A Little Inky

I just might have come up with the title for my on-again-off-again "ghost story" novel.  I have it in quotes because it's not your typical entry into the genre.  Many parts of it have been or are elusive for me.  Some have been solved, others explored - yet the title has always been not even a ghostly vapor.  But I think the Muses have granted me what it shall be called.  Maybe I'll revisit what I've got on virtual paper for that book.

Speaking of revisiting, I've also been on the NeverWorld.  I had a re-read of what currently amounts to Book Two.  I had begun writing it too many moons ago.  So many that counting in moons makes no sense.  I'd probably not seen it for a decade.  I'd put it down when the window shut.  Since then I've had some ideas for it and the next book (and other beyond three).  I also, of course, reworked my original writings of Peter Pan: Betwixt-and-Between.  But I'd actually been writing both of them at the same time.  I'd bounce back and forth from the mid-past to the far-future from the story that began on stage.  Well, a little while ago I felt an itch to bounce (Calm down, Pogocat!) back onto the magical planet.

I won't lie.  It's terrible.  But that's only a half truth.  The story isn't terrible.  It's the execution of it.  But then, I'm being hard on myself.  It's a relief to remember it's a mere first draft.  I'd just been unfolding the story onto paper, heedless of craft.  But it's also a fact that I can't help but try and shape it as it should be as I go.  Attempts at emulating Barrie abound but I could see right through them.  It just needs some tinkering there and lots of rewrites and cuts elsewhere.

The story, on the other hand, is still quite fun in my opinion.  It has the same feel as the first book in that many characters are running/flying around engaged in various activities, shifting in and out of the situations which are actually all tied to the main event.  I'm once again borrowing from folklore for this tale.  A really interesting character shows up.  I wish I could say I invented all of the quirks and traits.  But it certainly is a blast playing with them.  I also think it has a grand feel, worthy of the magnitude of the adventure planet.  Yet there's not as much as I remembered.  I'd been saying (and believing) that I'd half written.  It's actually more like one-third. (Stop scowling, Halfway!)  But that's just on paper.  The tale is all there, just needs to be told.

So it looks like it might get a little inky for me in the future.  Plenty to splash onto paper... even if it is sometimes virtual.

An "Other" from Andrea!

Fortunately for us all, the illustrious Andrea Jones has not put down her pen!

That's right, folks.  The well-crafted, engaging and commendable alternate timeline of Barrie's world of Pan shall return.

I woke up one morning recently to an exclusive - the cover of Other Oceans, the sequel to Hook & Jill.  Andrea has since unleashed it to the wilds of the internet, but I certainly felt special getting a pre-peek of it.

I absolutely love the 'callback' quality of it to the first cover.  It's just as stunning and promising, no?  I asked about the keys - they are indeed a (ahem!) key element in the tale.

And how sweet to have quoted me, wouldn't you say?  I meant every word.  And I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm looking forward to every word.  Of course, I also have had an extensive insight into the tale from Andrea herself during out last get together.  We're all in for a treat!  And bear this in mind, dear readers: I say that even though Peter Pan is not a player in it!  [He's in the Neverland, right?  This book takes to another seafaring adventure with the Pirate Queen.]

It will be arriving on the shores in July.

The site, a subset of the Hook & Jill site, is here.

AHOY!

A Tiger Lily Book?

As we all know, the Peter Pan mythos has quite the grasp on us.  People just can't leave it alone.  Way to go, Barrie!

Yes, folks, there is yet another variation on Peter Pan headed our way.

But this time the focus is on one of the underused characters.  How about the story from Tiger Lily's point of view?

I have to say, I like this idea quite a bit.  It has potential.  It could easily open up a wealth of hitherto unexplored nuances of this classic tale.  It could also easily become a sappy mess.

A couple of bits worry me thus far from the description below: "teenage Peter Pan" and "boy who loves her." Now, that's all fine and good if we're truly dealing with a re-imagining.  After all, Pan could certainly love her in a book like that.  But if it's meant to be the same story only from the perspective of the "Indian Princess" I call foul.  I'm not really sure at this point.  As always, I hope for the best.

Tiger Lily is by Jodi Lynn Anderson and is due out this July.

15 year old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland, and immediately falls under his spell. Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, big-hearted but hard to reach, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything - her family, her future - to be with the haunted, hunted, courageous boy who loves her. When - as a punishment for her rebellious ways - she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter. With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

Note: Notes to Note!

Another great reader/fan sent along something to my attention.
My Heart in Company: The Work of J.M. Barrie & the Birth of Peter Pan
by Timothy G. Young

I ordered it just about right away.  How does a compilation of Barrie's notes sound?  Top drawer?  Yeah, for me too.  I wonder how many and which ones I'll remember... as in what and which will coincide with the notes I'd had at my disposal back in college when I composed Peter Pan's NeverWorld from his very musings.  I'll surely let you know once the book comes my way.  Here's a link.

As a bonus, this reader/fan (who generally goes by Z or ZZ) has a site up.  A rather nice one, in fact.  Yes, you guessed it.  It deals with the infamous eternal boy.  Please do have a gander.  I especially like what she's written about Peter Pan on the home page.  I just had more of a chance to poke around a little more... there are some essays that are intriguing.  Must get to them - if only I didn't have to go out in a little while.  Knowing me, I'll have a lot of 2 cents to throw in... Anyway, there's a good list (with pics) of Peter Pan books, both story and Barrie-biography related, like the book she sent my way.  I also really love the depiction of Pan on it, too.  Heavily influenced by Fox's Pan, but then, she's got a whole section about that terrific cartoon series.   And if you can bet I'm a fan of a little cape for him!

So please, click on over. Oh - and thanks, ZZ, for the site, the book and having links to me!

P.S. - Buttercup hasn't shown up quite yet, so I had a chance to look through the essays.  Good thoughts all around.  I do have some differences of opinion, but that's all they are, for as ZZ points out, much of the world of Pan is speculative.  I do have some answers to the queries posed - addressed in the seemingly-ever-upcoming (but will be worth it!) interquel of mine Peter Pan: Betwixt-and-Between.  Not that I have the definitive truths, but rest assured they're tinkered into the 'world' with utmost care.  But enough about me... go visit Fandomzz and get ZZ's thoughts too!

Publishing Cusp!

You know that interquel

Peter Pan: Betwixt-and-Between

I've written and keep going on about?

Finally, the process of publication has begun.
Yes, that's right...

Thanks for waiting so patiently by the window all this time.
It really won't be long now.

As a small token of my appreciation, here's a peek at the back cover.  I've talked about it, now it's right before your eyes.  With any luck, you'll have a tangible copy in the near future.

The Second Centennial!

Today marks the

Second Centennial of Peter Pan!

 2nd??  Say what now?

Yes, it's true.

October 11, 1911

is the publication date of Peter and Wendy, which is, of course, the novel form of the tale of the flying boy and his adventures with the Darlings.

If you're wondering, the first Centennial had been December 27, 2004.  The play first opened on that date (1904).

Can you BELIEVE it?  100+ of Peter Pan!

I also received my copy of the new annotated "Peter Pan" (published under that title, as it is so often.)

It's a great book.  Lots of excellent pictures ranging from Barrie photos, his other works to other illustrations of the characters to movie pictures.

And guess what... for those of you who are interested in it [and I know some of you are!] this book does include Barrie's screenplay.  Yep, the movie treatment by none other than the man himself written for the silent movie.  It had not been used, sadly.  But it's still here for us to enjoy.  Prior to this publication it had been obscure to say the least.  Being as obsessed as I am, I naturally had a copy already.  And in fact, I have used quite a bit from it in both Peter Pan's NeverWorld and Peter Pan: Betwixt-and-Between (although much more so in the latter.)

So reaffirm your believe in fairies today, okay?

PAN Pan (as in *Almost All Pan)

Wouldn't it be great if you could have

the pertinent Pan texts of Barrie in one single volume?

Why yes, yes it would.

And now you can!

It's edited by Anne Hiebert Alton and from Broadview Press.

Actually there seems to be one text not accounted for... Barrie's screenplay.  But other than that, you couldn't ask for a better compilation - including the original 3-Act play (as opposed to the expanded full-length.)

You can find out more about it or order it here.

Go ahead and see all the goodies in it!

I have to give credit to Anon*, who sent me an email about this one.  As life gets more complex (with more and more to "check" and do) it becomes harder to be on top of all that's happening with the eternal boy, so I'm quite grateful that a fairy or two is whispering to others to whisper to me.  Thanks, Anon!

I'll be picking this one up... and any Pan Fan worth thy salt will do so as well!

*Barrie enthusiast and my faithful reader and #1 fan

100 Deux in Print

Today Andrea Jones, the illustrious author of Hook & Jill, brought an upcoming book to my attention.

For all those who are not as obsessive as we tend to be and would thus already know, this year is the Centennial of the novel form of Peter Pan.  Yep.  The second 100 year date of The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.

To be precise, it's October 11.

And to commemorate this grand date, W. W. Norton & Company is publishing The Centennial Edition on the very same day of the calendar.  Even better, it's annotated!

The painstaking task of annotation fell to Maria Tatar, who chairs the Program in Folklore and Mythology at Harvard University.  An author and editor quite familiar with the folklore and mythology akin to Peter Pan, it seems as if we are in for a treat by very capable hands.

I've already got my copy reserved.  But that probably goes without saying.  Here's a direct link.

Thank you, Andrea, for passing this along!  Quite the pleasure to have your pop-up plunder.

This One Doesn't Pan Out Either

Another Peter Pan story drifted my way. It's been around for a little while (since May 10, 2010), but this is the first I've seen of it. Hook and Peter Pan: How It All Began by Giles Scott. As you can tell from the title, it's meant to be a prequel story.  Like Barrie's novel of Peter Pan, it's a novelization of a play.  This play had been created by the same author along with Helen Dooley and Bob Walsh.  This staging, however, started as a musical.  I had been aware of it in this form.  But when I looked into at the time, I uncovered inconstistencies and then paid it no more mind.  But here it is again, as a book. 

First let me say it's nice to see that Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is recognized, as it tells of him being a baby and a week old. No other prequel attempt that I know of (with the current available information) has even acknowledged Barrie's origin tale. Unfortunately, though, I didn't have to look too far to see a place or two that it doesn't connect to Barrie.

For one thing, it says that the Neverland and its inhabitants like the Native American tribe and the pirates had all been there originally, sprung up from the imagination of children. While it is in fact true that imagination can shape the Neverland, it is not true that Captain Hook had been dreamed up by kids. Barrie presents his pirate chief as having existed in and having ties to the real world. Besides his connection to the pirates of Treasure Island (fictional, yes, but not within the world of fiction), there is also his time at Eton as well as his ambiguous 'scandalous' identity not to mention him sailing with real-life Blackbeard.

On the first page we meet Tootles. As in, Tootles had been in the Neverland before Peter Pan. Sorry, but Tootles is not one of the original Lost Boys. The boys on the island vary, of course, in numbers, according as they get killed and so on; ... ; but at this time there were six of them, counting the twins as two.   Well, yes, I suppose it's possible that Tootles had been around for that long.  Except that Barrie says He had been in fewer adventures than any of them and that wouldn't make sense at all.  Even so, it also includes Curly, Nibs and Slightly.  Can't be all of them.

Lastly, it ignores that Peter Pan didn't "acquire" immortality and flight.  Both are inherent to him, however so.  This tale would have you believe he has to obtain them by fulfilling the Neverland-Foreverland Legend. 

To end on a positive note, it does seem very imaginative.  At least it's not just coupling it with Oliver Twist as seems the case with the SyFy prequel. 

Read It? Nope.

I’ve come across another book meant to continue the story of Peter Pan. Or rather Wendy. Forever Neverland by Heather Killough-Walden.

I haven’t read it, but from the description I am not inclined to do so. It doesn’t fit into the established world of Barrie. I suppose it could, if one is to assume that it’s one of the other adventures of Wendy in the Neverland (when she goes back a few times for Spring Cleaning.) But then, there’s the rest of it, which automatically negates the adventure in the first place. Even if I were to accept Hook still being alive and a flying pirate ship (open for debate, see here) and a grown up Peter... it seems reading the original story hasn’t taken place, as evidenced by the first line. Peter Pan came back the very next year. And the Darling children spent way longer than “several days and nights” on the island! [That timeframe isn't even true if going by the Disney version in which they came back the same night!]  And why would John and Michael get bullied at school?  They stood up to and killed pirates, for goodness' sake!  Thus, by these errors alone, this book can be dismissed by Pan fans who care about the source material.

It has been five years since Wendy Darling and her brothers returned home after a harrowing ordeal in which they'd "gone missing" for several days and nights. To Wendy, they returned by fairy magic, fresh from the fight with Captain Hook, a little mussed up but none the worse for wear.

But to the rest of the world, Wendy and her brothers were abducted and put through such a traumatic experience, Wendy has subconsciously taken to hiding the truth from her brothers and herself by making up stories. Fairy stories – about a boy named Peter Pan and a world called Neverland.

Life is anything but a fairy story for them now. Wendy is being subjected to unwanted psychiatric therapy, her brothers are bullied at school, and the family is falling apart.

Then, one mist-filled night, a billowing black flag parts the clouds in the sky like the fin of a shark. It bears the stark white symbol of a skull and crossbones upon it.

Wendy has been forced to leave Neverland behind. But it is far from finished with her. In the blink of an eye, her world is once more turned upside down by a pixie in human form, a one-handed captain far more handsome and intriguing than she remembered him to be – and by a little boy… who grew up after all.

99 Pages Off a Done Man's Chest

Well, just moments ago I put the last word into Peter Pan: Betwixt and-Between.  Yes, it's now finished for the second time.  Hosah.

I'm quite glad of the revision, for it's definitely a smoother and more engaging book than its previous incarnation.  A little of the credit goes to the characters.  When called upon, they really came through for me.  A lot of credit goes to Anon, who showed me the turbulences along with heaps of encouragement.  Toward the end of the process a scene greatly improved because I tinkered it out with Anon via email.  (I shared it as per it containing the result of a particular good suggestion.)  Much must go to Barrie and a bit to James Fenimore Cooper.   And lastly, I suppose, to whatever it is that makes me write.

The second word tally is one shy of ending in a 100.  It just qualifies for a novel at 50,099.  Not that it should be ascribed any sort of significance, but I cannot help but think of the upcomming centennial of the publication Peter and Wendy.  It's just one year away and here I am one word shy of 100.

I shall, naturally, read it through as a whole again.  Especially since I tinkered around in the middle bits here and there after the revise-through.

And then (as you probably know by now) it's off to Andrea Jones, author of Hook & Jill.  I'm looking forward to her critique of it.  She has such a wonderful perspective, approach and understanding of Barrie's world and I'm eager to share what I have wrought with the pieces of imagination I had available.

Then what happens?  Que sera sera.

TREADing Lightly?

Perhaps you remember how excited I'd been to see the trailer for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the next installment of The Chronicles of Narnia on film.  I still am excited.  But there had been quite a few things shown that I did not remember.  Understandable on two accounts:  1) My memory can sometimes go the way of Peter Pan's.  2) The movies are beset with fascinating and welcome changes to the story (without sacrificing it.)

What stood out in my mind (besides their apparent obsession with plaguing poor Edmund with visions/visits from Jadis, the White Witch) are the snow falling for Lucy in the room with the book of magic and the man turning around suddnely coming into visibility.  Oh - one other: the faun leaping in a battle as well as other animal-based characters (besides Reepicheep the mouse.)

In my recollection, Lucy didn't stand amid snow.  I did recall that characters were invisible... I just didn't bring to mind a scene in which a man turns around as shown.  And as far as I knew, no fauns show up in this book. 

So, I just finished re-reading it.  The answers?  Well, I can certainly see why they would make Lucy enchant some snow into the room.  The spells that Lewis does have her perfoming would be fiendishly difficult to bring to the screen.  (They involve seeing visions of scenarios that are best explained via text.)  And since the scene in the The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe of Lucy beholding the snowy Narnia in absolute delight is so good, it makes perfect sense for her to try and recapture that moment. And yes, the magician had also been invisible.  However, it seems they're making it a little more interesting by having him come into reappearance while "we" ( and presumably Lucy & someone else!) are watching.  I didn't think there were any battles in this book.  But it turns out there are in fact two places that one could insert a bit of such action, given their penchant for adding it.  And who is to say fauns and such are not welcome on the deck of the Dawn Treader?  Certainly King Caspian would allow it!

There are a few parts of the book that I also wonder greatly how to accomplish on screen.  And there are some marvelous parts I'd forgotten that I can't wait to see realized, assuming they are.

But you know what?  I so loved the first two movies of Narnia (tweaks and additions) that I trust them.
The last two times I thought they actually improved the book(s).
I still wish they could have had Jeremy Sumpter as Eustace Scrubb... but it's just as well, since he shot up rather tall before it went into production and thus became too big for Eustace.  Of course, I'd wanted Sumpter as Caspian, too, but other than not having blonde hair, Ben Barnes is wonderful.

Bring on the voyage!

A Chirp Out to the Cricket Team of Barrie...

I've known about Peter Pan's First XI by Kevin Telfer for some time now.
But I've only recently gotten around to getting a copy.

I'm just reporting that I do have it... I have yet to read it.
I'm not so much in the mood for a non-fiction book.

It tells the tale of Sir J.M. Barrie's cricket team, the Allahakbarries.  What's special about it other than being his and its nifty title?  Well, the members of it, of course.  It's a star-studded team of literary giants:  A.A. Milne, P. G. Wodehouse, Jerome K. Jerome, Walter Raleigh and Arthur Conan Doyle to name a few.

I will get around to reading it... and I'll be sure to say what I think of it.

Call of the Wild...

I'm a werewolf person.
By which I mean I much prefer werewolves to vampires. (See this post.)

I recently discovered that one of the best werewolf flicks came from a book. Yep, The Howling began as a novel by Gary Brandner. It's a series, in fact. Well, given that a remake of The Howling is coming (and yes, despite my feelings on remakes, this one seems warranted) I decided I should read the book just in case they actually go to the source material for inspiration. Oh, who are we kidding... I'd want to read it anyway.

As it seems to be as scarce as a real wolf-man, I procured a used copy of it and it just came in the mail. I'm pretty darn excited.

I recently showed the original movie of The Howling to Buttercup. She liked it very much, and agreed that it's one of the best lycanthropy flicks. It's been a great while since I saw it. Thus, my perceptions of it had gotten a bit skewed. For instance, I didn't remember that some parts (one of which had been my favorite of the entire film) were accomplished back in the day [1981] via animation! That's not to say there isn't miraculous and deliciously horrifying special effects otherwise. What's more, said favorite part doesn't look like I remember. Still cool, though. (If you're wondering, it's a very brief shot toward the end when we see a trio of werewolves, kind of in shadow.)

I've read up on it, and apparently the movie has some noticeable differences from the book. (Imagine that!) So it will be very fun to see how it all plays out from the mind of the one who originally conceived it. Apparently the movie called Howling IV: The Original Nightmare is not so much a sequel than a more faithful adaptation of Brandner's novel. I did not see any of the movies beyond the second, for which the term "abomination" is too generous. It's possible I saw clips of others.
At any rate, I'm ready to let the fur fly and delve into the real story of The Howling. Maybe, just maybe, Hollywood will do it justice. And if not, chances are it will be one hell of a ride no matter what. I'm hoping they have a similar design for the werewolves, for the 1981 film's remain my favorite and are still how I picture werewolves to this day.

The Aurora Adventure

I had a little adventure last night.

I schlepped over to a Chicago El train with two boxes on my head and a Peter Pan’s NeverWorld bag over my shoulder… and then trekked through downtown to Union Station. I hopped the next train to Aurora. On the hour or so ride out there, I broke out some paper and began scribbling out more of Betwixt-and-Between. (Yes, the old fashioned way.) And why had I been headed out to Aurora?

It partially answers the question to say Andrea Jones (author of Hook & Jill) met me at the train station and whisked me away in her car. What a thrill to see Andrea in person again! We talk regularly through emails and chat boxes. But there’s nothing like discussing theories of Barrie face to face.

And why did I go out to see Andrea? Because of the boxes on my head, of course! The boxes contained copies of Peter Pan’s NeverWorld. I had to deliver them to her because she’ll be toting them along to the Port Washington Pirate Festival. Naturally she’s there to sell her own novel, and because she’s terrific she’s going to have mine available, too. The Port Washington Pirate Festival is this weekend, June 5 - 6 in Wisconsin. Hook & Jill is certainly more “pirate heavy” than my novel, but mine is not without its share of buccaneers. Thanks, Andrea!

Playing delivery boy had not been the only purpose for my visit. Andrea scooted me over to Old Towne Books & Tea. I finally saw this marvelous bookstore for myself (as I’d heard about it from Andrea many times.) Old Town Books & Tea is not your typical bookstore. It’s much better. What other place can you walk into that feels like an inviting home and sells great books to boot? A simple charm radiates there, from the literal individual rooms to the comfortable plush seating arranged just so - perfect for the frequent Book Club meetings and author appearances. I also had the pleasure of meeting the owners, Joe and Leah Guillemette. I’d talked online with Joe before, but he’s even cooler in person, just the sort of guy you’d want as a friend. Leah, too, is a delight. Oh - Peter Pan’s NeverWorld is now featured on their shelves by the check out desk, right near Hook & Jill. Thanks, Joe and Leah!

If you want to visit the appealing Old Towne Books & Tea for yourself, you’ll find it at 61-63 Madison Street in Oswego, Illinois.

We continued our chatting and visit at the Tap House Grill not so very far at all from Joe and Leah’s store. I had a quite tasty chicken pesto wrap and downed more than my share of bottomless ice tea. (Look at me, I’m a rebel ;] ) Good food, good conversation and new friends… doesn’t get much better than that.

Before long it had been time for Andrea to escort me back to the Metra train station… and yes, we tittered away about Barrie's work. (We just can't help ourselves.) I bounced a few ideas I had for subsequent NeverWorld books off her. She especially loved one location I've created. And I quite enjoyed hearing more about her plans for the further adventures of Hook and Jill. I hugged her goodbye and got into Chicago about twenty minutes before midnight. The walk to the El train proved much easier without heavy boxes on my head. I returned home to Bart well after midnight. And then I typed in (and revised as I typed, as per my usual habit) what I’d written for Betwixt-and-Between on the ride to Aurora. I find a certain satisfaction in having composed some more of the Peter Pan story on my way to see another Peter Pan devotee. (Okay, so she’s more into Hook. But I won’t hold it against her. ;] )

To make a grand end to a great night, I discovered that the new material has put Peter Pan: Betwixt-and-Between over the “book length” mark of 50,000 words. Voila. It’s officially a book. Hosah! Now I just have to finish the rest of it. I’m still estimating a fifth left to go, but as I always say it’s hard to know for sure since some scenes take less words/time than expected and the characters always have more to say.

And so went my adventure in Aurora.

Old Towne Books & Tea

Racking Up the Spice of Paprika

Well, I’ve now both seen and read Paprika. With no offense meant to author Yasutaka Tsutsui, I think I liked the movie better. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy the book. I did. Very much so. Knowing, however, that Tsutsui had been pleased with the movie makes me feel less guilty. More on that in a bit.

Let me present a paradox: The novel and the film are the same, but altogether different.

It’s as if they are telling the same story two different ways. I had expected the book to be unlike the movie (or vice-versa), but I didn’t realize so much of it had been changed in the adaptation. To be clear, the basic idea of each is identical. Computers are being used as a form of psychiatric treatment by way of the DC Mini, a device that allows therapists to access (that is to say record and enter) patients’ dreams. The device is stolen and used to drive some people insane (by projecting the dreams of a schizophrenic onto their pscyhe) and ultimately unforeseen-ly merging dreams and reality. It’s up to those who created the device to ascertain who pilfered and abused them and then set things right. That’s the nutshell. How that concept plays out, though, turns out to be not the same at all.

The main difference, as I see it, comes in that the film version of Paprika presents itself as a mystery. The characters don’t know who is behind the theft and are thrown on some red herrings (albeit related to the actual misdeeds) along the way. In the book, it’s easy to see 'whodunit.' No, it’s not because I knew so from the film. The novel flat out states who is responsible. And the characters guess immediately, too. I have to say I missed not knowing what in the hell is going on along with the characters.

Another big difference is that part of the central focus of the movie is really only a bit scene in the book. In the film, it’s amplified to a delightfully sickening proportion and keeps re-occurring (as per the driving force of the plot.) The “scene” is the Parade. I kept waiting for it to show up. I’d gotten nearly all the way through the book and it didn’t even have a line of it. Then, finally, a parade is mentioned, but it’s not at all like the movie. And it has no bearing on the plot in the book, other than being one of the manifestations of dreams combining with the real world. Rather curious, since it factors into the very fabric of the film. (I'd mentioned to others such as Josiecat and Buttercup who love the movie along with me and they, too, couldn't fathom how the Parade could not be in the book.)

I found that many, many characters and events are taken out for the movie. In my other post I had said that the background and traits of a character in the book belonged to someone entirely else in the movie. I suspected, however, that the movie’s guy would show up in the book, as the plot sort of dictates that he must. (He’s an investigating policeman.) Well, I’m happy that I’d been right. Konakawa did show up in the book and does in fact play a very important role. In the movie, though, he’d been combined with the other guy for the purpose of simplification. I’d suspected that. And yes, this pared down combo works quite well.

Yet another character changes nearly completely. In the film Inui is the Chairman and confined to a power-chair. In the book his personality is the same but he's not the biggest cheese nor is he crippled. (Yes, the change is justified as per the movie's particular plotline.)

I would sigh with relief each time a part of the movie appeared in the novel. Like the creepy 32-foot Japanese doll. Yup, it’s in both of them. Other specific parts of the book are in the movie, too. Whether it be the state/condition of a character’s room, Paprika’s outfit, a particular pose or a fact about the way the DC Mini devices are utilized, it had been a joy to see how small bits of the book made its way into the film.

Yet so much of the movie is not in the book. And vice-versa. The wonderful visual imagery of the film, especially the crazed dream sequences like the rippling hallway, Paprika floating around on a cloud, the roots of a tree acting as tentacles – none of these are described in the book. Instead it treats us to a whole host of other bizarre dream sequences and odd manifestations. In a way, it had been a joy. More outlandish places where Paprika and friends roam! Plus the book gives a lot more backstory (but of course) as well as a different driving force of the scientists being up for the Nobel Prize.

In the post about finding and starting to read the book I wrote: A place that exists via the internet and dreams, so to speak, in the film turns out to be a real place (in what we deem reality) in the book. Well, that never changes…not really. When I got to the end of the book, I saw where filmmaker Satoshi Kon obtained the notion to make the alteration…and thus another “satisfying connection” between the two arose. Actually, that happened quite bit - a sort of "A-ha! connection" creatively reconfigured from an event or idea from the book.

What really threw me for a loop, however, is that my two absolute favorite parts of the movie do not appear in the book. Well, again, not exactly.

At the very beginning of the movie, Paprika is shown moving in, through and about pictures. In a dream-like way, she uses billboards, video screens and such to ‘travel’ around the city. She can also manipulate reality to an extent. Absorbing herself into paintings and the like occurs throughout the movie. Nope, it's not in the book. However, seeing where this idea came from is very easy. In the novel, the therapists can become “immersed” into the dream they are watching on-screen and the concept of those monitoring the dream talking to those dreaming via a billboard depiction does happen in the book. And then, during all the turmoil of the climax, someone does indeed stick arms into a TV screen and pull someone else out. So again, it’s not exactly alien to the book. But using it as a constant, as an actual entering and a mode of travel happens only in the film.

My absolute favorite part in the movie is... well, I don’t want to spoil it for you. Suffice to say it throws you for a loop when watched and later allows a very great (but simple) line. It’s just wonderful. And… it’s not in the book. If it is at all, it’s merely a suggestion of a hint of whisper misheard.

So, all in all, both are very enjoyable. But I prefer the tweaks of the movie. And I am not alone. For in the extra content on the disc, author Tsutsui says of the very part of the movie that had been my favorite: It’s not in the novel, but I thought it a great idea and I immediately wished I had put it in my book. The thing is it would have been overly complex in print. I would have been too afraid it could confuse my readers. It’s something that really takes advantage of the cinematic format. He may be right about it not working in print, I’m not sure. I’m just glad that the bit is well-loved by him, too.

I’d watched the extra/documentary content on the disc when I first saw the movie years ago, and I retained some of what had been there. For instance, I knew the author had liked the movie. I just didn’t recall specifics. So as I read the novel, seeing the resemblance and discord merging like the dreams and reality of the movie, I felt better about being confused, upset or disenchanted at having liked the movie a wee bit better.

What I (re)learned from re-watching all of them, however, is that the goal had never been to be exactly faithful to the book. Yasutaka Tsutsui said: Regurgitating the novel is boring. Also: I like it. The story is very simplified in the movie. I think it makes the story more forceful… I felt the core concepts of my story were very solid so I wasn’t worried about how loosely it was adapted…Because he left his imagination run wild, it became a visually stunning film.

Ah, okay. So the author wanted to see “another take” on his own story. Well, that is indeed what he received. As he said, the core remains. When thinking of both the book and the movie as story only, the tracks align pretty well. But the train cars running on them and their schedules are almost all from another station.

The reasons behind me being attracted to and so partiuclarly moved or inspired by this story, however, resonate much better in the movie. And a great deal has to do with what’s revealed in that cherished part. The one that Yasutaka Tsutsui had wished he’d put in the book.

So we’re left with two versions of the same story. Would my opinion have been different if I’d read the book first? I guess I’ll never know. Either way, I’m thrilled to have entered the fantasy realm of the tale of Paprika. Twice - like one in reality and one in a dream.

Seasoned Again

I'm very excited.
As I indicated in this post and here, I'm quite enthralled with the movie Paprika. Back at the time of the posts, I'd shared it with other people. One apologized when next I saw her. For she didn't bring the movie on account of she needed to watch it again. No one I've shown it to disliked this film.

At that time, the book on which the movie is based had been unavailable. I'd have been amazingly lucky to find even a copy in the original Japanese. Not that I can read Japanese anyway.

Lately, I've had a resurgence of Paprika. Having heard about it from me and Banky, Josiecat wanted to see it. (I'd shown it to Banky a long while back.) Josiecat immediately wanted to see it again. I can still hear her saying "amazing." She said the next day she told everyone about how cool the movie is and that they need to see it. Naturally, then, Buttercup heard about it from Josiecat, and, yes, Buttercup watched it, too. Same effect. Both the animation and the story, loved undeniably. Even with me a veteran of it, I still made new discoveries. Josiecat has since seen it again. She wants to be Parika for Halloween.

Well, it prompted me to seek the book once more. Lo and behold, a new English translation recently-ish came out in the UK. Need I say that I sent for it? It hath arrived. Imagine my excitement to read it - the basis of that magnificent movie. From the DVD "extras" I learned the author adores the film, saying the film reduces his book down to its essence while making the story its own. In other words a good adaptation. Most of the people who've written reviews agree it's a faithful rendition, and that the book enriches the whole experience.

I usually read in transit, so I'll post again when I'm through for sure. So far, I am quite happy. It's wonderful to see how the film has rearranged the material. I've already noticed what a great job it does with character's relationships with and opinions of other characters which the author can do with words. There are two "Aw, shucks!" though. A place that exists via the internet and dreams, so to speak, in the film turns out to be a real place (in what we deem reality) in the book. Also, the backstory of one of the characters from the film belongs to a different character in the book, one that does not appear in the movie. I'm only a few chapters into it, so these may yet reconcile with the film. My guess is that the movie character is in the book, but has been combined with another to simplify the tale.

I'll find out, guaranteed.

Oh - there is now a waiting list among my friends for my book.

*Note: The movie Paprika is not for everyone. It's certainly not a kid's movie. It does contain nudity, but not gratuitously (believe me I wouldn't like it so much if it were) and it also has many disturbing images. So before you rush out to rent it, make sure you can handle the oddities of anime.

Married to It, Either Way...

Well, I've done it. I've seen the movie more times than I remember, but I have finally read the novel of The Princess Bride. It's always been on my list, but What with one thing and another, years passed... and I never got around to it. [That's a "mostly quoted" passage from the book. I've taken out the word "three" (as in "three years passed.")] Perhaps it's the "out of sight out of mind" phenonemon, I'm not sure. But somehow I just came to read it now.

My friend Buttercup lent me her copy of the book. (Yes, her moniker for this site is such because of that very fact.) She seemed to think the book is better than the film. I'll have to ask her when she comes over tonight (as well as return her book) to know for sure. In nearly all cases, I'd agree that the book is going to be better. In this patricular case, though, I'm going to have to accept that I like both versions equally, for different reasons.

First off, William Goldman adapted the book to screen himself. He did a wonderful job. From that aspect alone, the book had been a fascinating read. To see what he decided to cut (and realizing why) as well as what he added or modified had been quite educational. A lesson in editing/repackaging for sure.

I'm pleased to say that the "good parts" are all intact, including my favorite lines (though sometimes with minor tweaking.) The parts that are missing from the film, I'm also pleased to say, are "good parts," too. I mean, what fan of the characters isn't going to relish hearing the 'full' story of Inigo Montoya's and Fezzik's pasts? How did I survive not knowing about Buttercup's parents before? And the Pit of Despair (actually the Zoo of Death in the novel) is a whole other adventure I'd never known.

Truth be told, I wish I could have experienced the story without knowing it already. For as I've said, it's a marvelously faithful adaptation. One of the better book-to-screen transfers out there. Yet it would have been nice not to know the identity of the "man in black" or what the great plan for storming the castle would be. Even though I adore all the actors and their performances, I could not help but use their faces and voices while reading the book so I couldn't really form my own perceptions. Fortunately it's all wrapped up in a little more info and background than the movie is able to give, so it did have a freshness as well.

Also a treat had been reading for myself the way in which the book is written. In another post I explained how the 'author' S. Morgenstern is but a literary device. William Goldman's The Princess Bride is allegedly an abridged version of a Florinese classic. Parts of the novel's texts are in red, in whoch Goldman tells not only what he took out and why, but also a little story of him and his father, who read the novel to him, a sick ten year old boy. (Those who know the movie can see the parallel with the boy and his grandfather. In fact, the very exchanges between them are nearly identical in the film - which is something I did not realize when writing the other post.) It allows for Goldman to poke fun at the book's rich silliness as well as touch on concepts without actually having to 'write' about them. There's also a new level of surreal achieved when realizing that the parts about him and his father and his own attempt to track down the book for his own son [and thus leading him down the path of abridgement] are actually only "somewhat true" themselves (e.g.. he doesn't have a son!)

There are a couple of changes in the film which I think work much better than the original story. Both come at the end. Don't worry, the book and film have very similar endings. For all intents and purposes it plays out to the same effect. But it seems that having a chance to revisit it, some new ideas came to Goldman. For one, when Westly is lying on the bed after being mostly dead he does not have the powerful moment of standing up as he does in the film. Also in the film, Westly suggests to Inigo that he'd make a good Dread Pirate Roberts - but not in the book. I'm glad these changes were made, as each moment is much more effective and logical.

So for everyone who loves the movie, do pick up the book. You'll be treated to a lot more of the delicious Goldman/Morgenstern humor and a deeper understanding of the beloved characters and their world. You'll wind up loving both.

Thank you, William Goldman, for your work. It's truly remarkable and we're so glad it had not been inconceivable.

It's Gold, man!

Isle Watch Both...

Perhaps you recall that Treasure Island is one of my favorite books. In my top five. Or three even. Besides being connected to Peter and Wendy (Peter Pan) both in text and the friendship of Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir J.M. Barrie, it’s a masterpiece of entertainment and the source (it would seem) of EVERY pirate cliché [with the exception a hook for a hand, of course. ;) ]

You might also recall that in this post I reported on a new film adaptation of it. Despite it being slated as a “hipper” version, I’ve become excited, or at least hopeful, that Stevenson’s classic is done justice with modern filmmaking.

Well, now we have two shots at it. You know how there were two volcano movies virtually at the same time, two asteroids hitting the Earth movies, two cute insect movies, etc… well, now, yes, it seems Warner Brothers is also setting sail with a film based on the book Treasure Island.

Normally I’d roll my eyes at the “two alike movies” scenario, but here it’s a second chance to get it right, so to speak. I certainly have not seen ALL (there roughly 50) of the adaptations of the book, but the few I have seen have been good, but not “good enough.”

So here’s hoping the complexities of Long John Silver shines on the silver screen. And a lot will depend on the actor playing Jim Hawkins. Without a good Jim, you’ll have nothing.

I'm at It Again!

Well, it’s happened.
I’ve set to paper.
Yes, I have officially begun a new novel.
The third in a series of four is underway. Technically, it’s actually the “last” in the series. The fourth book, meant to be read fourth, serves as a prequel set thousands of years prior, shedding light on the events that shaped the era of the main story.

And so, Thom begins his final adventure.

Okay, he didn’t exactly “begin” his tale, as I am happy to be able to write out of order once again. There's an explanation in this post.

I know I "mean business" because I’ve also made a playlist for the songs and notes that will float around me as I delve into the words and world. My musical writing habits are talked about here. And I’m pleased to say that I’ve also selected some from Emily Bear. Looking forward to the inspiration.

I’ll still be working on the query letter for and submitting Midnight Chaser… yes, STILL honing that freaking query letter.

But here’s to Book 3… let the words flow!