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Readalong And Q&A with Magnus Stanke - Falling In Love And Death
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I am about two thirds into the book, Magnus, and like Kirsten found the change of POV a little confusing at first. Once expected though, you do enter a new chapter with that in mind. Perhaps some sign posting in the opening sentence would have helped in that regard.A big plus mark though for authorial voice, which I think is very distinctive. I wonder, how much of it is natural tone and how much worked in to suit the characters and the period in which the story is set? It is apparent in some sentence structure that English is not your first language, but I found the differing cadence enjoyable.
I started the book about ten days ago and realised it's one of those I need to concentrate on and put it aside. I wanted to read it last weekend but managed only about 1/3.I love the language so much beacause I'm lerning quite a lot of new words.
The Prologe was so different from the stuff I read so far in the genre and it's so hard to put it into words how I felt about. On one side it was really fun and I liked the romance as well. On the other hand it's appears quite dark and ominous/direful (not sure which one is the correct word) and it makes it quite difficult for me to deal with it.
The first three chapters after the Prologe were like a very cold shower and I was so fed up with David I wanted to crawl into the book and say to him to get a grip ;-) and than come the next surprise and so fast.
SPOILER WARNING! - for all the users of mobile app ;-)
Somehow since the moment Jorge was mentioned I'm convinced he faked his dead and as soon as I learned Alba is Aurora's daughter and not her sister (like I originally thought) I was convinced there are two possibilities:
a) the two thugs will kidnapp Alba and Aurora and David go after her
b) Alba dies during a kidnapping attempt and Jorge will go after Aurora and David
and was more than surprised by the events of chapter 4 (summer)
END SPOILER
I was wondering how it can work when you know how it will end (more or less) - but it works. Wow!
I read the other comments when I finished the book and perhaps I can add something than ;-)
Now I'll switch to something fun (it's too much suspense for me) and I hope to continue mid of the week with the book again.
David wrote: "I am about two thirds into the book, Magnus, and like Kirsten found the change of POV a little confusing at first. Once expected though, you do enter a new chapter with that in mind. Perhaps some s..."Hi David. Thank you too for your comments. I get what you said about signposting the change of pov. Next time I'll know better...
Here's my original inspiration: do you remember the tv show 'Lost'? Every episode (at least in the first season) started with a different character opening their eyes, then we'd get their backstory and why they were on the island. I tried to adapt that idea in FDL, so I guess a little bit of the confusion was deliberate. Obviously I never meant it to be bad enough to frustrate the reader... For me it's a total learning experience.
Regarding your second question, in terms of the language, this was my thinking: the entire book 'takes splace' in Spanish. The linguistic 'reality' of the book is Spanish; the characters speak native Spanish to each other. I decided therefore that it would be a mistake to give them unequivocally American or British English voices or expressions. My aim, then, was to find some sort of Midatlantic compromise (with a few hard-boiled phrases thrown in for good measure) mixed with some 1970s slang.
Once again - I'm much obliged!
Agnieszka wrote: "I started the book about ten days ago and realised it's one of those I need to concentrate on and put it aside. I wanted to read it last weekend but managed only about 1/3.I love the language so ..."
firstly, Agnieszka, I'm very pleased that you're persisting in spite of your fears/frustrations for and with the characters. Obviously I don't want to spoil the possible surprises and therefore I won't comment on your theories ;)
I'd love to hear what you think in the end, of course. So hopefully you'll be ready for a bit more suspense when you've finished the lighter book you picked up in between.
Happy reading and thank you!
Aaaack!!!!When will Goodreads make it so users of the PC based and the app based systems have access to the same features???
I accidentally scanned Agnieszka's comments and had the ending spoiled.
(Not blaming you, Agnieszka, just my eyes)
Just had to vent -- didn't mean to hijack your thunder Magnus, enjoying the read!
Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "Aaaack!!!!When will Goodreads make it so users of the PC based and the app based systems have access to the same features???
I accidentally scanned Agnieszka's comments and had the ending spoile..."
don't worry - she didn't spoil the ending. Those were just her theories
Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "Aaaack!!!!When will Goodreads make it so users of the PC based and the app based systems have access to the same features???
I accidentally scanned Agnieszka's comments and had the ending spoile..."
No worries Kirsten, it's not a big spoiler and I reached only around 33% of the book - and much of the stuff I mentioned were my ideas/assumptions and not necessarily true in the book - we'll see how it develops :-)
BTW I hate it too, they can't get the features of the both app systems and the browser based page in sync, grrrrrrr............
Yeah, Magnus. I noticed. I just finished. Love the idea that people miss their dictator. I guess if the trains run on time...I really enjoyed it. Once I got the hang of the pov changes... it just flowed. Good job!
Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "Yeah, Magnus. I noticed. I just finished. Love the idea that people miss their dictator. I guess if the trains run on time...I really enjoyed it. Once I got the hang of the pov changes... it just..."
:))))))
and I thank you kindly
Hello everybody!Slowly but surely the month is coming to an end. I have a favour to ask of you all.
'Falling in Death and Love' has been shortlisted by Undergroundbookreview.org as 'Novel of the Year 2016' and I'd love you to take a look at the list here on facebook https://www.facebook.com/UndergroundB...
If there's no other book on there that you read and preferred to mine could you please cast your vote for 'Falling in Death and Love'? It only takes a second if you're on facebook (you can also vote on their website. It's free but you have to register)
Deadline is January 31st.
Once again, I'm much obliged
And if there's interest I'd be very happy to make my second book 'Time Lies' available for a day as a thank you (obvioulsy I can also send you a pdf file for it if you fancy reviewing it...)
btw 'Time Lies' is not a sequel to 'Falling in Death and Love' but some of the characters re-appear in it.
Thank you kindly!
Tonya wrote: "Time Lies is on my kindle TBR list."excellent! It's part of the upcoming Mystery Thriller Event that runs on facebook from February 12 for 11 days.
Should be fun...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/13333...
Tonya wrote: "Excellent. Just shared it on my page."nice one, Tonya :)
Finished and reviewed your book, Magnus. Thanks for the enjoyable read and good luck with your writing ventures.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
David wrote: "Finished and reviewed your book, Magnus. Thanks for the enjoyable read and good luck with your writing ventures.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
many thanks, David, and likewise good luck to you!
(I'm such a doughnut for not saying this earlier... sorry for delay)Many thanks to all the participants in this readalong, and thank you likewise to Sean for having me here. I've been busy working on my new book (which happens to be a sequel of sorts to 'Falling in Death and Love'; it's definitely the third book in my Retro-Thriller cycle) and my day-time job that I totally forgot to extend my gratitude prior to today. I stand humbly corrected ;)
and I'm much obliged!
Best!
Mod
I hope you will take part in other authors readalongs.
Sure, if there's something that tickles my fancy I'm all there.Btw this Saturday 'Falling in Death and Love' is free again. And 'Time Lies', my second book, is free on Sunday if anybody is interested
Cheerio & thanks again
Time Lies is on my TRB list (on my kindle) and on my wish list on Amazon; so I'll mark my calendar. Thanks again Magnus for a great read.
Tonya wrote: "Time Lies is on my TRB list (on my kindle) and on my wish list on Amazon; so I'll mark my calendar. Thanks again Magnus for a great read."Tonya - thank you, once again :)))
Mod
The Policewoman by Justin Roberts.
Mod
Although problems with the links.
Check with Justin.
It is a great book.
Sean wrote: "Yes, it has started today.Although problems with the links.
Check with Justin.
It is a great book."
yes, I just tried to download it but had no luck....
I'll keep trying
Magnus,EPUB: http://www.mediafire.com/file/rukoxj1...
MOBI: http://www.mediafire.com/file/2bs3ht3...
Please let me know if you still have problems downloading it.
Justin
For those who downloaded the mobi file, please make sure that there are 17 chapters in the table of contents. If you see 18 chapters, this means you are viewing the old version. If you've previously downloaded this book from Amazon, it seems the old version is somehow over-riding the new version. Anyone else facing this problem?
Justin
Justin wrote: "Magnus,EPUB: http://www.mediafire.com/file/rukoxj1...
MOBI: http://www.mediafire.com/file/2bs3ht3...
Please let m..."
thanks Justin. Am at work now but will try tonight. Looking forward to this and will let you know if I have trouble. Thanks again
Justin wrote: "For those who downloaded the mobi file, please make sure that there are 17 chapters in the table of contents. If you see 18 chapters, this means you are viewing the old version. If you've previousl..."for me the download worked fine, btw. 17 chapters....
I've disabled the links to the book. If anyone wants a free copy, please PM your email address and I'll send it to you.By the way, has anyone passed Chapter 5 yet? What do you think?
Justin
There was a little awkwardness when you first started ..."
:)))) - Many, many thanks, Kirsten. Your comment is the first thing I read this morning and it really made my day!
I appreciate what you said about the confusion of the change of pov. Like I said, this was my first book and I wanted to experiment at bit. I know that not all the experiments paid off, and besides pov I was particularly interested in testing how much you can make the reader 'work for it', i.e. trying to tell a story without spelling everything out. However I'm all too aware of my shortcomings - I'm no Mario Vargas Llosa (in some of whose books you really have to concentrate to work out who's talking when). It's a fine line between trying to challenge the reader and writing confused rubbish.
I like to think I learned from the experience, though I'm also pleased that you got the hang of it despite it all - thanks again