Marianne Ackerman's Blog: Triplex Nervosa Trilogy

This spring marks the 20th anniversary of my first novel Jump. Publishing is always a great occasion. I still have a stack of copies, would like to offer them to anyone who didn't get the book when it came out and would like to read it now. Subject: a free-lance Montreal journalist caught up in a season of change: empty nest, friends and city in upheaval, as Quebecers face the 1995 Referendum. First novels often squeeze the writer's personal life for energy. I can't deny this one sprang from a time and a place in my life, although almost all of the details and plot lines are invented. My house emptied, I left. That much is true. message me on Goodreads if you'd like a copy.

A trilogy of plays spun off from the 2015 premiere of Triplex Nervosa at Montreal's Centaur Theatre. The adventures of a young musician with a hungry circle of friends and family, as she struggles to have a career in art, and a life.

We just watched the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge. I have to read the book! Fantastic adaptation, cinematography and acting by Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins. The entire cast is amazing. A dark view of life and marriage, makes you cherish the light. Bill Murray is fantastic too. I can't speak too highly of this excellent work of art.

Yes, I should have read this book years ago, along with millions of others. But books fall into one's lap when they are needed. The portrait of sisterhood hit home. Reviewed on Goodreads.

I raced through The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair - translated from the French best-seller/prizewinner. The author must be a video game addict. The plot is insanely complicated, in fact addictive. Not surprisingly the characters are cartoonish. They were so busy with reveals and reversals that they never seemed like real people. Still, it's a clever book. Easy to read because there is virtually no writing ... not a single metaphor or wise idea to stop one from turning the pages. This book belongs on the beach, or in bed with a hangover. Why are thin books so long? (635 pages) I suppose, for the same reason dense books tend to be short. Depends on whether the author favours distillation or frothing. I had to read a few poems to settle my stomach. Reading international reviews on Goodreads is interesting. Clear division of opinions.

Many thanks to all who turned out to the launch of Holy Fools + 2 Stories at Drawn & Quarterly last week. For those who missed it, apparently I'll be opening for Michael Springate at the same venue, Nov 13. More anon.

Congrats to Arjun Basu, Heather O'Neill and Claire Holden Rothman for your Giller long list nominations!! great books all and good news to see three Quebec writers on the list. Louise Penny is # 1 on the NYT fiction list this week. So we live in a dynamic literary town. I haven't read Louise and Arjun's books yet (plan to) but The Girl Who was Saturday Night (O'Neill) and My October (Rothman) are both outstanding.