Members PiotreX Posted November 4, 2008 Members Share Posted November 4, 2008 Originally Posted by Bonoman Can I ask why? I'm bringing this before a review board next week. It's a great book and the above quote is how the author has worded his synopsis. It's like a cross between a Tom Robbins and a Milan Kundera novel, with a little bit of John Irving thrown in for good measure. Easily one of the best I've read all year. What about the synopsis didn't you like? Or is it more of a genre thing? I want this guy to do well (because if he does well, I do well), so any advice would be appreciated... Well for one, I think it sounds a bit too complicated. Can't decide if it's fiction, science fiction, psychological, porn, rnr, whatever else and I have a thought that neither can the author. It may be just too many things at once right there in those few sentence, it seems to come out mumbo-jumbo, trying to be too spectacular and dazzling(word-wise). Anyway, who is this book directed to? Who's the intended recipent? Then again maybe it's just not the type of book I would read, definitely not in my morality range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groutt Posted November 4, 2008 Members Share Posted November 4, 2008 I need shorter sentences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bonoman Posted November 5, 2008 Members Share Posted November 5, 2008 Originally Posted by PiotreX Well for one, I think it sounds a bit too complicated. Can't decide if it's fiction, science fiction, psychological, porn, rnr, whatever else and I have a thought that neither can the author. It may be just too many things at once right there in those few sentence, it seems to come out mumbo-jumbo, trying to be too spectacular and dazzling(word-wise). Anyway, who is this book directed to? Who's the intended recipent? Then again maybe it's just not the type of book I would read, definitely not in my morality range. It's not genre fiction (sci-fi, psychological, etc.) at all. It's literary fiction, meaning it's a story told with words that isn't trying to be specifically anything but a story. The book is directed towards people who like to read things that aren't genre-specific - after a while all sci-fi books become the same, all mystery books are solvable, etc. This is a novel, nothing more. I agree with you that he's maybe trying too hard to be spectacular or dazzling, but as a fellow word-smith I can tell you that I appreciated it when I read it, and he never went over the top. Have you ever read any Salman Rushdie? This book is nowhere near as flowery as he is, just a writer with a good vocabulary and a strong command of the English language. It's a very sweet and heart-felt story, actually, and I found the themes of loss and redemption and the effects of time on relationships to be well thought-out and strongly represented. I'm trying to get this guy published, so you have helped, but you could help by answering one more question: Are you not interested because you're more of a genre-fiction reader and couldn't pigeon-hole this book, or because of the language in general? Did you feel like it was talking down to you, or that it just wasn't interesting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PiotreX Posted November 5, 2008 Members Share Posted November 5, 2008 Originally Posted by Bonoman It's not genre fiction (sci-fi, psychological, etc.) at all. It's literary fiction, meaning it's a story told with words that isn't trying to be specifically anything but a story. The book is directed towards people who like to read things that aren't genre-specific - after a while all sci-fi books become the same, all mystery books are solvable, etc. This is a novel, nothing more. I agree with you that he's maybe trying too hard to be spectacular or dazzling, but as a fellow word-smith I can tell you that I appreciated it when I read it, and he never went over the top. Have you ever read any Salman Rushdie? This book is nowhere near as flowery as he is, just a writer with a good vocabulary and a strong command of the English language. It's a very sweet and heart-felt story, actually, and I found the themes of loss and redemption and the effects of time on relationships to be well thought-out and strongly represented. I'm trying to get this guy published, so you have helped, but you could help by answering one more question: Are you not interested because you're more of a genre-fiction reader and couldn't pigeon-hole this book, or because of the language in general? Did you feel like it was talking down to you, or that it just wasn't interesting? If I were to point at someone who's contemporary linguistics are my fav, it would definitely be Steven Erikson(author of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series). The words and sentences really make my brow sweat, it's just basic writing, but done in such a way that it's challenging to read. Compare that to the linguistics of Harry Potter, which is a book that you storm through and forget in a week. I like a book that makes you think hard when you read it. OK, so I am a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy fiction, but for instance I really liked The Memory of Running by McLarty. It's just a fascinating story and had me hooked from page one. It has something I identify with. This book that you're publishing just doesn't have anything I could possibly try to hook up with, and the summary just maybe has a bit of the wrong type of linguistics I expect from a summary, didn't appeal to me. Maybe it's too specific? I'll let myself quote Erikson's first paragraph from Gardens of the Moon: The stains of rust seemed to map blood seas on the black, pocked surface of Mock's Vane. A century old, it squatted on the point of an old pike that had been bolted to the top of the Hold's wall. Monstrous and misshapen, it had been cold-hammered into the form of a winged demon, teeth bared in a leering grin, and was tugged and buffeted in squealing protest with every gust of wind. Now first off you have no idea what he's talking about, right? But the feel of it is astonishing, dark, makes me want to read more of it, find out what it's about. What feel does your summary give? To me it sort-of says "this is a book about everything and nothing in particular, it's trying to be about life, maybe pessimistic, maybe sad, and tries to answer questions that I don't really care to have answered." So maybe it's just not the book for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niomosy Posted November 5, 2008 Members Share Posted November 5, 2008 Originally Posted by Bonoman Sounds like a fun time (minus whatever issues your brother, and the smoking, of course). Are you going to post pics of all the costumes? I think that would be fun, especially as our Vegas wedding next year is going to be costumed as well. Let me know if you put them up on your MySpace... I've gotta transfer them from the card to the computer still. I've been rather lazy about that lately. I'll get them up, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted November 5, 2008 Members Share Posted November 5, 2008 Originally Posted by Bonoman Can I ask why? I'm bringing this before a review board next week. It's a great book and the above quote is how the author has worded his synopsis. It's like a cross between a Tom Robbins and a Milan Kundera novel, with a little bit of John Irving thrown in for good measure. Easily one of the best I've read all year. What about the synopsis didn't you like? Or is it more of a genre thing? I want this guy to do well (because if he does well, I do well), so any advice would be appreciated... Just the way it was worded, it did not grab me, and I lost interest towards the end of the paragraph. Not saying at all that the book would blow hard, just the little intro didn't quite do it, and if I were in a book shop trying to find a new book, I would have probably just kept going down the line after reading it. If what you said is true (that its a darn good book) then I would say the synopsis does it no justice at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groutt Posted November 5, 2008 Members Share Posted November 5, 2008 Originally Posted by Super_Donut_Man Just the way it was worded, it did not grab me, and I lost interest towards the end of the paragraph. Not saying at all that the book would blow hard, just the little intro didn't quite do it, and if I were in a book shop trying to find a new book, I would have probably just kept going down the line after reading it. If what you said is true (that its a darn good book) then I would say the synopsis does it no justice at all. That's what I was thinking too. But worded better. The synopsis makes me work too hard without giving me a feel for the book. If that is an exact copy of the synopsis, I think it has some confusing structure problems. ...and explains how the non-event of the Y2K Bug actually ended up saving the world. Find out the importance of making choices and how you should always read the signs... What's going on with that? Seems like the flow got all wacky there. But now I DO want to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted November 5, 2008 Members Share Posted November 5, 2008 america changes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niomosy Posted November 6, 2008 Members Share Posted November 6, 2008 Originally Posted by mrcrow america changes Indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groutt Posted November 7, 2008 Members Share Posted November 7, 2008 Is this Drive Around With Your Turn Signal Blinking Day? Did no one tell me? Or is it just part of Drive Extra Stupid Day? And where is that stinkin' I'm Crabby Today thread when I need it? Have a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ToeJamFootball Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 Originally Posted by 82Daion *fires up grill* Oh, wrong steak? Damn. I think I'll have Steak for dinner tonight. {censored} the shakes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 blast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zamfir Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 Please do not post lug's name in the Thread Killer, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingeringam Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 I'm sorry but as an endorsing artist, I am contractually obliged to post it in as many threads as humanly possible g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yubetyerboots Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 good morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 Originally Posted by Zamfir Please do not post lug's name in the Thread Killer, thank you. lug who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MisfitKay138 Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 Originally Posted by T-40 Funny how every thread I post in plummmets to the bottom of the page. I must suck or something. it seems i tend to kill threads when i say something half smart. guess people cant handle me when im not acting like a dumb blonde Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 did anyone hear the blonde joke... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bonoman Posted November 16, 2008 Members Share Posted November 16, 2008 I have not been able to get onto the forum all week for some reason. I'm glad that has finally changed. As for the synopsis, I told the dude to re-write it. Or I'll re-write it for him, maybe, because he's pushing back. I guess he liked the poetry of it all? I don't know, but I trust your guys's opinions more than his since you're not involved, so thanks. When I get something new I'll post it here and we can try that all again. Mr Crow - your new avatar makes you look like James Bond. Now you rock more than ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zamfir Posted November 17, 2008 Members Share Posted November 17, 2008 Originally Posted by Bonoman Can I ask why? I'm bringing this before a review board next week. It's a great book and the above quote is how the author has worded his synopsis. It's like a cross between a Tom Robbins and a Milan Kundera novel, with a little bit of John Irving thrown in for good measure. Easily one of the best I've read all year. What about the synopsis didn't you like? Or is it more of a genre thing? I want this guy to do well (because if he does well, I do well), so any advice would be appreciated... Synopses usually fall well wide of the mark, IMO. But that one does sound overly complicated. I don't mind the actual novel being complicated, but the synopsis makes the author sound, well, schizo. Boil it down - (1) what is the primary theme of the book, in one sentence of 25 words or less? (2) Why should we read it? IMO, Kundera is usually much more focused on a particular relationship between two or three characters, and then leveraging that for all it's worth in terms of historical context and philosophical insight, as well as flights of imagination. That focus is why he's so clean / deft in his writing ... I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Trauma_Luna Posted November 17, 2008 Members Share Posted November 17, 2008 i cant handle with this, its too much!!!! =( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bonoman Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 I don't get why baristas always seem to crush on me. Maybe I drink too much coffee? I don't know, but it's becoming a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 I'm hungry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members niomosy Posted November 18, 2008 Members Share Posted November 18, 2008 Damn me. I have no idea why but I could not fall asleep last night. I'm not sure what the deal was, either. I got a few bits of sleep then finally fell asleep about 5am only to wake up at 6am for work. Ironically, I even tried to get to bed early so I'd get some more sleep. This on top of working Sunday midnight - 7am waking up again at 9am on Sunday for a conference call. My sleep's all screwed up. Of course, this chest infection I've most likely got isn't helping. Time to call the Dr. to go in and be told I need some antibiotics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bonoman Posted November 20, 2008 Members Share Posted November 20, 2008 I've been the opposite over the past few days in that I can't seem to stop sleeping at all. I've probably slept 24 hours over the past 48 - that's a lot of sleep! And I think I'm going to go get some more right now... I can hardly keep my head up or my eyes open. Damned headache isn't helping either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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