Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
General Rants II
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Lisa
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Aug 22, 2019 12:03PM
Regarding names in memoirs. While writing my memoir I struggled with the topic of the names of my characters. I wrote the book with all the real names and then had the monumental task of renaming everyone except myself. The struggle came when my book takes place in a foreign country and I needed many many names. Thank God for baby name searches on google. In the end I was happy with the outcome even adding a chart in the appendix to explain who everyone was. Thought?
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Just curious...why did you have to change the names?
To maintain their privacy in case they didn’t want the public to know about the family history under communism.
I had to either change all names or write my book under another name. The legal team of my publisher had me jumping through hoops to get signatures on special releases for anyone still living that are in the book.
I think its good to have actual names rather than initials, for the reader. Even if they are not the actual names of the people, at least we can say them and refer to them rather than have to figure out who you writing about if its only O or S etc. Then just put in the disclaimer in your intro or dedication page that the real names have been changed to protect peoples privacy.
The other alternative is to write a novel and not write it like a memoir. Many people I'm sure do this. But then you cant be sure it actually happened. Its a tricky one.
And people certainly feel free to write novels but call the result nonfiction.
Maps in travel books please. Doesn't have to detailed but at least show the country and what route you are taking.
Tolkien put them in the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I dont think those fantasy novels would have been nearly as good without the maps.
I have read a couple of Alison Bechdel graphic novels and enjoyed them. Well, the Merriam-Webster is adding the term bechdel test into its newest dictionary. https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/m...
Pages falling out of books. I sometimes glue them back in..But sometimes people do a bad job of this with sellotape and the book ends up looking like Frankenstein's zombie mummy.
Do I ever hate that when it happens. And it never happens to a poorly-written, exploitative book that you're sorry you opened. It happens with the really wonderful, rare books good enough to re-read again and again. (sob)
When you buy a used book that's described as 'very good' condition by the seller, but then looks like it's been used as a door stop once you receive it.
Snails eating books in fridge library. I thought it was worms eating books, but no it's snails. They are fast readers, for snails.
Does anyone read the footnotes?I've just started The Travels of Marco Polo - Volume 1 and the foonotes are taking up more pages than the original text. I dont like to be constantly interrupted when reading a story. Its like commentaries in Bibles. Annoying.
Mod
I've just started The Travels of Marco Polo - Volume 1 and the foonotes are taking up more pages than the original text. I dont like to be constantly ..."
Usually I do not. Usually the print is too small.
Selina wrote: "Does anyone read the footnotes?I've just started The Travels of Marco Polo - Volume 1 and the foonotes are taking up more pages than the original text. I dont like to be constantly ..."
I will skim them to see how relevant they are.
Selina wrote: "Does anyone read the footnotes?I've just started The Travels of Marco Polo - Volume 1 and the foonotes are taking up more pages than the original text. I dont like to be constantly ..."
I find them annoying too, so I tend to only read them if they're short.
Selina wrote: "Does anyone read the footnotes?I've just started The Travels of Marco Polo - Volume 1 and the foonotes are taking up more pages than the original text. I dont like to be constantly ..."
They're rarely worth reading. A major exception is The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled. In that collection of capsule bios, the footnotes are the best part.
Selina wrote: "Does anyone read the footnotes?"I usually read the footnotes, but I'm a very pedantic, OCD-oriented type of reader ... lol I read every word ... from the glowing reviews of magazines and newspapers in the front of the book to the all the appendices in the back of the book. I do draw the line at reading the index, though ... lol
Fishface wrote: "Selina wrote: "Does anyone read the footnotes?I've just started The Travels of Marco Polo - Volume 1 and the foonotes are taking up more pages than the original text. I dont like to..."
I have that on my to read list.
Non-book people. I like to read a book while Im waiting round for other people. I dont understand what non book people, non readers do. Dont they get bored waiting? Wouldn't they rather be reading a book then wasting their time just sitting there?
Also, non book people think reading is unsociable. Its not, its just the thing to do if you do see someone reading a book is not to assume they dont want to talk to you, but actually ask them what the book is about! The reader would be happy to share what they find so fascinating.
I find non readers have these assumptions about books and reading that just isn't true. Like, NO you dont HAVE to finish every single book you start. And yes, sometimes we DO judge books by their covers...and some books have awful covers.
Mod
I like to read a book while Im waiting round for other people. I dont understand what non book people, non readers do. Dont they get bored waiting? Wouldn't they rather be readin..."
I work in a doctor's office and I rarely see people just sitting there. Most are doing something on their phones. They could be reading but I think most of the time they are playing games. Some are taking care of business. Just the other day a guy told me it was ok that he would be late for work as he had taken care of his emails while he waited for the doctor. Usually if someone is just sitting and staring into space they are elderly.
As far as readers being unsociable, I would counter that people checking their phones or playing games on their phones while I am visiting with them is far more unsociable. Personally, I hate it when people ask me what my book is about and I try to make my reply as short as possible because I hate it when someone tells me about their book and it is a loooong story.
Just a funny story...I was waiting in an exam room for the doctor and reading a true crime book. The doctor walked in and asked me what my book was about and I told him it was about a doctor who killed his patients. It really was. Maybe I should have lied. He did give me a funny look.
You just need to give the title and author not tell the whole story. Blurbs on the back cover come in handy.
Diane in Australia wrote: "Selina wrote: "Does anyone read the footnotes?"I usually read the footnotes, but I'm a very pedantic, OCD-oriented type of reader ... lol I read every word ... from the glowing reviews of magazin..."
One of my library workmates actually did indexing. She did cookbooks as her specialty.
I'm not one of those OCD librarians. I think would drive me nuts. I can't even do proofreading. I tried for a while but was no good at it. I'm too forgiving of people and think they just trying to be creative. You need to be a real details person and I'm just not.
I tend to look at catch more obvious things that other people overlook. A comma or capital letter out of place or typo won't bother me as much as NO maps in a travel book.
I've seen indexes where the numbers don't match up with the topic and even the pages have been placed upside down. Imagine being the publisher in charge of that print run and having to pull all the copies because of one typo. Some put in addendums and say on page XX it's meant to be XX not XX but ideally a book should be as good as you can get it, if it's popular and goes into a second print run then you can iron out any errors you overlooked.
Mod
Well yes, of course, but most people do not do that. Most people you could read the book faster then they could tell you about it.
I have children come up to me and tell me about what they read, and often I hear the same story over and over again, but mercifully they are just childrens books so they not recounting the plot of War and Peace. They do it so they can earn a stamp, seven stamps means seven books read and free pizza. So I must have heard the story of I'm a Frog! and Pigs Make Me Sneeze!several times from different children.
Not sure what the deal is with subtitles that start with one man's... or one woman's.... which I've noticed on several different books now. Are they just all trying to riff off Neil Armstrongs 'one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind' quote?
It's become quite the cliche that ONE person wrote a book or is telling this story. Ok what about books with TWO people? Authors and illustrators? Or are they all trying to say I actually wrote the book myself, didn't need a ghostwriter thank you.
Frankly I wonder whether the authors are allowed to choose the titles of their books if there is a publishing company involved. I think probably there was one blockbuster bestseller called something like ANGEL DUSTED: ONE MAN'S JOURNEY INTO THE UNDERWORLD OF PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS and from then on every editor has been using that phrase in book titles BECAUSE IT SELLS!!!I first realized this was happening when I read what Colin Wilson wrote about his novel Lifeforce. He said he called the book SPACE VAMPIRES "because that's what it's about" and was not at all happy about it when the publisher insisted on changing it to this comparatively lofty title. He said it was sort of a like-it-or-lump-it deal because they wouldn't publish it at all under his own title.
It seems to me the cliche is used as shorthand for "this is my unique perception or experience of (fill in the blank: seafood restaurants, camping by Ayers Rock, subsistence farming, etc.); your mileage may vary."
I am going to see if I can find out which publisher is responsible for the rash of one man...one woman....titles. I've just noticed it more and more, it never used to be a thing. But every book also seems to have NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER on it. I dont even read the New York Times as I dont live in New York.
Maybe there were already books with title of SPACE VAMPIRES so its becoming harder and harder to find a new title? Unless the editor wants to call it SPACE VAMPIRES : ONE MANS OBSSESSION WITH BLOOD SUCKING EXTRATERRESTIALS
Mod
But every book a..."
Selina, you dont have to read the New York Times to see what books are on the bestseller list. You can find it by googling.
https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-se...
Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "I am going to see if I can find out which publisher is responsible for the rash of one man...one woman....titles. I've just noticed it more and more, it never used to be a thing. B..."
But why bother, its only New Yorkers buying those books or people in america. I dont really care. Cos there are TONNES of books that say new york times bestseller on their covers so to me it means nothing
Hmm the childrens section is interesting though. Dogman has bumped Harry Potter.
Selina wrote: "I am going to see if I can find out which publisher is responsible for the rash of one man...one woman....titles. I've just noticed it more and more, it never used to be a thing. But every book a..."
And if every third book on the NY Times bestseller list has the phrase "One Man's..." in the subtitle then every editor everywhere is going to insist on inserting it into every book about fancy duck breeding, remedial crochet techniques and prehistoric medical technology...😎
Selina wrote: "Maybe there were already books with title of SPACE VAMPIRES so its becoming harder and harder to find a new title? Unless the editor wants to call it SPACE VAMPIRES : ONE MANS OBSSESSION WITH BLO..."
Out of curiosity I typed The Space Vampires into the GR search box. Colin Wilson's book (linked above, original title restored) came up first but there were TWELVE PAGES of search results. I was especially struck by Amish Vampires in Space. Now there's a title that makes you wonder what could possibly be going on in the story.
Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer you have a lot to answer for. And also you, Beverly Lewis.I also remember the rash of books like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Dont know if it ever made the nyt bestsellers but wouldnt be surprised.
I checked and it has. It's also been made into a movie. So they can put on it NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE.
Never a minor one and never a film or movie. A motion picture! Who calls movies or films 'motion pictures'?! Im going to see a motion picture? Never heard anyone say that.
I think I rant too much. Maybe I am just around books too much.
Mod
Let it all out, Sister!!!!
Can I lie on the couch while you make notes, doc? These books are getting to me. They keep saying they want me to read them all, but Its impossible.
Selina wrote: "Can I lie on the couch while you make notes, doc? These books are getting to me. They keep saying they want me to read them all, but Its impossible."
I agree- I keep adding books to TBR list and will never read all of them.
Selina wrote: "I checked and it has. It's also been made into a movie. So they can put on it NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE.
A motion picture! Who calls movies or films 'motion pictures'?! Im going to see a motion picture? Never heard anyone say that."
It's strictly ad-copy language. I would personally love to see a book jacket say "Soon to be a forgettable Lifetime Channel movie."
Actually its not just one woman or one man's journey as there's also 'one couple's' and 'one family's xxxx ' as well, so maybe it's just the word ONE that editors like.The other cliche of subtitles is 'a story of life, loss and love' or variations on this theme. Can't just call it 'a memoir' anymore. I have seen so many books with this.
Selina wrote: "Non-book people. I like to read a book while Im waiting round for other people. I dont understand what non book people, non readers do. Dont they get bored waiting? Wouldn't they rather be readin..."
Around here, some people read on purpose to be nonsocial because they don't want anyone talking to them, and I know because they have confided this to me in social situations where no one was reading. This is one of the least friendly parts of the US as far as manners and culture, but it's not NYC.
As for me, if I don't have a book I often think or play mental games, but I have also met some of the loveliest people in waiting rooms. But when I have a good book and want to read, it's because I want to read not to cut people off.
Yesterday my son got invited top lay his trumpet in a musical soiree in Cambridge, Mass because I was friendly to an older women in a large restroom at New England Conservatory. I had NO IDEA she was a mostly retired musician because she had clearly come to see a concert (many people rent their halls there for performances)--we both had time to kill and had just washed our hands. After about five minutes or so she gave me her card and invited him.
I did a google search of hers and she is not only bonafide, but very talented and well trained, etc, etc.
Karin wrote: "Selina wrote: "Non-book people. I like to read a book while Im waiting round for other people. I dont understand what non book people, non readers do. Dont they get bored waiting? Wouldn't they r..."
Where are you from Karin? Sorry I didnt rememeber if you mentioned it. I dont read to cut people off its not my thing. I think watching TV cuts people off. A book you can always close and put a bookmark in, but try and interrupt someone watching TVand they get all huffy. Its cos they cant stop it and find it more entertaining than actual conversation.
I might start another thread on book raves all the things you LIKE about books. Just to put us in a more positive mindset and to be encouraging especially to any budding authors out there. It's hard work producing a book but so satisfying to relax and read one. You never know where it's going to take you unless you've read it before. That's what I like about books, memoirs in particular.
Selina wrote: "I checked and it has. It's also been made into a movie. So they can put on it NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE.
Never a minor one and never a film or movie. A motion picture! Who calls movies or film..."
I actually loved that movie. It was really funny.
And here's another rant, Selina, spinning off yours: They can't call a book a "memoir" anymore because nobody knows how to pronounce the word these days. At least here in Malaprop Land they all seem to call such books "memwahs." They know there's something wrong with the way they're reading it so they say it very uncertainly, with a question mark at the end. "I just read this -- memwah?" They can all pronounce "ONE MAN'S OBSESSION" -- even though they'll forget the apostrophe and misspell the last word.
Even so I'm happier to see a title with "ONE MAN'S WHATEVER" in the title than the word "journey." Nobody ever just goes through an experience any more. It's a "journey." If they get a part in the chorus of a musical that's going to close on Broadway after a single week, it's a "journey." If the musical goes on to become a massive hit, it's "a new journey." If they get fired for drinking during a performance, that's the beginning of their "journey" into sobriety. If they refuse to get sober and turn instead to dumpster-diving for a living, that's the beginning of a whole new "journey" into the uncharted world of the homeless. SO sick of that word.
Fishface wrote: "They can't call a book a "memoir" anymore because nobody knows how to pronounce the word these days. At least here in Malaprop Land they all seem to call such books "memwahs." They know there's something wrong with the way they're reading it so they say it very uncertainly, with a question mark at the end. "I just read this -- memwah?"Apparently, there is more than one pronunciation ... depending on which English you use.
Memoir
American pronunciation
mem·waar
Memoir
British pronunciation
mem·waa
I'd like to see one titled MEMOIR: ONE MAN'S MEMOIR OF REMBEMBERING HIS LIFE, THEN WRITING IT DOWNOr ONE MAN: A MEMOIR
Fishface wrote: "Even so I'm happier to see a title with "ONE MAN'S WHATEVER" in the title than the word "journey." Nobody ever just goes through an experience any more. It's a "journey." If they get a part in the ..."They should call it ROLLERCOASTER: the rise and fall of one man (or one woman)
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