M.D. Eyre's Blog, page 3
June 10, 2012
An interesting article about The Great Gatsby
I must admit I didn't really enjoy the book when I read it but I am looking forward to the Baz Lurhmann adaptation.
One of the comments below the line refers to Brideshead Revisited and it's similarities to Gatsby and that I can see- Waugh's novel is a real favourite of mine.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
One of the comments below the line refers to Brideshead Revisited and it's similarities to Gatsby and that I can see- Waugh's novel is a real favourite of mine.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
June 9, 2012
June 7, 2012
Morrissey to retire
Time to stick on 'The Queen is Dead' and wallow in a bit of (non-Diamond Jubilee)nostalgia
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfr...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfr...
How to become an ebook superstar
Nothing really new in this article from the Guardian but the BTL comments are good.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
June 4, 2012
Kirkus Review for my novel Tabnit Gisgo
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
A fictionalized memoir set during the time of Alexander the Great tells the tale of a dynamic spy.
In Eyre’s third novel (Burnfield, 2012, etc.) and the first of a series set in the third century B.C., the spy, informer and all around character Tabnit Gisgo recounts his role in the death of Alexander the Great. The story is presented as a translation found among the personal effects of Eyre’s great-grandfather, a scholar who worked in the Middle East. Eyre explains in a note to the reader that because his ancestor “was a man of his time,” with an “Edwardian upbringing” and “public school education,” there are linguistic anachronisms through the text. This decision is a wise one; it lightens the tone. An elderly man with two very young wives when the story opens, Gisgo is a former wine seller and spy who writes about his “misspent youth” while realizing that the story of his life boils down to being in “the wrong place at the wrong time.” The novel hinges on dispelling the murky history around Alexander the Great’s death, and along the way includes battles, elephants and theater. While Gisgo denies wrongdoing in Alexander’s untimely death, he tells his story with relish. The detailed depiction of the era proves that Eyre’s done his research. The premise of rewriting history (particularly classical history) may be well represented, but the author’s real achievement is the creation of Tabnit Gisgo—a crude, bumbling yet completely appealing antihero.
A memorable narrator and rollicking plot make Eyre’s new series one to watch.
A fictionalized memoir set during the time of Alexander the Great tells the tale of a dynamic spy.
In Eyre’s third novel (Burnfield, 2012, etc.) and the first of a series set in the third century B.C., the spy, informer and all around character Tabnit Gisgo recounts his role in the death of Alexander the Great. The story is presented as a translation found among the personal effects of Eyre’s great-grandfather, a scholar who worked in the Middle East. Eyre explains in a note to the reader that because his ancestor “was a man of his time,” with an “Edwardian upbringing” and “public school education,” there are linguistic anachronisms through the text. This decision is a wise one; it lightens the tone. An elderly man with two very young wives when the story opens, Gisgo is a former wine seller and spy who writes about his “misspent youth” while realizing that the story of his life boils down to being in “the wrong place at the wrong time.” The novel hinges on dispelling the murky history around Alexander the Great’s death, and along the way includes battles, elephants and theater. While Gisgo denies wrongdoing in Alexander’s untimely death, he tells his story with relish. The detailed depiction of the era proves that Eyre’s done his research. The premise of rewriting history (particularly classical history) may be well represented, but the author’s real achievement is the creation of Tabnit Gisgo—a crude, bumbling yet completely appealing antihero.
A memorable narrator and rollicking plot make Eyre’s new series one to watch.
May 31, 2012
The Song of Achilles Orange Prize winner
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
I haven't read this book but it's on my to read list and so glad that it will revive interest in a period of history that I find fascinating.
And according to this article it captures 'the prevailing literary mood.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
Homer's poem The lliad, and the effect it had on Alexander the Great, is something I cover in my novel Tabnit Gisgo although in a much more light-hearted way than Miller!
I haven't read this book but it's on my to read list and so glad that it will revive interest in a period of history that I find fascinating.
And according to this article it captures 'the prevailing literary mood.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
Homer's poem The lliad, and the effect it had on Alexander the Great, is something I cover in my novel Tabnit Gisgo although in a much more light-hearted way than Miller!
May 30, 2012
Editing the sequel to Fighting Talk...
...and slowly but surely getting there. It's called Phoney War and continues the story of George Tomlinson and his mates.
Like Burnfield, Tabnit Gisgo and Fighting Talk it will be published initially in e-book format in June.
Like Burnfield, Tabnit Gisgo and Fighting Talk it will be published initially in e-book format in June.
May 24, 2012
Half of self-published authors earned less than $500 last year
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
From a survey published in the Guardian.
Other findings:
-Genre wise Romance seems to be the best money earner
-In the top earners 68% were female
-Getting professional help with such things as editing and cover design boosts earnings.
Below the line comments worth looking at as well.
From a survey published in the Guardian.
Other findings:
-Genre wise Romance seems to be the best money earner
-In the top earners 68% were female
-Getting professional help with such things as editing and cover design boosts earnings.
Below the line comments worth looking at as well.
Paul Fussell
Paul Fussell, who died last month, was a great author and 2nd World War combat veteran. His books include 'The Great War and Modern Memory' which has a fantastic analysis of 'Goodbye to All That' by Robert Graves.
Well worth checking out.
Well worth checking out.
