A different take on the detective story. Set in 1719 during the South Sea Stock Bubble Crisis, A Conspiracy of Paper follows a former boxer as he tries to solve the murder of his father during the first days of the English stock market. Quite different, and not bad for a first-time novelist, either, assuming you like the genre.
Still, the best period thriller I've read in the last few years must be The World At Night by Alan Furst.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Sleeping, Writing, Reading
Went to the doctor this week to see about my insomnia. It was crazy bad -- inability to fall asleep, waking up with night terrors and winter itch, staggering through days half-asleep. About the only thing missing was bed-wetting and waking up with a horse's head under the blanket (Godfather reference, not sexual enuendo (not that I'm above it or anything). It's been going on for months. Dr. B. prescribed Ambien, and yes, folks, it works like a dream. After three nights, I don't need the help falling asleep anymore. I'll save the rest for spot treatment when I can't sleep. Huzza. Wack me upside the head with a pill and everything goes back to normal. I LOVE SCIENCE!
I've been writing more regularly. I may send out some pages to friends in a week or two. It's been a long time since I had three sessions in a week. I am hopeful. I'm also thinking of Podcasting chapters as I go along. I usually read out loud for errors and flow, so why not?
I've been reading more as well. Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking and Patchett's Truth & Beauty. While I usually read for art's sake, I found both books to be profoundly helpful on a personal level. Friends, co-workers and family have all hinted I've been pretty fucked up about something for a long time, or just flat-out accused me. And I have. These books, on pretty sad subjects I might add, helped me deal with some of my own crap. If you're dying with curiosity, call and I'll explain. Or read the books and speculate amongst yourselves.
Good God, Ann Patchett can write. I wish she would have had more of Elizabeth McCracken in T&B. E.M. taught a semester at Iowa, and I loved her class (and her). Sadly, I screwed up royally with E. She was coming to Detroit, and I made plans to meet with her, only to come down with the flu so badly I missed her visit without so much as a word from me. If anyone out there runs into her, please tell Elizabeth Johnny W. is very sorry. I'd be very grateful, and in return, she'll give you a very puzzled look. Whooooo????
Off to bed.
I've been writing more regularly. I may send out some pages to friends in a week or two. It's been a long time since I had three sessions in a week. I am hopeful. I'm also thinking of Podcasting chapters as I go along. I usually read out loud for errors and flow, so why not?
I've been reading more as well. Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking and Patchett's Truth & Beauty. While I usually read for art's sake, I found both books to be profoundly helpful on a personal level. Friends, co-workers and family have all hinted I've been pretty fucked up about something for a long time, or just flat-out accused me. And I have. These books, on pretty sad subjects I might add, helped me deal with some of my own crap. If you're dying with curiosity, call and I'll explain. Or read the books and speculate amongst yourselves.
Good God, Ann Patchett can write. I wish she would have had more of Elizabeth McCracken in T&B. E.M. taught a semester at Iowa, and I loved her class (and her). Sadly, I screwed up royally with E. She was coming to Detroit, and I made plans to meet with her, only to come down with the flu so badly I missed her visit without so much as a word from me. If anyone out there runs into her, please tell Elizabeth Johnny W. is very sorry. I'd be very grateful, and in return, she'll give you a very puzzled look. Whooooo????
Off to bed.
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