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Being Written
Daniel Fischer has a secret. He knows he's a character in a book that's being written. He's the only one who knows, the only one who's aware of the author's presence--but what good does it do Daniel? He's just a minor character. The author seems much more interested in other people's lives. Now Daniel is determined to win a bigger part, and he'll do whatever it takes to get the author's attention and make this story his own.
Suspenseful, subversive, and hilarious, "Being Written" is an audaciously inventive literary turn that gleefully calls into question who we trust, what we believe, and how the stories of our lives are created.
Suspenseful, subversive, and hilarious, "Being Written" is an audaciously inventive literary turn that gleefully calls into question who we trust, what we believe, and how the stories of our lives are created.
224 pages, ebook
First published August 27, 2008
47 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
William Conescu
4 books2 followersWilliam Conescu was born in New York and raised in New Orleans. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned an MFA in Creative Writing at North Carolina State University. He is the author of the novels KARA WAS HERE and BEING WRITTEN, and his short stories have appeared in THE GETTYSBURG REVIEW, NEW LETTERS, and other publications. William lives in Durham, North Carolina.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/williamconesc... or http://www.williamconescu.com.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/williamconesc... or http://www.williamconescu.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 24, 2008
William Conescu's novel is clever and a compelling read, and I sincerely hope it doesn't inspire any of its readers to write a book of his or her own. One "Being Written" is all the world really needs.
Daniel Fisher often hears the sound of a pencil writing -- sometimes far away, and sometimes nearby -- and comes to realize that he's a character in a novel. In fact, it's the novel we, the readers of "Being Written," are reading.
Yes, we're in the world of metafiction, but what sets "Being Written" apart from other metafiction -- and, as a result, makes it far less annoying than most metafiction -- is that William Conescu never makes an appearance in the book. And there's really no reason to believe he's even the author of the book in which Daniel appears, because "Being Written"'s author character is nothing more than the sound of a scratching pencil.
Daniel has been in books before, but always as a minor character. This time around, he wants to be a main character. As a reader of the types of novels purchased at airports, Daniel makes decisions typically made by characters in such mysteries and action thrillers, turning "Being Written," at times, into a self-aware parody of badly written bestsellers.
The premise is inventive enough on its own, but Conescu pushes the cleverness a bit too far. Daniel's sections are written in second person ("You pour yourself a cup of coffee..."), which Conescu's skilled writing saves from being too distracting, and which are offset by the chapters focused on the novel's other characters, written in third person. But do Daniel's sections also need to be in a different typeface from the rest of the book? I don't know if this was Conescu's decision or his publisher's, but it's distracting and doesn't serve much of a purpose.
The most interesting aspect of "Being Written" is what remains mostly unsaid in the book itself: what if Daniel isn't a character in a novel, and that notion is only in his head? What if inserting himself into the lives of "Being Written"'s other characters, and the resulting problems that causes, comes about simply because of a mental illness on Daniel's part?
For readers who can get past the cleverness-for-cleverness's-sake aspects of "Being Written" -- the parts that feel like they were written mostly for the enjoyment of classmates in a writing workshop -- the book does have its rewards.
Daniel Fisher often hears the sound of a pencil writing -- sometimes far away, and sometimes nearby -- and comes to realize that he's a character in a novel. In fact, it's the novel we, the readers of "Being Written," are reading.
Yes, we're in the world of metafiction, but what sets "Being Written" apart from other metafiction -- and, as a result, makes it far less annoying than most metafiction -- is that William Conescu never makes an appearance in the book. And there's really no reason to believe he's even the author of the book in which Daniel appears, because "Being Written"'s author character is nothing more than the sound of a scratching pencil.
Daniel has been in books before, but always as a minor character. This time around, he wants to be a main character. As a reader of the types of novels purchased at airports, Daniel makes decisions typically made by characters in such mysteries and action thrillers, turning "Being Written," at times, into a self-aware parody of badly written bestsellers.
The premise is inventive enough on its own, but Conescu pushes the cleverness a bit too far. Daniel's sections are written in second person ("You pour yourself a cup of coffee..."), which Conescu's skilled writing saves from being too distracting, and which are offset by the chapters focused on the novel's other characters, written in third person. But do Daniel's sections also need to be in a different typeface from the rest of the book? I don't know if this was Conescu's decision or his publisher's, but it's distracting and doesn't serve much of a purpose.
The most interesting aspect of "Being Written" is what remains mostly unsaid in the book itself: what if Daniel isn't a character in a novel, and that notion is only in his head? What if inserting himself into the lives of "Being Written"'s other characters, and the resulting problems that causes, comes about simply because of a mental illness on Daniel's part?
For readers who can get past the cleverness-for-cleverness's-sake aspects of "Being Written" -- the parts that feel like they were written mostly for the enjoyment of classmates in a writing workshop -- the book does have its rewards.
August 23, 2009
I'm not sure what's more dilusional: the protagonist thinking he's found himself being written into a novel or William Consecu implying said novel was being written entirely with a pencil. And having five points of view throughout the novel is a little messy, metinks. I'm glad this only took me a day to read. Sadly, a day I'll never get back.
March 22, 2018
This book gives me hope... that I too can write a novel and get it published one day (no matter how bad it is).
This book was such a wasted premise. Unique idea of the protagonist realizing he’s in a book and trying to become a bigger role. So much potential and zero payoff.
The writing wasn’t great, no character depth, the narrators jumped between minor characters who you almost get confused because there’s no substance and the 3 main characters - none of which are likeable. The “twist” is pretty dumb and ... I’d go on but it’s a waste of reading how bad this book is. Just skip it.
This book was such a wasted premise. Unique idea of the protagonist realizing he’s in a book and trying to become a bigger role. So much potential and zero payoff.
The writing wasn’t great, no character depth, the narrators jumped between minor characters who you almost get confused because there’s no substance and the 3 main characters - none of which are likeable. The “twist” is pretty dumb and ... I’d go on but it’s a waste of reading how bad this book is. Just skip it.
June 3, 2008
it was pretty cool. an interesting premise for sure, but went in a direction i wasn't so into.
June 8, 2011
I really LOVED this book. It is slow paced for sure but its just original enough to keep me going. Just have a little patience and it will not disappoint.:)
January 11, 2018
A great, short read. An unreliable narrator, a plot-twist, and (my favorite) meta-storytelling. I highly recommend it.
This book started off feeling like a typical love triangle with the meta-storytelling twist of one of the characters knowing they're a book character in a love triangle. While that twist was intriguing at first, it started to get kind of old. But then the plot twist happened and to quote the character & author, "It's [become] the kind of book people can't put down".
After the plot twist, I was very invested in the story. Because of the circumstances causing the plot-twist, I also felt conflicted about how I should feel towards the character because we have gotten to know them throughout the book up to that point. You also realized, that the author (of this book, not the "book") had been dropping hints throughout the story up until the plot-twist and that they went over my head. Once they were pointed out to me, I couldn't believe I missed them. And I loved that! Towards the end of the story, I found myself questioning how much of the story was real and how much I misunderstood.
As much as I loved this story after the plot-twist, I will say I was confused throughout the first half as to whose story the book is about and what their goal was. I think this may have been the author's (of this book) goal, but it made it somewhat difficult to follow. I also would be remiss to not acknowledge how minimally developed most of the characters felt, besides Graham. While these factors were irritating, I still ultimately enjoyed this novel.
This book started off feeling like a typical love triangle with the meta-storytelling twist of one of the characters knowing they're a book character in a love triangle. While that twist was intriguing at first, it started to get kind of old. But then the plot twist happened and to quote the character & author, "It's [become] the kind of book people can't put down".
After the plot twist, I was very invested in the story. Because of the circumstances causing the plot-twist, I also felt conflicted about how I should feel towards the character because we have gotten to know them throughout the book up to that point. You also realized, that the author (of this book, not the "book") had been dropping hints throughout the story up until the plot-twist and that they went over my head. Once they were pointed out to me, I couldn't believe I missed them. And I loved that! Towards the end of the story, I found myself questioning how much of the story was real and how much I misunderstood.
As much as I loved this story after the plot-twist, I will say I was confused throughout the first half as to whose story the book is about and what their goal was. I think this may have been the author's (of this book) goal, but it made it somewhat difficult to follow. I also would be remiss to not acknowledge how minimally developed most of the characters felt, besides Graham. While these factors were irritating, I still ultimately enjoyed this novel.
July 16, 2017
I wanted to like this book. The premise of a character in a book knowing that he is in a story was quite intriguing. Daniel can hear the pencil scratching when the author is writing about things in his area. Daniel would like to be more than just "guy at a bar"; he would like to be the hero of this story and get the girl. No one else knows about the author because they can't hear the scratching. Daniel does everything he can think of to bring the author's attention back to him. I need more action in a book. It took me so long to finish this book because it didn't grab my attention. The writing itself was fine but I couldn't get into the story.
December 28, 2018
Really more like 2.5 stars. This book was not what I thought. I expected a fantasy about a guy who realizes he's actually a character in a book, but I believe it's actually about someone who's mentally ill. His illness just manifests as a belief that he's a character in a book, which justifies some pretty heinous choices.
One could argue about why my interpretation is necessarily correct vs. an interpretation that he really is "being written." My only real justification is the way the book ends. If he were really "being written" I don't believe the book would end like that.
I was game as things went along, but by the end I felt tricked. I wouldn't recommend this to anybody.
One could argue about why my interpretation is necessarily correct vs. an interpretation that he really is "being written." My only real justification is the way the book ends. If he were really "being written" I don't believe the book would end like that.
I was game as things went along, but by the end I felt tricked. I wouldn't recommend this to anybody.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2017
I sure takes a while to get into this book. The concept is original, well, at least it is to me. But one that's hard to pull off. Conescu tried and sort of succeeded. It reads like you're reading something that would come out of Days of Our Lives then over half way, Bang!, you're alert and reading to the end. A bit late to drag you in, but if you've survived that far...
June 6, 2017
Oh, my
I can't decide if this is the strangest book I ever read, but it certainly ranks right up there. I was tempted to give it one star, but the premise really hooked me.
The main character--or is he a minor character in someone else's story?--hears a scratching noise and realizes he's a character in a book. This leads him to do many things to ensure his prominence in the book an unknown author is writing about him and his new-found friends.
I had to keep reading to see how Conescu would end the novel. And the ending was, well, you'd have to read it to understand.
I can't decide if this is the strangest book I ever read, but it certainly ranks right up there. I was tempted to give it one star, but the premise really hooked me.
The main character--or is he a minor character in someone else's story?--hears a scratching noise and realizes he's a character in a book. This leads him to do many things to ensure his prominence in the book an unknown author is writing about him and his new-found friends.
I had to keep reading to see how Conescu would end the novel. And the ending was, well, you'd have to read it to understand.
May 29, 2017
Stranger than it seems...
...(which is strange enough), and stranger than Stranger Than Fiction. And more satisfying, finally. Couldn't have been written in the 20th century, but was inevitable in the 21st.
...(which is strange enough), and stranger than Stranger Than Fiction. And more satisfying, finally. Couldn't have been written in the 20th century, but was inevitable in the 21st.
July 12, 2017
How do you live your life when you "hear" your story being written while you are living your life.
Love the concept, but it could have been way better. It took a while for this one to develop, galloping toward the last quarter, though.
Love the concept, but it could have been way better. It took a while for this one to develop, galloping toward the last quarter, though.
March 4, 2018
A really cool idea. A character in a book desperately wants to be the protagonist. Very creative story - well written and surprising - loved it. The short story "Blind" at the back of the book is excellent.
May 10, 2017
This was a very fun and interesting story. Definitely unique.
May 12, 2017
Probably one of the strangest books I've read. I've never read one in which a character thinks/knows he is a character in a book and tries to manipulate events.
June 1, 2017
An unrealized intriguing premise...
June 14, 2017
Clever concept, but it seemed like the author ran out of ideas and gave up at the end.
June 23, 2017
A fresh take on the human condition; witty, crazy, scary, and yes, often hilariously funny, Being Written is difficult to put down and the characters are impossible to forget. Loved it.
September 13, 2017
Very strange and unsatisfying, I can't say the book grabbed me, although the concept was interesting. I ended up disappointed.
August 11, 2019
I love the concept, but I just couldn't finish it.
December 6, 2019
Just couldn't stay interested
February 17, 2009
Being Written is a clever novel about Daniel Fisher, a young professional living in Boston who hears the scratching of a pencil while sitting in a bar and realizes that an author is writing someone’s story. He knows it’s not about him, he’s only a minor player, but he really wants a piece of the limelight. He realizes that a young woman at the bar is generating the scratching noise, that her story is the one being written. His desire to be part of the book is so strong that he worms his way into the young woman’s life. First, he ends up in Delia’s bed, then he becomes a regular fixture at her and her friends’ hangouts. Daniel is just a regular Joe (well, aside from the fact that he is the only one hearing the author’s pencil), and he decides he needs to be more interesting so the author will notice him. He lies and says he’s a writer working on a novel, and he goes out of his way to make things happen.
Delia is a talented singer who studied music in college. She and her musician boyfriend, Graham, left school before realizing their dreams. Now Delia works a dead-end job for a nonprofit foundation and sings in her spare time at a rest home. She is unhappy not only with her career, but also with her relationship with Graham — whose inability to hold down a real job has prompted him to take up another line of work that leaves Delia feeling both disgusted and betrayed. Conescu also tells the story through the eyes of Monty, Delia’s childhood friend and a colleague of Daniel’s, and Jon, their gay bartender friend.
Consescu devised a brilliant structure for Being Written. All of the main characters have chapters to themselves, and these are written in the third person (as though they are part of the novel being written) — except for Daniel’s. Daniel’s story is told in the second person and in the present tense, putting readers in the here and now and making it possible that the author is responsible for his actions. As Daniel’s willingness to do whatever it takes to play a prominent role in the story grows, the tension builds, putting readers on the edge of their seats. I wasn’t expecting the story to take the turn it did, with some thriller aspects thrown in, but it all made sense and wasn’t at all out of character.
Being Written is among the most unique books I’ve ever read, and Consecu does a wonderful job pacing the story. Once I started reading it, it was hard to put down.
Full review on Diary of an Eccentric.
Delia is a talented singer who studied music in college. She and her musician boyfriend, Graham, left school before realizing their dreams. Now Delia works a dead-end job for a nonprofit foundation and sings in her spare time at a rest home. She is unhappy not only with her career, but also with her relationship with Graham — whose inability to hold down a real job has prompted him to take up another line of work that leaves Delia feeling both disgusted and betrayed. Conescu also tells the story through the eyes of Monty, Delia’s childhood friend and a colleague of Daniel’s, and Jon, their gay bartender friend.
Consescu devised a brilliant structure for Being Written. All of the main characters have chapters to themselves, and these are written in the third person (as though they are part of the novel being written) — except for Daniel’s. Daniel’s story is told in the second person and in the present tense, putting readers in the here and now and making it possible that the author is responsible for his actions. As Daniel’s willingness to do whatever it takes to play a prominent role in the story grows, the tension builds, putting readers on the edge of their seats. I wasn’t expecting the story to take the turn it did, with some thriller aspects thrown in, but it all made sense and wasn’t at all out of character.
Being Written is among the most unique books I’ve ever read, and Consecu does a wonderful job pacing the story. Once I started reading it, it was hard to put down.
Full review on Diary of an Eccentric.
December 17, 2011
aI stumbled upon this gem of a book through reading a review in, I think, Bookmarks. I was instantly drawn to the premise: the "main character" is actually a minor character who knows that he is a character and is trying to get the author's attention. What?!
Seriously. The little book did not disappoint.
Daniel is a bit peculiar compared to most people because he realizes that he's not just a person, but a character to be used at the author's whim. How does he know this? Well, he can hear the scratching of the author's pencil of course! Which is the creative carrot that entices you in.
Daniel, having a drink,hears the scratching over in the direction of this attractive woman sitting a the bar. He's fed up. Daniel no longer wishes to be a minor character, merely filling in the background scenes, he wants his own part. In fact, if he's going to be honest with himself and the author - he wants his own novel. Daniel has no other choice but to approach the woman who the author is writing about, forcing the author himself to acknowledge Daniel's presence.
Thus begins Daniel's role in the lives of friends Delia, Graham, Jon, and Monty. Just because the novel is about them, does not mean that Daniel cannot maneuver himself into a stellar role. Under the guise of a writer himself, Daniel conveniently shows up in the friends' lives over and over again, until he finally establishes himself. Question is, is it the part that he's always wanted?
I think I loved this book because I've always been fascinated with the concept of reality and perception. In college I read a play, "Six Character's In Search of an Author" by Pirandello. It's an absurdist play, in which a group of characters show up to a dress rehearsal looking for an author to finish their story. One of the many speculations from this play is that we are all characters, existing in separate realities all dependent on the performances of those surrounding us. Which ultimately poses the question which self is more real? Or are all merely illusions?
I'll have to re-read the play again. The above ramblings are relied upon from a memory ten years ago. (Although I do recall after turning in my analysis of the piece to my professor I put an asterisk at the bottom questioning the realness of the paper, or some such postscript that I felt was pretentiously clever at the time). Luckily, I just found Six Characters is on Project Gutenburg. Looks like I might have to re-read this one!
Seriously. The little book did not disappoint.
Daniel is a bit peculiar compared to most people because he realizes that he's not just a person, but a character to be used at the author's whim. How does he know this? Well, he can hear the scratching of the author's pencil of course! Which is the creative carrot that entices you in.
Daniel, having a drink,hears the scratching over in the direction of this attractive woman sitting a the bar. He's fed up. Daniel no longer wishes to be a minor character, merely filling in the background scenes, he wants his own part. In fact, if he's going to be honest with himself and the author - he wants his own novel. Daniel has no other choice but to approach the woman who the author is writing about, forcing the author himself to acknowledge Daniel's presence.
Thus begins Daniel's role in the lives of friends Delia, Graham, Jon, and Monty. Just because the novel is about them, does not mean that Daniel cannot maneuver himself into a stellar role. Under the guise of a writer himself, Daniel conveniently shows up in the friends' lives over and over again, until he finally establishes himself. Question is, is it the part that he's always wanted?
I think I loved this book because I've always been fascinated with the concept of reality and perception. In college I read a play, "Six Character's In Search of an Author" by Pirandello. It's an absurdist play, in which a group of characters show up to a dress rehearsal looking for an author to finish their story. One of the many speculations from this play is that we are all characters, existing in separate realities all dependent on the performances of those surrounding us. Which ultimately poses the question which self is more real? Or are all merely illusions?
I'll have to re-read the play again. The above ramblings are relied upon from a memory ten years ago. (Although I do recall after turning in my analysis of the piece to my professor I put an asterisk at the bottom questioning the realness of the paper, or some such postscript that I felt was pretentiously clever at the time). Luckily, I just found Six Characters is on Project Gutenburg. Looks like I might have to re-read this one!
August 24, 2010
Ultimately disappointing. If Conescu's intention was to write a book about a really boring main character who tries to ingratiate himself into a group of slightly more interesting people and continues to be boring to make the supporting cast seem even more interesting, he succeeded on one of those points. I was mildly interested in what happened to Delia after the novel's ending, but once I closed the book, I lost all interest in her and her collection of equally self-absorbed friends. They all had the glistening potential of being interesting, but Daniel the protagonist sucked them all bone dry. Now I can't even remember their names, and I don't care enough to flip back through and find out.
Asking if the protagonist is truly in a novel or is mentally ill is the obvious question from the very beginning, and I was very disappointed with the book's equally obvious "you decide" conclusion, which was neither thought provoking or even interestingly executed. In fact, by the time I got through the haphazardly exciting thrill ride of the final chapters, I honestly couldn't have cared less who or what the heck the ridiculously (and illegitimately) self-centered Daniel was. I didn't care who the "author" was, if s/he even existed and I didn't even care that the story never offers any insight.
The novel's exploration of the desire to be fundamentally important in a story, any story even if it isn't even our own, is very attractive, and Conescu plays the protagonist's desperation and lunacy convincingly. And at the end of the day, the book is completely satisfying for what it is: a fun way to pass the time. If you're looking for something to read without turning over your life to a novel, then by all means, take your chances here. You certainly won't be hounded by a desire to resume reading if you have to put it down.
I honestly wanted to be excited about this book; the premise seemed interesting and I enjoy Conescu's writing style. It was a quick read with some laugh out loud funny moments, but it never gripped me and I don't think I would have willingly finished it had it been much longer than 192 pages. Thoughts upon finishing: "Huh."
Asking if the protagonist is truly in a novel or is mentally ill is the obvious question from the very beginning, and I was very disappointed with the book's equally obvious "you decide" conclusion, which was neither thought provoking or even interestingly executed. In fact, by the time I got through the haphazardly exciting thrill ride of the final chapters, I honestly couldn't have cared less who or what the heck the ridiculously (and illegitimately) self-centered Daniel was. I didn't care who the "author" was, if s/he even existed and I didn't even care that the story never offers any insight.
The novel's exploration of the desire to be fundamentally important in a story, any story even if it isn't even our own, is very attractive, and Conescu plays the protagonist's desperation and lunacy convincingly. And at the end of the day, the book is completely satisfying for what it is: a fun way to pass the time. If you're looking for something to read without turning over your life to a novel, then by all means, take your chances here. You certainly won't be hounded by a desire to resume reading if you have to put it down.
I honestly wanted to be excited about this book; the premise seemed interesting and I enjoy Conescu's writing style. It was a quick read with some laugh out loud funny moments, but it never gripped me and I don't think I would have willingly finished it had it been much longer than 192 pages. Thoughts upon finishing: "Huh."
Read
March 31, 2012Daniel Fischer has a gift. Unlike everyone else in his life, he is aware that he and the world he lives in are the creation of a writer. In fact, he can hear the scribble of the pencil when he wanders into a part of the story the author is currently working on. But Daniel has always been only a minor character. He desperately wants to change that.
On his quest for centrality to the book, Daniel meets Conescu's other believable (but unpleasant) characters who are desperate to avoid insignificance in their own lives. Their conflicts and struggles to achieve a sense of importance form the plot and, at first, leave the reader's sympathies with Daniel. But shocking things lie ahead, and the literary conceit of the character who knows he is being written will be carried to a logical but disturbing end. It is a testament to Conescu's skill that his novel could be read equally well as a meta-narrative or as a straight story of a man's psychotic break with reality. The reader must decide which of these are true, or if both can exist at the same time.
I did not like any character in this book, but I loved the book. Conescu scrubs his characters free of moral sensibility and lets their lives take the consequences. The result is a book that left me with the same spiritual recoil that I felt reading Walker Percy's Lancelot or Dostoevsky's The Idiot. Daniel achieves a longed-for centrality that feels simultaneously shocking and inevitable, and left me stronger in the resolve to choose a different life altogether.
On his quest for centrality to the book, Daniel meets Conescu's other believable (but unpleasant) characters who are desperate to avoid insignificance in their own lives. Their conflicts and struggles to achieve a sense of importance form the plot and, at first, leave the reader's sympathies with Daniel. But shocking things lie ahead, and the literary conceit of the character who knows he is being written will be carried to a logical but disturbing end. It is a testament to Conescu's skill that his novel could be read equally well as a meta-narrative or as a straight story of a man's psychotic break with reality. The reader must decide which of these are true, or if both can exist at the same time.
I did not like any character in this book, but I loved the book. Conescu scrubs his characters free of moral sensibility and lets their lives take the consequences. The result is a book that left me with the same spiritual recoil that I felt reading Walker Percy's Lancelot or Dostoevsky's The Idiot. Daniel achieves a longed-for centrality that feels simultaneously shocking and inevitable, and left me stronger in the resolve to choose a different life altogether.
February 12, 2010
ne day, walking home late at night from a party, Daniel Fischer is robbed, and as the event takes place he hears the scratching of a pencil. Daniel believes that the scratching indicates that he is living in an author's world, and that his robbery is being written into a book. However, Daniel only plays a passing role in that book, so when, years later, he again hears the scratching in a bar where he meets an aspiring musician named Delia, he is determined this time to play a more important role. By insinuating himself into Delia's circle of friends, Daniel won't allow the author to ignore him this time around.
I enjoyed the premise of this book, and found most of the characters to be engaging. I'm a little ambivalent towards the actual plot: on the one hand it was interesting to see Daniel use his desire to be an important part of the book to justify more and more extreme actions as the book progressed, but at the same time I found myself groaning as certain plot twists took place.
You can read my full review at Rantings of a Bookworm Couch Potato.
I enjoyed the premise of this book, and found most of the characters to be engaging. I'm a little ambivalent towards the actual plot: on the one hand it was interesting to see Daniel use his desire to be an important part of the book to justify more and more extreme actions as the book progressed, but at the same time I found myself groaning as certain plot twists took place.
You can read my full review at Rantings of a Bookworm Couch Potato.
April 4, 2012
An original premise is given a treatment that goes from the whimsical to the utterly terrifying. Daniel Fischer is certain his life is being written by an invisible writer only he can hear, a writer that makes itself known only through the scratching of a pencil… The writing is in-depth and focused, as it must be when most of the action or thought is centered on one person. Whether Daniel is trying to seduce a girl or commit theft, the reader is drawn right into the action with him.
Mr. Conescu has created a memorable situation even if Daniel himself remains a bit of a frustrated nebbish. The novel is told in the first person so the reader is never quite certain if Daniel is truly the object of another’s imagination or whether he’s suffering from some rare and unknown psychological condition. This uncertainty, as well as Daniel’s determination to write himself a bigger part in an unseen work, makes this a spellbinding novel with a lady-or-the-tiger ending that is certain to linger in the mind.
Mr. Conescu has created a memorable situation even if Daniel himself remains a bit of a frustrated nebbish. The novel is told in the first person so the reader is never quite certain if Daniel is truly the object of another’s imagination or whether he’s suffering from some rare and unknown psychological condition. This uncertainty, as well as Daniel’s determination to write himself a bigger part in an unseen work, makes this a spellbinding novel with a lady-or-the-tiger ending that is certain to linger in the mind.
December 7, 2008
This book is very well written and a lot of fun to read. It's conceit is that the main character hears pencil scratching from time to time floating above him in the air, which he believes is evidence that he's actually a character being written into a book. He's desperate to play a significant role in it, so takes measures that turn the book into an unexpected suspense at times. But there are deeper issues at play, both with the protagonist and the other characters, who are richly described. These other characters are a group of friends in their late 20's struggling to figure out who they are, where they should take their lives, and what tough decisions they need to make.
April 17, 2018
I quit on this, sorry. The beginning intrigued me--a character that can hear himself being penciled into and out of the story by the writer. But that gimmick alone does not a good story make. The remainder fell into a familiar template; plot points 101. I admit I should give it a chance, but I'm not that patient. Next!
November 3, 2020
As one who barely manages to control or corral the characters I put to page, I was hooked from the moment I read the description of Being Written: A Novel. The idea of a minor character subverting an author's plot line for his own gain was not only intriguing, but made the writer in me curious how Consecu would pull it off. Well, he did and it was great fun. While some may not care for the ending, I found it absolutely perfect for the story.
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