Beirut27
asked:
Is it only me or is this book -quite well-written, I am currently rereading it- strongly reminiscent of A Fatal Inversion by Ruth Rendell ? Actually if I were her son and heir I would tempted to sue Morag Joss for plagiarism... Anyone else having read the two novels and got the same, quite unpleasant impression ?
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Half Broken Things,
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Rhonda Smith
Yes! I thought it was very reminiscent of one of Ruth Rendell's books, but I couldn't place which one.
Amy Moore
Terrible to make any accusations that are not based on fact! I'm sure similarities between books is more common then you think.
Morag
Beirut27, and Cheryl: When I wrote Half Broken Things I had never heard of Vine's A Fatal Inversion. (I have of course heard of it since, because resemblances in plot were commented on when HBT was first published; I understand that the sensibilities of the two novels are very different, however.) I have still not read A Fatal Inversion. This is a fact. If that conflicts with your ugly perception of my novel as a rip-off of Vine's, too bad; it doesn't alter the fact. I have never read A Fatal Inversion.
HBT arose from my interest in the importance of 'the house' in the English novel (as opposed to 'the road' in the American novel), and a thematic preoccupation, which I have explored in several other novels, with characters who are solitary and rootless. This is well documented.
There are dozens of English novels from C18th onwards in which houses operate as characters, and which feature enclosed, isolated groups of people. AFI is clearly one of them and HBT is another.
Neither of you knows me, so you can't know that as a practising academic, as well as a writer, I have both a professional and personal abhorrence of plagiarism in any form. You can't know, either, how angry your casual, libellous accusations concerning my integrity and moral compass make me - but be assured, very angry indeed.
Beirut 27, your other, personal message to me was abusive and arrogant. I cannot imagine what you think entitles you to write to a stranger in so offensive a way; perhaps you don't think, or perhaps you are just unhappy or ill.
Yours sincerely, Morag Joss
HBT arose from my interest in the importance of 'the house' in the English novel (as opposed to 'the road' in the American novel), and a thematic preoccupation, which I have explored in several other novels, with characters who are solitary and rootless. This is well documented.
There are dozens of English novels from C18th onwards in which houses operate as characters, and which feature enclosed, isolated groups of people. AFI is clearly one of them and HBT is another.
Neither of you knows me, so you can't know that as a practising academic, as well as a writer, I have both a professional and personal abhorrence of plagiarism in any form. You can't know, either, how angry your casual, libellous accusations concerning my integrity and moral compass make me - but be assured, very angry indeed.
Beirut 27, your other, personal message to me was abusive and arrogant. I cannot imagine what you think entitles you to write to a stranger in so offensive a way; perhaps you don't think, or perhaps you are just unhappy or ill.
Yours sincerely, Morag Joss
Cheryl
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Linda Frances
I only discovered Morag Joss recently. I've been a voracious reader for a looooong time now, and have read all of Ruth Rendell's books, including her Barbara Vine ones. I also know that books can have similar themes, without any copying or plagarism being involved. The same thing happens in music. There is a phrase "great minds think alike", which has truth to it. To accuse someone of plagarism is a serious matter, and most uncalled for in this case.
I did say in my review that Joss reminds me of Barbara Vine, whose voice was quite different from Rendell's, in spite of coming from the same pen. I meant it as the highest of compliments, as I was a huge fan. I in no way meant to imply that I thought Half Broken Things was copied. In fact, I didn't even think of A Fatal Inversion. It was just several similarities of writing styles. Authors are always being compared to others; which can be seen by glancing at book jackets. That doesn't mean they stole anything.
I did say in my review that Joss reminds me of Barbara Vine, whose voice was quite different from Rendell's, in spite of coming from the same pen. I meant it as the highest of compliments, as I was a huge fan. I in no way meant to imply that I thought Half Broken Things was copied. In fact, I didn't even think of A Fatal Inversion. It was just several similarities of writing styles. Authors are always being compared to others; which can be seen by glancing at book jackets. That doesn't mean they stole anything.
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