Mary Lambeth Moore's Blog
July 18, 2013
Choi's "My Education" - remarkable achievement
Just posted a fairly long review of Susan Choi's new novel, MY EDUCATION. The phrase "remarkable achievement" is overused, but this is a case where it's just the truth.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
February 25, 2013
Thinking about genre and movie stars
Participating in my first blog hop! Authors all over the U.S. are answering the same 10 questions, including the ideal cast for the movie version of your book. For Sleeping with Patty Hearst, I'm choosing terrific actors who are North Carolina born and raised.
I also talk about the genre of my book. Are you willing to read off-genre? Here's an excerpt:
"I wonder how many people will stop reading right here if I confess that Sleeping with Patty Hearst is a literary novel? In the crazy world of book promotion, “literary” is the label of death, but it seems disingenuous to me to file this novel under “romance,” and not quite right to call it “women’s fiction,” because I hear from so many men who like the book. ... I’ve observed that my most avid readers seem to be people who gravitate toward the quirky and who don't mind reading off-genre."
Read more at http://bit.ly/15BAjsd
I also talk about the genre of my book. Are you willing to read off-genre? Here's an excerpt:
"I wonder how many people will stop reading right here if I confess that Sleeping with Patty Hearst is a literary novel? In the crazy world of book promotion, “literary” is the label of death, but it seems disingenuous to me to file this novel under “romance,” and not quite right to call it “women’s fiction,” because I hear from so many men who like the book. ... I’ve observed that my most avid readers seem to be people who gravitate toward the quirky and who don't mind reading off-genre."
Read more at http://bit.ly/15BAjsd
July 25, 2012
J. D. Salinger's Loves
Last night I posted a short review of Kenneth Slawenski's biography of J.D. Salinger. I didn't love the book itself, but of course everything about Salinger is fascinating.
Salinger was reclusive for decades, but he almost always had a woman in his life, and almost always someone considerably younger. His first love was Oona O'Neill, daughter of Eugene O'Neill -- Oona ultimately broke it off with Salinger and married Charlie Chaplain. (It's interesting that Salinger's third wife also had the last name O'Neill.)
I've made a Pinterest board with photos of the major women in Salinger's life and brief comments. If you're interested, you can take a look here:
http://pinterest.com/sleepingwpatty/j...
Salinger was reclusive for decades, but he almost always had a woman in his life, and almost always someone considerably younger. His first love was Oona O'Neill, daughter of Eugene O'Neill -- Oona ultimately broke it off with Salinger and married Charlie Chaplain. (It's interesting that Salinger's third wife also had the last name O'Neill.)
I've made a Pinterest board with photos of the major women in Salinger's life and brief comments. If you're interested, you can take a look here:
http://pinterest.com/sleepingwpatty/j...
May 9, 2012
Blonde - Marilyn Monroe Imagined
Can't wait to read this novel by Joyce Carol Oates (published 2001). Here's an excerpt from NPR reviewer Manuel Munoz:
"BLONDE mimics the large scope of a biography: We get her life and death, as well as the rise and fall of her stardom, and our curiosity is sated by the language of tabloid, and the privacy of diaries. Flamboyant and energetic, the novel assembles everything from gossip to pinups to present the life of a woman who, in the end, was overshadowed by her onscreen persona.
Oates knows what attracts us to the life of a star: We get the humble beginnings, the first foray into modeling and then the streak of luck that brings the bigger-than-life movie roles (a cameo in All About Eve, a major lead in the potboiler Niagara and her triumph in Some Like It Hot). Monroe's marriages to Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio are given wide space as well, and these are the sections where Oates best shows us how Monroe valiantly tried to become a self-determined woman, even when the men in her life wouldn't allow it."
See complete interview at http://n.pr/IDyz5e.
"BLONDE mimics the large scope of a biography: We get her life and death, as well as the rise and fall of her stardom, and our curiosity is sated by the language of tabloid, and the privacy of diaries. Flamboyant and energetic, the novel assembles everything from gossip to pinups to present the life of a woman who, in the end, was overshadowed by her onscreen persona.
Oates knows what attracts us to the life of a star: We get the humble beginnings, the first foray into modeling and then the streak of luck that brings the bigger-than-life movie roles (a cameo in All About Eve, a major lead in the potboiler Niagara and her triumph in Some Like It Hot). Monroe's marriages to Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio are given wide space as well, and these are the sections where Oates best shows us how Monroe valiantly tried to become a self-determined woman, even when the men in her life wouldn't allow it."
See complete interview at http://n.pr/IDyz5e.
March 31, 2012
Book Clubs - No Two are Alike
Once I remember saying to a teacher friend, "You must really like children."
"I like SOME children," she corrected me.
I nearly started this post by saying, "I love book clubs," but the truth is I find all book clubs interesting. I've visited a number now, and there is no way to generalize... comparing one to another is like comparing Belgium to Mexico.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking to the Wonderland Book Club, a literary group sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network* and facilitated by the poet and writing guru, Alice Osborn. The topic was my novel, Sleeping with Patty Hearst, but we talked about all kinds of things:
- the way our culture loves celebrity artists but doesn't support creative pursuits (or even reading!);
- the difficulty of ending a story;
- notorious key parties/spouse swapping of the 1970s; and
- writers' colonies (one of the members has been to MacDowell** three times, including once when Tillie Olsen was there - I found that fascinating);
*Note to writers: NCNW is a great resource no matter where you live.
**http://www.macdowellcolony.org/
The Wonderland group meets for two hours, and I went in worried about how to fill any awkward silences. I shouldn't have worried; this was a thoughtful, articulate group with lots of hard questions (the best kind). The time flew by, and several of us were still talking a half hour after the meeting was officially over.
This would have been fun under any circumstances, but to top it off, I had a surprise visitor. About halfway through the meeting, author Andy Holloman (SHADES OF GRAY) and his son walked in with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Lately most of my surprises haven't been that great, so this was a nice change. I'm a sucker for flowers, especially surprise flowers.
There's a picture on the Sleeping with Patty Hearst Facebook page ...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleepi...
Looking forward to more book clubs in the coming weeks. I haven't tried one by Skype yet, but I'm game if anyone's interested.
"I like SOME children," she corrected me.
I nearly started this post by saying, "I love book clubs," but the truth is I find all book clubs interesting. I've visited a number now, and there is no way to generalize... comparing one to another is like comparing Belgium to Mexico.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking to the Wonderland Book Club, a literary group sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network* and facilitated by the poet and writing guru, Alice Osborn. The topic was my novel, Sleeping with Patty Hearst, but we talked about all kinds of things:
- the way our culture loves celebrity artists but doesn't support creative pursuits (or even reading!);
- the difficulty of ending a story;
- notorious key parties/spouse swapping of the 1970s; and
- writers' colonies (one of the members has been to MacDowell** three times, including once when Tillie Olsen was there - I found that fascinating);
*Note to writers: NCNW is a great resource no matter where you live.
**http://www.macdowellcolony.org/
The Wonderland group meets for two hours, and I went in worried about how to fill any awkward silences. I shouldn't have worried; this was a thoughtful, articulate group with lots of hard questions (the best kind). The time flew by, and several of us were still talking a half hour after the meeting was officially over.
This would have been fun under any circumstances, but to top it off, I had a surprise visitor. About halfway through the meeting, author Andy Holloman (SHADES OF GRAY) and his son walked in with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Lately most of my surprises haven't been that great, so this was a nice change. I'm a sucker for flowers, especially surprise flowers.
There's a picture on the Sleeping with Patty Hearst Facebook page ...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleepi...
Looking forward to more book clubs in the coming weeks. I haven't tried one by Skype yet, but I'm game if anyone's interested.
March 22, 2012
The Girl in the Box
Just received a copy of The Girl in the Box from the Canadian author and new friend, Sheila Dalton.
This literary novel involves a mute Mayan girl held captive in a Guatemalan jungle, a psychoanalyst, and a journalist. Sounds intense and very compelling.
Publishers Weekly: "In a series of deftly handled flashbacks, this novel ... successfully juggles themes involving relationships, commitment, professional jealousy, and helplessness i the face of international issues."
Can't wait to read and review this one!
This literary novel involves a mute Mayan girl held captive in a Guatemalan jungle, a psychoanalyst, and a journalist. Sounds intense and very compelling.
Publishers Weekly: "In a series of deftly handled flashbacks, this novel ... successfully juggles themes involving relationships, commitment, professional jealousy, and helplessness i the face of international issues."
Can't wait to read and review this one!
March 18, 2012
Sherrie Dillard, psychic and author
I see that my favorite intuitive person, Sherrie Dillard has just joined Goodreads -- welcome, Sherrie! Sherrie is author of Discover Your Psychic Type, Love and Intuition and The Miracle Workers Handbook: Seven Levels of Power and Manifestation of the Virgin Mary. Look her up!
March 13, 2012
Sleeping with Patty Hearst - book club pick for 3/30
My first community book club gig! On Friday, March 30, I'll be joining the Wonderland Book Club as they discuss Sleeping with Patty Hearst. 10 AM til noon.
Open to the public, refreshments served. Sponsored by the wonderful North Carolina Writers' Network and facilitated by poet and writer, Alice Osborn.
For more information: http://bit.ly/Apf0gM
Open to the public, refreshments served. Sponsored by the wonderful North Carolina Writers' Network and facilitated by poet and writer, Alice Osborn.
For more information: http://bit.ly/Apf0gM
February 26, 2012
Kindle Giveaway Ends at Midnight
The Kindle Giveaway of Sleeping with Patty Hearst will be over in just a couple of hours, and the response has been terrific! Very excited about having so many new readers. If you're one of them, please post a review whenever you get a chance to read the book, and feel free to drop me a line. I love hearing from readers. Thanks!
All best,
Mary
Mary Lambeth Moore
www.sleepingwithpattyhearst.com
All best,
Mary
Mary Lambeth Moore
www.sleepingwithpattyhearst.com
February 21, 2012
Free Kindle Download
Beginning TONIGHT, at midnight, Sleeping with Patty Hearst will be a free Kindle download. This is my first Kindle freebie -- very excited!
Here's the link: http://amzn.to/wPbZTQ
You can learn more about the book at
www.sleepingwithpattyhearst.com
I love to hear from readers, so please post a review and/or send me a note. Enjoy!
All best,
Mary Lambeth Moore
p.s.
This week I also posted a few of my favorite things on my website. Click on "The Writing Life."
Here's the link: http://amzn.to/wPbZTQ
You can learn more about the book at
www.sleepingwithpattyhearst.com
I love to hear from readers, so please post a review and/or send me a note. Enjoy!
All best,
Mary Lambeth Moore
p.s.
This week I also posted a few of my favorite things on my website. Click on "The Writing Life."
