Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Stephen King on Writing, Because She Can, The True and Oustanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters

I enjoyed King's book. It's part memoir, part inspiration for writers. He, like Walter Mosley, talks about writing every single day. I highly recommend this book for any King fans, writers or fans of pop culture.

The following I checked out of the library:

BECAUSE SHE CAN by Birdie Clark is the latest addition to the Former Assistant Chick Lit genre. I read it because I am fascinated by Judith Regan. Clark work for Regan's imprint for a year. The novel is about an idealistic young woman who's super sweet boss retires. She goes to work for the notorious Vivian Grant. Although the title and pay are much better, soon Grant is working our poor protagonist toward an early grave.

Ms. Regan was one of the most successful women in publishing before she was fired by HarperCollins after the whole OJ book fiasco. The book was a quick and fun read, similar to the movie DEVIL WEARS PRADA. However, the stories I've heard about Ms. Regan were so outrageous no fiction could possibly be more scary/entertaining. Ms. Regan has been lying low but I am sure we have not heard the last of her.

THE TRUE AND OUSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS by Elisabeth Robinson. Robinson is a Hollywood producer and there were sections of the novel that hit a little too close to home. Like her scathing letters to backstabbing colleagues. ha.

The format takes a minute to get used to. The protangonist writes letters, faxes and emails while trying to produce a movie and take care of her dying sister. Some of the letters to her sister are quite moving.

I am in the middle of Andrea Levy's THE FRUIT OF THE LEMON. Talented writer but at first I had a hard time relating to a character who didn't know anything about her parents's background or whether her grandparents were dead or alive. She seemed really clueless about life for a 22 year old. I am enjoying it more now and zipping through the novel.

7 comments:

Shelley - At Home in Rome said...

I'm bummed you checked "Because She Can" out from the library, because I would have asked you to add it to the bookswap list... I too am fascinated by Regan, I had no idea who she was until I recently read an article in the New Yorker or Time or something, and it was a case of truth is scarier than fiction!!
No comment on the Hollywood producer book...something about LA will definitely have to be your next book after the Rome one comes out...I'm sure you could pen one of those "guilty pleasure" books that one could devour in an afternoon at the beach? ;-)

Anonymous said...

I'll have to add the books you mentioned to my never-ending list.

Have you read anything by Niccolo Ammaniti? His book caught my eye in the library because the author's name was Italian.
(I'm an official Italophile!)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Shelley - Another thing I find interesting about Regan is she that is a very petite person. People were scared to death of a tiny 5'2 woman's temper.

Rose - No I haven't. I will have to look up his books.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Rose - Niccolo wrote IO HON HO PAURA (I'm Not Scared). If you haven't seen the movie, rent it. Very good film. Sad.

Anonymous said...

In my Netflix queue. Thanks for the rec.

Fango said...

Stephen King's book surprised me - I really enjoyed it and he changed my opinion about a lot of things, most significantly Stephen King himself. Keep up the good work.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Grazie fango. Thanks for stopping by my blog.