I've begun work on what might be my final piece of fiction. For those of you who have read a past post, you know what I am talking about. A novel, told in 5 parts: 2 novellas detailing my character's first and last year in Seattle told in first person past tense that will be sandwiched between 3 short pieces told in second person present tense. The way I recently described it to a friend the other day - it's more of an art piece.
For inspiration on the 3 short pieces - which I picture as being dark, straightforward and loose - I have chosen to read Harold Robbins as something of a study in raw sensuality.
In high school, I read a lot of Harold Robbins. I wouldn't say he was my favorite author...I don't think I had one at that time - only favorite books: The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Anyway, I did read a lot of Harold Robbins. I liked his stories about men and the worlds they would build around them. His style wasn't the greatest writing I encountered, but I loved the masculine tone. Even when he wrote The Lonely Lady, one could pick up on his sympathetic tome to women writers. And, yet, there remained his signature dick-swinging somewhere in between the lines.
I had begun to read A Stone for Danny Fisher after I had started to write the first short piece of my novel, as I had never read it before. And the novel - with the exception of the writing - is different than anything I've ever read from Harold Robbins. The sex is not gratuitous. Actually, there are no sex scenes - only mere hints. The story is a gritty tale of a young Jewish boy who's dreams quickly die with the approach of the Great Depression. In turn, he becomes a boxer who is tossed out of his family. Sure, there is a little tease during Danny's adolescence with his sister's best friend, but it seems to be more of an actual coming-of-age portrait with cold showers taking the place of masturbation.
In my re-introduction to Harold Robbins I have started to research a little more about him. I actually did not think I would find out much more about him than I already knew. However, I did find something that I found rather interesting. It seems that when Harold Robbins was the world's bestselling author, he got praised for his work. Back then, even I knew that his books were pulpy guilty pleasures, yet I thought that the publishing world was actually embracing his work for what it was. Now, I find that Mr. Robbins and his work have become the butt of jokes and snubs. I know I should not be surprised, but I am. As long as he was the toast of the town, Harold Robbins was the recipient of good reviews. Now that he is dead, he gets nothing but sneered. That's just like our society to fully want and need someone when they are on top of the world, but once they are in decline or have declined then they are of no further use except for selling cheap gossip rags in the supermarket.
I've returned to Harold Robbins and A Stone for Danny Fisher in particular because of some recent reviews I read on Amazon. These were positive reviews from people who had either read the novel as a young man coming of age or have just been introduced to the author via the novel. This I found most inspiring. It helped me make the decision to read the book as I write my story. And now that I'm in the midst of reading this most enjoyable story, I found myself back on Amazon searching for another Robbins book that I've never read before - as well as a new copy of The Nick Adams Stories.
One peculiar thing that I discovered when I started to read A Stone for Danny Fisher was that the prologue and epilogue is written in second person present tense. I'm taking that as a sign that my decision to write my story and read this book was pretty much a good choice.
Years ago, I had read an interview with Harold Robbins in a paper. I had long stopped reading him at that point, but still admired him as a storyteller. In the interview he advised writers to go out and live an interesting life and then settle down to write about it. At the time, I was not planning on becoming a writer but I was writing and knew that I would continue to write. And I found his advice rewarding.
I think I actually took that advice.
For inspiration on the 3 short pieces - which I picture as being dark, straightforward and loose - I have chosen to read Harold Robbins as something of a study in raw sensuality.
In high school, I read a lot of Harold Robbins. I wouldn't say he was my favorite author...I don't think I had one at that time - only favorite books: The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Anyway, I did read a lot of Harold Robbins. I liked his stories about men and the worlds they would build around them. His style wasn't the greatest writing I encountered, but I loved the masculine tone. Even when he wrote The Lonely Lady, one could pick up on his sympathetic tome to women writers. And, yet, there remained his signature dick-swinging somewhere in between the lines.
I had begun to read A Stone for Danny Fisher after I had started to write the first short piece of my novel, as I had never read it before. And the novel - with the exception of the writing - is different than anything I've ever read from Harold Robbins. The sex is not gratuitous. Actually, there are no sex scenes - only mere hints. The story is a gritty tale of a young Jewish boy who's dreams quickly die with the approach of the Great Depression. In turn, he becomes a boxer who is tossed out of his family. Sure, there is a little tease during Danny's adolescence with his sister's best friend, but it seems to be more of an actual coming-of-age portrait with cold showers taking the place of masturbation.
In my re-introduction to Harold Robbins I have started to research a little more about him. I actually did not think I would find out much more about him than I already knew. However, I did find something that I found rather interesting. It seems that when Harold Robbins was the world's bestselling author, he got praised for his work. Back then, even I knew that his books were pulpy guilty pleasures, yet I thought that the publishing world was actually embracing his work for what it was. Now, I find that Mr. Robbins and his work have become the butt of jokes and snubs. I know I should not be surprised, but I am. As long as he was the toast of the town, Harold Robbins was the recipient of good reviews. Now that he is dead, he gets nothing but sneered. That's just like our society to fully want and need someone when they are on top of the world, but once they are in decline or have declined then they are of no further use except for selling cheap gossip rags in the supermarket.
I've returned to Harold Robbins and A Stone for Danny Fisher in particular because of some recent reviews I read on Amazon. These were positive reviews from people who had either read the novel as a young man coming of age or have just been introduced to the author via the novel. This I found most inspiring. It helped me make the decision to read the book as I write my story. And now that I'm in the midst of reading this most enjoyable story, I found myself back on Amazon searching for another Robbins book that I've never read before - as well as a new copy of The Nick Adams Stories.
One peculiar thing that I discovered when I started to read A Stone for Danny Fisher was that the prologue and epilogue is written in second person present tense. I'm taking that as a sign that my decision to write my story and read this book was pretty much a good choice.
Years ago, I had read an interview with Harold Robbins in a paper. I had long stopped reading him at that point, but still admired him as a storyteller. In the interview he advised writers to go out and live an interesting life and then settle down to write about it. At the time, I was not planning on becoming a writer but I was writing and knew that I would continue to write. And I found his advice rewarding.
I think I actually took that advice.
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