REDEMPTION, AND A BORING BOOK

So, Monica Ali. I've trudged through "Brick Lane" and that's it! There's no, "Oh, wow, that was interesting." NO! Nothing! I didn't get the love between your protagonist and.... anyone, not her good-intentioned husband, her younger lover, her two children, OR her sister back in Bangladesh (the most interesting character, existing through letters). And now you're being turned into a movie. I feel like this is difficult because all your critics say you are "quietly stunning" (Publishers Weekly), reveal "quiet strength" (The New Yorker), or "meticulous layering of character and social observation..." (The Nation). Meaning: NOTHING HAPPENS IN YOUR BOOK! They like your prose (whatever). It is difficult to capture prose onto celluloid, so I went over to metacritic.com to check the reviews out. Decently reviewed. Harumph. I wonder who went, oooh, this will make a good movie? As much as I liked the book, "Prep," in which nothing also happens (but nothing in this case is quite nostalgically beautiful), I would not spend ten dollars to watch nothing happen.

I've started and almost finished "The Handmaid's Tale" by beloved Canadian author Margaret Atwood. I've always meant to read this, but was disgusted by Atwood after I read the dreadfully boring and unimaginative "Oryx and Crake" that I had to take a break from Canadian authors altogether (sorry, Carol Sheilds! still love you). I'm glad I gave Atwood another chance. I knew the author of "The Blind Assassin" would redeem herself.

I always wonder how it happens though. How do authors or musicians release really, really bad material? I feel like if it's something you do all the time, isn't there some standard you are aware of? Or are you super-surrounded by your own thoughts that you can no longer distinguish great writing from poor? Isn't John Irving ("The World According to Garp", "Cider House Rules") notorious for this? Perhaps we should ask him.

BY THE WAY, I just wanted to add to Claire's post on "The Traveler's Bookcase." What she failed to mention or update was that the salesclerk she spoke to was actually the OWNER. As in, the owner of The Traveler's Bookcase that was featured in the latest edition of the woman's magazine "Lucky." How random!

currently listening to:
Imposter
Elvis Costello & The Attractions

xoxo tiffany