What are we reading? 17 April 2023

[AB76]

Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck is a fascinating study of the writing process.

The journal was compiled from daily letters that Johnny S wrote as he was in the process of writing East of Eden. I have been interested in how a novel is written from the observations and intentions of an author and this is not dissapointing me at all. There is a strong work ethic and almost bi-polar moods from the author in the first few months of his creative work.

He remarks that he likes the idea of each chapter of a novel being a cell and should almost be able to stand alone. I would imagine a long chapter would equal a short story and that it could stand alone, whether the artistic intent can be that perfect in minature is an interesting idea.

Johnny was almost 50 when he wrote this, so quite a mature author, he enjoys his pipe and is pleased his cigarette cough has faded.

[Gpfr]

AB76 wrote: " Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck is a fascinating study of the writing process ...

He remarks that he likes the idea of each chapter of a novel being a cell and should almost be able to stand alone. I would imagine a long chapter would equal a short story and that it could stand alone, whether the artistic intent can be that perfect in minature is an interesting idea...."

I think the problem would rather be the coherence of the whole, if the chapters are "that perfect in minature", no?

[AB76]

Gpfr wrote: "AB76 wrote: " Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck is a fascinating study of the writing process ...

He remarks that he likes the idea of each chapter of a novel being a cell and should almost be ..."

well yes....i have been musing over what he meant quite a lot, the cellular structure would rather suggest they contribute to the whole, though he remarks "almost" being able to stand alone. maybe the "almost" is the key here, an ideal not achievable..

[giveusaclue]

AB76 wrote: "scarletnoir wrote: "Georg wrote: "I wasn't aware that UK temp are expressed in Fahrenheit nowadays."

They aren't, usually - AFAIK Fahrenheit is no longer taught in schools, though it was the usual..."


Surprised you actually used Fahrenheit to be honest, you young whipper snapper! I am fairly used to Centigrade now but find metres more difficult.

17⁰ this morning in S Derbyshire. Actually managed to sit outside for a while.

[AB76]

giveusaclue wrote: "AB76 wrote: "scarletnoir wrote: "Georg wrote: "I wasn't aware that UK temp are expressed in Fahrenheit nowadays."

They aren't, usually - AFAIK Fahrenheit is no longer taught in schools, though it ..."

i've always converted between the two, i much prefer celsius but have decided to use fahrenheit now

[Andy]

scarletnoir wrote: "Andy wrote: "Reporting in from 1750 metres up in Palencia in the cloud on my reading from the last few days, while watching some European rugby semi finals..."

I was at one of them, to see my belo..."

I’d go for Postman as a first Cain SN.

All the Welsh teams played well in Europe this year, especially after Gatland arrived… but particularly so Scarlets.
There have been some good games, Ospreys at Montpellier for example.

I hope they are still able to compete at such a level next year, but I fear not.

[Bill]

scarletnoir wrote: "I know Cain's name but don't remember reading any. This could be of interest, though I might try one of the better known ones such as 'Double Indemnity' or 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', to compare with the films."

Of the 3 Cain novels I've read where I also saw the film, The Postman Always Rings Twice is, as I recall, the most faithful adaptation, (the Lana Turner / John Garfield version).

Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford) makes the most changes - the novel isn't really a crime story.

I think Double Indemnity (Fred Mac Murray / Barbara Stanwyck with a Raymond Chandler screenplay) would make for the most interesting book / film comparison. Just enough changes to stimulate thoughts about the art of adaptation. (I recall that Postman also has a life insurance element to it that arises later in the story).

[MK]

I see that Michael Connelly has been awarded the title Grand Master at the Edgar Awards ceremony this week. And he has a Harry Bosch/Mickey Haller book coming out this fall.

I don't know what it says about me, but I prefer the 'brash' Mickey Haller to Harry Bosch. Harry is somewhat depressed in my non-professional shrink mode. But both are always good reads.😊

[scarletnoir]

Andy wrote: "All the Welsh teams played well in Europe this year, especially after Gatland arrived… but particularly so Scarlets.

I hope they are still able to compete at such a level next year, but I fear not..."

Funding has been cut significantly by the WRU and all teams will have squads smaller by 10 players or so next season... given the number of injuries we have seen this year, it will be difficult to compete with better funded sides.

[scarletnoir]

Bill wrote: "I think Double Indemnity (Fred Mac Murray / Barbara Stanwyck with a Raymond Chandler screenplay) would make for the most interesting book / film comparison. Just enough changes to stimulate thoughts about the art of adaptation. (I recall that Postman also has a life insurance element to it that arises later in the story)."

Thanks for the advice... interestingly, Double Indemnity was not originally published as a novel but in serial form - I didn't know that - and nor was I aware that the book was

Based on a 1927 murder of Albert Snyder, perpetrated by his wife from the New York City borough of Queens and her lover, whose trial Cain attended while working as a journalist in New York.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_...

I've seen that one and Postman (the original B&W movies) but don't believe that I ever saw Mildred Pierce.

[Georg]

I couldn't care less about the English monarchy one way or the other. None of my business as I am none of their "subjects".

But I wonder about this allegedly progressive monarch (or his advisers) asking his subjects to swear an oath of allegiance. Not only to him (and that is my main point):

“I swear that I will pay true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law . So help me God”.

What does "according to law" mean? Could his subjects renege on their oath if one of his "heirs/successors" turns out to be a pedophile, or a rapist?

I know I can come over as flippant. But (call me old-fashioned): I think an oath is an oath. It has to be honoured, come hell or high weather. It should not be abused by making it into a hollow performative exercise.

Apart from that (and returning to flippant mode): that whole idea reeks of desperation.

[scarletnoir]

Georg wrote: "I couldn't care less about the English monarchy one way or the other."

Neither do I - I'm a republican. I won't be taking any 'oath'. What a joke.

You may be interested in this article from the Guardian, where people who were arrested, often for the mildest of protests, have been interviewed:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...

(It always surprises me that many people in France are interested in the Royals, and will ask me about them as if I keep up with their shenanigans - which I do not.)

[AB76]

My next classic classic novel is my first Michael Frayn, since Spies left me cold, 18 or so years ago

The Russian Interpreter (1965), is set in 1950s Moscow where Frayn had lived and studied. Right away it has swept me into this vast centre of the communist hive, i have read a few Moscow novels from the 1930s, 1970s and 1980s but nothing set in the 1950s as yet.

It reminds me a little of Le Carre's novel set in Bonn, a 1960s novel written by an informed foreign author about a passage in time....

[giveusaclue]

Bill wrote: "scarletnoir wrote: "I know Cain's name but don't remember reading any. This could be of interest, though I might try one of the better known ones such as 'Double Indemnity' or 'The Postman Always R..."

Double Indemnity - wow I can remember watching that (in black and white of course) when staying with my grandparents decades ago. Great film will a good twist.

[CCCubbon]

scarletnoir wrote: "Georg wrote: "I couldn't care less about the English monarchy one way or the other."

Neither do I - I'm a republican. I won't be taking any 'oath'. What a joke.

You may be interested in this arti..."

Neither will I!
I loath the way all this nonsense about seemingly not very nice people is pushed upon us. It all smacks of manipulation to me.

[giveusaclue]

So I am happily reading



knowing the book was not newly published when I came to a passage which stated "With several uncivilised nations in Africa....." I thought you can't say that, then discovered the book was actually published before 1923.

[giveusaclue]

Georg wrote: "Apart from that (and returning to flippant mode): that whole idea reeks of desperation."
To me, it reeks of an old fashioned tradition dating from when the nobles swore an oath to be loyal and fight for the king when required. I doubt many people will be swearing the oath in reality.

Edited for further information.
Apparently it is the Archbishopn of Canterbury who came up with this idea not the RF. I never did have a high opinion of him.

[Robert]

Bill wrote: "scarletnoir wrote: "I know Cain's name but don't remember reading any. This could be of interest, though I might try one of the better known ones such as 'Double Indemnity' or 'The Postman Always R..."

The best adaptation of "Postman" that I've seen was an unauthorized Italian film, "Ossessione," filmed during World War II. The filmmakers kept all of Cain's main plot points, while telling an Italian noir story.