[stylist] Tips for Formatting Books and E-Books
Donna Hill
penatwork at epix.net
Wed Jun 26 22:31:24 UTC 2013
Jim,
This would be great for screen reader users who want to do only the POD,
Kindle and Nook. From a sales perspective, print is still the number one
seller with Kindle and Nook coming in second and third, so they'd be
covering the big bases.
But, there are some limitations in doing it the way this article suggests.
One thing that isn't mentioned is the need to change which version you're
advertising in the book. Kindle, for instance, doesn't want your Nook URL in
there and viceversa, so anyone using this method will have to make three
separate files after formatting and make them specific to POD, Kindle &
Nook.
This step-by-step works for POD, Kindle and Nook, but if you format for
Smashwords, you can get in a lot more outlets including Nook, Apple, Sony,
Kobo, Diesel and so on. If you do a proper Smashwords .doc, you'll have
something you can use with minor adjustments on Kindle and on Nook, if you
want to do them separately as I did. Anyone who wants to go the Smashwords
route will have to do the POD and eBook versions separately. For Kindle, I
just had to remove my references to Smashwords and insert the Kindle info,
save it as a web-filtered htm-html file and upload that to Kindle Direct
Publishing. For Nook, again after personalizing it for Nook, I had to
substitute the page breaks with section breaks -- I spent a lot of time
reading on that one, but once I found out how, it was quick -- and upload it
to Nook Press.
There are more than formatting reasons to do them separately. You can get
away with having more front matter in your print book than in the eBook
versions. This is because the eBook stores give customers the chance to read
the first 20% (approx) of the book before buying it. The more stuff you have
up front, the less the reader gets of your actual book, and they might be
put off by that.
Smashwords recommends limiting front matter to a few short reviews in the
very front, title/copyright page and Table of Contents. My print version has
two pages of reviews and an introduction to educators. In the e-versions,
they're in the back.
Also, Kindle and Nook books aren't all that accessible for screen reader
users. I have the Kindle for PC with accessibility, which works with Jaws
and NVDA, but I'm not wild about it. Smashwords offers .rtf and .pdf, which
in my book's case, is accessible. It gives you more options when trying to
sell your book to fellow blind folks.
There are some minor but important differences in what you need for
Smashwords vs Create Space (don't know about Lulu or Lightning Source). For
instance, though Create Space wants you to justify the text, Smashwords
advises against it. Also, if someone does want to use Smashwords, which
creates 7 eBook formats from a .doc, they will have to learn how to make a
manually-linked table of contents -- not hard once you find theBookmark and
Hyperlink dialogs, but it is tedious. For Smashwords, they also want you to
remove Word's hidden automatic bookmarks, which means you need to set Word
up to show hidden formatting, . I had a devil of a time finding Show All in
Word 2010, but it's now on my quick access toolbar.
Kindle and Nook Press don't care if you use Word's auto-generated TOC, but
Smashwords prohibits it, as well as the use of tabs and more than 4 line
breaks in a row. One issue I had was that Smashwords bounced my book because
it contained one tab. I was befuddled. I had stripped all formatting by
dumping it into a .txt file and then returning it to a clean .doc, and I
never use tabs, but they thought I had one. I found some code to use in Find
& Replace to find tabs, and there weren't any. Then, I had a thought; since
I was making a .doc (necessary for Smashwords but not the others), I was
using Word 2010 in compatibility mode. I wondered if the tab might only show
up in Word 2003, so I installed it. There it was, though I still don't know
how it got there.
Anyway, it would be great to have something that explains any of this from a
screen reader users point of view. I'm done with mine, but I did a lot of
reading and often felt like I was trying to divine how to do it with Jaws.
Looking forward to reading what you come up with.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme, James
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 3:50 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tips for Formatting Books and E-Books
Hi,
I consider myself an advanced Word user, and an advanced screen reader user.
If you can point me to the exact web page where this article is, I'd be glad
to put content together that explains a little better the steps to go
through to accomplish all of this with a screen reader. If you feel like
it's a good enough article, you can feel free to publish it in Slate and
Style. Or just keep it.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
stylist-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 8:00 AM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 110, Issue 22
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
(Jacobson, Shawn D)
2. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
(Bridgit Pollpeter)
3. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
(Jacobson, Shawn D)
4. Another book review--The Martian Child (Jacobson, Shawn D)
5. Re: Another book review--The Martian Child (Bridgit Pollpeter)
6. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Donna Hill)
7. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Donna Hill)
8. Re: Another book review--The Martian Child (Jacobson, Shawn D)
9. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
(Bridgit Pollpeter)
10. Re: Another book review--The Martian Child (Bridgit Pollpeter)
11. Re: Another book review--The Martian Child (Jacobson, Shawn D)
12. Re: Another book review--The Martian Child (Bridgit Pollpeter)
13. Re: Another book review--The Martian Child (Donna Hill)
14. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Donna Hill)
15. Re: Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
(Bridgit Pollpeter)
16. Tips for Formatting Books and E-Books (goldbeckjm at comcast.net)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:29:59 -0400
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID:
<8838F3FB8A7BB044AA6DE247E617C6F285C37F at ELANNEPV117.exh.prod.hud.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Interesting review. I think I will pass on this one. I'm guessing that
Rawling's fantasy work will be more hopeful than her realistic work just
because the fantasy embodies the world as it should be and the realistic
work embodies the world as Rawling sees it. I believe that before she was
famous, J. K. Rawling was a single mother on the dole (so she would know
about the underside of the British experience.
Anyway, thanks for the review.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be difficult
for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to books that are
not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the downside to have such a
beloved series. People want HP, but she's done with that world. Thanks for
the review. Despite the fact you didn't care for it, this makes me want to
read it to discover for myself what it is about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I finally
read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to post this
book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way to promote my
novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first attempt -- all done
today -- so I'll probably change or add something, if I know me. * grin*
Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved rowing
coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry Fairbrother's death
brings about a "casual vacancy," according to Charles Arnold-Baker's Local
Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields, a
concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children attend
Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book, was
"drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is happy,
healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the adult
relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their teenagers are
lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been a Harry Potter
fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone watching
a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal, the
16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the start
that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She succeeds
only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and the
dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The Ghost of
Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some interest, if the
reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end of the book, however,
sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
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0hud.gov
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:56:06 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP2255DEEC620867EC4FB4357C48B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Rowling had been a teacher in Portugal with her husband. They divorced
after she had her first child. She moved back to the UK and was
initially on their form of welfare until she found better circumstances.
During this time, she developed Harry Potter and spent her time writing.
This was the early 90's. She eventually met and married a Scottish man
and moved to Scotland. And of course we all know what happened with HP,
smile. Although it was rejected several times, being told kids weren't
into fantasy anymore. When a publisher finally decided to purchase it,
they offered $100,000 for it, which sounds great, but that's a fairly
moderate offer in the world of publishing. Later HP books went for much,
much more.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 8:30 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Interesting review. I think I will pass on this one. I'm guessing that
Rawling's fantasy work will be more hopeful than her realistic work just
because the fantasy embodies the world as it should be and the realistic
work embodies the world as Rawling sees it. I believe that before she
was famous, J. K. Rawling was a single mother on the dole (so she would
know about the underside of the British experience.
Anyway, thanks for the review.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be
difficult for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to
books that are not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the
downside to have such a beloved series. People want HP, but she's done
with that world. Thanks for the review. Despite the fact you didn't care
for it, this makes me want to read it to discover for myself what it is
about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I
finally read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to
post this book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way
to promote my novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first
attempt -- all done today -- so I'll probably change or add something,
if I know me. * grin* Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved
rowing coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry
Fairbrother's death brings about a "casual vacancy," according to
Charles Arnold-Baker's Local Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields,
a concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children
attend Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book,
was "drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is
happy, healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the
adult relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their
teenagers are lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been
a Harry Potter fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have
given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone
watching a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal,
the 16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the
start that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She
succeeds only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and
the dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The
Ghost of Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some
interest, if the reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end
of the book, however, sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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otmail.com
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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_______________________________________________
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stylist mailing list
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otmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:04:10 -0400
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID:
<8838F3FB8A7BB044AA6DE247E617C6F285C49B at ELANNEPV117.exh.prod.hud.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Bridgit
Thanks for the information. I had not heard the whole story.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:56 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Rowling had been a teacher in Portugal with her husband. They divorced after
she had her first child. She moved back to the UK and was initially on their
form of welfare until she found better circumstances.
During this time, she developed Harry Potter and spent her time writing.
This was the early 90's. She eventually met and married a Scottish man and
moved to Scotland. And of course we all know what happened with HP, smile.
Although it was rejected several times, being told kids weren't into fantasy
anymore. When a publisher finally decided to purchase it, they offered
$100,000 for it, which sounds great, but that's a fairly moderate offer in
the world of publishing. Later HP books went for much, much more.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 8:30 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Interesting review. I think I will pass on this one. I'm guessing that
Rawling's fantasy work will be more hopeful than her realistic work just
because the fantasy embodies the world as it should be and the realistic
work embodies the world as Rawling sees it. I believe that before she was
famous, J. K. Rawling was a single mother on the dole (so she would know
about the underside of the British experience.
Anyway, thanks for the review.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be difficult
for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to books that are
not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the downside to have such a
beloved series. People want HP, but she's done with that world. Thanks for
the review. Despite the fact you didn't care for it, this makes me want to
read it to discover for myself what it is about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I finally
read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to post this
book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way to promote my
novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first attempt -- all done
today -- so I'll probably change or add something, if I know me. * grin*
Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved rowing
coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry Fairbrother's death
brings about a "casual vacancy," according to Charles Arnold-Baker's Local
Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields, a
concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children attend
Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book, was
"drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is happy,
healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the adult
relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their teenagers are
lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been a Harry Potter
fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone watching
a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal, the
16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the start
that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She succeeds
only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and the
dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The Ghost of
Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some interest, if the
reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end of the book, however,
sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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otmail.com
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
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------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:13:20 -0400
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'"
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID:
<8838F3FB8A7BB044AA6DE247E617C6F285C4B4 at ELANNEPV117.exh.prod.hud.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but was
not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single science
fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I found the
premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his experience
adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active, has a history
of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all) believes that he is a
Martian.
But the Marian part doesn't frighten our protagonist, the adoptive dad.
After all, dad is a science fiction writer and as long as Dennis doesn't
bring home giant slugs from space, dad can be cool with Dennis being a
Martian as long as he needs to be. And besides, when dad saw the picture of
this little kid, he was in love.
Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic adventure
in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis loves dad and,
everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed over.
Then troubles come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge
earthquake wrecks the house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused of
sexual assault. Dennis steals, breaks things, and acts out in public. The
adoption is pushed to the brink. To save the family, the father must dig
deep for the answer to why he wanted to adopt in the first place; father and
son must renounce their Martian heritage. Thus, this is a story of
acknowledging, settling for, being human.
I came to this book because I am an adoptive father who dabbles in writing
science fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's domestic
adoption of an older child differed from the international adoptions of
infants with which I am familiar.
One reviewer criticized the author for writing his adoption story as a novel
rather than as memoir. However, telling the story in fictionalized form
fits the theme of this book that the stories we tell ourselves to explain
the world and our place in it make us human. Pre-linguistic children are
thus alien until they join our society of story tellers. In this light,
Dennis' story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language
late in life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic scene.
Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not memorable.
The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture, description of
the house after the earthquake, the description of the weather on the
climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The NLS
narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different voices for
the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for Dennis is more
annoying than cute. For those interested in reading about a challenging
adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a non-traditional home, the book is
worth putting up with the annoyance.
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 10:50:50 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP41379FA1867C922EF9C3129C48B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Last year? I don't recall it. It may have been sent when I was pregnant
and unable to fulfill S & S responsibilities at the time, and
unfortunately no one else was able to be acting editor at the time. I
don't recall ever seeing this review.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:13 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but
was not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single
science fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I
found the premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his
experience adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active,
has a history of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all)
believes that he is a Martian. But the Marian part doesn't frighten our
protagonist, the adoptive dad. After all, dad is a science fiction
writer and as long as Dennis doesn't bring home giant slugs from space,
dad can be cool with Dennis being a Martian as long as he needs to be.
And besides, when dad saw the picture of this little kid, he was in
love. Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic
adventure in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis
loves dad and, everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed
over. Then troubles come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge
earthquake wrecks the house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused
of sexual assault. Dennis steals, breaks things, and acts out in
public. The adoption is pushed to the brink. To save the family, the
father must dig deep for the answer to why he wanted to adopt in the
first place; father and son must renounce their Martian heritage. Thus,
this is a story of acknowledging, settling for, being human. I came to
this book because I am an adoptive father who dabbles in writing science
fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's
domestic adoption of an older child differed from the international
adoptions of infants with which I am familiar. One reviewer criticized
the author for writing his adoption story as a novel rather than as
memoir. However, telling the story in fictionalized form fits the theme
of this book that the stories we tell ourselves to explain the world and
our place in it make us human. Pre-linguistic children are thus alien
until they join our society of story tellers. In this light, Dennis'
story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language late
in life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic
scene. Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not
memorable. The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture,
description of the house after the earthquake, the description of the
weather on the climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The
NLS narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different
voices for the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for
Dennis is more annoying than cute. For those interested in reading
about a challenging adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a
non-traditional home, the book is worth putting up with the annoyance.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:53:55 -0400
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID: <B2061D57B85A47309029671A32380B7C at OwnerHP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Bridgit,
Yes, read it for sure. I should add that. For those of us who love Harry
Potter and are ourselves writers, I believe that it is important to see the
next stage in her writing. I just find it a bit disturbing that, with all
the success she's had, she wrote something so uniformly bleak.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be difficult
for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to books that are
not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the downside to have such a
beloved series. People want HP, but she's done with that world. Thanks for
the review. Despite the fact you didn't care for it, this makes me want to
read it to discover for myself what it is about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I finally
read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to post this
book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way to promote my
novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first attempt -- all done
today -- so I'll probably change or add something, if I know me. * grin*
Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved rowing
coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry Fairbrother's death
brings about a "casual vacancy," according to Charles Arnold-Baker's Local
Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields, a
concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children attend
Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book, was
"drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is happy,
healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the adult
relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their teenagers are
lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been a Harry Potter
fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone watching
a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal, the
16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the start
that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She succeeds
only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and the
dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The Ghost of
Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some interest, if the
reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end of the book, however,
sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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et
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:57:04 -0400
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID: <4F800D0A8C1646E0A100C178BF3188B9 at OwnerHP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Shawn,
You are correct. When she wrote the first book she was a single mother on
welfare. Apparently, her own story of rising above that world isn't a
reality she chooses to explore yet.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 9:30 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Interesting review. I think I will pass on this one. I'm guessing that
Rawling's fantasy work will be more hopeful than her realistic work just
because the fantasy embodies the world as it should be and the realistic
work embodies the world as Rawling sees it. I believe that before she was
famous, J. K. Rawling was a single mother on the dole (so she would know
about the underside of the British experience.
Anyway, thanks for the review.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be difficult
for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to books that are
not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the downside to have such a
beloved series. People want HP, but she's done with that world. Thanks for
the review. Despite the fact you didn't care for it, this makes me want to
read it to discover for myself what it is about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I finally
read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to post this
book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way to promote my
novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first attempt -- all done
today -- so I'll probably change or add something, if I know me. * grin*
Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved rowing
coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry Fairbrother's death
brings about a "casual vacancy," according to Charles Arnold-Baker's Local
Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields, a
concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children attend
Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book, was
"drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is happy,
healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the adult
relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their teenagers are
lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been a Harry Potter
fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone watching
a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal, the
16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the start
that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She succeeds
only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and the
dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The Ghost of
Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some interest, if the
reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end of the book, however,
sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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0hud.gov
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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et
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:05:40 -0400
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID:
<8838F3FB8A7BB044AA6DE247E617C6F285C57B at ELANNEPV117.exh.prod.hud.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thanks for letting me know.
I thought I'd sent it (maybe I didn't).
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:51 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Last year? I don't recall it. It may have been sent when I was pregnant and
unable to fulfill S & S responsibilities at the time, and unfortunately no
one else was able to be acting editor at the time. I don't recall ever
seeing this review.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:13 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but was
not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single science
fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I found the
premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his experience
adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active, has a history
of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all) believes that he is a
Martian. But the Marian part doesn't frighten our protagonist, the adoptive
dad. After all, dad is a science fiction writer and as long as Dennis
doesn't bring home giant slugs from space, dad can be cool with Dennis being
a Martian as long as he needs to be.
And besides, when dad saw the picture of this little kid, he was in love.
Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic adventure
in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis loves dad and,
everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed over. Then troubles
come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge earthquake wrecks the
house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused of sexual assault. Dennis
steals, breaks things, and acts out in public. The adoption is pushed to
the brink. To save the family, the father must dig deep for the answer to
why he wanted to adopt in the first place; father and son must renounce
their Martian heritage. Thus, this is a story of acknowledging, settling
for, being human. I came to this book because I am an adoptive father who
dabbles in writing science fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique
view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's domestic
adoption of an older child differed from the international adoptions of
infants with which I am familiar. One reviewer criticized the author for
writing his adoption story as a novel rather than as memoir. However,
telling the story in fictionalized form fits the theme of this book that the
stories we tell ourselves to explain the world and our place in it make us
human. Pre-linguistic children are thus alien until they join our society
of story tellers. In this light, Dennis'
story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language late in
life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic scene.
Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not memorable.
The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture, description of
the house after the earthquake, the description of the weather on the
climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The NLS
narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different voices for
the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for Dennis is more
annoying than cute. For those interested in reading about a challenging
adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a non-traditional home, the book is
worth putting up with the annoyance.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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0hud.gov
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:10:52 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP267327D60C44F2A6AE6B06CC48B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Although, consider how bleak Harry Potter was. Many critics pointed this
out especially since it was Children's Lit. I think she goes for realism
over a more romantic view on life. And she herself has dealt with a lot
of situations including divorce, living on welfare and the death of a
parent. Amidst all her success, there has been suffering. I haven't read
this new book yet, but I would argue that dark, bleak material is not at
all out of character for her. And being an adult novel, perhaps she
didn't feel compelled to temper the subject matter with a more balanced
view of happiness and contentment with the darker side of life.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:54 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Bridgit,
Yes, read it for sure. I should add that. For those of us who love Harry
Potter and are ourselves writers, I believe that it is important to see
the next stage in her writing. I just find it a bit disturbing that,
with all the success she's had, she wrote something so uniformly bleak.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be
difficult for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to
books that are not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the
downside to have such a beloved series. People want HP, but she's done
with that world. Thanks for the review. Despite the fact you didn't care
for it, this makes me want to read it to discover for myself what it is
about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I
finally read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to
post this book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way
to promote my novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first
attempt -- all done today -- so I'll probably change or add something,
if I know me. * grin* Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved
rowing coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry
Fairbrother's death brings about a "casual vacancy," according to
Charles Arnold-Baker's Local Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields,
a concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children
attend Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book,
was "drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is
happy, healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the
adult relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their
teenagers are lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been
a Harry Potter fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have
given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone
watching a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal,
the 16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the
start that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She
succeeds only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and
the dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The
Ghost of Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some
interest, if the reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end
of the book, however, sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:38:03 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP276B5FDB8352C7440038C58C48B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I'm not saying you didn't, grin, but I don't remember it at all, nor do
I have it in my un-read submission folder. From about March up until,
really this January, I was dealing with a rough pregnancy then Declan's
NICU stay then when we brought him home finally, he was using a feeding
tube along with having severe acid reflux. Needless to say, S & S wasn't
on my list of priorities. Little Man is fine now and off the feeding
tube, as well as not exhibiting digestion issues, and I'm back to being
able to focus on S & S along with other things, smile. Well... Sort of.
He's being very moble since 7 months, pulling up on things at 8 months
and walking since 9 months, making up for lost time, smile. I don't sit
much, though at 10 months, I have small chunks of time I can devote to
other things as long as I do them in the same room as him since we don't
like it when people leave the room, ha-ha! So you can always resubmit
for consideration.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:06 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Thanks for letting me know.
I thought I'd sent it (maybe I didn't).
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:51 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Last year? I don't recall it. It may have been sent when I was pregnant
and unable to fulfill S & S responsibilities at the time, and
unfortunately no one else was able to be acting editor at the time. I
don't recall ever seeing this review.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:13 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but
was not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single
science fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I
found the premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his
experience adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active,
has a history of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all)
believes that he is a Martian. But the Marian part doesn't frighten our
protagonist, the adoptive dad. After all, dad is a science fiction
writer and as long as Dennis doesn't bring home giant slugs from space,
dad can be cool with Dennis being a Martian as long as he needs to be.
And besides, when dad saw the picture of this little kid, he was in
love. Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic
adventure in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis
loves dad and, everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed
over. Then troubles come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge
earthquake wrecks the house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused
of sexual assault. Dennis steals, breaks things, and acts out in
public. The adoption is pushed to the brink. To save the family, the
father must dig deep for the answer to why he wanted to adopt in the
first place; father and son must renounce their Martian heritage. Thus,
this is a story of acknowledging, settling for, being human. I came to
this book because I am an adoptive father who dabbles in writing science
fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's
domestic adoption of an older child differed from the international
adoptions of infants with which I am familiar. One reviewer criticized
the author for writing his adoption story as a novel rather than as
memoir. However, telling the story in fictionalized form fits the theme
of this book that the stories we tell ourselves to explain the world and
our place in it make us human. Pre-linguistic children are thus alien
until they join our society of story tellers. In this light, Dennis'
story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language late
in life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic
scene. Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not
memorable. The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture,
description of the house after the earthquake, the description of the
weather on the climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The
NLS narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different
voices for the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for
Dennis is more annoying than cute. For those interested in reading
about a challenging adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a
non-traditional home, the book is worth putting up with the annoyance.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
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http://www.writers-division.net/
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on%40hud.gov
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------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:41:36 -0400
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID:
<8838F3FB8A7BB044AA6DE247E617C6F285C60F at ELANNEPV117.exh.prod.hud.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Understood. Sounds I a hard last year or so. Good luck with raising
Declan.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:38 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
I'm not saying you didn't, grin, but I don't remember it at all, nor do I
have it in my un-read submission folder. From about March up until, really
this January, I was dealing with a rough pregnancy then Declan's NICU stay
then when we brought him home finally, he was using a feeding tube along
with having severe acid reflux. Needless to say, S & S wasn't on my list of
priorities. Little Man is fine now and off the feeding tube, as well as not
exhibiting digestion issues, and I'm back to being able to focus on S & S
along with other things, smile. Well... Sort of.
He's being very moble since 7 months, pulling up on things at 8 months and
walking since 9 months, making up for lost time, smile. I don't sit much,
though at 10 months, I have small chunks of time I can devote to other
things as long as I do them in the same room as him since we don't like it
when people leave the room, ha-ha! So you can always resubmit for
consideration.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:06 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Thanks for letting me know.
I thought I'd sent it (maybe I didn't).
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:51 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Last year? I don't recall it. It may have been sent when I was pregnant and
unable to fulfill S & S responsibilities at the time, and unfortunately no
one else was able to be acting editor at the time. I don't recall ever
seeing this review.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:13 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but was
not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single science
fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I found the
premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his experience
adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active, has a history
of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all) believes that he is a
Martian. But the Marian part doesn't frighten our protagonist, the adoptive
dad. After all, dad is a science fiction writer and as long as Dennis
doesn't bring home giant slugs from space, dad can be cool with Dennis being
a Martian as long as he needs to be.
And besides, when dad saw the picture of this little kid, he was in love.
Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic adventure
in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis loves dad and,
everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed over. Then troubles
come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge earthquake wrecks the
house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused of sexual assault. Dennis
steals, breaks things, and acts out in public. The adoption is pushed to
the brink. To save the family, the father must dig deep for the answer to
why he wanted to adopt in the first place; father and son must renounce
their Martian heritage. Thus, this is a story of acknowledging, settling
for, being human. I came to this book because I am an adoptive father who
dabbles in writing science fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique
view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's domestic
adoption of an older child differed from the international adoptions of
infants with which I am familiar. One reviewer criticized the author for
writing his adoption story as a novel rather than as memoir. However,
telling the story in fictionalized form fits the theme of this book that the
stories we tell ourselves to explain the world and our place in it make us
human. Pre-linguistic children are thus alien until they join our society
of story tellers. In this light, Dennis'
story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language late in
life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic scene.
Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not memorable.
The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture, description of
the house after the earthquake, the description of the weather on the
climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The NLS
narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different voices for
the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for Dennis is more
annoying than cute. For those interested in reading about a challenging
adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a non-traditional home, the book is
worth putting up with the annoyance.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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on%40hud.gov
_______________________________________________
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http://www.writers-division.net/
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http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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otmail.com
_______________________________________________
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http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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0hud.gov
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:54:08 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP25595EE6C6554F113A9CE86C48B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Yeah. I truly would do it all again just to have him, but wasn't the
easiest year. Like I said, he's completely fine now, growing and
developing as he should. In fact, physically, he's about three months
ahead of the average kid, so doing good. Have things to work on like S &
S and my own writing, but also want to spend like every moment with him,
so trying to balance it all, smile.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:42 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Understood. Sounds I a hard last year or so. Good luck with raising
Declan.
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:38 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
I'm not saying you didn't, grin, but I don't remember it at all, nor do
I have it in my un-read submission folder. From about March up until,
really this January, I was dealing with a rough pregnancy then Declan's
NICU stay then when we brought him home finally, he was using a feeding
tube along with having severe acid reflux. Needless to say, S & S wasn't
on my list of priorities. Little Man is fine now and off the feeding
tube, as well as not exhibiting digestion issues, and I'm back to being
able to focus on S & S along with other things, smile. Well... Sort of.
He's being very moble since 7 months, pulling up on things at 8 months
and walking since 9 months, making up for lost time, smile. I don't sit
much, though at 10 months, I have small chunks of time I can devote to
other things as long as I do them in the same room as him since we don't
like it when people leave the room, ha-ha! So you can always resubmit
for consideration.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:06 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Thanks for letting me know.
I thought I'd sent it (maybe I didn't).
Shawn
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:51 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Last year? I don't recall it. It may have been sent when I was pregnant
and unable to fulfill S & S responsibilities at the time, and
unfortunately no one else was able to be acting editor at the time. I
don't recall ever seeing this review.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:13 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but
was not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single
science fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I
found the premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his
experience adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active,
has a history of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all)
believes that he is a Martian. But the Marian part doesn't frighten our
protagonist, the adoptive dad. After all, dad is a science fiction
writer and as long as Dennis doesn't bring home giant slugs from space,
dad can be cool with Dennis being a Martian as long as he needs to be.
And besides, when dad saw the picture of this little kid, he was in
love. Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic
adventure in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis
loves dad and, everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed
over. Then troubles come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge
earthquake wrecks the house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused
of sexual assault. Dennis steals, breaks things, and acts out in
public. The adoption is pushed to the brink. To save the family, the
father must dig deep for the answer to why he wanted to adopt in the
first place; father and son must renounce their Martian heritage. Thus,
this is a story of acknowledging, settling for, being human. I came to
this book because I am an adoptive father who dabbles in writing science
fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's
domestic adoption of an older child differed from the international
adoptions of infants with which I am familiar. One reviewer criticized
the author for writing his adoption story as a novel rather than as
memoir. However, telling the story in fictionalized form fits the theme
of this book that the stories we tell ourselves to explain the world and
our place in it make us human. Pre-linguistic children are thus alien
until they join our society of story tellers. In this light, Dennis'
story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language late
in life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic
scene. Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not
memorable. The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture,
description of the house after the earthquake, the description of the
weather on the climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The
NLS narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different
voices for the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for
Dennis is more annoying than cute. For those interested in reading
about a challenging adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a
non-traditional home, the book is worth putting up with the annoyance.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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on%40hud.gov
_______________________________________________
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http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
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otmail.com
_______________________________________________
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http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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on%40hud.gov
_______________________________________________
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http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
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http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
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------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:55:11 -0400
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Message-ID: <8679D94AA05C4D6885473CAD4EC2945D at OwnerHP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Shawn,
Thanks for sharing this. It gives me an idea of not only the book but your
personal experiences. There are so many books I'd like to read and so little
time. That's one reason I love book reviews -- at least I have some
perspective if the book comes up in conversation ... Enough perspective to
ask someone who did read it something more meaty than just what did they
think of it.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 11:13 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'
Subject: [stylist] Another book review--The Martian Child
Below, is a book review I did last year (submitted to Slate & Style but was
not accepted). The book "The Martian Child" is about a single science
fiction writer who adopts a boy who thinks he's a Martian. I found the
premise interesting.
Shawn Jacobson
Mathematical Statistician
Phone# (202)-475-8759
Fax# (202)-485-0275
The Martian Child, by David Gerrard
reviewed by Shawn Jacobson
In The Martian Child, David Gerrard writes a novelization of his experience
adopting a trouble child. The child, Dennis is hyper active, has a history
of abuse, acts out, and (most disconcerting of all) believes that he is a
Martian.
But the Marian part doesn't frighten our protagonist, the adoptive dad.
After all, dad is a science fiction writer and as long as Dennis doesn't
bring home giant slugs from space, dad can be cool with Dennis being a
Martian as long as he needs to be. And besides, when dad saw the picture of
this little kid, he was in love.
Thus begins what, for the first half of the book, seems an idyllic adventure
in which the author adopts Dennis. Dad loves Dennis, Dennis loves dad and,
everything works beautifully. Problems here are glossed over.
Then troubles come and the narration becomes dark. The Northridge
earthquake wrecks the house. The dog dies. Dennis is falsely accused of
sexual assault. Dennis steals, breaks things, and acts out in public. The
adoption is pushed to the brink. To save the family, the father must dig
deep for the answer to why he wanted to adopt in the first place; father and
son must renounce their Martian heritage. Thus, this is a story of
acknowledging, settling for, being human.
I came to this book because I am an adoptive father who dabbles in writing
science fiction. I wanted to see the author's unique view of the process.
Though the author's fears of inadequacy mirrored my own, David's domestic
adoption of an older child differed from the international adoptions of
infants with which I am familiar.
One reviewer criticized the author for writing his adoption story as a novel
rather than as memoir. However, telling the story in fictionalized form
fits the theme of this book that the stories we tell ourselves to explain
the world and our place in it make us human. Pre-linguistic children are
thus alien until they join our society of story tellers. In this light,
Dennis' story of his Martian heritage may indicate that he came to language
late in life. The author's previous works of science fiction get lengthy
descriptions and are significant to in the lead-up to the climactic scene.
Other descriptions, of things, people, and weather are spare, not memorable.
The exceptions, the description of Dennis from his picture, description of
the house after the earthquake, the description of the weather on the
climactic evening of the story, stand out by comparison.
This book is available through the Talking Book program, DB 67150. The NLS
narrator, like commercial audio-book narrators, uses different voices for
the different characters. The lisping, kiddy, voice used for Dennis is more
annoying than cute. For those interested in reading about a challenging
adoption, uniting a troubled boy with a non-traditional home, the book is
worth putting up with the annoyance.
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:01:20 -0400
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID: <3F68B18C0E3E440B82DF88EA36D49514 at OwnerHP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Bridgit,
Yes, there was a lot of bleak in Harry Potter and ultimately much more
violence and misery than she put into this one. There is a difference,
however, and perhaps you've hit the nail on the head with your statement
about it being an adult novel. I personally dislike categorizations like
this. Initially, Rowling said that she had not thought of Harry Potter as a
children's series. It worked in that market, but as we adults who love it
know, it has so much more in it than your average middle school student can
process or relate to. Also, I guess I'm not a very good adult, since I don't
care for things that don't have at least some of the levity, joy and wonder
that I find in my own adult life. Not everyone is miserable and amoral.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:11 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Although, consider how bleak Harry Potter was. Many critics pointed this out
especially since it was Children's Lit. I think she goes for realism over a
more romantic view on life. And she herself has dealt with a lot of
situations including divorce, living on welfare and the death of a parent.
Amidst all her success, there has been suffering. I haven't read this new
book yet, but I would argue that dark, bleak material is not at all out of
character for her. And being an adult novel, perhaps she didn't feel
compelled to temper the subject matter with a more balanced view of
happiness and contentment with the darker side of life.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:54 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Bridgit,
Yes, read it for sure. I should add that. For those of us who love Harry
Potter and are ourselves writers, I believe that it is important to see the
next stage in her writing. I just find it a bit disturbing that, with all
the success she's had, she wrote something so uniformly bleak.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be difficult
for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to books that are
not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the downside to have such a
beloved series. People want HP, but she's done with that world. Thanks for
the review. Despite the fact you didn't care for it, this makes me want to
read it to discover for myself what it is about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I finally
read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to post this
book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way to promote my
novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first attempt -- all done
today -- so I'll probably change or add something, if I know me. * grin*
Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved rowing
coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry Fairbrother's death
brings about a "casual vacancy," according to Charles Arnold-Baker's Local
Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields, a
concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children attend
Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book, was
"drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is happy,
healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the adult
relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their teenagers are
lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been a Harry Potter
fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone watching
a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal, the
16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the start
that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She succeeds
only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and the
dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The Ghost of
Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some interest, if the
reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end of the book, however,
sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
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------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:22:41 -0500
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP3912DBF7632F650ED394D8BC48B0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
That's true. HP definitely crossed markets, though I've always found the
teen angsty stuff a little annoying, but in part, this is what makes it
YA.
And I agree that not everyone lives a rotten life, but for whatever
reason, this story, these characters were compelling to Rowling. Again,
can't comment on the book itself just yet, and no book will be for
everyone. I'm always fascinated by the choices an author makes when
writing. I recently read a series called the Mortal Instruments by
Cassandra Clare, which is a YA fantasy series. Didn't enjoy as much as
HP, and was more teen-driven than HP, though I found some of the content
a little inappropriate, but over-all, it wasn't too bad. Anyway, my
point is that there were character traits and plots I would have done
differently. I would love to sit down with authors and really get deep
into their material, smile.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:01 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Bridgit,
Yes, there was a lot of bleak in Harry Potter and ultimately much more
violence and misery than she put into this one. There is a difference,
however, and perhaps you've hit the nail on the head with your statement
about it being an adult novel. I personally dislike categorizations like
this. Initially, Rowling said that she had not thought of Harry Potter
as a children's series. It worked in that market, but as we adults who
love it know, it has so much more in it than your average middle school
student can process or relate to. Also, I guess I'm not a very good
adult, since I don't care for things that don't have at least some of
the levity, joy and wonder that I find in my own adult life. Not
everyone is miserable and amoral. Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:11 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Although, consider how bleak Harry Potter was. Many critics pointed this
out especially since it was Children's Lit. I think she goes for realism
over a more romantic view on life. And she herself has dealt with a lot
of situations including divorce, living on welfare and the death of a
parent. Amidst all her success, there has been suffering. I haven't read
this new book yet, but I would argue that dark, bleak material is not at
all out of character for her. And being an adult novel, perhaps she
didn't feel compelled to temper the subject matter with a more balanced
view of happiness and contentment with the darker side of life.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:54 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Bridgit,
Yes, read it for sure. I should add that. For those of us who love Harry
Potter and are ourselves writers, I believe that it is important to see
the next stage in her writing. I just find it a bit disturbing that,
with all the success she's had, she wrote something so uniformly bleak.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be
difficult for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to
books that are not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the
downside to have such a beloved series. People want HP, but she's done
with that world. Thanks for the review. Despite the fact you didn't care
for it, this makes me want to read it to discover for myself what it is
about and get my interpretation.
Bridgit
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I
finally read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to
post this book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way
to promote my novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first
attempt -- all done today -- so I'll probably change or add something,
if I know me. * grin* Donna
***
The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved
rowing coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry
Fairbrother's death brings about a "casual vacancy," according to
Charles Arnold-Baker's Local Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields,
a concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children
attend Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.
The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book,
was "drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is
happy, healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the
adult relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their
teenagers are lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been
a Harry Potter fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have
given up on this book.
But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone
watching a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal,
the 16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict. I had the sense from the
start that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She
succeeds only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture.
The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and
the dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The
Ghost of Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some
interest, if the reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end
of the book, however, sum it up best.
Block quote
But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?
Block quote end
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com
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et
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------------------------------
Message: 16
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 23:16:46 +0000 (UTC)
From: goldbeckjm at comcast.net
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] Tips for Formatting Books and E-Books
Message-ID:
<914053223.624332.1372202206889.JavaMail.root at sz0087a.emeryville.ca.mail.com
cast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I wanted to share what I had learned about formatting books/e-books from the
website jungleredwriters.com.? They have different articles written by
different writers on a regular basis.
I met one of their contributors at the Willamette Writers Conference.
Enjoy,
Julie Goldbeck
A Few Tips for Formatting Books and E-Books
ROSEMARY HARRIS: I'm about to embark on my first self-published ebook
adventure. So many people have done it ?- why not me?
Weeeeeelllll - because I'm terrified? Because I'm afraid I'll mess up the
formatting and earn a slew of one star reviews because the indentations are
too big? Too small? Non-existent? Because I'll click Yes on something that
somehow prevents me from doing something else - or worse - mangles the book?
So to give myself a little confidence, I asked one of my more experienced
buddies to share his knowledge of self-publishing with me and the JR gang.
VINCENT H. O'NEIL: I?ve prepared numerous books for print-on-demand and
e-book production, and there are many ways to go about this. There is also a
wide range of publishing sites and services, each with its own advantages
and disadvantages, but the most common questions I hear involve formatting.
It?s not as challenging as it might sound, and so here is an approach I?ve
found useful.
NOTE: Some of the detailed instructions here involve MS Word, but the
concepts discussed should translate to other software. My experience with
e-readers is largely confined to Kindle and Nook, but hopefully most of this
guidance will apply to other versions. The conversion software is steadily
improving, and so some of these considerations may soon become outdated.
The basic idea is to create a single book file which will be copied as two
separate files that are then adjusted, one for print-on-demand and one for
e-book. Here we go:
? Unless the book is going to be very long, use 12 pt font or higher.
1. Single space the entire book.
2. Make sure you include a copyright notice, an Author Biography, your
website, and a list of all your other books in a ?Books by this Author?
segment.
3. Avoid underlining (for example, ? Chapter One ?) because in an
e-reader conversion the blank lines following that underlining sometimes
appear with what looks like a dash because the underlining continued past
the underlined words. Bold face seems to have no negative consequences.
4. Consider putting a marking symbol (such as a black dot) in the center
of the blank line between segments within a chapter; this helps people
reading the book on an e-reader to know a segment has ended.
5. In Page Setup / Margins / Pages, select ?Mirror Margins?. This will
let you see the pages as they will appear in the printed book, as well as
create proper margins.
6. In Page Setup / Margins, set the inside and outside margins according
to the chart below (Leave the ?Gutter? at zero).
Total Pages ????????????????????????????????? Inside Margin
??????????????????????????????????? Outside Margin
?
24-150 ???????????????????????? ??????????? at least .375?
?????????????????????????????????????? at least .25?
151-400 ?????????????????????????????????? at least .75?
???????????????????????????????????????? at least .5?
400-600 ?????????????????????????????????? at least .875?
?????????????????????????????????????? at least .5?
>600 ??????????????????????????????????????? at least 1.0?
???????????????????????????????????????? at least .5?
? Don?t get overly concerned about this; the ?Preview? function in most
print-on-demand software is pretty good and you can adjust from there. For a
standard-sized book (roughly 220 pages) I use .7? for top, bottom, and
outside margins and .8? for inside.
1. I recommend setting the tab / paragraph indents at .3 to save space.
Also select ?Justify? so that the words on each line stretch from margin to
margin.
2. Insert the page numbers, page breaks, and section breaks that you
want for the printed book; many of these will be removed by the e-reader
conversion, but there are fixes for the ones you want to keep.
3. Once the file is complete, save it as a Print On Demand file and an
e-book file because you will be doing different things to each.
For the Print On Demand File:
1. Add a blank page in front so that the book opens on a blank page
instead of the title page.
2. Any time you want to leave the page numbers off (for example, the
title page and the dedication) add a Page Break, a Section Break
(continuous), and another Page Break on the last page before you want the
page numbers. Then select ?View Header / Footer? and open the footer for the
first page that will have a page number. Click inside that footer and then
unselect ?Link to Previous?. Then move up to the footer above that one (it
should show a different number, as in ?Footer Section 1? versus ?Footer
Section 2?) and delete the page number manually. The page numbers should
remain going forward.
3. I generally start new chapters on a new page, roughly halfway down.
4. Depending on the service you use, you will be able to preview the
final document digitally after it is loaded. The digital review will reveal
any glaring errors, but it is still important to get a proof copy and review
it thoroughly before putting the finished product on sale.
For the E-Book File:
1. When you load the file onto whatever site you?re using, the
conversion software is likely to remove much of the Print On Demand-specific
formatting.
2. If you want to keep a page break, enter a Section Break (continuous)
where the original Page Break was. I generally only do that at the beginning
(title page, dedication, etc.) and let the completed chapter scroll right
into the next one.
3. The Page Numbers will be removed automatically; they?re not needed.
4. Different e-reader platforms (Basic Kindle, Kindle Fire, Nook, etc.)
emplace indents on their own or fail to recognize the indents in some files.
Although it?s a bit of work, here is a fix that has worked for me: I
recommend removing all indentation so that every line (including the
indented first line of each paragraph) is left-justified. Then highlight
each segment in turn, go to Format / Paragraph / Indentation and select
Special / First line and set it to .3. All of your paragraphs will indent to
.3, which should keep the indentation standard across platforms.
5. The Preview function in most e-reader setup software is usually very
good, so once the file is loaded go through the entire book and see if
anything looks wrong. Most problems are fixable by adjusting the file,
reloading it, and checking it again.
?
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