fiction files redux discussion

Here's a place to talk about the skipper's book: all about lulu.

It's on my 'to-read' list...cannot wait to dive into it.

. . . whoohoo! . . .thanks for the sweet words, kidlink, and i hope you enjoy, melody!

I read it and reviewed it twice on Amazon dot come and on myspace fiction file; check it out if you wish, four people found my review helpful so why not join them?

. . . mark away, karen--pee on it if you want! . . . always nice to hear people on the right coast are buying lulu!

I read lulu when it first came out. Not a book I might have picked up based on the blurbs. Will’s voice was steady and clear. For me this story was about the isolation and alienation of a despairing teen, who suddenly grows up and realizes, not only that he recognizes these people, but he is one of them and he loves them. Despite their failings and secret keeping. More compelling for me than the revelation about Lulu was the adult bond formed in the end by Will and his brothers. Very good.

Two observations:

1. Will’s father might secretly be the novel’s best character. Unintentionally hilarious; he was instant comedy almost any time he appeared on a page. But the substance beneath was what made him. (The scene where he drinks down the jug of wine on the knoll, tells Will what he has to tell, then passes out...it just killed me.) As self-absorbed as he was, he did genuinely care about — and for — his family (including playing Minister of Information behind the scenes). A character of this weight could easily have drifted into cliché; but Skip crafted both sides of him with artful balance. (Raising a glass to you, JE.)

2. On that note: The story’s balance, on the whole, is astounding. AAL is unbelievably light-hearted and fun, but with a heavy core emotional weight. If AAL were a movie, it would be one that everyone loved...but half the audience didn’t completely get. One big danger in writing a bildungsroman is that the reader (and often, the writer) wants so badly for the troubled main character to, in the end, find something positive and make The Leap. I was waiting for Will to fall in love with someone else and happily marry, and/or discover what he truly wanted to do for living, and/or yadda yadda yadda, whatever. He didn’t. The story was all about Will’s pursuit of Lulu. It remained faithful to its mission from first page to last. No melodrama, no Hollywood endings. (I would almost hate to see it become a movie. ‘Cause you just know what would happen.)

-G

Speaking of Lulu becoming a movie, any new news on the option JE?

Kerry wrote: "Speaking of Lulu becoming a movie, any new news on the option JE?"

. . . coming along, i'm told, close to attaching a director . . . apparently the film scouts are abuzz about 'west of here,' which i just found a home for yesterday:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/artic...

You go JE! I want to see behind the scenes videos of the casting call for body building twins!!

. . . you know there will be like fifty sets of them, too . . .gotta' love l.a. . . .

Can I be the naked hairy fat guy being serviced by the prom queen in one of the pornos that you mentiond in your novel?

(Shoving down a whole extra cheese pizza pie down my throat and craming Doritos in my mouth) Out of my way cretins, I am a serious actor preparing for my challenging role!

. . . dude, i will so lobby on your behalf for that part . . . wash that pizza down with a milkshake . . .

Sweet!

Dude, Zooey Deschanel has to be Lulu.

Or Chloe Sevigny.

Robert Downey Jr has to be the grown up Will. Wait, he may be too old.

OK, lemme stop.

Shel wrote: "Dude, Zooey Deschanel has to be Lulu.

Or Chloe Sevigny.

Robert Downey Jr has to be the grown up Will. Wait, he may be too old.

OK, lemme stop."

. . . funny, lot's of people have said zooey . . .but she doesn't play under 25 any more . . . one name that's been mentioned as a possibility for lulu is kat denning . . .i think laura linney would be a great willow . . .maybe robert downey jr. would want to load up on steroids and play big bill!

I like Kat Denning, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is fabulous, but I don't know if I see her as Lulu. . .

Maybe Olivia Thirlby? Plus she was in Snow Angels, so the optioners (is that a word) should have her contact info!

. . . i dug snow angels . . .sam rockwell rocks me . . .to be honest with you, i'd like to see it be the kinda movie that breaks a few as of yet known actors, who then become typecast for the rest of their careers because they owned their roles in lulu so well! . . . like bud court in harold and maude!

Should I return to acting?

Back to writing. I do wish my little review was "a little more," JE. But, I did want to "get it out there."

And, per my review, one of the things that I LOVED about Will was that he was cognizent of the humanity around him. Not just a 'tip of the hat' to folks who taught him, somehow--but a sense, a recognition. And, of course, I loved that recognition w/ the 'billowy sails' of the (at the end) "out of work" Philosophy teacher. But, it was the same w/ others. The protagonist, bring us along, brought us closer to the peripheral characters.

Having read a few first novels, it was extremely refreshing !

And, no doubt, JE, I'll be pulling it from the shelves again.

Kudos,

--R.A.

I like Paul Dano for Will and maybe that Emmy gal for Lulu. while all the people you pictured a good looking Rossum looks like she could pull it off nicely.

. . . i love these casting suggestions-- in fact, i'm gonna send a link to the folks at crossroads so they can consider them! . . . i'm also curious to see if anything has become of kat denning's possible involvement . . .man, this stuff moves slowly . . . RA, thanks for the nice words about will-- great to have you back . . .and while i'm at it, apologies for my recent absence . . .all the life and death has put the screws to much my online time, to say nothing of my writing and reading time . . . the good news: I'M ORDERING THE KEG TOMORROW FOR THE DORK!!!! . . . i can't wait to hang with all you lovely friends in the flesh!!!

Great suggestions, Lauren! I love them all! Although I can't say much since I haven't ordered the book yet (sorry, JE). It will be the next book I buy on amazon (which won't take long, trust me). Can't wait!

Congratulations, JE!

Hey, hey --

I just heard through the e-grapevine that Mr. Evison's debut just won the Washington State Book Award. Not bad, young sir...not bad.

http://pugetsoundblogs.com/bainbridge...

Congrats, man!

-G

. . .thanks, greg . . . not the pulitzer, but hey, a decent chunk of cash for diapers and beer!

Congratulations, JE! Wait till they get their hands on WEST OF HERE.

. . .thanks, jimbo-- oh man, chuck and i have taken WOH light years since you read it . . .it has really gelled, and the continuity is silky smooth, at last! . . .your blurb totally rules, too . . .

Congratulations!

good news... congratulations mr washington state man.

Congratulations Jonathan and happy birthday! I can't wait to read West of Here

OK, I hope nobody minds that I am lurking around here reading things that you guys discussed so long ago.

I loved "All About Lulu." I was really entertained by each character's combination of fears and bravado. It was human, wonderfully friendly and funny. I try to review books in one line (mostly in my mind), and this review included "you'll find yourself smiling at hams."

I'll be searching through old posts looking for something to read next.

. . .hooray! so glad you enjoyed lulu, elizabeth! . . . and i'm particularly glad you smiled at hams . . .

I'm embarrased. I purchased All About Lulu in March 2009 and it's still unread in my bookshelf. I'm starting today!

. . . can;t wait!

...as a somewhat superficial aside, i have to add that i still love this cover, curious to know if you were consulted on this or if the art department charged ahead with their own idea?

. . . i've been lucky enough to have a say in both of my covers! . . . while the lulu cover didn't really speak to the part of the story i would have initially hoped, i immediately saw that it was a shelf-talker!

I just read Lulu this week and was very impressed. I think Elizabeth's comments are perfect: I was really entertained by each character's combination of fears and bravado. It was human, wonderfully friendly and funny." Exactly.

Will is obsessive, but the secret languages and his myriad notebooks are also very sweet. There were many laugh out loud sections. Lulu felt like a composite of several beautifully troubled young women I have known--in the best way. With both Lulu and West of Here there is a warmth to the writing that is missing in so much of what I read. JE displays compassion towards each of his characters. There are losers and people who with significant problems, but the writing is not judgemental and imbues each with humanity.

. . . so glad you enjoyed, les! . . . so glad you sympathize with my characters! . . .

Also, anyone who center part of a novel around a Humean idea is pretty great in my book. Loved Will's take on classics of philosophy.