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Showing results for tags 'novella'.
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Book Review: The Clothes They Stood Up in by Alan Bennett
Drew Payne posted a blog entry in Words, Words and Words
The Ransomes, a middle-aged, middle-class couple living in North London, return home to their mansion flat, from a night at the opera, and discover they have been burgled. But this is no ordinary burglary. Every single thing in their home has been taken. They are greeted with only bare floor boards and walls. All the possessions they are left with, in the world, are the clothes they are wearing. In this novella, Alan Bennett strips this middle-class couple of all their belongings and therefore forces them to re-examine their position in society, what does it mean to be them. In very Bennett style, the wife here flourishes, using this as a chance to explore the local community around her, that previously she had just passed through to get to somewhere else. The husband, though, stripped of his possessions, fails to cope. All that seemed to have made him, his possessions, have been taken away. This is a slim volume but Bennett still manages to pack a punch with his sparse prose, with many touches of his sharp and on-the-nail humour. Though not a subject always associated with him, this is Bennett on firm territory, he knows these middle-class people and what brings them down. Bennett uses an unusual premise to write a character study of a couple suddenly thrown out of the rut their lives had comfortably fallen into. As with much of his previous prose, this is a short but enjoyable read, and easily re-read. Find it here on Amazon- 4 comments
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Book Review: Summer Crossing by Truman Capote
Drew Payne posted a blog entry in Words, Words and Words
In post-war New York, seventeen-year-old Grady McNeil is left alone in her parents’ expensive Fifth Avenue penthouse for the summer, while her parents holiday in Paris, before Grady’s season as a debutant. Once her parents are on their ocean liner to Europe, Grady ignores her older sister Apple and begins to run around New York as a free spirit. She has been carrying on a secret relationship with Clyde, a working-class young man from Brooklyn. Now her parents are gone she is able to turn up the heat on this relationship, ignoring the rich young man from her own social class who is also romantically interested in her. This is Truman Capote’s lost first novel, which might not have been finished, which could explain its very strange ending, and it was only discovered and published after his death. This is a very slight novel, both in number of pages and insight into its characters. Grady comes across as an overly privileged and spoilt young woman who seems to have little concern for those around her. Her relationship with Clyde feels more of a distraction than anything serious. Her behaviour, though not commented as such by Capote, feels selfish and self-centred, a distraction from her bored and privileged life. This book has nothing new or original to offer on this subject. There have been many other books about the gilded rich New York socialites, before and after this one, and several of them have offered much more insight than this one and have certainly painted deeper portraits of their characters. Is the problem here that Capote was writing about a world he wanted to belong to rather than one he knew about? Sometimes novels are unfinished or lost for a reason and it is best that they stay that way. I’m afraid this was the case here. At least Capote would go on to write much better books and they’re the ones we should read. Find it here on Amazon-
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Book Review: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
Drew Payne posted a blog entry in Words, Words and Words
This novella has a simple but enjoyable premise, which Alan Bennett exploits with his sharp and intelligent wit. The queen, unusually for her, is at a loose end in Buckingham Palace and goes for walk. Around a corner she doesn’t usually walk around she discovers a mobile library. Thinking it rude not to, she borrows a book from it. This first book sets her off on an odyssey of reading. She reads for pleasure, but also her reading educates her and opens her mind. And all this reading leads to a surprising ending. Bennett was the first playwright to include the queen as a character in a play, to have an actress portray her on the London stage. Her character stole the second act of his double bill of one-act plays, Single Spies. Here he portrays her as the central character of this story, through whose eyes we watch the gently unfolding events. Bennett’s prose is simple but still very enjoyable, and his wit is not dampened here. There are many jokes and comic scenes, again with the queen getting some of the best lines. But Bennett’s prose is also very readable; you can almost hear his distinctive voice as you read it. His characterisation of the queen is gentle and affectionate; he doesn’t send her up or portray her as too privileged and out-of-touch. But her character is written very much to serve his plot. This book is about the power and necessity of reading. Here books are a gateway into a new way of thinking and ultimately living. This story is also about the power and necessity of public libraries. The queen doesn’t discover the power of literature from the books hidden away in her own private library but from that most public of public libraries, a mobile library. It is ironic that Bennett uses a mobile library as the trigger for his plot, the thing that was invented to provide libraries to our remotest communities here turning up in the centre of London. This is only a slight book, a novella, but no less enjoyable for it. Bennett knows exactly when to end it and how to quietly make his points. Find it here on Amazon-
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Book Review: The Laying on of Hands by Alan Bennett
Drew Payne posted a blog entry in Words, Words and Words
It is the memorial service of Clive Dunlop, masseur to the great and good. His “magic touch” was in great demand, plus the extras he sometimes provided. But Clive has died, aged only 34, from a sudden illness, and many of the mourners there are worried about what exactly he died from. Using the memorial service as a framing device, Alan Bennett has created a story of regret and repressed emotions. At the heart of it is Father Geoffrey Jolliffe who is both leading the memorial service and also mourning the loss of Clive, who was more than a friend to him but not quite his lover. This is Bennett at his best, writing about a subject that he captures with precise and concise detail, lost and repressed emotions. The memorial service, which works as the perfect framing device, Bennett uses to explore his characters’ emotions, with many of them remembering their Clive, the Clive they knew, which isn’t the same Clive as everyone else there knew. He also doesn’t miss the moments of humour when he satirises the world of media, television personalities and reality TV celebrities. This is a world he seems to know well. This is classic Alan Bennett but still Alan Bennett on top-level form. This story ripples with his insight and wit. It’s just a shame it is so short, ending far too soon. Find it here on Amazon-
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It's one of those things. I really can't explain it, but I do dream about a particular department store quite frequently. When I was six years old, my 1st grade teacher took our entire class on a holiday fieldtrip. We toured the big downtown stores, and were told to keep a tight grasp on each other's hands as we went along. At one, after huddling our cold noses against the plate glass to see the display windows, we went into the warmth. Massive chrome escalators – taller than me! – carried us up into the clouds, while our teacher pointed down to the floor. There, arrows were built right into the terrazzo to guide our way up to the next level, and Christmas was all around as we followed that magic path to ascended ever higher into the massive store – we were there to visit Toyland on the 8th floor, and Santaland on the 9th. That Christmas wonder seeped into my bones that day. It was in the smells, the music, the decorations, and most especially, it was keenly written on the happy faces of shopper and Famous-Barr staff alike. It's been brewing in my heart and soul for many years now, but I want to write a series of stories in praise of Christmas in that place, and over a number of years. I plan on writing 6 short stories, and 2 novellas, each covering a different Christmas season for years ranging from 1880 to 2006, and naturally, all centered on the downtown store of Famous-Barr. The first two installments are ready for this holiday season, and I thought I would offer a preview. So, without further ado, here is an excerpt from Katie's Sketchbook, Christmas at Famous-Barr 1976. Please let me know your thoughts. Katie's Sketchbook Preview: Part 2 – A Cast of Visitors Scene Two: "How do you do?" It was the end of their long day in the park; Katie ran into the house and left the door open. While Sloan was coming in, he heard her father's voice: "No running in the house" and "Get washed and changed – we're going out for dinner." As Sloan closed the door, Richardson appeared at the wide opening leading into the living room. Sloan went right up and started kissing. Richardson did not resist, but Sloan paused, as Richardson also did not engage. The younger man opened his eyes. Richardson's peepers were shining emeralds, but a bemused smirk played about the right corner of his mouth. "And what did I do to deserve that?" the older man inquired. "Nothing – like usual. We haven't seen each other since before Thanksgiving…and – and maybe I missed you." "Maybe, huh?" Sloan's response was to draw Richardson back into a bear hug. Movement from within the living room caught his eye just as Richardson sheepishly informed him "We have a guest." A six-foot-two-inch-tall woman advanced with an extended smile and hand. "How do you do? I'm Julia Child." The young man from Ohio weakly attempted to shake her hand while still latched onto Richardson. Mouth partially agape – until he swallowed the lump in his throat – Sloan finally managed to stand at Richardson's side and respond. "You most certainly are – " She interrupted with a friendly head-toss. "Now, don’t pay any attention to me whatsoever, boys. It seems you were in the middle of a most charming welcome home." Now, both 'boys' blushed. Sloan glanced to his side, thinking how Richardson had failed to mention exactly which celebrity he was shepherding around town. Katie came bounding in. "Hi! You're The French Chef, aren’t you?" "Yes, I suppose I am. You've seen me on TV, have you?" "Oh, yes! My dad said you were coming to town, and he watches you all the time – he's a good cook too, you know." Ms. Child raised her attention from the girl onto Richardson. "I'm sure he is. We've spent a good portion of our time together discussing food." Katie's enthusiasm began animating her whole body with heel-to-toe rocking. "You should have my dad make his famous Mississippi Mud Pie for you. Do you like chocolate?" "I do, and that very sounds nice." Richardson grew rigid next to Sloan's side, and interjected. "Katie, I could never presume to cook for Julia Child." The French Chef, unflapped, but bending down to Katie's level, told the girl, "Thank you for the reference, young lady. I may have to insist that he make it…" Her eyes drifted up to Richardson "Because I always follow local culinary recommendations." Richardson turned all-shades, and Sloan just wanted to laugh. Instead he said, "Well, I too can vouch for Richardson's amazing skills in the kitchen." Julia smiled. "And can you cook as well?" "Nope. But I am an expert eater." Ms. Child laughed, and placed her hand warmly on his forearm. "Dear boy, you sound precisely like my husband. Paul praises my cooking skills, and can even enjoy my failures." Sloan's face took on some color. "I didn't mean to suggest…Richardson…never 'fails' at food, at least not for me." The smile on Julia's face made Sloan believe he had just touched the woman in some way, but he was not sure how. (to be continued in October...)
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So I'm also working on this story that smashes Silent Hill with some gay drama. I have a general inkling of how it will go but I need people to proofread it just in case because I want to give that sense of dread. I know horror's hard to pull off but I hope you guys can help me out. I was hoping to complete this before October, quite honestly. I hope the turn around can be at most a week. An ASAP turn around is very welcome. Never worked with a beta before, so I'm forced to check grammar myself most of the time. You can at least feel safe that I'll have generally good grammar. ) I generally need someone to help me analyze plot and scenes. I've yet to write some of the other scenes but the outline is there: the beginning and the endgame. Help and suggestions with scenes and dialogue would be welcome. As of now, I'm on Chapter 7 (around 2000-4000 words per chapter), but that's without an editor/beta-reader so I'm not to keen on posting all of it yet. I use LibreOffice and Notepad++ most of the time, file type DOC and TXT. Inline edits and comments are welcome. Just let me know what was edited. My story's first chapter and prologue are already up. Let me know if you'd rather have a spoiler snippet here. I'll edit it in. Click here for a look at the story.
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Looking for a beta for a new novella (or possibly novel, not sure yet). I've actually posted a story about these characters before, as part of the 2015 Secret Santa. It's called Twenty-Three Days of Advent. This story will be a longer work about how Lance and Keenan met, how their relationship began, and so on. And there will be lots and lots of sex, obviously, including multiple kinks, some less conventional than others. I'm looking for someone who's openminded and not squeamish to beta read the chapters before publishing, with focus on plot, dialogue, and characterisation. The idea for this story began back in the early days of 50 Shades-mania. That franchise appeared on my radar when people from the BDSM community criticised it for creating a harmful picture of what BDSM is, for failing to be safe, sane and consensual, and so on. So I thought, wouldn't it be fun to write a story with a similar dynamic (boss/subordinate), but where the relationship isn't the toxic mess found in that particular far too popular work of "literature"? And also gay, obviously. Working title: Mr. Grahame Will See You Now Length: 15k words so far, will likely be a chaptered novella Summary: After leaving Her Majesty's Armed Forces, Keenan finds himself with little to fall back on. On a whim, he applies for a position as personal assistant to Lance Grahame, managing director of Red Ink Publishing. Keenan didn't expect himself to be so drawn to his new boss, and much less for his feelings to be returned, and he soon finds himself involved in a sexual relationship that is everything but conventional. Excerpt:
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A place to discuss my novella Lavender and Gold Summary: Benjamin Connor’s rise to fame hardly surprised anyone, not even himself. He thrives in the spotlight and enjoys his work as an actor, but his world is turned topsy-turvy when he meets Mark, an unknown musician from Camden. As their relationship blossoms, Ben must decide whether to face the bigotry of Hollywood or keep his odd, interesting, gorgeous little punk a secret for the sake of his career. And for how long can such a high-profile individual keep a secret anyway?
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