits of publishers and authors while displaying reviews with the book can unfairly or unduly impact readers buying choices.

Perhaps it is due to the different perspective between reader and author, but I find these complaints quite silly. Basically, Jason is arguing against providing readers with choices and information. I am not sure he realizes it but it is rather insulting to consumers as well. He seems to assume that people are not capable of making wise or informed choices; that if they are exposed to cheap books and bad reviews they will somehow inadvertently hurt the publication of quality books. First of all, the quality question goes way beyond Amazon and any profits it might remove from the system. But more importantly, I am sure intelligent readers can navigate purchases via Amazon without being tempted to always buy cheap used books or being convinced by reader reviews not to buy a book they would otherwise enjoy.

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Many years ago the phrase ‘co-opted’ seeped into the lexicon before retiring to presumably greener pastures. If you got a job, you were co-opted. If you cut your hair, voted for someone other than Dick Gregory (still a vastly underrated presidential candidate), yeah, you’d been co-opted.

It was a fate worse than death; people with advanced degrees sneered at you. You avoided Woodstock because of the freaking traffic? You don’t enjoy mud? This was in the dark ages before mud wrestling.

Here in blogland, co-opting looms once again. Respectability has reared its head; the centers for breeze control are paying attention. People with advanced degrees are smiling now. Run little hobbit, run fast.

There’s a handy test kit for co-option that can be self administered even while using public transit. Step one is to determine where you’re going and why. On the way to the office? Your boss looks like Leonid Breshnev? The company is embarking on another wave of downsizing? Jump off the bus at a stop you don’t recognize; ask a stranger for directions. If the stranger is armed, skip them and locate someone more sympatico. Failure to do this can result in immediate co-option scorn.

It’s terrible isn’t it? We’ve been co-opted. With Bob Dylan’s memoir on the way, let’s pause to reflect. You better jump down a manhole and light yourself a candle. Easier said than done, Bob. It takes two Con Ed guys with a special tool to move that manhole aside.

How about you? Are you gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more?

After reviewing Denise Mina’s DECEPTION, I read her novel RESOLUTION which was published last year in the US by Carroll & Graf. RESOLUTION is the third novel in her Garenthill trilogy. Why start with the last novel in a trilogy? Because I saw it at the library.

RESOLUTION is a superb book. Yeah, it’s a little confusing if you start at the end of a series because it has a large cast and refers to events that began with GARNETHILL and EXILE. If you’re able, locate the first two novels and then read this one. If not, read RESOLUTION. It tells the story of Glaswegian Maureen O’Donnell and her tormented family. It’s beautifully written and compelling.

Ian Rankin’s WITCH HUNT is a standalone thriller from the writer who created Inspector Rebus. I have the ARC and have read about a third of it. I’ll post a review toward the end of the week.

I finished the novel I was working on. I knew I was close. Although I didn’t intend it, the book finishes with a line that tells the reader whodunnit and nothing’s resolved after all. The title is FLAMINGO DAWN and its going to sit in my drawer for awhile. In the interim if you’re interested in buying my car, let me know.

According to the weatherman, we’re being brushed by a typhoon. The jet stream has dropped into Northern California. If you’re in the Bay Area and see the jet stream, tell it to get back north of Vancouver where it belongs. Thanks.