Book Log 11/2014 - Donald Maass: Writing the Breakout Novel

A great insight into what makes a novel rise above the competition to 'break out'. Donald Maass is the head of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, so he knows what he's talking about. (I'll say right now that one of his younger agents, Amy Boggs, is my literary agent, but I don't know Mr Maass personally.)

This book contains some great practical advice divided into chapters on such things as: Premise; Characters; Stakes; Plots and Advanced Plot Structures, and such hard-to-pin-down elements as Theme. Well worth reading for any novellist striving to improve (and that's most of us!)

I read this and the Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook in the wriong order, but having finished this I'm now hankering to go back and take another look at the Workbook.

Movie of the Week - Lucy

I suspect there was one rather important scene in this that ended up on the cutting room floor because the whole plot spectacularly failed to make sense. Unfortunately it was an early scene and undermined the whole thing. And that's without the whole plot premise being based on the 'fact' that humans only use ten percent of their brain.

Scarlett Johansson pouts her way through it all prettily, but credibility is low and special effects can't make up for an inane plot. Save your money or go and see Guardians of the Galaxy again, which is bonkers in a much more satisfying way. If you have a yen for Scarlett Johansson go and see the latest Captain America movie.

Movie of the Week - The Giver

Supposedly 'social science fiction' but with a premise that falls apart on closer examination without inserting the use of magic into the proceedings. In addition it has plot holes you can drive a bus through.

There's a whiff of Divergent in here with artificial communities being created after some kind of apocalyptic war, but this doesn't have the spark that carried Divergent through to a nail-biting conclusion. Premise: all emotion has been suppressed by drugs to protect the isopated [population living in plastic hpouses and seeing everything in monochrome. Only The Giver (Jeff Bridges) sees in colour and has memories of how it was before. When Jonas is chosen to be the next Giver he receives the memories (by some kind of telepathic transference) and stops taking the drugs with predictable results,(starts to see in colour, wants to change the world)  but it seems that all he has to do to set things straight and return the memories to the inmates population is to cross some magical woo-woo barrier at the extreme edge of their known settlement.

I'm sorry but even sticking Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep into a banal film doesn't really lend suitable gravitas. The 'teen' cast was instantly forgettable (why, oh why, do Hollywood teens all look the same?) and the potential of the situation ignored. this is a prettily filmed slice of teen angst which takes far too long to tell its slight story.

Book Log 12/2014 - Jilly Cooper: Jump

The story of Etta, put-upon widow and grandmother, whose generosity of spirit was abused by her domineering (wealthy) husband who left her at the mercy of her uncaring, grasping children due to the terms of his will. When Etta's home is sold out from under her and she's installed in a cramped little house close to her son and daughter-in-law, she's expected to be cook and full-time nanny for her spoiled brattish grandchildren, but the village into which she's propelled has a cast of interesting characters and--because this is, after all, a Jilly Cooper novel--romance eventually blossoms, and not only for Etta. On the way Etta rescues Mrs Wilkinson, a battered, half-starved thoroughbred filly, who turns out to be a courageous little National Hunt racer. Etta and Mrs Wilkinson save each other, and the filly is a catalyst redeeming or condemning (each according to their worth) a whole cast of characters. Or maybe that should be cariacatures--because this is, after all, a Jilly Cooper novel. It's long, complex and tremendous fun featuring a few recurring favourites such as Rupert Campbell-Black.

Cooper's immersion in the world of jump racing is complete and very believable and I absolutely trust that she has the details of the sport accurately depicted. It's well researched, but not laboured.

Jilly Cooper is not a subtle novellist--her plots are twisty, her characters larger than life--but she delivers page-turning, emotion-packed stories, perfect for a bit of self-indulgent reading when you really should be getting on with something else, but, oh, never mind. Just one more chapter.

Book Log 13/2014 - Joanne Harris: Dr Who: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Time Traveller

A short adventure for the Third Doctor as he's struggling to get 'home' to Sarah Jane after suffering a fatal radiation overdose (which will cause his regeneration into the Fourth Doctor). The Tardis dumps him into the perfect English village where, it seems, his ailments are (temporarily) cured. But all is not as it should be. Daily wellness parades and a terrified queen presents this doctor with one last problem to solve. Written by Joanne Harris (Chocolat) this is an elegant little story, but shorter than I would have liked.