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New Year’s resolution 2: keeping an ideas/observation pocketbook

January 10, 2013 in Humor, Misc, On Writing

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I’m going to steal this one from the great man himself, Larry David. I don’t know where I saw or read this — I think it might have been one of those behind the scenes things on my Seinfeld DVDs — but anyway, apparently Larry has this little pocketbook filled with funny ideas and observations that he can use whenever he needs a good joke on one of his TV shows (boy would I love to get my hands on it!). He says he keeps it on him at all times because you never know when you’re going to see or hear something hilarious.

That’s going to be my second New Year’s resolution for 2013 — keeping an observation/ideas pocketbook in my back pocket at all times (well, whenever I am wearing pants, of course). I’ve lost count of the number of times I have come up with what I thought was a brilliant idea or joke or one-liner, only to forget about it later because I couldn’t or couldn’t be bothered to write it down. There is so much gold all around us — we just need to keep our eyes and ears open, AND have the initiative to make a record of them. I think I might also keep this book by my bed, so if something good pops up while sleeping then I can jot it down immediately.

Since making this decision I’ve already come up with an idea for a film script and a gag that could potentially be used for it. In the absence of a pocketbook I have created…a Microsoft Word file.

I’m going out to get one of these pocketbooks tomorrow. A small pen might also not be such a bad idea.

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Book Review: ‘Mockingjay’ by Suzanne Collins

July 18, 2012 in Book Reviews, Reviews

A post-apocalyptic world where two children from each of the nation’s 12 districts are thrust into a televised battle to the death – where there can only be one winner. That was the premise of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Not entirely original (you know, Battle Royale, etc) but with enough originality and differences to be an enticing and exciting hit in its own right.

The second book in the series, Catching Fire, amazed me by taking the story to another level when I thought it had nowhere to go. Catching Fire widened the intensity and scope of the games, provided more context and upped the characters and action. Save for a disappointing ending, it was all fans could have hoped for.

Now I’ll admit I was initially sceptical about Mockingjay, the third and final instalment in the trilogy. Collins had already milked the “reality TV goes too far/totalitarian rule” concept for all it was worth, and now faced the daunting challenge of bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion. But how was she going to do it without getting repetitive?

Well, I’m glad to say that Mockingjay is a fitting finale to the Hunger Games trilogy. It might not have the freshness and creativity of the first book or the excitement and innovation of the second, but what Mockingjay does is wrap up the story extremely well and in a way that I certainly did not expect.

For starters, the tone of Mockingjay is very dark. It’s a brutal world Katniss Everdeen lives in and Collins does not sugar coat it. Think of the darkness of the final Harry Potter books and multiply it by…a lot. There’s blood and guts and the horrors of war. There’s military strategy and politics and propaganda. There are a lot of serious themes here, and at times I had to remind myself that I was reading a young adult novel. And if you’re expecting a wonderfully gift-wrapped ending with cream and cherries on top then you’ll likely be shocked. Mockingjay is a stark reminder that the “real” world rarely turns out the way we envisage.

Without giving away too much, the story picks up from the cliffhanger ending of Catching Fire. The Hunger Games are over and this one is all about the final battle with the Capitol that ensues. Katniss finds herself thrust into the spotlight again as the rebels want her to be the symbol of the rebellion against the evil President Snow, but is she really saving the world or is she merely another pawn in their game? And what about the two boys in her life, Peeta and Gale? Who will she choose? And what kind of world will she find herself in when it’s all said and done?

So as you can see, there’s lots to ponder in Mockingjay. This third book reinvents itself by stepping back from the Hunger Games to provide the bigger picture, including why the games were necessary in the first place. The focus here is no longer on reality TV but on the nature of war and power and the politics that go on behind it. The concepts and structure are arguably more intelligent and thought-provoking than the first two books in the series, and that’s saying a lot.

Collins continues to handle the action scenes with great skill, and there’s even a clever link back to the Hunger Games as the story nears its conclusion. I was also unexpectedly drawn to the ongoing love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale, which never forms the centerpiece of the narrative but is always there and itching to be dealt with. For the record, I think it was resolved brilliantly.

My main problem with Mockingjay is a feeling of inevitability. You know things will end with a bang and you’re forced to wait patiently through the book for it to happen. While there are twists and turns and highs and lows, I got the feeling that Collins was to some extent padding the pages in the lead up to the big finale. In that sense, Mockingjay lacked the compulsive page-turning capabilities of The Hunger Games and in particular Catching Fire. Not to say it wasn’t still a brisk and exciting read, but let’s just say I would have gotten less paper cuts turning the pages (had been reading a real book instead of an e-book).

Ultimately, I guess you could call Mockingjay a satisfying conclusion of sorts. It might not be the perfect Hollywood ending some had hoped for but I for one preferred it this way. Some may gripe that the various loose ends in the book are not tied up very well – I personally thought an extra chapter or two was warranted – though the epilogue has a haunting quality that totally kills JK Rowling’s abomination from Harry Potter 7 (and do I even need to mention the vomit in Twilight: Breaking Dawn?).

So there you have it. Mockingjay is a flawed but strong conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy, one of the rare literary phenomena these days that actually deserve much of its praise and success. I don’t think I have ever devoured a book series as quickly as I did this one.

3.75 out of 5

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Book Review: “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

June 26, 2012 in Book Reviews, Reviews

Let’s face it, it was only going to be a matter of time before I set out to devour The Hunger Games, the next big thing for young adults after Twilight and Harry Potter.

The first thing I will say is that I watched the film version first (review here). I also followed that up with a viewing of the eerily similar Battle Royale (review here), which is based on the cult classic novel by Japan’s Koushun Takami. Accordingly, it needs to be kept in mind that my impression of the book has been somewhat tainted by what I already knew going in.

Hence, if I had to sum up The Hunger Games in two words it would have to be “pretty good.” For the most part, it is well-written and exciting, but lacks the “wow” factor I had been hoping for. Again, a large part of that might be because I already knew everything that was going to happen.

For those needing a brief outline, it’s about a post-apocalyptic North America that has been split into 12 districts, all of which are ruled by the oppressive central government known as the Capitol. Every year, to remind the masses of their powerlessness, the Capitol holds the Hunger Games, where one teen of each sex from every district is thrust into a televised battle to the death where there can only be one victor. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a feisty girl from the impoverished District 12 who is pretty handy with a bow and arrow.

The film version, barring a few minor details and changes, essentially covered everything and in some cases improved on the book. So if you’ve already seen the movie, I’m not sure there is a whole lot to be gained from reading the book as well in terms of discovering new things.

That is not to say, of course, that reading The Hunger Games was not a pleasurable experience. While Collins is not on the level of say JK Rowling when it comes to storytelling, she is certainly much much better than Stephenie Meyer. Collins’ style is direct and to-the-point, plus she has a knack for action sequences. Her descriptions could be stronger but at least they are not unnecessary or over-the-top. The initial chapters setting up the world and the games are excellent.

This is a very easy-to-read young adult book that uses a straightforward, page-turning-inducing narrative (in which chapters often ended on cliffhangers) where the allegorical undertones are hinted but never fully explored. Personally, I liked it that way.

There was also a little bit of romance but thankfully it steered clear of the mushiness of Twilight. Importantly, here the girl isn’t just someone looking for love and nothing else (Bella Swan, cough cough), but is actually a strong character capable of holding her own against a bunch of badasses. And it’s nice to see the boy being the damsel in distress for once.

In all, this was a stellar start to a trilogy, though I must say not entirely worthy of the praise heaped onto it, especially considering how similar the concept is to Battle Royale, which was published back in 1999. Having now read Catching Fire, the second book of the series (review coming soon), I can say that the story really does begin to expand and grow into something truly special. But as a standalone piece of fiction for which I have already seen the film version I can only give it…

3.25 out of 5

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Book Review: ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ by John Marsden

October 30, 2011 in Book Reviews, Reviews

I can’t believe I had never heard of John Marsden’s Tomorrow series until I saw the movie poster for Tomorrow, When the War Began (review here), the first book in the series.  For years one of the most critically and commercially successful book series for teens not just in Australia but across the globe, and recommended for young people when I was a young person, but for some inexplicable reason it had completely fallen beneath my radar.  Shame on me.

The movie was fairly good, but nothing spectacular.  A bunch of country kids go camping, an unknown foreign enemy invades, the kids have to decide whether to hide or strike back.  By Aussie production standards it was extremely impressive — up-and-coming stars, big sets, massive explosions, potential for sequels (the second film, based on The Dead of the Night, has reportedly commenced filming).

After discovering how famous and popular the book on which the film is based was, I decided to check it out.  It’s always somewhat dangerous to read a book after you’ve seen the movie because you already know exactly what happens (more so than the other way around), but I figured the book must have its lofty reputation for a reason.

The book is written in first person, from the point of view of Ellie, the teenage protagonist.  Marsden does a fantastic job of emulating the voice and tone of the teenage narrator, capturing her fear, courage, confusion and angst in a surprisingly realistic way.  I recall lambasting the cringeworthy dialogue of the film, but on the page it came across as genuine, for the most part.

However, I’m not sure if it is because I felt I already knew the story and the characters, but it took me a while to get into the flow of Marsden’s narrative.  Coincidentally or not, it was when the book started to diverge from the film version that I began to feel the compulsion to keep the pages turning.  While the film focused primarily on the action, Marsden took considerably more time to develop his characters and deal with the complications that come with teenage relationships (especially those blossoming during a full blown war!).  This brought the characters to life and made the book a much richer experience.

Perhaps I’m getting too old for this kind of book, because I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  Nevertheless, having finally read the novel, I can definitely see why the series is highly recommended for teenagers.  It’s a well-written tale of self-discovery, friendship, love, courage and standing up against evil.  No doubt more suitable for today’s youths than stories about vampire and werewolf boyfriends.

3 out of 5

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Book Review: ‘A Time to Kill’ by John Grisham

July 30, 2011 in Book Reviews, Reviews

I’ve always been interested in the massive global phenomenon that is Mr John Grisham, and despite my disappointment with The Associate and relative disappointment with The Firm, I decided to check out Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill.

Grisham names the novel as one of his favourites, and most people have told me it’s one of his best.  And I think it has one heck of a premise — a young black girl is brutally raped by two racist rednecks, the girl’s father seeks retribution, and a predominantly white Mississippi community deals with its aftermath.  Caught in the middle is a young, brash criminal defense lawyer by the name of Jake Brigance (a character Grisham admits was modelled on himself).

Lots of stuff happens in this book, which is ultimately a courtroom drama/thriller centred around this very provocative premise.  Would you do the same thing if it happened to your child?  Would the jury convict?  Would you vote to convict if you were on the jury?  Those are the types of questions Grisham keeps asking throughout the story.

Grisham paints the fictional town of Clanton (also used in a later book, The Last Juror) extremely well.  There is a whole cast of characters, with almost a couple being introduced every chapter, and many of them are memorable and well-developed, especially the town sheriff Ozzie, the trial judge Noose, the obnoxious DA Buckley and Jake’s mentor Lucien.  A number of minor characters also have their moments.

A Time to Kill is a very good read, but not a great one.  The opening chapters sucked me into the world of the story but every now and then throughout the 500+ pages there were times when I lost interest in the narrative.  The strengths are the characters (good to see Jake Brigance has his own agenda and isn’t acting out of the kindness of his heart) and the moments of tension — either from the trial itself or the occasional threat of physical danger.  However, as Grisham admitted himself in the book’s introduction, he did waffle on far too much about things that didn’t need to be.

Like many first novels, A Time to Kill could have been pared back a lot more to speed up the pace, especially considering that the actual trial itself does not commence until almost four-fifths of the way through the book.  I felt some parts could have been condensed (the pointless, sometimes repetitive chatter) while others (such as the trial testimonies and jury deliberations) could have been drawn out more.  It’s a shame because with better plotting and pacing it could have been unputdownable.

As for the moral debate in the book — I had to keep reminding myself that it was originally published in 1989 and that a small, predominantly white town in Mississippi where the KKK still roamed is a completely different world to the one I know.  With that in mind I think Grisham handled it rather well.

Ultimately, A Time to Kill is the best Grisham fiction novel I’ve read thus far, but it still fell short of the lofty expectations I had for it, given its reputation and the premise.  Now, which Grisham book should I tackle next?

3.75 out of 5!

PS: I first had a look at A Time to Kill when I was in a Border’s book store (back when they still existed in Australia) and read the author’s introduction, where Grisham discusses his fondness of his debut novel.  It took him three years to complete it while still working as a lawyer (an amazing feat in itself), but didn’t gain success until The Firm became a bestseller.  It’s an inspirational story I continue to use to push myself down the writer’s path.

PPS: I can’t believe I still haven’t seen the 1996 movie based on the book.  Might be my Matthew McConaughey aversion.  I’ll have to check it out.

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