Leni Zumas's writing crackles. Her books are sharp, bleak, funny, and possibly dangerous. When her collection of short stories, Farewell Navigator,...
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One Monday morning, 50-something Mr. Phillips sets off for work as usual - but having been "made redundant" the previous Friday, has nowhere to go. He's told no one about the loss of his job, and goes through the motions of his daily commute, until on a whim the gets off his train and spends the day tramping around London.
We follow Mr. Phillips as he encounters the religious of all persuasions, ill-dressed students, a brainstorming pornographer, a TV broadcaster he has long harboured a crush on, a team of bank robbers, his oldest son at work, and others going about their business. All the time, he muses about his life, past, present, and future, a little lost, but trying to move on by instinct.
John Lanchester's comic novel is by turns sad (especially for the middle-aged reader!), hopeful, erotic, and funny.
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Even if you've never had the slightest interest in going to Paris, if you're a writer, you should get this book. Maisel is talking to writers as a writer on several planes - yes, he's saying you can and should go spend time in Paris to write, as an act of committment to your writing. He loves the City of Light and has spent a lot of time there writing himself. But he knows not everyone can, or desires to, go to Paris (though he gives plenty of information showing that it doesn't require $millions) - he also points out that it's the "Paris attitude" - the attitude of the city itself - toward creative people and effort - that can infuse your writing and your life with new fire and spirit. So if you can't or don't care to go there, go somewhere else you've always wanted to visit - as long as you go to write, not to tourist - and live there for as long as you can.
He goes further: If you can't go anywhere, feed the writer in your soul at home: flaneur along the streets of your own town; dedicate more time to your writing - make the writing schedule you would in Paris. Open your eyes to your own, familiar, city, as you would to Paris.
Now I have always yearned to go to Paris but it always seemed like an expensive daydream beyond my reach forever. But following the internet links Maisel provides, I have learned that Paris really is affordable, if you're willing to live modestly. For example, in an apartment of maybe 215 square feet (20 m2) or smaller...it would be even cheaper if you're willing to take an apartment 4 or 5 floors up without an elevator (think of the great exercise!). Who needs a huge apartment when you're going to be out strolling around the city and writing all day most days, with the whole place as your front room, the parks as your courtyard, the bookstalls and bookstores as your library? This is a whole different way of life, of thinking about your writing, your dwelling, what you can do. It might just change your idea of what life is about.
A WRITER'S PARIS is more than anything a guidebook to possibility. Give your writer self a little vacation, a little vision: read this book.
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Terry has commented on (2) products.
Mr. Phillips by John Lanchester
Terry, March 7, 2007
One Monday morning, 50-something Mr. Phillips sets off for work as usual - but having been "made redundant" the previous Friday, has nowhere to go. He's told no one about the loss of his job, and goes through the motions of his daily commute, until on a whim the gets off his train and spends the day tramping around London.We follow Mr. Phillips as he encounters the religious of all persuasions, ill-dressed students, a brainstorming pornographer, a TV broadcaster he has long harboured a crush on, a team of bank robbers, his oldest son at work, and others going about their business. All the time, he muses about his life, past, present, and future, a little lost, but trying to move on by instinct.
John Lanchester's comic novel is by turns sad (especially for the middle-aged reader!), hopeful, erotic, and funny.
(0 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
A Writer's Paris: A Guided Journey for the Creative Soul by Eric Maisel
Terry, April 12, 2006
Even if you've never had the slightest interest in going to Paris, if you're a writer, you should get this book. Maisel is talking to writers as a writer on several planes - yes, he's saying you can and should go spend time in Paris to write, as an act of committment to your writing. He loves the City of Light and has spent a lot of time there writing himself. But he knows not everyone can, or desires to, go to Paris (though he gives plenty of information showing that it doesn't require $millions) - he also points out that it's the "Paris attitude" - the attitude of the city itself - toward creative people and effort - that can infuse your writing and your life with new fire and spirit. So if you can't or don't care to go there, go somewhere else you've always wanted to visit - as long as you go to write, not to tourist - and live there for as long as you can.He goes further: If you can't go anywhere, feed the writer in your soul at home: flaneur along the streets of your own town; dedicate more time to your writing - make the writing schedule you would in Paris. Open your eyes to your own, familiar, city, as you would to Paris.
Now I have always yearned to go to Paris but it always seemed like an expensive daydream beyond my reach forever. But following the internet links Maisel provides, I have learned that Paris really is affordable, if you're willing to live modestly. For example, in an apartment of maybe 215 square feet (20 m2) or smaller...it would be even cheaper if you're willing to take an apartment 4 or 5 floors up without an elevator (think of the great exercise!). Who needs a huge apartment when you're going to be out strolling around the city and writing all day most days, with the whole place as your front room, the parks as your courtyard, the bookstalls and bookstores as your library? This is a whole different way of life, of thinking about your writing, your dwelling, what you can do. It might just change your idea of what life is about.
A WRITER'S PARIS is more than anything a guidebook to possibility. Give your writer self a little vacation, a little vision: read this book.
(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)