Hello All!
Am in quite a fine mood now - after a month of intense writing I completed my NanoWriMo book last night - 80,000+ words, 264 pages in 26 days. Of course, this is a first draft and it is going in a drawer for a while, but very proud to get it done. I have now completed three draft books this year and am going back to edit #1 again after getting some fabulous advice!
And speaking of books, over the course of the next three weeks, I am going to share the odd item that I think will be a fantastic gift for someone on your list. Today I start with S, by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst.
Here is the description from Amazon:
One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace, and desire.
A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Inside it are his margin notes, which reveal a reader entranced by the story and by its mysterious author. She responds with notes of her own, leaving the book for the stranger, and so begins an unlikely conversation that plunges them both into the unknown.
The book: Ship of Theseus, the final novel by a prolific but enigmatic writer named V.M. Straka, in which a man with no past is shanghaied onto a strange ship with a monstrous crew and launched onto a disorienting and perilous journey.
The writer: Straka, the incendiary and secretive subject of one of the world's greatest mysteries, a revolutionary about whom the world knows nothing apart from the words he wrote and the rumors that swirl around him.
The readers: Jennifer and Eric, a college senior and a disgraced grad student, both facing crucial decisions about who they are, who they might become, and how much they're willing to trust another person with their passions, hurts, and fears.
S., conceived by filmmaker J. J. Abrams and written by award-winning novelist Doug Dorst, is the chronicle of two readers finding each other in the margins of a book and enmeshing themselves in a deadly struggle between forces they don't understand, and it is also Abrams and Dorst's love letter to the written word.
This is a jewel of a book. It comes in its own case, which is absolutely necessary, as you shall see in a moment:
Inside is the "library book", Ship of Theseus, written by the mysterious V.M. Straka:
It is a handsome book, and don't you love the library sticker on the front? It almost made me giddy with delight!
Inside is the actual book, which you read, but you are also reading the interaction between Jennifer and Eric as they attempt to solve the mystery of Straka.
It is absolutely fascinating, and it is like a puzzle box of delights, because you are also trying to figure out Eric and Jennifer as well...
All kinds of papers and postcards are stuck in the book and you will need your own bookmark so you don't get lost or move them out of order...
The book was conceived by JJ Abrams and written by Dorst and from what I have read thus far, it is a happy collaboration. I am not yet through the book and must be honest - I am truly taking my time, luxuriating in the whole experience as it is just so much fun. If you love fine books and a good mystery and clever writing, this is the book for you and perhaps someone on your Christmas list. At least one person I know is getting this from me for Christmas!
Both Amazon and Chapters have the book (my local chapters has it for only $25, though it is almost hidden back behind the checkout) and I give this 5 stars on the old Wendy Review-o-Meter. You didn't know there was a Wendy Review-o-Meter? Well me neither till I just wrote it, but there you have it - it exists!
Have a great Tuesday and stay safe out there!
Am in quite a fine mood now - after a month of intense writing I completed my NanoWriMo book last night - 80,000+ words, 264 pages in 26 days. Of course, this is a first draft and it is going in a drawer for a while, but very proud to get it done. I have now completed three draft books this year and am going back to edit #1 again after getting some fabulous advice!
And speaking of books, over the course of the next three weeks, I am going to share the odd item that I think will be a fantastic gift for someone on your list. Today I start with S, by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst.
Here is the description from Amazon:
One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace, and desire.
A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Inside it are his margin notes, which reveal a reader entranced by the story and by its mysterious author. She responds with notes of her own, leaving the book for the stranger, and so begins an unlikely conversation that plunges them both into the unknown.
The book: Ship of Theseus, the final novel by a prolific but enigmatic writer named V.M. Straka, in which a man with no past is shanghaied onto a strange ship with a monstrous crew and launched onto a disorienting and perilous journey.
The writer: Straka, the incendiary and secretive subject of one of the world's greatest mysteries, a revolutionary about whom the world knows nothing apart from the words he wrote and the rumors that swirl around him.
The readers: Jennifer and Eric, a college senior and a disgraced grad student, both facing crucial decisions about who they are, who they might become, and how much they're willing to trust another person with their passions, hurts, and fears.
S., conceived by filmmaker J. J. Abrams and written by award-winning novelist Doug Dorst, is the chronicle of two readers finding each other in the margins of a book and enmeshing themselves in a deadly struggle between forces they don't understand, and it is also Abrams and Dorst's love letter to the written word.
This is a jewel of a book. It comes in its own case, which is absolutely necessary, as you shall see in a moment:
Inside is the "library book", Ship of Theseus, written by the mysterious V.M. Straka:
It is a handsome book, and don't you love the library sticker on the front? It almost made me giddy with delight!
Inside is the actual book, which you read, but you are also reading the interaction between Jennifer and Eric as they attempt to solve the mystery of Straka.
It is absolutely fascinating, and it is like a puzzle box of delights, because you are also trying to figure out Eric and Jennifer as well...
All kinds of papers and postcards are stuck in the book and you will need your own bookmark so you don't get lost or move them out of order...
The book was conceived by JJ Abrams and written by Dorst and from what I have read thus far, it is a happy collaboration. I am not yet through the book and must be honest - I am truly taking my time, luxuriating in the whole experience as it is just so much fun. If you love fine books and a good mystery and clever writing, this is the book for you and perhaps someone on your Christmas list. At least one person I know is getting this from me for Christmas!
Both Amazon and Chapters have the book (my local chapters has it for only $25, though it is almost hidden back behind the checkout) and I give this 5 stars on the old Wendy Review-o-Meter. You didn't know there was a Wendy Review-o-Meter? Well me neither till I just wrote it, but there you have it - it exists!
Have a great Tuesday and stay safe out there!
This looks like a fascinating read Wendy - thanks for the recommendation! And congrats on finishing NaNoWriMo!
ReplyDeleteThanks Patricia - think you will like the book!
DeleteThat book is incredible, the mister has it and I read the first few pages, I meant to mention it to you, it's really clever, but we had to have summit to discuss how to read it hubs was doing two pages at a time then going back to the scribbled bits, I felt that was wrong and that the best way was to dart around the pages. It exhausted me! All the bits inside were beyond exciting.
ReplyDeleteI do it your way - I read the page, and dart around all at once!
DeleteIt is one of those things that make you so glad for creative people - what a genius idea by JJ Abrams!
First of all - congrats on finishing the novel! Best of luck with the edits!
ReplyDeleteAnd secondly - Ship of Theseus looks fascinating. I am currently reading "JFK and the Unspeakable" (by James Douglass) -- compelling book. Can't put it down.
I will have to look that one up! I have this and the Luminaries by Eleanor Cattan on the go - both are good, but slow going!
DeleteHave the JJ Abrams book sitting on the table calling to me while I am 5000 words from my goal of 50,000 words. Love the way it is set out but am being tough on me. I get to dig into it after I write that 50,000th word!! Congrats.
ReplyDeleteoh you are so close - you will get there - wahoo!
DeleteCongratulations on a job well done AND actually accomplished. After all that writing you do deserve a nice little fantasy vacation into a good book.
ReplyDeleteWish I was off to the Galapagos with Lane! She said you were a big help ion getting her all packed up!
DeleteMe too! I would love to go back. I will spend my day gnashing my teeth until Emily arrives around 5:00PM. The weather, fortunately, is not quite as bad as the expected. Maybe I'll start Little Women.
DeleteBB I started it this week and it is very soothing. Just the thing to avoid gnashing teeth. Has she arrived? I think she will avoid that weather, looks like tomorrow may be not-so-good.
DeleteWendy this book looks amazing! How fun. The whole presentation looks very stylish too. Thanks for the Wendy-Review-o-Metre!!
And big congrats to you for the great work you did this month. You amaze me. I wish I was there we could get ourselves into some trouble with those St. Germain cocktails to celebrate!
Wendy - congrats on the novel! That is amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd also thanks for the book rec! I'm always looking for something new to read.
Laura - it is so much fun! And thanks for the kind words!
DeleteCongratulations Wendy! It's so great! Can't wait to read one of your books:)
ReplyDeleteI need to look up that book. Margin notes - takes me back to college. Before then I never dared writing inside a book. Now looking back inn my bold notes is amuzing and at times horrifying.
I know! I still struggle to write in a book!!!
DeleteWell done Wendy! Good for you - must feel good to get that done.
ReplyDeleteThat book does look great but I think the margin writing would make me feel dizzy...
Naomi - it really takes some getting used to!!!
DeleteCongratulations on your writing Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThis book looks like a great present. It is a new concept to me and I like it. Do you read the book and the annotations at the same time or do you read the book and the annotations in "chronological" order flipping the pages back and forth?
Hi Steph! I read them simultaneously - read the paragraph and then the side stuff, but I see Tabs' husband does it differently!
DeleteWell done on completing 3 books - you must be able to finish the year thinking you've achieved something great!
ReplyDeleteLove the look of the book... I'm a total sucker for gimmicky things in books, I really love interesting dust jackets and bindings. Although the contents are naturally important as well. Shall have to keep my eye out for it xx
thanks Heidi!
DeleteI think you would get a kick out of this book!
Oh my goodness, I am so so impressed. I had intended to do this, but never did (like the rest of the population of the world) You go!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jody - it was quite a haul, but am glad I got it done!!!
DeleteCongrats! That's an amazing accomplishment ... 80,000+ words!
ReplyDeleteCool idea, that book. I was just saying to someone today how I miss reading words on paper.
It is a really cool idea for a book (wish I had thought of it!!!)
DeleteI have to have a mixture of electronic and real. I still love to hold a book!
Am late to the party, BUT HUGE congratulations! That takes an awful lot of focus and tenacity! Sheesh...I have trouble with 250 at times! And thanks for the rec....I'm off to order the book now!
ReplyDelete