In the early eighties, Jennie Erdal was hired by a flamboyant British publisher she calls Tiger to be his specialist editor for Russian books. By d...
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Jul 03, 2007
Jordan
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A ghostwriter's memoir. Jennie Erdal went from translating Russian lit to ghostwriting two novels for her writer/publisher boss, Tiger. Tiger's concept of the writing process is a little vague - "We are thinking about a beautiful novel, very beautiful. And it will have a beautiful cover. We will make sure of that." And the details of story/character/everything in between are left to Erdal. (Sex is an exception though. Tiger's adamant about having poetic, distinguish sex scenes and asks
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Nov 28, 2010
Courtney
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A couple of years ago I dabbled in some ghostwriting. It was very different from editing, and not an experience I greatly enjoyed. I felt like a bit of a fake, and my pride, I have to admit, was rather hurt when the book came out and I received none of the praise.
My experience has very little to do with Jennie Erdal's. For nearly 20 years she was an editor at London publisher Quartet Books. Originally employed to manage the Russian list, she gradually moved into the role of ghostwriter More...
My experience has very little to do with Jennie Erdal's. For nearly 20 years she was an editor at London publisher Quartet Books. Originally employed to manage the Russian list, she gradually moved into the role of ghostwriter More...
Jul 14, 2010
Felice
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How much of yourself do you set aside every day when you go to work? Are you putting on a game face or do you become someone else entirely? In Ghosting, author Jennie Erdal writes about her years spent living a double life at work. Why? Money? Timidity? Power? Ghostwriting started out for Erdal as a convenient job for a mother of three. It became a very strange and morally murky career. The details of her 15 years ghosting for a well known publisher (Referred to as Tiger throughout the book. In
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Jul 25, 2009
Georgia
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So...I feel quite justified in my book cover prejudice because this book has a mediocre cover and complementary content. Ghosting is the 20 year memoir of a ghostwriter and the flamboyant publishing playboy she wrote for. During the course of their relationship they developed a somewhat odd symbiosis. Erdal learned to cope with Tiger (as she calls her employer) and his outlandish personality and persnickety habits. She wrote at least 3 books under his name along with letters, reviews, and column
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Jul 25, 2010
Lauren
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I've always been fascinated by ghostwriting and was hoping this publishing-world memoir would be along the lines of Diana Athill's fantastic Stet: An Editor's Life in its content. However, it felt disconnected, especially when interspersed with the author's own thoughts on language and writing. I found myself skipping the sections where she wrote about her own life because they weren't as engrossing as those about her actual job as a ghostwriter. Overall, it was disappointing, and I wish the foc
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Dec 28, 2008
Ciara
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i picked this up due to my interest in the lives og ghost writers. the author of this memoir wound up working as a ghost writer for a single employer, a man she called tiger, for about twenty years. she was originally hired by tiger to work as a translater. she had studied russian literature & language in college & tiger ran a publishing company that had acquired the rights to a russian manuscript & needed it translated into english. he was so appriciative of erdal's work that he started giving
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Feb 01, 2009
Jamie
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I get the feeling this book would be very entertaining if the author ever revealed who the real-life "Tiger", her megalomaniac boss, is. I also get the feeling that most people in the (European) publishing world probably know exactly who he is. Since I don't, I read the book with the decided feeling of the one who isn't in on the joke. Tiger comes across as a jackass, and the author (Ms. Erdal) seems to be in a passive-aggressive codependent professional relationship with him. Okay, b
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Dec 27, 2010
Suzanne
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Entertaining, though I have to admit I was disappointed when (after reading the book) I did a little internet research to learn who she was ghostwriting for and I'd not heard of him nor any of the books she wrote for him. Still, an interesting glimpse into the life of a ghostwriter and her outrageous boss.
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Jun 28, 2010
Juliet
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A thin story inflated into more than it is. Memoir of ghostwriting with occasionally fussy language. Author's forays into her memories of language feel inserted, choreographed to add a false spine of structure to this simple memoir of a slightly difficult working relationship with a flamboyant character.
Feb 27, 2011
Mary
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This was pretty entertaining. Her account of ghost writing for a flamboyant London publisher is both affectionate and infuriating. She kind of lost me at the end when it took her so long to end the relationship -- well after it had started to negatively affect her health and her marriage. She was far too accommodating and timid. Also, I felt kind of cheated that she didn't give us an account of her quitting. Felt like we were leading up to it.
Jul 30, 2008
Alison
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Jennie Erdal was a ghostwriter for a flamboyant publishing mogul, penning two novels, several other nonfiction books, a weekly newspaper column, and innumerable letters. I was impressed with her writing style and the way she wove scenes from her life into the story of her time with "Tiger." Although she is honest about Tiger's idiosyncrasies and maddening obsessions, Erdal also portrays the man's generosity and good heart. It was fascinating to learn how such an odd relationship could
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Jul 06, 2007
Sarah Beth
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I hadn't really considered how one becomes a ghost writer or what the dynamic is like between the ghost writer and the person who get the credit. Erdal's memoir of her time as such is almost like reading a diary, with it's no-holds-barred, punch-in-the-gut honesty. Really well written; really interesting read.
Sep 17, 2008
John
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Tough book for me to finish as the author's boss (he who actually got credit for her work) was such a neurotic, self-absorbed jerk; either Erdal suffered from low self-esteem, or was addicted to being part of his high-flying lifestyle. Good read, but not great.
Sep 24, 2007
patricia
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true story - autobiography - of a ghostwriter who ended up ghostwriting an autobiography of what must be one of the craziest, zaniest men in all of fashion/publishing. the guy has a pet stuffed tiger and a good-humored ridiculousness that is pretty tough to beat
Mar 06, 2008
Terrie
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Definitely some interesting anecdotes, but a slow start, and kind of disjointed. Also whined too much about not liking working for "Tiger" in the later years - just leave already!
May 30, 2011
Chad
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A kind of double-memoir, by a former ghostwriter, of both herself and her former client. Elegantly written, thoughtful, occasionally profound - a good if quiet read.
Aug 21, 2007
Mary
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I was surprisingly disappointed with this book. It should've been custom-made for me, but I suppose its story was too specific to relate to my own experiences.
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