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Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World
It's the classic dilemma of the writer: Do you write what's in your heart or do you write what sells? In this modern age of publishing there is a huge chasm between the best selling authors that are rich beyond their dreams and... well, everybody else. All Daniel Waterstone ever wanted to do was write the great American novel and change the landscape of modern literature forever. He has two literary books in print but no one's buying. His agent won't even accept his latest masterpiece which he poured his soul into: apparently, it's not commercial enough. In a final act of desperation, Daniel decides to write - not what's in his heart but - what he thinks will sell. Boy, did he get that one wrong...
worst of all, most likely lose the woman of his dreams.
worst of all, most likely lose the woman of his dreams.
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2013
38 people are currently reading
1188 people want to read
About the author
Dermot Davis
16 books50 followersDermot is an Irish writer who splits his time between Ireland and the US. His creative work encompasses varied genres and styles with a special focus on human themes and characters transformed by life experience. He is a Gold Medalist Winner in the 2015 READER'S FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD, a SOMERSET AWARDS FIRST PLACE WINNER 2013, a First Place Winner in the 2013 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS and a Finalist in the 2013 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS. As a playwright, Dermot is a recipient of the O.Z. Whitehead Award which was co-sponsored by Irish Pen and the Society of Irish Playwrights
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 19, 2014
An unusual, compelling, satirical look at the dysfunctional world of writing and publishing. The madness in this book is so real and so possible, it is chilling in its accuracy. I found myself at times nodding in complete agreement, and at others laughing to the point of tears. In effortlessly engaging prose, Dermot Davis delivers a non-judgemental, impassioned discourse, condensing the human condition down to the twin universal truths: we go through life not knowing who we really are; and we are all terribly alone.
The story is an all-too-commonplace contemporary tale of unrewarded talent. Ever since his graduation, when he triumphantly won a minor literary award, Daniel Waterstone has pursued his self-appointed destiny of joining the great classic novelists by penning a definitive work which will herald a new renaissance in American literature. Ten years on, his life is narrow and Spartan, he has no friends, practically no family (his mother, an emotionally cold woman, lives far away) and his only interactions are with his greedy literary agent and a sweet and wise eighty-three year old librarian. Women are a mystery to Daniel and one for which he seems to have no time or inclination. Until he meets Clare, a beautiful musician, but Daniel's initial enthusiasm is sadly dampened when she turns out to be utterly bonkers.
Daniel has published two novels, both well received by critics, but ignored by the buying public. When his agent drops the bombshell that his publishers have rejected his latest masterpiece and want their advance back, Daniel hits rock bottom. In a desperate mental state, literally starving and unable to pay for his rent or utilities, he starts writing a bitter, over-the-top satire, lampooning the latest best-selling self-help guides. What happens next is a whirlwind of craziness and greed-fuelled nonsense which, eerily, mimics real life.
Daniel is a quirky, improbable hero. At first, there is nothing about him to like; he is vain, self-centred and arrogant, condescendingly believing himself superior to the masses. But, as the story unfolds, and Daniel's life quietly unravels, we discover a core of understated decency and uncomplaining honesty that endears him to us and makes us root for him. The supporting characters are economically but effectively portrayed. There are some cartoonish villains and a couple of likeable, supportive souls, but Daniel carries the whole book on his resigned shoulders. His moral dilemma is clearly defined, and I enjoyed the scathing, clear-sighted depiction of the routine exploitation of talent by certain members of the publishing industry. The narrative is well paced, always lively but gathering speed and momentum in concert with the increasingly surreal craziness of the developments. A clever, often hilarious, and very honest book that should appeal to a large segment of the reading public, and one that I would be happy to read again.
Reviewed by Angelica Bentley (for The Kindle Book Review). The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.
The story is an all-too-commonplace contemporary tale of unrewarded talent. Ever since his graduation, when he triumphantly won a minor literary award, Daniel Waterstone has pursued his self-appointed destiny of joining the great classic novelists by penning a definitive work which will herald a new renaissance in American literature. Ten years on, his life is narrow and Spartan, he has no friends, practically no family (his mother, an emotionally cold woman, lives far away) and his only interactions are with his greedy literary agent and a sweet and wise eighty-three year old librarian. Women are a mystery to Daniel and one for which he seems to have no time or inclination. Until he meets Clare, a beautiful musician, but Daniel's initial enthusiasm is sadly dampened when she turns out to be utterly bonkers.
Daniel has published two novels, both well received by critics, but ignored by the buying public. When his agent drops the bombshell that his publishers have rejected his latest masterpiece and want their advance back, Daniel hits rock bottom. In a desperate mental state, literally starving and unable to pay for his rent or utilities, he starts writing a bitter, over-the-top satire, lampooning the latest best-selling self-help guides. What happens next is a whirlwind of craziness and greed-fuelled nonsense which, eerily, mimics real life.
Daniel is a quirky, improbable hero. At first, there is nothing about him to like; he is vain, self-centred and arrogant, condescendingly believing himself superior to the masses. But, as the story unfolds, and Daniel's life quietly unravels, we discover a core of understated decency and uncomplaining honesty that endears him to us and makes us root for him. The supporting characters are economically but effectively portrayed. There are some cartoonish villains and a couple of likeable, supportive souls, but Daniel carries the whole book on his resigned shoulders. His moral dilemma is clearly defined, and I enjoyed the scathing, clear-sighted depiction of the routine exploitation of talent by certain members of the publishing industry. The narrative is well paced, always lively but gathering speed and momentum in concert with the increasingly surreal craziness of the developments. A clever, often hilarious, and very honest book that should appeal to a large segment of the reading public, and one that I would be happy to read again.
Reviewed by Angelica Bentley (for The Kindle Book Review). The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.
February 28, 2015
"Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World" was recommended to be by a book reviewer, who told me "you are an author, you should read it." Since I value this reviewer a lot I did. The book exceeded my expectations.
The story begins like many stories about starving authors begin, only the description is much funnier.
Daniel Waterstone has always known that he wanted to become an author, stepping directly into footsteps of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, et al. Right after graduating college he begins to write such brilliant novels, only readers won't buy them. After his first two novels fail to take off, his agent Suzanne has to tell him that his next two "babies/master pieces" are "not the kind of work that people want to buy, right now."
More than disappointed, almost destroyed, Daniel heads home and accidentally meets an author, who has everything he wants: A bestselling book and adoring fans, who ahh and ohh at each of his words at an author signing. The bestelling book is a self-help book of doubtable value. Daniel observes:
"Yet here was the gullible - and evidently misguided - public lining up for an audience with a weird snake-oil salesman who was either an out and out fraud or, if he really believed in the idiocy that he was writing, a certifiable crazy person."
Appalled and desperate Daniel decides to write a satire about self-help methods, of course in the tradition of the great satirists Orwell, Dickens, and Cervantes.Daniel pens "You Have a Brain - Use it!" under the under the nom de plume Charles Spectrum.
When he does not hear from Suzanne before his phone service is cut off Daniel falls into a depression. Finally Suzanne can indeed make contact with Daniel after she pays his phone bill. Daniel's book is on its way to become a national bestseller, but not as a parody but as a self-help book. Readers are taking the satirical title literally, following the funny meant suggested procedures to a T, and often much longer than suggested. Readers want Daniel to be Charles Spectrum.
From there the "Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World" takes off to a hilariously funny journey through the world of publishing and it's marketing, as well as offering a critical perspective at the booming self-help industry.
I read the book cover to cover and got up only once to get coffee; I just could not stop reading. "Brain" is truly hilarious. Highly recommended to authors and aspiring authors, college grads, and people, who view the self-help industry with bit of a critical eye. The book reminded me of "Being There" (book by Jerzy Kosinski and movie directed by Hal Ashby)
Gisela Hausmann - author & blogger
The story begins like many stories about starving authors begin, only the description is much funnier.
Daniel Waterstone has always known that he wanted to become an author, stepping directly into footsteps of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, et al. Right after graduating college he begins to write such brilliant novels, only readers won't buy them. After his first two novels fail to take off, his agent Suzanne has to tell him that his next two "babies/master pieces" are "not the kind of work that people want to buy, right now."
More than disappointed, almost destroyed, Daniel heads home and accidentally meets an author, who has everything he wants: A bestselling book and adoring fans, who ahh and ohh at each of his words at an author signing. The bestelling book is a self-help book of doubtable value. Daniel observes:
"Yet here was the gullible - and evidently misguided - public lining up for an audience with a weird snake-oil salesman who was either an out and out fraud or, if he really believed in the idiocy that he was writing, a certifiable crazy person."
Appalled and desperate Daniel decides to write a satire about self-help methods, of course in the tradition of the great satirists Orwell, Dickens, and Cervantes.Daniel pens "You Have a Brain - Use it!" under the under the nom de plume Charles Spectrum.
When he does not hear from Suzanne before his phone service is cut off Daniel falls into a depression. Finally Suzanne can indeed make contact with Daniel after she pays his phone bill. Daniel's book is on its way to become a national bestseller, but not as a parody but as a self-help book. Readers are taking the satirical title literally, following the funny meant suggested procedures to a T, and often much longer than suggested. Readers want Daniel to be Charles Spectrum.
From there the "Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World" takes off to a hilariously funny journey through the world of publishing and it's marketing, as well as offering a critical perspective at the booming self-help industry.
I read the book cover to cover and got up only once to get coffee; I just could not stop reading. "Brain" is truly hilarious. Highly recommended to authors and aspiring authors, college grads, and people, who view the self-help industry with bit of a critical eye. The book reminded me of "Being There" (book by Jerzy Kosinski and movie directed by Hal Ashby)
Gisela Hausmann - author & blogger
January 22, 2014
Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World: Dermot Davis
Just what makes a best seller? Is it a good romance, mystery or thriller with a plot filled with murder, intrigue, hot and steamy sex? Aspiring writers hope that their novel will not only be on the Times best seller list but reach number one. Some might be naïve enough to think they might write the next great American Novel. Think again! Vampire’s books, self-help, murder, humor, satire which topic or genre would warrant being titled the Great American Novel? Daniel Waterstone creates quite a stir at his college graduation when he receives the college’s literary award. Thinking that he would just take a bow and then move on with the agenda for the graduation little did the Dean realize that the audience was in for a speech that would definitely change the entire course of the graduation. Wanting to define Western literature, the classics and hoping to revitalize interest in authors such as Twain or Hemmingway Daniel set about captivating his audience. Ten years later with his car falling apart, engine dying in the middle of busy intersections Daniel hopes that his literary career will skyrocket with his latest novel: The Impossible Dream II. But, not every dream comes to be and not every novel regardless of the quality and skill of the writer will sell.
Meeting with his agent Suzanne Daniel sets his hopes high thinking that she is about to get him signings, speaking engagements and hopefully a huge royalty check. But, instead she practically sends him out the restaurant door. Even worse the advance he received for the novel they are not going to publish the publisher wants it back. Money spent, car on the double fritz, threats of being evicted, no electricity and no phones, Daniel goes on quest to figure out how he can write something others might want to read. But, first he winds up walking into a bookstore and listens to a prominent and successful self-help author named Randy Guswhite talk about his book titled: Take Control of Your Life. Listening to him talk to his audience you begin to wonder whether reality TV has taken over the world of literature and whether the public is really that gullible and believes everything they hear and read. So, Daniel decides right there and then to meet with his friend Mavis at his local library talk about his situation and then proceeds to take out every book by every major satirist and writes his own. The book titled: Use Your Brain is an instant wonder but not before his agent discounts it at first, her assistant reads and loves it and members of her staff copy it and even try some of the insane and ridiculous exercises mentioned that would make their lives better. Would you read the Bible backwards singing Happy Birthday to you? Would you walk backwards singing If I Were A Rich Man banging two-sauce pan lids together? Well everyone reading his book thinks it’s great and he is an instant best selling author except for one thing. He never wanted the book considered self-help he thought he wrote a satire. Wrong again Daniel. But, the book was written under the name Charles Spectrum and his agent is all over him to promote promote promote. Even more she wants him to speak to audiences in bookstores about his book and when he does wait until you see what he says and how the audiences react. You just won’t believe ! Daniel loves the hype but is in danger of losing Daniel. He even verbalizes to his audience that he is a fraud, they are all frauds and that the answers to questions that want answered are right in front of themselves.
Will Daniel become the next F. Scott Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Will he make it to the rankings of Twain or Dickens? Just how gullible is the public and just how far will he go to be a success? With an audience lined up around the corner to hear Randy speak will Daniel turn heads or raise eyebrows when the harsh reality of what he is doing sets in? You Have a Brain Use It? Will it change the world? When his agent finally contacts him and pays his late phone bill what is her real motive for wanting to help him now? Those reading his book are taking the title literally and believe everything Charles Spectrum spouts. Funny, humorous and yet sad to think that publishers are looking to publish and market books that will boost their sales, five people want they want but quality writing well you decides after reading this book.
Once you start reading this book and get to know Daniel/Charles and hear Suzanne’s assessment of his work, his career and her projection for his future you begin to wonder just where he might go with this and if he will really write a sequel.
Television appearances, signings, talks, seminars and general appearances bring him instant success. But, is this really what Daniel wants and is this Daniel? Will he continue down this road or will he go back to being Daniel? Daniel/Charles has his own fans and following. This book is quite profound in many ways as it gets you to think about the inner workings of the publishing industry and just how far apart authors and publishers are when creating and publishing better works for readers.
Claire Peterson works for Suzanne creating music for many of her presentations as the author allows readers inside the meeting room and we hear what is planned for Daniel’s book we wonder just how far this agent will go to promote Daniel and for what reason. So many venues that are out there and so many that she has tapped whether talks, meetings, speakers that would relate his message in different states, cities and countries just what does Daniel really think and how does he relate his feelings to Claire? Will he continue down this road to make money and be able to start over on his own? Will he continue to compromise his own values and sink so low he won’t recognize himself? Author Dermot Davis asks readers to think long and hard about what Daniel is doing and if in the same position would they do the same? How far would you go to get fame, fortune and recognition? How much of yourself would you compromise?
Events spiraled out of control as Daniel decided to air his feelings on national television, Suzanne disappeared before the may lay occurred, a blackmailer thought he’d cash in on his fame, truths come out about what he wrote but the ending will definitely astound readers. Daniel looks deep inside himself with the help of Claire trying to find his own niche and way in life. Readers claiming they hear and see spirits on national television. Elementals come to life and can be heard, a woman claims she levitates and another winds up in jail claiming he was asleep when a crime was committed. But, just what is real, fiction or just strange? Are people sane or insane or has the world gone mad? Would you chuck it all for two million dollars? Wait until you find out what Daniel decides to do, the revelations he makes and his definition of truth, integrity and hope.
As Claire shares her music with Daniel and he listens to the special sounds she creates readers can get caught up in the music as she allows it to flow choosing different instruments to play which melody, tempo and the volume for each part allowing listeners, Daniel and readers to understand the emotions that music evokes: Joy, happiness, sorry and excitement. Just where does Daniel wind up and what will be his final great novel? Will there be a Great American Novel or will he take another path?
Where does Suzanne wind up? What happens to the Brain organization? What about Daniel’s book? Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book that Changed the World: Dermot Davis: Wrote a book that is filled with humor, satire, sarcasm, anecdotes that are hilarious, stunts that I know he would not want any of his readers to try as they are a figment of Charles Spectrum’s imagination and more. Read this book and you decide if this is not a book that will make you think the next time you read a Twain, Dickens, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, Thoreau or Louis Stevenson if they are the only ones that can write a novel that changed the world?
This is definitely a FIVE STAR: KEY OF C NOVEL
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Just what makes a best seller? Is it a good romance, mystery or thriller with a plot filled with murder, intrigue, hot and steamy sex? Aspiring writers hope that their novel will not only be on the Times best seller list but reach number one. Some might be naïve enough to think they might write the next great American Novel. Think again! Vampire’s books, self-help, murder, humor, satire which topic or genre would warrant being titled the Great American Novel? Daniel Waterstone creates quite a stir at his college graduation when he receives the college’s literary award. Thinking that he would just take a bow and then move on with the agenda for the graduation little did the Dean realize that the audience was in for a speech that would definitely change the entire course of the graduation. Wanting to define Western literature, the classics and hoping to revitalize interest in authors such as Twain or Hemmingway Daniel set about captivating his audience. Ten years later with his car falling apart, engine dying in the middle of busy intersections Daniel hopes that his literary career will skyrocket with his latest novel: The Impossible Dream II. But, not every dream comes to be and not every novel regardless of the quality and skill of the writer will sell.
Meeting with his agent Suzanne Daniel sets his hopes high thinking that she is about to get him signings, speaking engagements and hopefully a huge royalty check. But, instead she practically sends him out the restaurant door. Even worse the advance he received for the novel they are not going to publish the publisher wants it back. Money spent, car on the double fritz, threats of being evicted, no electricity and no phones, Daniel goes on quest to figure out how he can write something others might want to read. But, first he winds up walking into a bookstore and listens to a prominent and successful self-help author named Randy Guswhite talk about his book titled: Take Control of Your Life. Listening to him talk to his audience you begin to wonder whether reality TV has taken over the world of literature and whether the public is really that gullible and believes everything they hear and read. So, Daniel decides right there and then to meet with his friend Mavis at his local library talk about his situation and then proceeds to take out every book by every major satirist and writes his own. The book titled: Use Your Brain is an instant wonder but not before his agent discounts it at first, her assistant reads and loves it and members of her staff copy it and even try some of the insane and ridiculous exercises mentioned that would make their lives better. Would you read the Bible backwards singing Happy Birthday to you? Would you walk backwards singing If I Were A Rich Man banging two-sauce pan lids together? Well everyone reading his book thinks it’s great and he is an instant best selling author except for one thing. He never wanted the book considered self-help he thought he wrote a satire. Wrong again Daniel. But, the book was written under the name Charles Spectrum and his agent is all over him to promote promote promote. Even more she wants him to speak to audiences in bookstores about his book and when he does wait until you see what he says and how the audiences react. You just won’t believe ! Daniel loves the hype but is in danger of losing Daniel. He even verbalizes to his audience that he is a fraud, they are all frauds and that the answers to questions that want answered are right in front of themselves.
Will Daniel become the next F. Scott Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Will he make it to the rankings of Twain or Dickens? Just how gullible is the public and just how far will he go to be a success? With an audience lined up around the corner to hear Randy speak will Daniel turn heads or raise eyebrows when the harsh reality of what he is doing sets in? You Have a Brain Use It? Will it change the world? When his agent finally contacts him and pays his late phone bill what is her real motive for wanting to help him now? Those reading his book are taking the title literally and believe everything Charles Spectrum spouts. Funny, humorous and yet sad to think that publishers are looking to publish and market books that will boost their sales, five people want they want but quality writing well you decides after reading this book.
Once you start reading this book and get to know Daniel/Charles and hear Suzanne’s assessment of his work, his career and her projection for his future you begin to wonder just where he might go with this and if he will really write a sequel.
Television appearances, signings, talks, seminars and general appearances bring him instant success. But, is this really what Daniel wants and is this Daniel? Will he continue down this road or will he go back to being Daniel? Daniel/Charles has his own fans and following. This book is quite profound in many ways as it gets you to think about the inner workings of the publishing industry and just how far apart authors and publishers are when creating and publishing better works for readers.
Claire Peterson works for Suzanne creating music for many of her presentations as the author allows readers inside the meeting room and we hear what is planned for Daniel’s book we wonder just how far this agent will go to promote Daniel and for what reason. So many venues that are out there and so many that she has tapped whether talks, meetings, speakers that would relate his message in different states, cities and countries just what does Daniel really think and how does he relate his feelings to Claire? Will he continue down this road to make money and be able to start over on his own? Will he continue to compromise his own values and sink so low he won’t recognize himself? Author Dermot Davis asks readers to think long and hard about what Daniel is doing and if in the same position would they do the same? How far would you go to get fame, fortune and recognition? How much of yourself would you compromise?
Events spiraled out of control as Daniel decided to air his feelings on national television, Suzanne disappeared before the may lay occurred, a blackmailer thought he’d cash in on his fame, truths come out about what he wrote but the ending will definitely astound readers. Daniel looks deep inside himself with the help of Claire trying to find his own niche and way in life. Readers claiming they hear and see spirits on national television. Elementals come to life and can be heard, a woman claims she levitates and another winds up in jail claiming he was asleep when a crime was committed. But, just what is real, fiction or just strange? Are people sane or insane or has the world gone mad? Would you chuck it all for two million dollars? Wait until you find out what Daniel decides to do, the revelations he makes and his definition of truth, integrity and hope.
As Claire shares her music with Daniel and he listens to the special sounds she creates readers can get caught up in the music as she allows it to flow choosing different instruments to play which melody, tempo and the volume for each part allowing listeners, Daniel and readers to understand the emotions that music evokes: Joy, happiness, sorry and excitement. Just where does Daniel wind up and what will be his final great novel? Will there be a Great American Novel or will he take another path?
Where does Suzanne wind up? What happens to the Brain organization? What about Daniel’s book? Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book that Changed the World: Dermot Davis: Wrote a book that is filled with humor, satire, sarcasm, anecdotes that are hilarious, stunts that I know he would not want any of his readers to try as they are a figment of Charles Spectrum’s imagination and more. Read this book and you decide if this is not a book that will make you think the next time you read a Twain, Dickens, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, Thoreau or Louis Stevenson if they are the only ones that can write a novel that changed the world?
This is definitely a FIVE STAR: KEY OF C NOVEL
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
August 10, 2016
"Brain: The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World" by Dermot Davis is a hilarious and clever satire about the world of publishing, audience tastes and manipulation.
A very talented writer is unable to make a living on the strength of his high quality literary books, but when 'selling out' he lands a hit.
With sharp with and observational humour the book depicts not only the hype of marketing but also the gullible nature of readers and human beings.
Daniel/ Charles is a great character who has several excellent interesting and stimulating conversations with a librarian about books and publishing, which lend this comedy an air of gravity and credibility.
I laughed out loud many times while reading the book and found myself and others in the story.
The story is written and paced perfectly and was a pleasure to read in almost one sitting. I came across Dermot's work because his books have received several award nominations and I must say I am not surprised in the least.
A talented writer with great ideas and a gift for telling them well.
A very talented writer is unable to make a living on the strength of his high quality literary books, but when 'selling out' he lands a hit.
With sharp with and observational humour the book depicts not only the hype of marketing but also the gullible nature of readers and human beings.
Daniel/ Charles is a great character who has several excellent interesting and stimulating conversations with a librarian about books and publishing, which lend this comedy an air of gravity and credibility.
I laughed out loud many times while reading the book and found myself and others in the story.
The story is written and paced perfectly and was a pleasure to read in almost one sitting. I came across Dermot's work because his books have received several award nominations and I must say I am not surprised in the least.
A talented writer with great ideas and a gift for telling them well.
August 3, 2013
Daniel is a published author, but no one wants to read his literary novels. Even his agent isn’t interested in his latest manuscript. In an act of desperation he pens a satirical work under a pseudonym, which his agent and publisher put out as a self-help book. Suddenly, he is a runaway commercial success, and then life becomes really complicated.
This book is a wonderful satire on modern publishing, and a clever exploration of degrees of sanity.
Although the early pages don’t seem to have the inventiveness of the rest of the book, there are still some gems to be found. I love the awkward restaurant scene when Daniel dines with his agent, Suzanne, which is reminiscent of one of my favorite scenes in Orwell’s "Keep the Aspidistra Flying." Daniel’s first contact with his potential love interest, Clare, and his relationship with elderly librarian, Mavis, are both delightful.
Once Daniel’s book takes off, so does this one. It soars with a glorious irreverence into the realms of absurdity, becoming increasingly wild as his life spirals out of control. There are many bizarre scenes to tickle the funny bone, and some stand-out laugh-out-loud ones, too. My absolute favorite is Daniel’s hilarious first visit to his agent’s office after his book has been published. I won’t spoil it by explaining it – I just urge you to read it!
My son was so intrigued by a book that made his mother laugh out loud, that he read it – in one sitting. His verdict: “It’s entertaining.” Praise indeed from a teenager. I think any author who can entertain a middle-aged woman and an adolescent boy has got to be getting it right.
I’d like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of this book.
This book is a wonderful satire on modern publishing, and a clever exploration of degrees of sanity.
Although the early pages don’t seem to have the inventiveness of the rest of the book, there are still some gems to be found. I love the awkward restaurant scene when Daniel dines with his agent, Suzanne, which is reminiscent of one of my favorite scenes in Orwell’s "Keep the Aspidistra Flying." Daniel’s first contact with his potential love interest, Clare, and his relationship with elderly librarian, Mavis, are both delightful.
Once Daniel’s book takes off, so does this one. It soars with a glorious irreverence into the realms of absurdity, becoming increasingly wild as his life spirals out of control. There are many bizarre scenes to tickle the funny bone, and some stand-out laugh-out-loud ones, too. My absolute favorite is Daniel’s hilarious first visit to his agent’s office after his book has been published. I won’t spoil it by explaining it – I just urge you to read it!
My son was so intrigued by a book that made his mother laugh out loud, that he read it – in one sitting. His verdict: “It’s entertaining.” Praise indeed from a teenager. I think any author who can entertain a middle-aged woman and an adolescent boy has got to be getting it right.
I’d like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of this book.
January 17, 2014
Sometimes we forget how much effort, work and sacrifice goes into the creation of the books we enjoy, be they fiction, the great American novel, or a self-help guide. Brain The Man Who Wrote the Book That Changed the World uses satire, some times tongue in cheek, sometimes just shy of absurd, to remind us what it really takes to give readers what we crave.
Dermot Davis offers us a well crafted, humorous story of a young idealist, Daniel Waterstone. Fresh from college, Daniel sets his sights on literary greatest until eviction, hunger and the abandonment of his car leads him to an act of desperation: writing a self-help book. Created in a stupor, Daniel believes he has written the greatest work of satire of the modern era, only to find himself not just a best-seller but the center of a corporation created to exploit his devoted followers.
Naive Daniel struggles with guilt over his new found fame and wealth, never once seeing the world through any perspective other than his own idealism. It takes a caring follower, Clare, threats against his life, and the appearance on a T.V. talk show to realize how self-centered he has been. And in doing so, Daniel finds that he can make a living, be true to his art, manage commercialism, have love, and raise a family.
My rating is based upon the readability and entertainment value of this book. I don't think that Dermot Davis will get rich or receive great fame from having written Brain. But he deserves our appreciation for what he does. And he deserved winning the 2013 USA Best Book Award (Humor).
I received my copy of this book as a random drawing winner through Goodreads.
Dermot Davis offers us a well crafted, humorous story of a young idealist, Daniel Waterstone. Fresh from college, Daniel sets his sights on literary greatest until eviction, hunger and the abandonment of his car leads him to an act of desperation: writing a self-help book. Created in a stupor, Daniel believes he has written the greatest work of satire of the modern era, only to find himself not just a best-seller but the center of a corporation created to exploit his devoted followers.
Naive Daniel struggles with guilt over his new found fame and wealth, never once seeing the world through any perspective other than his own idealism. It takes a caring follower, Clare, threats against his life, and the appearance on a T.V. talk show to realize how self-centered he has been. And in doing so, Daniel finds that he can make a living, be true to his art, manage commercialism, have love, and raise a family.
My rating is based upon the readability and entertainment value of this book. I don't think that Dermot Davis will get rich or receive great fame from having written Brain. But he deserves our appreciation for what he does. And he deserved winning the 2013 USA Best Book Award (Humor).
I received my copy of this book as a random drawing winner through Goodreads.
June 23, 2013
I devoured Mr Davis’s other novel, Zen and Sex in forty-eight hours, so I was very pleased to discover a new release from him. Brain is a comedy about writing, and about the vagaries of the publishing business. It’s a comment on what sells and what doesn’t, and whether artists should aspire to be artists, or simply try to produce a work that they know will sell. It’s a satire about a man writing a satire, and it’s very, very funny.
The book starts out predictably (but amusingly) enough, but there are plenty of surprises in store! As a starving artist myself (though, not quite so literally as Daniel, the protagonist of Brain) I identified strongly with the author’s plight – when I wasn’t laughing out loud at the writing and the plot developments. It has the feel of a comedic parable, but twists in the plot send in down unexpected but exciting routes.
Loved it! When’s the next one?
The book starts out predictably (but amusingly) enough, but there are plenty of surprises in store! As a starving artist myself (though, not quite so literally as Daniel, the protagonist of Brain) I identified strongly with the author’s plight – when I wasn’t laughing out loud at the writing and the plot developments. It has the feel of a comedic parable, but twists in the plot send in down unexpected but exciting routes.
Loved it! When’s the next one?
June 21, 2013
Brain is a must read for all authors trying to make sense of the world of publishing.
It reminded me of Bonfire of the Vanities and Tom Sharpe's work.
Essentially a comedy and satire, Brain is a modern fable about the power of imagination and marketing with unforeseen consequences.
It also includes some great set pieces and observations about life which resonate with this reader.
I loved the story and I believe it would make a great comedy film in the right hands. Monty Python
would be a great touchstone for the tone and humor. Roll on the follow-up.
Oh and I'd love to see 'You Have a Brain - Use it!' published!
It reminded me of Bonfire of the Vanities and Tom Sharpe's work.
Essentially a comedy and satire, Brain is a modern fable about the power of imagination and marketing with unforeseen consequences.
It also includes some great set pieces and observations about life which resonate with this reader.
I loved the story and I believe it would make a great comedy film in the right hands. Monty Python
would be a great touchstone for the tone and humor. Roll on the follow-up.
Oh and I'd love to see 'You Have a Brain - Use it!' published!
July 4, 2013
I loved this book. It's funny, imaginative and captivating. I connected with the themes immediately, which kept me reading with vivid interest until the end. The characters are rich and the protagonist - Daniel - is someone that I looked forward to spend time with at each opportunity I had to continue reading. Dermot Davis' writing style flows like a river in the summer, it's easy to get along with and a joy to experience. This is a must read for anyone interested in writing or anything to do with that field, but also I would recommend it to everyone purely because it will make you laugh, and it will make you smile.
February 17, 2016
Daniel Waterstone wins a literary award at college. Ten years later he’s a published author having little success with his novels. Suzanne, his agent, is not impressed with his new manuscript and warns him that he may have to repay his advance. Things go from bad to worse and Daniel finds himself in a desperate situation. His phone and electricity are cut off and he is about to be thrown out of his apartment.
On his way home from the meeting with Suzanne, his old wreck of a car finally gives up. Continuing his journet on foot, he notices a book signing in a local store. Daniel is amazed to discover that the book, Take Control of Your Life by Randy Guswhite, is a best seller. Daniel next makes a call at his library where his only friend, 85 year old Mavis, works. He borrows a copy of Randy’s book.
In the hope of escaping from poverty, he questions the importance of money and is forced to decide what it is he really wants. Should he throw away his principles? Just how far should he go to achieve fame and fortune? In the end he decides to explore a new genre with his literary skills and becomes preoccupied with writing a satire on self-help books. The results are not what he expects. As events spiral out of control, he becomes a pawn in the publishing industry and finds himself plunging ever further into a situation he can’t escape from.
There are many interesting secondary characters in this story; the greedy and self-centred Suzanne, the musician Clare who’s not quite as crazy as she first seems, author Randy Guswhite who uses unconventional methods to get his inspiration back, and the newspaper reporter Freddie West who's constantly searching for the next big story.
This is a hilarious book with many laugh-out-loud moments, but it also raises some thought provoking questions. Just how gullible are the general public? Are any of us truly normal? I also think many authors will identify with Daniel's moral dilemma.
I loved this book: an enjoyable and entertaining read.
On his way home from the meeting with Suzanne, his old wreck of a car finally gives up. Continuing his journet on foot, he notices a book signing in a local store. Daniel is amazed to discover that the book, Take Control of Your Life by Randy Guswhite, is a best seller. Daniel next makes a call at his library where his only friend, 85 year old Mavis, works. He borrows a copy of Randy’s book.
In the hope of escaping from poverty, he questions the importance of money and is forced to decide what it is he really wants. Should he throw away his principles? Just how far should he go to achieve fame and fortune? In the end he decides to explore a new genre with his literary skills and becomes preoccupied with writing a satire on self-help books. The results are not what he expects. As events spiral out of control, he becomes a pawn in the publishing industry and finds himself plunging ever further into a situation he can’t escape from.
There are many interesting secondary characters in this story; the greedy and self-centred Suzanne, the musician Clare who’s not quite as crazy as she first seems, author Randy Guswhite who uses unconventional methods to get his inspiration back, and the newspaper reporter Freddie West who's constantly searching for the next big story.
This is a hilarious book with many laugh-out-loud moments, but it also raises some thought provoking questions. Just how gullible are the general public? Are any of us truly normal? I also think many authors will identify with Daniel's moral dilemma.
I loved this book: an enjoyable and entertaining read.
June 23, 2013
This is doubtlessly an original work the likes of which I have not seen before.
It is wacky, satirical, and unexpected. You have no idea what will hit you... and the outrageous incidents keep coming on. Duck!
At first, when I started the book, I felt "oh no" and thought it would be a boring treatise on the difficulty of becoming a new author, who has serious intent but faces the normalcy of diminishing returns from a saturated market (except for the very few that make it). The beginning seems well-trod, mundane, and not promising.
But about ten percent into the book, the zaniness spreads and becomes contagious. It revels unto itself, adds layers of incredulity and knee-slapping satire upon itself. All the characters become players into a vortex of madness, and it is delightful to read.
There is an interesting revelation that many of today's classics started as satire and ultimately became famous through other genres, for example Alice in Wonderland. This confirms that any book is what readers make of it, rather than the author.
The characters, from the mid-point on the book, become more numerous and more zany. It reminded me a bit of the movie, Outrageous Fortune. Rather than settle into a safe, predictable, and respectful storyline, the book barrels full-speed ahead and doesn't let down until the ending. It's like watching a rock roll down a hill. This is one of the few books that constantly improves from chapter to chapter. The last chapter is practically a free-for-all, tying up all the loose ends and having us laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
Well done, this author has a very unique style. I encourage him to keep this up. We don't need more formula writing, we need books like these!
I'm almost tempted to ask the author to spice up his beginning. But I'm beginning to think his crazy method does work. Set expectations low, and then move in slowly for the killer!
It is wacky, satirical, and unexpected. You have no idea what will hit you... and the outrageous incidents keep coming on. Duck!
At first, when I started the book, I felt "oh no" and thought it would be a boring treatise on the difficulty of becoming a new author, who has serious intent but faces the normalcy of diminishing returns from a saturated market (except for the very few that make it). The beginning seems well-trod, mundane, and not promising.
But about ten percent into the book, the zaniness spreads and becomes contagious. It revels unto itself, adds layers of incredulity and knee-slapping satire upon itself. All the characters become players into a vortex of madness, and it is delightful to read.
There is an interesting revelation that many of today's classics started as satire and ultimately became famous through other genres, for example Alice in Wonderland. This confirms that any book is what readers make of it, rather than the author.
The characters, from the mid-point on the book, become more numerous and more zany. It reminded me a bit of the movie, Outrageous Fortune. Rather than settle into a safe, predictable, and respectful storyline, the book barrels full-speed ahead and doesn't let down until the ending. It's like watching a rock roll down a hill. This is one of the few books that constantly improves from chapter to chapter. The last chapter is practically a free-for-all, tying up all the loose ends and having us laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
Well done, this author has a very unique style. I encourage him to keep this up. We don't need more formula writing, we need books like these!
I'm almost tempted to ask the author to spice up his beginning. But I'm beginning to think his crazy method does work. Set expectations low, and then move in slowly for the killer!
October 19, 2013
Daniel is an author of literary fiction, and his novels are award winners. Readers of classic literature love them, but these readers don’t represent a very large portion of the book-buying market. His agent is less than sympathetic with his plight. She agrees that his books are good, but she doesn’t need good books, she needs books that will sell, and she tells him his next two won’t. She won’t even try to find a publisher for them.
In order not to starve, he has to write something that will sell, but he can’t reduce himself to writing popular genre fiction, and besides, he’s not familiar enough with it to try. When he sees a line at a bookstore for a book signing by the author of a very popular self-help book, he has an inspiration. Satire is respectable, so he commits himself to writing (under a pen name) a satire about the popularity of current self-help books. He makes it so outrageous, even cranks, crazies, desperate seekers, and the extremely credulous will not be able to take it seriously, and it will point out just how silly the whole thing is. His new book gets published (despite the fact that his agent initially wants to reject it), and it surprisingly becomes a bestseller—not as satire, but as a ‘serious’ self-help book. Soon, it has a cult following, and Daniel is both relieved and dismayed.
I found several scenes hilarious, and the satire about the state of traditional publishing and the plight of authors rung all too true. Anyone who has suffered through a few of the more dreadful recent bestsellers will understand.
The story is wonderfully imaginative. The characters are believable. The prose, for the most part, is pretty good, although it could use another round of editing—not for typos but mainly for sentence structure and capitalization.
I recommend this one to all writers, especially those struggling with the choice between writing what they think is good and writing what they think will sell.
In order not to starve, he has to write something that will sell, but he can’t reduce himself to writing popular genre fiction, and besides, he’s not familiar enough with it to try. When he sees a line at a bookstore for a book signing by the author of a very popular self-help book, he has an inspiration. Satire is respectable, so he commits himself to writing (under a pen name) a satire about the popularity of current self-help books. He makes it so outrageous, even cranks, crazies, desperate seekers, and the extremely credulous will not be able to take it seriously, and it will point out just how silly the whole thing is. His new book gets published (despite the fact that his agent initially wants to reject it), and it surprisingly becomes a bestseller—not as satire, but as a ‘serious’ self-help book. Soon, it has a cult following, and Daniel is both relieved and dismayed.
I found several scenes hilarious, and the satire about the state of traditional publishing and the plight of authors rung all too true. Anyone who has suffered through a few of the more dreadful recent bestsellers will understand.
The story is wonderfully imaginative. The characters are believable. The prose, for the most part, is pretty good, although it could use another round of editing—not for typos but mainly for sentence structure and capitalization.
I recommend this one to all writers, especially those struggling with the choice between writing what they think is good and writing what they think will sell.
June 20, 2013
This novel is a satire about a satire (satire squared?). As all good satires must, this one has a plausible yet outrageous premise, namely, that the reading public would take seriously a book some smart guy wrote as satire, thus proving that (1) he was not as smart as he thought, and (2) the reading public was gullible or worse (stupid? delusional? capable of magical thinking?). The protagonist of this gem is a serious author named Daniel whose agent dumps him after two books that do not sell well. Poor Daniel decides to switch genres by writing a satirical self-help book and hoping for the best. It sells enormously well and he becomes an instant celebrity, thus changing his life. Along the way his agent seduces him and he acquires a girlfriend, gains a cult following, appears on TV, is blackmailed, miraculous events occur, and David struggles with the meaning of it all and what to do about it. A crisis occurs toward the end, and events seem to be sorted out reasonably in the last chapter. Alas, the wily author includes an Epilogue that suggests that all may not remain well in the world. Very funny stuff. Alas, it is also serious in the sense that it resonates with much of what is accepted in American popular culture today as reasonable.
June 28, 2013
Dermot Davis has his finger on the pulse of human foibles and foolishness. His book, 'Brain', makes a clever showing of the eagerness of the population to believe in something- anything. The book within the book, 'You Have a Brain', as well as the character Randy, are stylized very well and fully display the ridiculous nature of the self-help genre and so-called gurus. My only critique is that, for me, the characters existed a bit on the surface. I know more about what they did, as opposed to who they really are. However, this may be do to Mr. Davis's career as a playwright. I can see him thinking in terms of blocking and action. I definitely think 'Brain' would make a wonderful and highly entertaining play and I humbly believe he would be remiss not to adapt it for the stage. That being said, the action itself is really very fun and definitely moves the book along. The trials faced by main character, Daniel, from the deepest disappointment to the absurdity of success, are very relatable, and though none of us are slated to become false gurus any time soon, I am confident any reader could see themselves making similar decisions in the same situation. Overall, I found 'Brain' to be quite clever and there were many moments when I sincerely laughed out loud.
October 4, 2013
My rating is really 4.5.
This book sort of defies categorization. It's a satire within a satire. The main protagonist, Daniel, is a deeply neurotic but otherwise normal novelist. He is swimming in a sea of wackos and crazies that would make Carl Hiaasen blush. The plot is right out of the Marx Brothers.
Daniel's masterpieces are simply not selling. He is starving, quite literally. Then he writes something that changes his life, and a whole lot of lives around him. The plot centers around the chaos that ensues.
Daniel is a loveable sap. He means well, and he has a very highly developed sense of right and wrong. But he is so naive that he sometimes can't tell the difference. This leads to some really funny mental gymnastics as he tries to figure out what to do next whenever something goes wrong, which is on nearly every page.
The book started off a bit slow, but took off pretty quickly. The writing is so clever that the reader is not always sure whether he should be laughing, crying or just simply puzzled.
Without giving anything away, I love books that include an epilogue that ties up all the loose ends. This one is sweet.
If you like quirky writing, lovable wacky characters, and laughing out loud, this book is for you.
This book sort of defies categorization. It's a satire within a satire. The main protagonist, Daniel, is a deeply neurotic but otherwise normal novelist. He is swimming in a sea of wackos and crazies that would make Carl Hiaasen blush. The plot is right out of the Marx Brothers.
Daniel's masterpieces are simply not selling. He is starving, quite literally. Then he writes something that changes his life, and a whole lot of lives around him. The plot centers around the chaos that ensues.
Daniel is a loveable sap. He means well, and he has a very highly developed sense of right and wrong. But he is so naive that he sometimes can't tell the difference. This leads to some really funny mental gymnastics as he tries to figure out what to do next whenever something goes wrong, which is on nearly every page.
The book started off a bit slow, but took off pretty quickly. The writing is so clever that the reader is not always sure whether he should be laughing, crying or just simply puzzled.
Without giving anything away, I love books that include an epilogue that ties up all the loose ends. This one is sweet.
If you like quirky writing, lovable wacky characters, and laughing out loud, this book is for you.
July 17, 2016
A satirical book about an unknown author suddenly transformed in a guru.
Daniel is an author who writes very well written books, that nobody wants to read. Running out of money, he decides to have a look at the work of some significant authors. And then, he writes a new book, which will make him into a guru.
It wasn't what I expected and, as the writing didn't work with me, it wasn't a pleasant read. The subject about a struggling author seemed interesting, but too quickly, the book became focused on the fame of the author and the craziness of the readers. The reviews on Goodreads underline and appreciate the fact it's a satirical work, which is probably the case as the story was trying very hard to show that humanity was nuts. There were insta-love, guru, enlightenment, paranormal powers, blackmailing, crazy murderers, desperate people, blind religion, etc. Too much for me and I didn't find the satirical tone fun at all. Probably not a bad book, but it was a short one and I still skipped some parts I found boring and too long, so it's definitely not a book for me.
Daniel is an author who writes very well written books, that nobody wants to read. Running out of money, he decides to have a look at the work of some significant authors. And then, he writes a new book, which will make him into a guru.
It wasn't what I expected and, as the writing didn't work with me, it wasn't a pleasant read. The subject about a struggling author seemed interesting, but too quickly, the book became focused on the fame of the author and the craziness of the readers. The reviews on Goodreads underline and appreciate the fact it's a satirical work, which is probably the case as the story was trying very hard to show that humanity was nuts. There were insta-love, guru, enlightenment, paranormal powers, blackmailing, crazy murderers, desperate people, blind religion, etc. Too much for me and I didn't find the satirical tone fun at all. Probably not a bad book, but it was a short one and I still skipped some parts I found boring and too long, so it's definitely not a book for me.
June 24, 2013
Daniel Waterstone, like so many of us, wanted to write the Great American Novel. Instead, again like so many of us, he wrote books – and sequels – that no one was really interested in. Daniel blamed his agent, his audience, and everyone but himself. Self-absorbed and self-centered, he didn’t understand why no one embraced his words or characters. At the end of his ropes, financially and emotionally, Daniel (using a pen name) spewed out a manuscript which he called a satire. His agent, and publishing house, mistook this manuscript for a self-help book and Daniel soon found himself climbing the best-selling charts and amassing a huge fortune. Of course, complications arise and Daniel must soon climb off his pedestal and deal with his real feelings and relationships.
BRAIN starts a little slowly, but stick with it. As the plot unfolds, so does the fun. The book is filled with kooky characters, fun twists and hilarious antics. The author, Dermot Davis, takes us on a fun ride!
BRAIN starts a little slowly, but stick with it. As the plot unfolds, so does the fun. The book is filled with kooky characters, fun twists and hilarious antics. The author, Dermot Davis, takes us on a fun ride!
June 25, 2013
Award winning playwright, Dermot Davis, has written an hilarious satire about a writer of commercially worthless "serious literature."
Nearing starvation, in desperation, Daniel Waterstone writes a pop satire, intending it to be an expose and outrageous parody on the popular genre "self-help" books. Instead, the great unwashed millions of the gullible book-buying public take it seriously, claiming to be transformed and enlightened by performing silly and ridiculously funny exercises, such as walking backwards or hopping on one foot for a month. Daniel, now writing as Charles Spectrum, instantly becomes rich and famous and the book spawns a world-wide cult of followers.
The story gathers steam as it rolls along, becoming crazier, until Daniel begins to wake up to reality.
As a writer, myself, I particularly enjoyed laughing with Dermot and empathizing with Daniel, as I could readily understand his dilemma.
Dorothy May Mercer
Nearing starvation, in desperation, Daniel Waterstone writes a pop satire, intending it to be an expose and outrageous parody on the popular genre "self-help" books. Instead, the great unwashed millions of the gullible book-buying public take it seriously, claiming to be transformed and enlightened by performing silly and ridiculously funny exercises, such as walking backwards or hopping on one foot for a month. Daniel, now writing as Charles Spectrum, instantly becomes rich and famous and the book spawns a world-wide cult of followers.
The story gathers steam as it rolls along, becoming crazier, until Daniel begins to wake up to reality.
As a writer, myself, I particularly enjoyed laughing with Dermot and empathizing with Daniel, as I could readily understand his dilemma.
Dorothy May Mercer
February 19, 2014
I thought this book was quite humorous. I thought it was a good insight into what people will find "enlightening" and that what makes a best seller that everyone clamors to purchase. I like how Daniel came to realize that what this best seller for him became was not what he wanted. Sure the money was good, he has a conscious. Although he was rather uptight about writing only good literature. Mavis was correct that people read to escape for the most part and that is what makes a good book.
June 27, 2013
I have a serious problem with this book. It's too funny, too well written and too original. Who would possibly want to read a book that will entertain them from beginning to end? I'm awfully disappointed that I didn't fall asleep to this insanely creative book. If you're looking to spend your money on something boring and dull, don't buy this book.
January 13, 2014
I won this on Goodreads and must say I enjoyed this book immensely. the storyline is intriguing and I found myself laughing out loud at parts. the characters are amusing and easy to connect with. the pace is great and the climax is just hilarious. i would definitely recommend people read this book.
January 20, 2020
Brain Freeze!
Took a while to get into this book, like the story theme, I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be satiracly funny or contemparily dark. I recognised how well written the story was and thankfully persevered ending up inanely chuckling along.
Took a while to get into this book, like the story theme, I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be satiracly funny or contemparily dark. I recognised how well written the story was and thankfully persevered ending up inanely chuckling along.
September 22, 2014
Charles Spectrum, writing under the nom de plume of "Daniel Waterstone" who in turn writes under the pen name of "Dermot Davis" has produced the self-help book to end all self-help books.
The romp (in the Merriam Webster sense of the word) begins with personna Daniel Waterstone, "the recipient of the prestigious Marcus and Imelda Rogerspoon award for the student showing the brightest promise for a future literary career." Then, instead of having the decorum to sit down and shut up, Daniel demonstrates his oratory acumen to tell the audience that:
"We are living in dangerous times," he then said, pausing, for dramatic effect. "Having progressed through the age of reason and enlightenment, civilization is now poised to enter the age of insanity. I tell you, in no uncertain terms that what we are currently witnessing, at least here, in the West, is the decline of culture itself."
Aside from a few typographical errors (which may be intentional for all we know), this book successfully entertains in all environs from a noisy city bus to the quiet contemplation of a reading room.
We were reminded of Charlotte Bronte "Gentle reader, may you never feel what I then felt! May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. May you never appeal to Heaven in prayers so hopeless and so agonised as in that hour left my lips: for never may you, like me, dread to be the instrument of evil to what you wholly love."
Should you, Gentle Reader, have the misfortune to know well a genuine novelist, then you will instantly recognize the wellspring of angst penned by Daniel Waterstone.
"Do I write what the market wants? Do I write something... that will sell? What is the market buying these days?" he asked, desperation making him look unattractive and pathetic. [as his avaricious and duplicitous agent Suzanne roars off in her late-model convertible, leaving Daniel in the dust]
Waterstone has by now authored several novels of quality, containing truth, light and beauty which have been soundly and roundly rejected by publishers. Bereft of electricity and phone, Daniel muses about Eric Blair a/k/a George Orwell who could not sell "animal stories" to his publisher; Samuel Clemens, Charles Dodgson, Currer Bell and others.
'"Besides, he didn't want to pimp out his genuine talents and become a hack, just to sell books and become "popular." '
So, what is a serious novelist to do?
Davis tells us: "Having the least bit of stress in his life had a tendency to throw off his sleeping patterns and prevent his body and mind from achieving that basic health requirement of all humans: deep, restorative sleep."
The answer comes to Daniel: re-read George Orwell, Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Dickens, Poe, Laurence Stern, Cervantes, Voltaire, Geoffrey Chaucer.
Gradually he undergoes metamorphosis and becomes alter ego "Charles Spectrum." (or was it Dermot Davis?) And then the fun begins.
Waterstone: "Some would say that the true use of satire is to provoke controversy, to stir up the populace from their torpid slumber and sound a wake-up call, challenging the status quo."
Waterstone was completely out of touch with "the market" and that ignorance extended to music: "content to listen to his favorite composers, varying his choice dependent upon his mood: Mozart, Haydn or perhaps Sibelius when he was feeling cheerful; Mahler, Bach, Shostakovich or quite likely Rachmaninoff when he was feeling sad. As far back as he could remember he had always harbored a deep-seated feeling - almost a certainty - that he was born into the wrong age."
(Parenthetically, we are surprised that Waterstone did not listen to Schumann, Mahler, Brahms and Wagner "when he was feeling cheerful.")
Waterstone again: "It's not like I could easily get a job or something. All I've done for the past ten years is write literary novels... a very slim resume, you must agree." "Do you want to get a job?" "Of course not. I'm a writer. I want to write."
So, as Charles Spectrum he sets out to write the ultimate "self-help" send-up because as Mavis the librarian observes "There are really only three genres that everyone wants to read and then everything else is a subset or a combination, thereof...."
Unable to sleep, malnourished, suffering from "exceedingly high stress levels" Specturm produces a monster best-seller.
This book caused this reviewer's spirit to leave the body; she can levitate; she can channel Suzanne "listening to creative types" and she can fix her toaster by the laying on of hands. Waterstone/Spectrum/Davis (almost predictably Irish) has produced a sly and very funny look at the world of authors, agents, publishing, tabloid journalism and the modern reading public.
Leila Smith, for The Kindle Book Review. The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair and honest review. We are not associated with the author nor with Amazon. (Because authors sometimes have difficulty following instructions and solicit reviews from two different KBR reviewers, this one cannot be entered by KBR.)
The romp (in the Merriam Webster sense of the word) begins with personna Daniel Waterstone, "the recipient of the prestigious Marcus and Imelda Rogerspoon award for the student showing the brightest promise for a future literary career." Then, instead of having the decorum to sit down and shut up, Daniel demonstrates his oratory acumen to tell the audience that:
"We are living in dangerous times," he then said, pausing, for dramatic effect. "Having progressed through the age of reason and enlightenment, civilization is now poised to enter the age of insanity. I tell you, in no uncertain terms that what we are currently witnessing, at least here, in the West, is the decline of culture itself."
Aside from a few typographical errors (which may be intentional for all we know), this book successfully entertains in all environs from a noisy city bus to the quiet contemplation of a reading room.
We were reminded of Charlotte Bronte "Gentle reader, may you never feel what I then felt! May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. May you never appeal to Heaven in prayers so hopeless and so agonised as in that hour left my lips: for never may you, like me, dread to be the instrument of evil to what you wholly love."
Should you, Gentle Reader, have the misfortune to know well a genuine novelist, then you will instantly recognize the wellspring of angst penned by Daniel Waterstone.
"Do I write what the market wants? Do I write something... that will sell? What is the market buying these days?" he asked, desperation making him look unattractive and pathetic. [as his avaricious and duplicitous agent Suzanne roars off in her late-model convertible, leaving Daniel in the dust]
Waterstone has by now authored several novels of quality, containing truth, light and beauty which have been soundly and roundly rejected by publishers. Bereft of electricity and phone, Daniel muses about Eric Blair a/k/a George Orwell who could not sell "animal stories" to his publisher; Samuel Clemens, Charles Dodgson, Currer Bell and others.
'"Besides, he didn't want to pimp out his genuine talents and become a hack, just to sell books and become "popular." '
So, what is a serious novelist to do?
Davis tells us: "Having the least bit of stress in his life had a tendency to throw off his sleeping patterns and prevent his body and mind from achieving that basic health requirement of all humans: deep, restorative sleep."
The answer comes to Daniel: re-read George Orwell, Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Dickens, Poe, Laurence Stern, Cervantes, Voltaire, Geoffrey Chaucer.
Gradually he undergoes metamorphosis and becomes alter ego "Charles Spectrum." (or was it Dermot Davis?) And then the fun begins.
Waterstone: "Some would say that the true use of satire is to provoke controversy, to stir up the populace from their torpid slumber and sound a wake-up call, challenging the status quo."
Waterstone was completely out of touch with "the market" and that ignorance extended to music: "content to listen to his favorite composers, varying his choice dependent upon his mood: Mozart, Haydn or perhaps Sibelius when he was feeling cheerful; Mahler, Bach, Shostakovich or quite likely Rachmaninoff when he was feeling sad. As far back as he could remember he had always harbored a deep-seated feeling - almost a certainty - that he was born into the wrong age."
(Parenthetically, we are surprised that Waterstone did not listen to Schumann, Mahler, Brahms and Wagner "when he was feeling cheerful.")
Waterstone again: "It's not like I could easily get a job or something. All I've done for the past ten years is write literary novels... a very slim resume, you must agree." "Do you want to get a job?" "Of course not. I'm a writer. I want to write."
So, as Charles Spectrum he sets out to write the ultimate "self-help" send-up because as Mavis the librarian observes "There are really only three genres that everyone wants to read and then everything else is a subset or a combination, thereof...."
Unable to sleep, malnourished, suffering from "exceedingly high stress levels" Specturm produces a monster best-seller.
This book caused this reviewer's spirit to leave the body; she can levitate; she can channel Suzanne "listening to creative types" and she can fix her toaster by the laying on of hands. Waterstone/Spectrum/Davis (almost predictably Irish) has produced a sly and very funny look at the world of authors, agents, publishing, tabloid journalism and the modern reading public.
Leila Smith, for The Kindle Book Review. The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair and honest review. We are not associated with the author nor with Amazon. (Because authors sometimes have difficulty following instructions and solicit reviews from two different KBR reviewers, this one cannot be entered by KBR.)
December 12, 2018
Quirky and absurd. Not too bad, as well as being a relatively fast read.
June 1, 2019
wow war das scheiße
Read
November 26, 2020Great fun, real page turner based around this wonderfully daft idea of someone acc identally becoming a guru... and yet, given what we see online, eminintly possibly.
February 19, 2017
This book was laugh out loud funny! Ironic and chaotic... but in a humorous way! I absolutely loved it! If any of my author friends are reading this review... stop what you are doing and download this book today. You will love it too!
When you get to know various authors and begin to understand how the current publishing world works, you come to the realization that it doesn't really matter how good a novel is, it just matters if it is what the general population is buying at that point in time and how it is marketed. Sad, but true. Daniel Waterstone came to that realization when the novels he had poured his heart and soul into were rejected by his publishing agent. She told him he needed to write what the public is buying.
Feeling dejected, having his world (and his bank account) collapse beneath him, and seeing the massive popularity of a nonsensical book by a self-proclaimed psychic, Daniel went back to his apartment and using the pen name Charles Spectrum, proceeded to write a satire making fun of the absurdity in books like Take Control of Your Life by Randy Guswhite. The last thing Daniel expected to happen was for people to take this "satire" literally and turn it into a self-help book, following his suggestions of walking backward for six weeks and sleeping standing up or jumping up and down on their beds yelling "I can fly, I can fly".
The laughs and absurdity continue as Randy believes Daniel stole his brain and goes to extreme lengths to get it back. Then there is blackmail, a bombing, and so much more.
If you like satire or if you are an author with a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this book. Dermot Davis' wit and mastery of the written word brings to light a hint of the craziness this world has to offer.
When you get to know various authors and begin to understand how the current publishing world works, you come to the realization that it doesn't really matter how good a novel is, it just matters if it is what the general population is buying at that point in time and how it is marketed. Sad, but true. Daniel Waterstone came to that realization when the novels he had poured his heart and soul into were rejected by his publishing agent. She told him he needed to write what the public is buying.
Feeling dejected, having his world (and his bank account) collapse beneath him, and seeing the massive popularity of a nonsensical book by a self-proclaimed psychic, Daniel went back to his apartment and using the pen name Charles Spectrum, proceeded to write a satire making fun of the absurdity in books like Take Control of Your Life by Randy Guswhite. The last thing Daniel expected to happen was for people to take this "satire" literally and turn it into a self-help book, following his suggestions of walking backward for six weeks and sleeping standing up or jumping up and down on their beds yelling "I can fly, I can fly".
The laughs and absurdity continue as Randy believes Daniel stole his brain and goes to extreme lengths to get it back. Then there is blackmail, a bombing, and so much more.
If you like satire or if you are an author with a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this book. Dermot Davis' wit and mastery of the written word brings to light a hint of the craziness this world has to offer.
May 20, 2015
Daniel Waterstone has had aspirations to be a successful and famous writer, one that would follow the chains of Steinbeck and Faulkner. Fantasies about it often overwhelmed and clouded his head.
Although somewhat prideful and arrogant at his graduation, Daniel had a point. “Our literature has been in decline for decades. Loopy fads and fantasy genres, of questionable merit, now clog our once-great literary arteries.” (3) There was an “urgency” for a revival of great American literature.
Now, 10 years later, he is living as a “true” artist—in a run-down apartment with a bed, a desk, and a typewriter. He was the poor, starving artist. But he did win that writer’s award in college. Yeah, that’ll pay the bills.
I liked this book because it authenticated the struggles and passions of a real writer trying to come up with the next great story while also trying to make a buck. Aren’t we all?
But to hear the words: “Nobody is buying what you write. No one is buying your books…Your work has no commercial appeal.” (15) Heartbreaking. Of course, the classic was Daniel’s reaction—utter freeze mode. “I don’t have anything else. This was it. This is it. I poured my soul into these pages…agonized over every single word, every phrase, every description…every vowel.” (17)
A question that every writer must ask is: What do I write? Do I write something the market wants and that will sell? Or do I write what I want?
“Idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other idiots.” (32) But what do they read? “People are miserable and are leading lives filled with a mix of boredom and pain. Books help them to escape all that.” (37)
But “[Daniel] didn’t want to pimp out his genuine talents and become a hack, just to sell books and become ‘popular.” (41) But he was broke and he needed to do something.
“As frustrating as it may be…you can only watch from the sidelines as your baby grows up. In most cases, they die or, more likely, stall in infancy. In some rare cases, however, a book becomes a monster. Whether we like it or not, once it goes public, a book takes on a life of its own.” (72)
“People say that it’s good to have an open mind but the best kind of mind to have is one that’s totally vacant.” (131)
The agent is crazy! In fact, the entire publication spectrum was crazy—yet accurate. For a dream to finally come true but to have none of the fulfilling qualities one anticipated seemed lyrical, ironic and, to paraphrase Daniel, satirical.
The novel explores the dark, cold recess of the publishing world along with a slew of ineffable, metaphysical possibilities.
Well-written and enthralling, this smart and witty novel is a must-read! Funny, sorrowful, and relatable. It will stay with you long after you’re done.
Although somewhat prideful and arrogant at his graduation, Daniel had a point. “Our literature has been in decline for decades. Loopy fads and fantasy genres, of questionable merit, now clog our once-great literary arteries.” (3) There was an “urgency” for a revival of great American literature.
Now, 10 years later, he is living as a “true” artist—in a run-down apartment with a bed, a desk, and a typewriter. He was the poor, starving artist. But he did win that writer’s award in college. Yeah, that’ll pay the bills.
I liked this book because it authenticated the struggles and passions of a real writer trying to come up with the next great story while also trying to make a buck. Aren’t we all?
But to hear the words: “Nobody is buying what you write. No one is buying your books…Your work has no commercial appeal.” (15) Heartbreaking. Of course, the classic was Daniel’s reaction—utter freeze mode. “I don’t have anything else. This was it. This is it. I poured my soul into these pages…agonized over every single word, every phrase, every description…every vowel.” (17)
A question that every writer must ask is: What do I write? Do I write something the market wants and that will sell? Or do I write what I want?
“Idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other idiots.” (32) But what do they read? “People are miserable and are leading lives filled with a mix of boredom and pain. Books help them to escape all that.” (37)
But “[Daniel] didn’t want to pimp out his genuine talents and become a hack, just to sell books and become ‘popular.” (41) But he was broke and he needed to do something.
“As frustrating as it may be…you can only watch from the sidelines as your baby grows up. In most cases, they die or, more likely, stall in infancy. In some rare cases, however, a book becomes a monster. Whether we like it or not, once it goes public, a book takes on a life of its own.” (72)
“People say that it’s good to have an open mind but the best kind of mind to have is one that’s totally vacant.” (131)
The agent is crazy! In fact, the entire publication spectrum was crazy—yet accurate. For a dream to finally come true but to have none of the fulfilling qualities one anticipated seemed lyrical, ironic and, to paraphrase Daniel, satirical.
The novel explores the dark, cold recess of the publishing world along with a slew of ineffable, metaphysical possibilities.
Well-written and enthralling, this smart and witty novel is a must-read! Funny, sorrowful, and relatable. It will stay with you long after you’re done.
November 26, 2015
Highly recommend this book that fully deserves its string of awards.
Davis is a writer with something to say which he does in an entertaining and engaging way. There are numerous laugh out loud moments as events around Daniel/Charles and his book spiral into outlandish farce but as with all quality humour there is a serious message underneath.
For me the best part of the book was the character arc of Daniel. While the story concentrates on the powerful effect his book has on his readers Daniel's personal transformation was exemplary.
I did think the story took a while to get started and there was a little too much writer's angst in the first chapters but once Daniel's book is published things really take off and I was completely hooked and enthralled by the read.
Great writing, wonderful characters and a unique story make this a first class read.
Davis is a writer with something to say which he does in an entertaining and engaging way. There are numerous laugh out loud moments as events around Daniel/Charles and his book spiral into outlandish farce but as with all quality humour there is a serious message underneath.
For me the best part of the book was the character arc of Daniel. While the story concentrates on the powerful effect his book has on his readers Daniel's personal transformation was exemplary.
I did think the story took a while to get started and there was a little too much writer's angst in the first chapters but once Daniel's book is published things really take off and I was completely hooked and enthralled by the read.
Great writing, wonderful characters and a unique story make this a first class read.
June 9, 2013
I loved this book (an #ARC that I got to read, luckily). I actually cried. It had a very good start and was engaging and then, about 70% of the way in, I fell in love with the book. There was this turning point, for me the reader, which was palpable. It's not out yet, so I won't share spoilers, but there was this energy experience that I felt during a romantic interlude between the protagonist and another character (and this isn't a romantic comedy, it's contemporary fiction with a romantic sub-plot). I absolutely expect this author to win some literary awards over the next few decades. #goodread
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