LGBTQ Characters in Books

 Just like almost EVERYONE, I watched and loved the great television series It's A Sin, written by the ever talented Russell T. Davies, and starring a whole cast of talented actors (Olly Alexander, Callum Scott Howells, Lydia West, Neil Patrick Harris, Nathaniel Curtis, Keeley Hawes, Omari Douglas, Shaun Dooley, Stephen Fry . . . and many more - they're really all so good in this!).

In one scene, Nathaniel Curtis' character is tasked with pulling from the shelves of a library any books which reference LGBTQ characters or storylines. The scene makes reference to Section 28 (a law that prohibited the "promotion of homosexuality", introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government and in effect from 1988 until 2000 - in Scotland - and 2003 - England and Wales), and just how little of a voice the LGBTQ members of society have had historically and culturally.

The scene - typical for this series - is able to make you smile, sad, and thoughtful in the space of the moments that it takes place on screen. 

If you haven't seen It's A Sin yet, I think you should stop reading now and go watch it because, to be honest, anything I write here isn't going to be as good as this show is - it doesn't even get within sniffing distance!

But, you know what, that scene made me think - where are all the LGBTQ characters in literature? Are they there? Well, they are. But, they can be hard to find, in my opinion . . .

First of all, there are characters who we might never have noticed as being LGBTQ, such as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise. J. K. Rowling revealed in 2007 that she had "always thought of Dumbledore as gay". Now, writers do know their characters best - they often give their characters a history, habits, hopes, dreams, fears, desires, etc., that the audience never sees. In this way, the writer is better able to flesh out the character and write them better. However, if J. K. Rowling had not made it known to her audience, after the original Harry Potter series had come to its conclusion, we might not have ever noticed. Some might have spotted it and it might have become the thing of online fan theory debates, but it isn't really explicit in the novels. Going back to the books, there might be the whisper of a hint with regards to the character's sexuality.  I'm certainly not sure that anyone tasked with seeking out LGBTQ characters in literature would have recognised  him as such. This subtle hinting (sometimes so subtle it's missed) at character sexuality has been a method adopted frequently by writers - another example I found when researching this article was the character of Deadpool, the Marvel character; the character, we are told, is pansexual (this is hinted at by his flirtatious way with other men) but in his history (the character was created in 1991) he's only ever had relationships with women (and women-presenting aliens).

Still, Deadpool's flirtatious way with people, aliens, and mutants of male or male-presenting sex might at least get him noticed during a similar exercise to that which Nathaniel Curtis' character is made to undertake in the scene from It's A Sin . . .

In Stieg Larsson's creation, Lisbeth Salander, we meet a character who is complex, badass, and explicitly bisexual, amongst many other things. The character, first appearing in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, back 2005, has become a memorable part of the literary landscape in the early part f this century - some feel that the series' success can very much be laid at the feet of the character of Lisbeth Salander. She is a gifted but troubled character. She makes her own way in the world - most certainly not relying on any prescribed route as she navigates her way through her world. She is androgynous, bisexual, and a badass. She even has a street named after her in Stieg Larsson's Swedish home town - Lisbeth Salander gata. 

Another bisexual woman in popular culture is Diana Prince, or Wonder Woman, as she is otherwise known. Wonder Woman begins her life on the island of Themyscira, a place entirely devoid of men and, as she tells Superman in issue #48 of Sensation Comics when she officiates a wedding for two women, where she comes from it is "not 'gay' marriage. It's just marriage". Also in 2016, the writer, Greg Rucka, explicitly revealed that the character was bisexual. The origins of Wonder Woman, coming as she does from the women-only Themyscirda, mean that she will be free of the heteronormative expectations and point of view. To the writers of Woman Woman it seems obvious that the character will have had lesbian relationships coming, as she does from an island without men. On Themyscira, no men may step foot and anyone that leaves forgets the location of the island, and so it would seem that if the inhabitants of the island are forming relationships then they are lesbian relationships.

It only occurred to me as I was doing the research for this article that I have never read a book in which there featured a memorable trans character! I have to take into consideration that this might say something about how diverse my own bookshelves are, but I think they are still hard to find. I have on my "to read list" The World According to Garp by John Irving and Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, both of which feature trans characters. I know that the characters are out there - as I type in various phrases onto Google and Wikipedia the proffered results confirm this, but I do come away feeling that these characters are still on the fringes. But, I do now have some idea as to the titles I might want to add my bookshelves after those searches!

For a long time, representation of LGBTQ life and love was considered dangerous and subversive. Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray was originally more explicit in its references to gay desire, but these references were censored before publication. Then, as we see in It's A Sin, one hundred years later, we were still bothered by all this. Even today, people seem really quite concerned over the sexuality of other people and "what it all means!"

Representation of relationships, identities, and sexuality, beyond the heteronormative accepted default position that has been depicted in literature for so long, is increasing it seems. As I did my searches in preparation for writing this, it is obvious that the amount and depth of discussion with regards to sexuality and identity has been incrementally increasing over time. And, in the twenty-first century, we are having deeper and better discussions than we have before. However, you only need to take a little look on Twitter and you will see there are still those who don't quite get it. There are still those that think the discussion, the representation, is dangerous and subversive. They don't take into consideration that the literature, the art, the film, the television shows, the discussions, are giving strength to those who have been oppressed and suppressed for too long.

I don't know. I just like books. And, I think a book might be a good place to start!

If you fancy exploring LGBTQ literature a little further, here is a link to a book list from Penguin Random House that you might find interesting, but do explore for yourself too - it's more fun that way!

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/the-ultimate-book-list-for-pride-month

Please do comment and share, if you happen to think that this post is worth commenting on or sharing. I don't pretend to know everything, or to be perfect, so, if you feel I have gotten something wrong here, call me out on it! It's the only way I will learn . . .

It's A Sin is available to watch on All4 streaming service in the UK and HBO Max in America.

Eight Great Reasons to Read Everyday!

 

Personally, I don't need a reason to read, but here are some great reasons as to why I, pretty much all the time, have a book about my person . . .

1. Good for the brain

There are studies that show regular reading can boost brain power. In the same way that exercise at the gym can improve muscle strength, reading regularly can improve brain connectivity. A study in 2013, making use of MRI scans, measured the effect that reading can have on the brain whilst reading. Whilst reading a novel over a period of nine days, it was found that areas of the brain connectivity increased in study participants. It has also been posited that reading often can even slow the process of mental decline that comes with old age!

2. The more kids read, the better they get at reading

This one basically follows the "practice makes perfect" rule of thumb. If children read often, and they read widely, they become better readers. Really, this just makes sense. Every writer has their own style, their own voice, and approaches subject matter from different points of view. They will even make use of different words to convey their messages. Reading widely offers a child more opportunities for discovery essentially - discovery of new words, discovery of different points of view, discovery of different voices . . .

3. Listening and understanding

Following on from number two, what about the benefits of reading to children? Well, when a child has a story read to them it gives them an opportunity to listen and understand. Much is said in the tone of voice, and body language, and so, even when a child doesn't understand every word that is said, they can still come away with an understanding of the story and its structure. It also provides an opportunity for children to ask about words and topics they don't completely understand. And, you know what, it's a great bonding experience - and that goes for people of all ages, reading aloud with anyone of any age can be great!

4. Exercises empathetic understanding

Books provide us the opportunity to immerse ourselves into the experiences of men, women, children, animals, and other beings both real and imaginary. We can read the words of someone who lived centuries ago. We are offered the opportunity to read from the perspective of somebody of a different gender, age, race, cultural experience . . . And, more besides. And, in a way that we can't when we watch a screen, we immerse ourselves into those experiences - our brains building, from the words on the page, the world we are being invited in to.

5. Reading reduces stress

Studies have shown that reading can help to reduce stress. In fact, a study in 2009 found that reading can lower blood pressure and heart rate - it was found that thirty minutes of reading was as effective of thirty minutes of yoga. It may depend somewhat on what you are reading though - probably better to pick up a good novel rather than an online news article (especially with all those negative comments and fighting in the comment thread!).

6. Helps put you to sleep

Well, if it calms you down, it's probably going to be good at putting you in a good place for nodding off too, right? Apart from that though, the brain is good at picking up on cues and, if reading becomes a regular part of your bed time routine, it signals to the brain that it's time to quiet down and get ready for sleep. If you're a fan of e-Readers, it is probably best to read from good old fashioned paper books - light shining into the eyes from a screen isn't good for getting off to sleep.

7. Education

If you're reading non-fiction, this is obvious - there are more books than any one person could ever hope to read in multiple life times, and plenty of books written by experts in their fields. And, lucky us, we have access to that ocean of knowledge for the cost of a pint or two of beer. The difference there being, of course, that the book will hopefully leave your head a better space for having consumed its contents . . . over the beer which will lead to a hangover . . . Yeah . . . Anyway, also bear in mind libraries - lots of free knowledge there. And, even if you are reading fiction, as previously mentioned, there are opportunities for learning about other points of view and life experiences.

8. Better writing skills

One piece of advice that writers often pass on to other writers is to read, read, read, and then read some more. In his book, On Writing, Stephen King tells us, "If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write." And, I mean, that makes sense, right? As a writer, words are your tools, and if you read, you gain a better understanding of those tools, and how to effectively make use of them. It gives you the opportunity to broaden your understanding and, even if you aren't aiming for becoming a best selling author, leaves you better at being able to communicate and convey thoughts, feelings, and ideas through the written word.

So, now that you've plenty of good reasons, what are you going to read now?

Brave New World Revisited

 In 1932, Aldous Huxley's most well known novel, Brave New World, depicted a dystopian future society that was controlled using sophisticated methods. 

At the end of the 1950's, Huxley revisited the topics that he had touched on in that novel with Brave New World Revisited. This work, rather than being a work of fiction, is an examination of Brave New World and essay on those issues that he had visited in that novel. From the very beginning, he argues that many of the predictions and prophecies he had made in his most famous work were uncomfortably closer than he imagined they would be so soon. And, with Huxley discussing topics such as overpopulation, drug use, and how ideas are sold to the masses, this work, like Brave New World, is very much still a relevant read. There is much in our world - the political landscape, advertising, social media - that you might be able to see in Huxley's predictions. He didn't get it exactly spot on but, in a world where many of us are slaves to algorithms and what's trending, he wasn't too far of the mark.

I don't know about you, but I see a lot of the Brave New World in us today - when I take to social media and I see people, with blinkers on, defending the political parties and/or figures that they have aligned themselves with, without criticism, I think of Brave New World. When I watch films like The Social Dilemma - detailing how we are manipulated by today's technology - I think of Brave New World. And, there is a discussion to be had about whether or not we have become too dependent on medication to fix our ills and woes - which, yeah, you guessed it, brings to mind elements of Brave New World for me.

Huxley once said, “Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make their life full, significant, and interesting.” And, in my personal opinion, you get some of that from reading Huxley. This is my fourth post about a Huxley work, and I make no apologies for that. 

In twelve years, it will be one hundred years since Brave New World was published. Who knows where society will be there by then . . .

When discussing famous dystopian novels, people often contrast and compare Brave New World with Orwell's 1984, asking the question, which one are we more likely to be heading towards. Personally, I can see elements of both in our world. What about you? What do you think?

Links to other posts about Huxley works -

https://monstareader.blogspot.com/2021/02/mescaline-and-mysticism.html

https://monstareader.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-devils-of-loudon-by-aldous-huxley.html

https://monstareader.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-perennial-philosophy.html

Mescaline and Mysticism

 The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

This blog is in serious danger of becoming a little Huxley-heavy! But, personally, I have no problem with that and have some pride in the fact that, of the three blog posts I have published on Huxley's books, Brave New World has only come up in passing. But, that's the little literary snob in me, so perhaps it's best to move on.

In 1953, Aldous Huxley (pictured above, 1931) took four-tenths of a gram of mescaline and waited to see what would happen. In The Doors of Perception he described the effects of this experiment. And it is a beautifully written account of the visionary experience ever written.

Aldous Huxley was a man interested in mysticism and what Meister Eckhart called "istigkeit", or the is-ness of things, and he explores this in this account. Through this account, we learn that when Huxley took that dose of mescaline, the active principle of the cactus peyote, he saw through the everyday surface of things and "istigkeit" of all about him. 

Personally, The Doors of Perception, is just as memorable and important to me as Brave New World. It is not just the telling of a giggly and trippy day spent on an hallucinogen, but a work exploring mysticism, the deeper meanings and beauty behind the mundanities of life, and how we use mood and mind altering substances. A subject that Huxley was obviously interested in - remember soma from Brave New World.

Through Huxley, we are shown how this experience offered insight into the universe about him. The universe about us. As I said, this is not the account of a trippy hippie afternoon on acid - I mean, look at that picture above! The man was an intellectual with a keen interest in what intrigued him. Huxley's account of the experiment on mescaline is well written and well worth the read. It is a telling that tells of an experience in which the veil fell away and the inner, deeper, richer, and wonderful is-ness of existence was revealed to a mind on survival mode, a mind worn by the mundane. An experience where the beauty in the crease in a trouser leg is obvious. 

Read it - you'll understand.

Available for purchase here (Disclosure: if you make a purchase through links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the seller, but that does not influence the content of this blog).

Fun Facts

- The band, The Doors, named themselves after this book, and it earned Huxley his place, amongst many other public figures, on the cover of The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

- Huxley died on the same day that JFK was assassinated - 22 November, 1963. It is also the same day that C. S. Lewis died. Both authors' deaths received little attention because of the tragic shooting and murder of the thirty-fifth President of the United States.

- Huxley died of cancer and, on his death bed, he asked his wife to inject him with LSD. This is how he passed out of the world. Accounts say he left this life peacefully, a 'good death'. After a dose of 100 milligrams, his wife asked him if he would like more, he nodded in assent, and she injected a further 100 milligrams.

The Devils of Loudon by Aldous Huxley

 A true story of supposed demon possession in seventeenth century France

Urbain Grandier, a priest of the parish of Loudon, was burned at the stake in 1634. Despite his being a holy man, he also had desires for the flesh and was a seducer of women. This trait eventually brought a conspiracy against him, a conspiracy that took him to the stake.

He was, in 1634, found guilty of causing the possession of a Prioress and her nuns by devils.

In this telling of the events at Loudon in the seventeenth century, Huxley tells of the events that lead to Grandier's torture and death. Events that seem to have less to do with witchcraft and demon possession and more to do with human jealousies, sexuality, superstition, and hatred.

The Devils of Loudon is not one of Huxley's better known books but is most definitely worth the reading. Before I read this book, I was unsure as to whether I would be interested by the topic of the book. However, I have a lot of time for Huxley and gave the book a chance. And, I was not disappointed. Huxley, a man who was drawn to mysticism, the religious, and human nature, handles each of these and more in this telling of the events surrounding the priest's death and the most sensational case of supposed possession in history.

I may be a tad bias - as I say, I have a lot of time for Huxley - but I would recommend this book. If you have read Brave New World and you are considering giving another of Huxley's books ago, I can't promise that you will find this book intriguing and interesting. It is a very different kind of book. But, for those interested in human nature, witchcraft, religiosity, and human malice, you could do worse than read this book.

The Perennial Philosophy

 A little Huxley

The Perennial Philosophy isn't one of Aldous Huxley's best known works. And, for those thinking of trying others of his titles because they liked Brave New World might be a little disappointed by this book.

In this exploration of all the great world religions - and the scriptures, teachers, and teachings of said religions - Huxley looks at the basic unifying beliefs that lie beneath. It does become apparent, as the book takes in different aspects of religious belief and practice, that the major religions have unifying beliefs in the human attempt to find Truth and ultimate Reality. Reality with a capital R. Truth with a capital T.

In The Perennial Philosophy Huxley's observations are supported by quotes from great and notable mystics and theologians, and religious works and scriptures. 

Huxley himself was personally interested in mysticism and universalism, or the perennial philosophy. When analysing others of his works, there are traces of these philosophies in his writing. 

Huxley invested time and effort into learning about, and later teaching on, eastern religions and philosophies, particularly the Vedanta. He learned meditation and spiritual practice from a swami. He later took mescaline, and believed the experience to be one of clarifying and profound insight into the truth of reality (see The Doors of Perception).

However, Huxley was an intellectual and much more agnostic than a mystic. Because of this, he wasn't fully able to embrace the life of a man immersed into an institutional religion. 

When reading The Perennial Philosophy, I came away, as I have when I have read other of Huxley's books, that this is the work of someone trying to seek out the right way, or the best way. That this is a work interested in trying to discover what it is, not just to be human, but what it is to be good, to be fulfilled. I also come away with the feeling that this is the work of a man seeking something deeper than what lay on the surface of things, and for that I have a lot of time indeed.

I am a big fan of Huxley's writing. I have a lot of time for them and recommend them to you.

Shakespeare . . . I mean, that's it. No more introduction needed.

 Sonnets

Shakespeare is a writer that you have to read at school. We all have to do it - Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth etc. We learn that Shakespeare is a writer to be studied, not enjoyed. Of course, it doesn't help that, his English being the English of the sixteenth century, his work requires some deciphering.

I haven't started on the positives, have I?

Well, I am just trying to be honest. I mean, I think I was put off the works of Shakespeare because of those reasons, and it took me a while to realise that Shakespeare's work can be enjoyed and appreciated just as any other writer's work. Shakespeare's work isn't meant to be studied, it is meant to be felt. 

My advice would be to not let any of those reasons deter you from reading Shakespeare. Read his writing for yourself, decide for yourself.

Shakespeare's reach can't be denied. And, it is understandable. He used the language well, and his sonnets are the perfect example of this.

Shakespeare's sonnets are musical and haunting. They fall through the centuries and land delicately in the twenty-first, sending out ripples. Though, perhaps that isn't quite the image to call to mind - ripples fade away, right? I am not sure that Shakespeare will.

Oh, I don't know. The sonnets are beautiful. Some of them, or bits of them anyway, you will recognise. Others, you won't. But they really are beautiful - some of the finest poetry ever written. 

These are not original sentiments. However, they are accurate, in my opinion.

All that can really be said is that you should read Shakespeare for yourself. Decide for yourself. Don't let the dusty English lessons put you off. And, the sonnets are an excellent place to start.

If I could offer some advice, I would say, read them aloud to yourself - feel the words in your mouth and how they fall together. Read them with your heartbeat. And, give each individual sonnet the time and attention it deserves. They can be read one after the other, but they are better appreciated when read slowly and given the attention that they command. And, if you stumble over an archaic word or two, take the time to find out its meaning, then go back and read the sonnet again. Take the time.

This blog is not for the academics. Definitely not. But, you know what, Shakespeare's works and plays were not just for the academics - he wrote to entertain the people.

Well Versed

Diary of a Church Mouse by Sir John Betjeman

I am not particularly well versed in poetry. I couldn't quote lines from Robert Browning at the drop of a hat, nor could I give an academic or intellectual analysis on the works of Walter de la Mere. However, I can sometimes be found dipping my toes into poetic waters and, if the waters feel good . . . yes, well, not entirely sure where I am going with this but . . . something about wading right in . . .

Ahem!

Anyway, at first glance Diary of a Church Mouse by Betjeman may come across as just being a playful little poem about the days of the titular little creature. In fact, with its AABBCC, and so on, rhyming couplets and rhythmic bounce, when I first read it, that is all that I expected it to be as I slowly made my way into the poem. However, as you read further you find a cynical and satirical undertone.

The poem tells the story of the mouse that lives in the church of the title. In the first part of the poem, which is sixty-two lines in length and made up of one stanza, a description is made of the little mouse's situation. We find that his is a solitary existence and he makes with the food that he can find.

So far, so sweet . . .if you like mice. Which I do.

Reading further, we find, through the innocent eyes of the mouse, observations being made of the churchgoers and their ways. And it is here we find the satire creeping in - critiquing those who portray themselves as being more devout than perhaps they truly are . . .

This really is a pleasant poem and would be one of those that I would recommend to those that don't really read poetry in general. It is fun to read and funny too!

Please do, go find out this poem for yourself!

I would like to end here by passing on some advice concerning poetry that I came across myself - when you read poetry, it is best to read it aloud.

Vampires, Vampires, Vampires

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Vampires keep coming back around. It doesn't matter how much garlic you hang at your windows or if you wear a crucifix upon your person. There is Dracula, Twilight, Let The Right One In, the Hammer Horror films, Buffy the Vampire Slayer etc. etc. etc.

And they keep on a-comin'!

Stephen King's second novel, 'Salem's Lot, poses the question, what might happen if an ancient vampire came to a sleepy little town in America? How would that go?

Well, as it turns out, vampires could probably thrive pretty darn well in your little town, thank you very much. And, you probably wouldn't notice all that much amiss until it was a tad too late for you to do anything about it. You would, I am afraid, most likely end up dead or undead.

Sorry.

I know that some are probably ready to shove a stake through the heart of every vampire book and/or film out there and watch the genre die already - I have never gone anywhere near the Twilight series personally - but, if you have never read 'Salem's Lot, it is worth a read. 

King's vampires are right out of the Dracula mold. Apparently (and I read this on Wikipedia, so...), the idea for the novel was sparked when he, during a conversation with his wife, Tabitha King, was inspired to ponder how things might turn out if Dracula were to appear in modern America. The America of the late twentieth century.

The vampires of the story are quite at home in an American small town. And the story is just as much about the small town of the twentieth century. With characters in the novel being typically important figures of the typical small town - a teacher, a priest, a doctor, a police chief - the book could be read as an allegory concerning the fears of becoming obsolete and small towns, and the people that live and work in them, dying out and struggling with unknown entities from the world outside.

Or perhaps it could just be read as a scary vampire story. That is entirely up to you. Either way, I imagine you will enjoy it.

And, for those a tad tired of vampire stories right now, maybe give it some time. 

But 'Salem's Lot is a good 'un.

Available to purchase here (Disclosure: if you make a purchase through links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the seller, but that does not influence the content of this blog).

A Few Lessons for our Times

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

I have read this book twice now. And, on the second reading I found myself approaching the text with a touch more of a critical eye. However, this may be because I was bringing my own set of beliefs and life experiences to what the author, Yuval Noah Harari had been trying to say. At the end of the book, even he admits that his writing may have been coloured by his own experiences and approach to life, that what has worked for him may not work for you. So, perhaps he would forgive me admitting that some passages made me feel a tad defensive with regards to some of my on points of view. However, having said that, I am aware that any defensiveness I felt arose in myself, not from what was written on the page.

Reading Harari's work can be uncomfortable. He tells of the routes that our nations and societies could take - hypotheses based on historical, political, sociological and technological facts - and warns that we may be heading towards greater disconnect. There may be a disconnect between us as individuals, a disconnect between ourselves and those that sell to us, between ourselves and politics, our nations, our ideals... Really. We could be in for an awful lot of disconnect. We may even be heading towards a greater disconnect from ourselves. Knowing less and less about who we are.

Like I said, it can be an uncomfortable read.

But, Harari hasn't written this book, one feels, so that he can make a few bucks off of people's fears. Within the warnings of a lack of connection is a message. The message is that we should be wary of these disconnects, that we should be aware of what is real and what are merely stories told us to make products, policies, ideals, religions a better sell. Within the pages of this book there is the message that we need not despair over the state of the world - if we can better connect, firstly with ourselves and our reality, we need not fear the hands that might seek to exploit us for their own ends quite so much. Perhaps even, not at all.

So, to conclude, I recommend this book to those that might perhaps wish to try and make sense of the world, though if you do, leave your ego at the door. The author is has shone a light on the holes in many an ideology throughout the course of the book. Perhaps even one or two that you hold, or have held, dear. But, that's kind of the point(ish). No ideology should be above inspection or critique and those that are held up to be so are some of the most dangerous that exist and have ever existed. I recommend you this book, I recommend that you make up your own minds, I recommend that if this all sounds like bullcrap to you that you throw your device to one side in disgust and go do something else.

On a not entirely unrelated note, below is a picture of a rose. I took this picture when out walking not too long ago. The rose looks beautiful in the picture. But the picture does little to represent the feel of the petals or the absolute gorgeousness of it's scent. That rose is perfect. It is what it is and it resists nothing in it's nature and it is beautiful in it's nature. Take this book out on a walk, read it on a bench and if you pass a rose stop and smell it. You will, I believe, feel all the better for it.

(Please note, in my mind, the beauty of the rose and the message in this book are related. To you, however, it may seem that I have descended into gobbledygook. And that's just fine.)

Available to purchase here (Disclosure: if you make a purchase through links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the seller, but that does not influence the content of this blog).

The Ups and Downs of MDT-48

The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn

The Dark Fields is the thriller upon which the film Limitless (2011), starring Bradley Cooper, was based. And I say that the film was based upon, rather than adapted from, the book because, although you will be able to recognise one in the other for their similarities, the film did not follow the plot of the book strictly. Whether you prefer the book or the screen adaptation is, of course, entirely up to you.

The main character, Eddie Spinola, is a bit of an underachiever and fairly down on himself. He has a failed marriage behind him, a history with drugs and doesn't have the healthiest diet. After running into somebody from his past he begins using a drug called MDT-48, an experimental drug that benefits its user with enhanced cognitive abilities and has his brain functioning with perfect efficiency.

From here, Eddie goes on to use his new found intelligence, clarity and motivation to overcome many of the little obstacles his lifestyle has put before him. Then he goes further and amasses a small fortune for himself through trading stocks. However, the drug does not come without its side effects and before too long they make themselves apparent in the form of blackouts. As we progress through the novel we find that the side effects, and the effects of withdrawal from the drug, can be very dangerous for all concerned which leads to the protagonist asking himself some very searching questions.

The themes covered in the novel include drug use, mental health/well being, relationships and the corporate world (in particular, the world of trading). This thriller has plenty of action and suspense to keep the reader interested but it also asks questions.

At the heart of this novel is a theme that is as relevant today as it ever has been and is ever likely to be - people's desire for a quick fix. It can be what makes the drug user use, or the drinker drink or the protagonist use a drug that switches on his brain. Even though it is killing him.

The quick fix, a miraculous transformation, is appealing to the best of us (just think about all those diet books that promise the best results in just weeks!), but they rarely work as well we hope. Much better the route that asks a bit more from us. Of course, we don't want the main characters in our novels to learn these questions too easily - our books would be rather dull! We have them live out these struggles so that we might not have too, yet still learn the lessons those experiences give.

So, yeah. Beware of those that promise the quick fix! 

I Want to Share a Secret

IT by Stephen King

He is one of the wealthiest and most famous authors of our time, he has seen his works adapted for both the big and small screen and has authored close to a hundred works. You can guarantee that fledgling writers will at some point have come across his work, held up as a shining example of modern literature. And, though he is mostly associated with the genre of horror he has also penned works that show his versatility and that have demonstrated he is just a damned good storyteller.

Oh, and, I have read about five of his novels...

Yeah. I couldn't really believe that I had read so few of Stephen King's novels either. To make things worse, I read most of those years ago when I was a teenager ,and I haven't sought to discover more of  his literary output in the intervening years which see me creeping towards old-fartdom. I do not know why, of all the things that I became excited about as an adolescent, I didn't ride a wave of joy and pleasure when reading Stephen King's novels and make much more of a dent in the list of his works available to me as a reader...

Why am I saying this now, at the age of thirty-*cough, cough*?

Well, I recently immersed myself in his novel, IT. This is probably because of the film series which, based on the 1986 novel, concluded last year and had caught my eye when I saw it advertised. I mean, Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise is striking enough to stick around in the mind for a while...

Coming back to Stephen King's works I rediscovered just how great the man is at crafting a story, creating characters that are fleshed out and believable and a world in which the reader can immerse themselves. He does what all great writers achieve, which is to create his stories so well that the readers can become lost in them. There are no irritants such as poor dialogue or information dumps to wade through that get in the way of the story. And, at close to around 1,070 pages, in my opinion, it is a very good thing that it never felt like a chore to read any of this book.

I have since purchased a few more of Mr. King's novels and intend to discover more of his books because I have some catching up to do. I let them go as a teenager and I don't think I should have. The stories are really well written, the characters are so well created that you could swear they are real and the stories stick with you after the book is finished. Also, perhaps most importantly, when I read a Stephen King book, I can tell that there is something there underneath the story, something about being human, something good.

I will be reading the novels I have yet to read and re-reading the ones I read years ago very soon.

Oh, by the way, if you really want to know something surprising, I have never even held a Harry Potter book in my hands. Not once!

Available to purchase here (Disclosure: if you make a purchase through links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the seller, but that does not influence the contents of this blog).

Who Wants To Be A Writer?

The Five-Minute Writer by Margaret Geraghty

Margaret Geraghty has been inspiring students of the written word for over twenty years. She has run writing workshops, written for magazines (Writing Magazine and Writers' News) and authored books detailing techniques on how to characters, dialogues and plots. As if that weren't enough, she also has a degree in psychology which probably comes in handy when discussing the development of characters and their motivations and driving force.

Her book, The Five-Minute Writer, was gifted to me by a family member because it is well known amongst those close to me that I have a keen interest in prose and poetry, both as a fan and intrepid (though, as yet, unpublished) creator. The purpose of the book is to inspire you to write, as simple as that.

Each chapter discusses a writing-related topic - how to describe details and peculiarities, naming characters, and how to find triggers for writing, amongst many other topics - and each chapter ends with an exercise that, as the title of the book suggests, should take five minutes (or so) each. The idea being, I suppose, that it is better to spend at least five minutes a day, rather that no time at all, contemplating and considering one's writing. 

As somebody interested in writing, someone who has hopes of seeing some of his literary pursuits in print some day, I welcome any and all endeavours that may lead to an inspiration to write. And, having said that, I have nothing but praise for Margaret Geraghty's book and am glad I spent time reading it and undertaking the exercises therein. It has lead to my having a file on my laptop that is absolutely full (well, perhaps not absolutely full, but more than enough to be going on with) of ideas for short stories, a novel, poetry, articles etc. And, since the purpose of the book is to inspire, I can only say that, in my opinion, the author has done exactly as she set out to do and done so very well indeed.

I would recommend this book to any and all aspiring writers and, if this book is anything to go by, think it shall probably worth the time to check out other books by the same author ( More Five-Minute Writing and The Novelist's Guide).

Available for purchase here (Disclosure: if you purchase through links in this blog, I may earn a commission, but that does not influence the contents of this blog).