The ghosts of best-sellers past

I have a reading project I've been working on over the years - catching up on books that were much talked about in their day. Best-sellers of yore. Many of them were popular when I was a kid - I'd see them listed in book club ads (which always intrigued me - all those books for just a dollar!). I found them fascinating in the same way I did the independent movie theater listings - what were these things?

What I've come to find is that most of these books, or at least the ones I've read, aren't all that great from a literary standpoint. But it's been an interesting reading experience, because for the most part I can tell why these books were talked about in their day, and as cultural artifacts some of them are interesting.

In no particular order:

Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor

Oh, how I wanted to like this book. I love a big, fat book, especially if there's plenty of the four food groups of fiction* to go around. But scandal alone can't make a book readable, not when the protagonist is a shallow, unlikable sociopath. The title character sleeps and marries her way up through society, all the while carrying a torch for a man who doesn't give a damn about her. Amber comes off as a pathetic stalker, and I could only make it through half of the book's 800-some pages before tossing it into the giveaway basket.

Leave Her to Heaven by Ben Ames Williams

A real missed opportunity. The story of a novelist who marries a woman who turns out to be unhealthily obsessed with him (he resembles her dead father, never a good sign) and pathologically jealous of anything or anyone that takes attention away from her (including their unborn child!) could have made for a compelling melodrama. Unfortunately Williams makes the crucial error of making the woman one of the story's narrators, which takes much of the mystery out of things, and makes the novelist hero look oblivious at best as he misses signs of the woman's sociopathy. Watch the movie instead.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Speaking of watching the movie instead! Puzo's book is a strange beast, with some excellent drama marred by inconsistent characterization (I'd ditch that cipher Michael and have a book with nothing but Vito Corleone and Tom Hagen) and weird subplots that add nothing (the girl with the gynecological problems). Would make an excellent reading double bill with Peter Benchley's Jaws, another instance of a literary sow's ear turned into a cinematic silk purse.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar by Judith Rossner

Probably one of the best of the past best-sellers I've read. At times it felt almost like science fiction, with its detailed portrayal of a culture that's fairly recent but seems so alien to me, and a protagonist who's both pathetic and sympathetic as she looks for physical connection while shunning emotional ties. It's not a pleasant read, and might have worked better without its preface that reveals the protagonist's fate at the outset, but it's worth reading if you've an interested in the seedier side of the 1970s. Would make a good double bill with Joan Didion's Play It As It Lays for a "Who Knew the 70s Were So Depressing" read.

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

Wow. Just... wow. And that's not a good wow. Even now, Peyton Place packs a wallop, mostly because it combines some truly terrible writing and overheated melodrama with a creepy sexuality. I don't recall there being a single healthy relationship in the book. Every encounter in the book is suffused with a perverse atmosphere, from a man dreamily reminiscing about the first time he molested his step-daughter to the tryst between the protagonist's mother and the high school principal that gets uncomfortably into date-rape territory. It makes for a thoroughly unpleasant read, and yet I keep it on the shelf. Because it's Peyton Place.

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

I feel about Valley of the Dolls (as well as Susann's Once Is Not Enough) the same way I do about Keanu Reeves' acting. It's not, strictly speaking, good. But like Keanu, Susann tries so hard I can't help but like her. Plus, sincerity counts for a lot and Susann obviously had a story she deeply believed in and wanted to tell. The surprisingly dark story of three women who find that fame and fortune isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when addiction to "dolls" (pills) takes its toll, is a soap opera but an involving one. It's easy to see why people couldn't put it down, back in the day.

And I'll be off to the bookstore soon (got a trip coming up and need to pack some books) - who knows, maybe another Best-seller from Days of Yore will find its way into my carry-on luggage!

*The four food groups of fiction are: crime, sex, death, and insanity.

It's funny because it's true

Truth in advertising.

And the funny thing is, if this really was the title, that probably wouldn't dissuade me from reading it.

Review: Valhalla Rising

Want to see an artsy, enigmatic, yet hyper-violent Viking movie? Sure you do! Check out my review of Valhalla Rising over at Horrorview.

Late-breaking news: Fun at the Festival of Books

Egads, what is wrong with me! I completely spaced on letting my readership know how the L.A. Times Festival of Books went.

This was the festival's debut at USC campus, and although I had been very skeptical, I was pleased. The layout seemed to disperse the crowds somewhat, and I confess it was nice to not have to deal with those steps at UCLA. Restrooms and signage were plentiful and my only quibble was that some of the panel locations seemed far away from the main area.

At any rate, fun was had. I saw a panel about the future of publishing, met up with my friend Lynn, and of course, did some shopping. I came home with:

The Getaway and Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson

Butcher's Moon by Richard Stark (although I can't see his name without thinking "Winter is coming.")

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi (fun fact - Charles Manson and I are the same height!)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Also got a Calvin & Hobbes book and an Asterix book for Alex.

My kingdom for HBO!

Well, I'm annoyed as all-get-out that (a) I don't have cable, let alone HBO, (b) no one I know has HBO, and (c) HBO has not seen fit to put the Game of Thrones adaptation online or on Netflix. Argh!

Guess I'll just have to read the Song of Ice and Fire books again (which I was going to do anyway, what with A Dance With Dragons coming our way in just a few months). And I can watch this lovely gif of Tyrion giving Joffrey the bitch-slap he most richly deserves, over and over and over again.

In praise of cookbooks

Now playing on the iPod - "Orchestral Suite #1 in C" - Bach

I love books and I love cooking, so it's probably no surprise that I love cookbooks. I've got two full shelves of them, and most of them have seen tour of duty in my kitchen.

They come in a variety of styles. Some have no photography, just line illustrations. Some cover a variety of cuisines. Others are partial to a region (France, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Mexico). Quite a few are from places I've been, from Lake Tahoe to Disney World. One is a self-published compilation of family recipes that I helped put together about 10 years ago, which I still refer to often. And there's a Betty Crocker cookbook so old that there's no mention of balsamic vinegar, which I drag out whenever I need to remember how long to bake a potato or want to make sugar cookies.

I've recently begun singing the praises of Cook's Illustrated's Best International Recipes cookbook. So far everything I've made from this book has turned out wonderfully. I've made tabbouleh, couscous with raisins and almonds, Swedish meatballs, and tonight, drunken beans (which paired up well with tequila lime chicken). Cook's Illustrated's cookbooks are lacking in "food porn" photography, but who needs that when you've got such good (and easy!) recipes. Yum. Their Cover and Bake cookbook also is the source for some of the best mac and cheese ever.

Go on, buy a cookbook today and make yourself something tasty. Or buy a cookbook for me and I'll make you something tasty.

Rejected children's books

Read this now: Rejected Children's Books. Oh how I wish some of these were real, particularly "Teddy Bears Picnic: The Sole Survivor" and "Bunnies Have Agendas".

Review: Super

Shut up, crime! My review of the gory, profane, and hilarious movie Super is up at Horrorview.com.

What writers can do to make editors happy

As a writer and an editor, I wholeheartedly agree with all of the points made in this post from the mystery publishing blog Hey There's A Dead Guy In The Living Room. Read and take notes.

Geek Season approaches

April may be the cruelest month, according to T. S. Eliot, but it's also the start of ... Geek Season!

For the next few months, there's something going on to please my not-so-inner nerd.

April brings Monsterpalooza, which I must attend not only because it's by all accounts a good, old-fashioned con, but because Malcolm McDowell, star of A Clockwork Orange, Cat People, Caligula, Time After Time, and many more (and also a member of my Imaginary Boyfriends Hall of Fame), will be there. Closing out the month will be the L. A. Times Festival of Books. I'm still uncertain about the Festival's relocation to USC campus (in the past it's always been at UCLA) but I can't resist the chance to go hang out with thousands of book geeks.

In May there is the Weekend of Horror con, which this year will feature legendary director John Carpenter. I'm also excited about the presence of Scott Wilson, who played one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite movies (Captain Billy Cutshaw in The Ninth Configuration).

And of course, July brings us the San Diego Comic-Con. It's too big, too crowded, and the ticket sales process has been an utter boondoggle for two years in a row, but damn if I'm not excited to be going for all four days. Look for me to be wearing my Phantom of the Paradise outfit at least one of those days.

Let your geek flag fly!

Review: The Serpent and the Rainbow

Want to go to Haiti? I didn't think so. Instead, read my review of Wes Craven's voodoo horror film The Serpent and the Rainbow.

Welcome to Write Club

Welcome to Write Club.

The first rule of Write Club is: You do not give away the ending.

The second rule of Write Club is: You DO NOT give away the ending.

Third rule of Write Club: If a constant reader says "it stinks!", gets bored, or opts out, rewrite the story.

Fourth rule of Write Club: Work on only one story at a time.

Fifth rule: All stories get edited, no matter how good you think you are.

Sixth rule: Stories go on as long as they have to.

And the final rule is: If this is your first time at Write Club, you HAVE to write.

Kelly's big score ("me day" edition)

Really, really needed a "me day" so I took one, and went up to Solvang with the express purpose of cruising the bookstores at my own pace, unencumbered by others.

At Valley Books I said hello to the ever-awesome Courtney and traded in a bunch of used books. I got:

Dreamsongs Vol. 1 - George R. R. Martin (this should tide me over until A Dance With Dragons, and yes it's weird to say that and not be sarcastic)

Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn

Two Calvin and Hobbes books: A Magical World and The Days Are Just Packed

Then it was on to Martins' Used Books, where I got:

The Gamble - LaVyrle Spencer

Cry to Heaven - Anne Rice

Tinsel - William Goldman (yoohoo Albert - now I don't have to borrow this from you!)

And a bunch of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books

Then at The Book Loft I picked up:

A Maiden Fair - Joyce Carol Oates

Poison - Sara Poole

Now that's what I call a productive day!

Dance With Dragons update

Now playing on the iPod - "The Ballad of John and Yoko" - The Beatles

Can it be true? A July 2011 release date for George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons.

That's what Martin says!

Writing craft: Don't write what you know, write what you don't know you know. You know?

Now playing on the iPod - "Caught A Lite Sneeze" - Tori Amos

I’ve probably mentioned before that “write what you know” is some of the worst advice a writer can get. It’s usually interpreted as “write about what you have directly experienced” and if writers followed that rule to the letter, there’d be a lot of really boring books out there (mine in particular!).

I haven’t changed my view that “write what you know” is bad advice, but I’m starting to believe that most of us, whether we know it or not, are writing about things we know: the distinction is twofold. One, we’re writing about things we may not have directly experienced but have heard about from others’ lives or stories. Two, many of these things lodge in our subconscious, and we end up writing about them without realizing we’re doing so.

A few years ago, I was watching the 1980 horror film The Changeling with some friends. I’d seen the film before, but not since I was in my early teens. (Side note: It’s an excellent, spooky film with almost no onscreen violence and a fantastic performance by George C. Scott. Go rent it now.) The film opens with the main character losing his family in a roadside accident. One of my friends called out: “Look familiar, Kelly?” and I realized that I had written a scene much like that in one of my stories. And even though I hadn’t seen the film in well over a decade when I wrote the scene in question, it was there in my subconscious.

Likewise, recently I got to thinking about a girl I knew in grade school. The girl had a younger brother, and it was very clear the brother was much favored by the parents. He had a full bedroom, whereas the girl’s room was actually the closet of her younger brother’s room. (The girl also knew from overhearing parental conversation that she was an “ooops” resulting from faulty birth control.) I hadn’t thought about this girl in years, as I haven’t seen her since 8th grade, but now I’m wondering if that family dynamic was in any way an inspiration for a similar one in my book The Day After Yesterday (although for that one I know that I consciously was inspired by the Harry Potter books and how Harry is so shabbily treated by his aunt and uncle).

I think a lot of the writing process may be subconscious. After a manuscript has sat in the drawer and I’m revising it, I’ll see connections and motifs that I didn’t recall planning out. But there they are. And I suspect that a lot of what we think falls into the “stuff I haven’t experienced” is really “stuff I’ve heard about from friends/read about/seen in other books or movies”. As long as the writer does the job well, no one need know (or should care) that an event or character’s backstory has no direct correlation to the writer’s past.

It might be intriguing to see a map of the brain, and figure out where all this comes from. But no, let’s leave it a mystery. Let’s not lose the moment of “Oh, that’s where that came from.” Those moments are sometimes funny, sometimes creepy, but they’re always interesting.

Review: Red Sonja

My review of the too-silly-to-be-dramatic, too-dull-to-be-campy sword-and-sorcery movie Red Sonja is up at Horrorview.com.

Awesome movie review site

One of my favorite movie review sites, Cinema de Merde, just got a dandy new look. (I confess I did like the old green-on-black look, but I still say "groovy" so I'm not the most with-it of people.)

Go check it out, and read some of the fine, fun reviews while you're at it.

For your convenience: Inception "THWOOOOMM" sound on command

One of the biggest problems in life is the lack of awesome musical cues to punctuate life's more dramatic moments.

Well, here to make life easier is the "THWOOOOMM" sound from Inception (really do need to get around to seeing that) right here for your convenience. Click the link, press the button and presto! I mean, THWOOOOMM.

One down...

Just finished Chapter One of the new book, tentatively titled Sideshow. I'm behind schedule thanks mostly to circumstances beyond my control (i.e., broken elbow) but there's always a nice buzz that accompanies the first chapter milestone.

Bookstore Watch: It's looking grim for Borders

I used to love, love, love Borders (books and music and movies! together! like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!). But the chain's been in decline for some time now, and according to a story at Shelf Awareness, it looks like Chapter 11 is imminent.

I hate to say this but I'm not surprised. I started noticing a decline in the store's selection a few years back. Then the local one jettisoned its music section. When I can go into a store with $50 in mad money and have trouble finding novels to buy, there are serious problems afoot (after all, I'm not that hard to please - always been more of a "sure, I'll read that!" gal).

I recall when I realized just how badly the selection had been pared back. Seeing more and more books with covers facing out. The "sideways neck bend" one uses when perusing bookstore shelves isn't getting more comfortable as I get older, but it's one of the prices you pay for the pleasure of finding books to buy. That's when I noticed the shelves were full of Hot New Releases and Tried-and-True Classics - with very little in between.

There's always Barnes and Noble (the one near my workplace isn't big but I can nearly always find something there, even if it's another Discworld or Travis McGee). But I want to try and put my dollars towards the indies. Check out those links on the right for "Indie Bookstores I Like". They're all fine places. Support them if you're nearby, and support your local stores if you have them. These places respect readers.