‘High-Rise’, JG Ballard

“Later, as he sat on his balcony eating the dog, Dr Robert Laing reflected on the unusual events that had taken place within this huge apartment building during the previous three months”.

Well hell, I can’t not read this book now.

I’ve never written a mid-book review before, but here we are. There’s a first time for everything. First time writing a mid-book review, first time sitting on a beach writing said review, first time having eaten dog whilst sat on an apartment balcony. It’s all the same when it boils down to it.

This book had me at the first line. Its reputation precedes it and its popularity drew me in hook, line and sinker.

The premise is incredible. A huge, vertical, towering petri dish of apartments stacked on top of each other, forcing thousands of people into the same space to share the same amenities and friends and forced conversations. People from all walks of life in a warped social experiment to see what would happen if we never had to leave our tower block.

The building is alive. It has its own emotions and agenda and manipulates the actions of those that live within its walls. It breathes, it rebels and it thinks for itself.

Whist the idea of the book drew me in immediately, the style of the writing kept me at arms length. The atmosphere that Ballard creates keeps the reader distanced. The idea and premise are incredibly exciting; the writing, on the other hand, seems quite academic and coolly factual. I don’t know if this is just a sign of the time that Ballard was writing or if his style is just slightly too passive for my taste.

I’ll persevere with the novel because the idea excites me; because I feel invested in knowing what happens in this monstrous social experiment. But I doubt I’ll be buying any more Ballard any time soon.

To Read or not to Read?

The first draft of my novel came out of its box this week, in all its half-done, very unfinished, Times New Roman glory. It’s now sat on my desk, giving me an accusatory glare as I continue to procrastinate actually re-writing it.

In order to continue putting off this mammoth task, I’ve been reading an awful lot. I was considering writing a back-log of reviews, but this really would be taking procrastinating to the next level. Therefore, I thought I’d just talk about my top 3 reads from the last 4 weeks or so.

The Power – Naomi Alderman

It doesn’t take much more than the name “Margaret Atwood” to be whispered in my ear to get me excited about a book. That’s why, when hearing about Naomi Alderman’s latest prize winning creation and hearing how closely it’s been likened to Atwood’s own masterpieces, I considered the decision to read “The Power” to officially be out of my hands. The premise, the tone, the reception this novel was getting and, of course, the strong currents (excuse the pun) of sci-fi running through its pages also helped the decision along.

I did enjoy this book. I’d definitely recommend it without hesitation, but I’m just not sure it lives up to the excitement that surrounds it. I think this may be because I was expecting an Atwood level dystopian masterpiece, and it just wasn’t quite that. The book is split into 4 main characters and their reactions to women discovering that they have an electrical power running through a “skein” in their chest that they can use as a weapon at will. The 4 reactions and main characters are, effectively, political – Margot, religious – Allie, criminal – Roxy, and the media – Tunde. I found this to be quite formulaic and a tad A-Level history essay, but having said that, it worked incredibly well and was very effective given that the book is written to act as if it were a social history account of the events.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it got better the further you got into it. Whilst Roxy’s cockney accent was slightly off-putting at times, it can’t be denied that Alderman created an exciting premise and delivered it well.

The Girl In The Red Coat – Kate Hamer

This is Kate Hamer’s first novel. I actually read “A Doll Funeral” first, mostly as, like the magpie I am, I was drawn to the stunning cover. Whilst Hamer has only released two novels, they both sit firmly amongst some of my absolute favourite books and I’m excited to continue reading her stories.

“The Girl In The Read Coat” is the unlikely story of a young girl who gets separated from her mother and ends up on the other side of the world travelling around with an eccentric, religious American family. Much like Alderman’s “The Power”, Hamer’s main character, Carmel, has a great deal of power flowing through her fingertips and lives as a healer.

Whilst the premise of Hamer’s debut novel is, lets face it, quite out there, her confident and stylish prose make it hard to question anything she writes. Her poetic, colourful language trapped me the second I started reading and convinced me that the narrative was completely feasible – unquestionable, even. Her imagination and way of writing mesmerise me – I hate the phrase “unputdownable” with a passion, but this really was just that.

Into The Water – Paula Hawkins

I’m quick to admit that I am a huge fan of a good thriller. Who doesn’t love being sucked into a story full of twists and unexpected turns? I loved “The Girl On The Train” – who didn’t, frankly? But “Into The Water” was something else. It rose above Hawkins’s debut novel and completely entered a league of its own. The language was richer, the characters deeper and more believable, the plot twists more unexpected.

“Into The Water” is the story of the town of Beckford and its drowning pool, which historically attracts women who are seeking a way out and plunge into the depths of the water as their final escape. This book is so much deeper than it first seems and keeps you guessing to the very last word.

I don’t want to give too much of this away as it’s such a new and highly anticipated novel, but I really can’t stress how good it is.

Having read these 3 amazing novels, I really should get on with my own.

Distractions and the Very Real Threat of Netflix

Even sat trying to write a post about distractions, I am somehow procrastinating.

Sometimes you just have those days where you fidget, watch endless useless Youtube videos and do anything in your power not to do anything useful.

Today is one of those days.

And yesterday was as well, actually.

My parent’s house is not built for concentrating. It is literally brimming with distractions (the biggest of all being my brother).

And when I’m anywhere quiet, the very real threat of social media and the wonders of Netflix make themselves very apparent.

I work best when I shut myself away from civilisation, don the headphones and get cracking. Libraries are also very useful. But the dining room of my parent’s house is the least productive place I’ve found yet. Full of clutter and sat right in the centre of a busy house. It’s also far too close to the fridge.

Dialogue (And How I Hate It)

It is so much easier, in my opinion, to describe and explain and set the scene. I love delving into tiny details and making them as much a part of my narrative as the main story line. I really enjoy picking out tiny, often ignored details and creating the strongest imagery I can for them.

But dialogue – dialogue is not my friend. Dialogue does not come easily. I feel like I have to shoe-horn any conversation into my writing and that’s never a good thing, as prose where none of your characters actually talk to each other could be incredibly dull.

I’m working on it – trying to get the dialogue to sound more natural and I’m hoping I am getting better.

Until I’ve mastered it, here’s a snippet of the beginning of something new I’ve been working on. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

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It was hot.

Very hot. And somehow getting hotter.

Sweat was pooling in the cherub’s bow below her nose, collecting in a puddle, spilling, drop by drop over her lips, tumbling off her chin.

So hot.

It was unbearable. Suffocating. Making it harder to breathe. Harder to think.

What was that song again?

The sun was blistering her skin.

And I find it hard to concentrate.

 

Concentrate.                On what?

 

All I want is for you to be happy and.

 And what?

It was so hot. Where on Earth was a place that was this hot?

Death defying this, mess I’m buying It’s.

 Her eyes rolled behind their lids, dry and starved of oxygen. Her nostrils flared in an effort to grasp at the little clean air they could find. The salt in her sweat stung her cracked, pale lips, pursed and dehydrated.

The car stereo continued to play the same song on loop. It was stuck on that same track, replaying the last four minutes and two seconds over and over.

Hearts about to palpitate and I find it hard to separate.

 What even was that song?

It was nearly finished again, she could tell.

And finally you have found yourself.

Stepping Out of the Sci-Fi Comfort Zone

Once you’ve written something in one format and one genre for long enough, delving into a different genre can be quite daunting.

Sci-fi was the first genre I really wrote in and, largely speaking, makes up a large part of my bookshelf at home.

It feels safe to write sci-fi. No one can pull you up on facts and there truly are no limits to your own imagination. As long as you have the power to convince your reader to suspend their disbelief far enough, you can pretty much write whatever takes your fancy.

The new piece that I’m working on, whilst not sci-fi, does still hold elements of the genre and definitely still has a hint of fantasy and weird goings-on. But it’s an interesting experiment, asking people to suspend their disbelief whilst still on planet Earth, because there are natural confinements and barriers in place that are hard to break down. Saying that, there are a lot less details that need thorough explanation as it’s safe to assume the reader has some level of knowledge about what you are discussing.

I’m hoping the new piece will be done quite soon – I’m really looking forward to sharing something completely different.

Until then, the main lesson I’ve learnt so far from all of this is that change is the only constant – and change is really exciting.

P.S Unfortunately the image attached to this blog post is not my bookshelf at home. Not that I don’t wish that it was.

Writing.

Whenever I write something, I find it quite hard to share it with anyone. I have to get to a stage where I’m desperate for some kind of feedback to actually show it to anyone.

Writing, no matter what it’s about, acts as an extension of personality. Whether that’s a brutally honest version of it or a caricature of some trait or behaviour that I don’t tend to show on a regular basis. So when someone reads something I’ve written for the first time, it’s like I’m putting myself out there on a stage, completely naked, waiting for them to judge and to scrutinise my every move. That makes it hard.

But it also makes it worthwhile. Criticism is necessary.

One major thing I’ve learnt about life in general since I started to write a little over a year ago is learning to accept that people will judge you and that’s completely okay. It’s okay for some people not to ‘like’ your work or not to ‘get’ your point. The main point for me is to get some kind of reaction, to make people think or react in a way that they may not have expected.

I’ve started to write something new, something that isn’t sci-fi. Just a short story that I’m hoping to have finished quite soon and I’m quite looking forward to seeing how differently it develops.

And when it’s ready, I’ll be ready to share it.

New Year, New Chapters

Today has been cold and wet.

Yesterday was cold and wet.

Tomorrow will most likely be cold and wet.

Perfect weather for hiding away by the radiator and getting a load of writing done.

And dragging myself out to an exercise class – which seemed like a great idea yesterday.

Rain is also perfect weather for reading (wink, wink) – http://www.inkitt.com/stories/13435

The Beginning of the End.

During the last 6 weeks it’s hit me how much I enjoy writing.

It’s also hit me just how much I have neglected actually doing any writing. I started Erewon, went down almost immediately with a case of writer’s block and didn’t write anything else for the next 6 months.

I picked Erewon up again in November and decided it was time to tackle it. It’s dangerous to wait for inspiration because sometimes you have to coax it out of your imagination. It doesn’t always present itself to you.

So, I’ve rejigged the beginning of Erewon and now have a few follow-on chapters introducing actual characters with actual emotions and personalities. Not like Victoria. I’d stick it to this post but it’s far too long.

You can, however, find the whole lot over at Inkitt. Just here: http://www.inkitt.com/stories/13435

It would make my year (or at least the first day of it) if you could read it.

I apologise for any typos in advance, it’s still early days.

Happy 01/01

 

 

Next Year I Promise…

Time for New Year’s resolutions.

My FAAAVOURITE.

So, mine is clearly to keep this blog more up-to-date and actually use it properly in 2016. It’s a nice idea, but the chances are slim. Ever the optimist.

To be honest, I’ll be happy if it’s up-to-date to say…Easter?

On a more serious note, I am aiming to finish my first novel in 2016. It absolutely has to happen because I can’t keep these ideas locked in my head for much longer. So 2016 will see the birth of Erewon in its completion.

Honestly.

All other resolutions are hopeless though.

Jump.

I’ve learnt something valuable the past couple of weeks.

Sometimes, a passion or talent isn’t glaringly obvious. Sometimes, it takes quite a while to show itself. Sometimes it isn’t as obvious as you’d hope.

In January I’d not so much as written a short story successfully in my adult life. Now I’m tentatively beginning to create a novel. A novel that, though entirely a work of fiction, contains my personality and imagination in its rawest form. Letting people read Erewon for the first time was terrifying – I hated the idea that people would dislike what I’d written, because, though it was a story, it was somehow an extension of myself. I still feel that way. If people don’t like what I’ve written, that surely must mean that in some form they wont like me as a person. It’s pretty stupid, I know.

So, this is what I’ve learnt.

Sometimes you have to accept that what you are doing might end up failing. But if you don’ try, how are you ever going to know?

Sometimes you just have to jump.