S. by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst – review

Mark Lawson finds authorial controversy and romantic scrawl in an imitation library bookCreators of popular television have often invoked comparisons with written fiction: Dennis Potter and Steve Bochco both used the term "TV novel" to describe series such as Potter's The Singing Detective and Bochco's LA Law and NYPD Blue. Both screenwriters also published novels, and this switchover tradition continues with JJ Abrams, the power behind Alias and Lost.Perhaps surprisingly, writers who rethought the structures of television often became reverentially conventional on the page: Potter's Ticket to Ride and Bochco's Death by Hollywood had impressive plot and dialogue, as you might expect, but an Edwardian reader would be at ease with the novels' approach to narrative and chapters.Abrams, though, has come up with a novel of such structural daring that the first task of the audience is to work out a way of reading it. And I say "come up with", rather than "written", because one of the conventions challenged is that of authorship. On programmes such as Lost and Alias, Abrams operated as what American TV calls a "showrunner", overseeing every decision and episode but not writing every episode himself. With S., Abrams is a sort of "novelrunner", having conceived the project but left the prose to someone else: Doug Dorst, a US novelist and creative writing tutor.You suspect that this collaboration with Abrams must have taught Dorst a few things about the nature and creation of... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #mark lawson

Other Publishing stories related to: 'S. by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst – review'


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, June 25, 2014

Beyonce's pastor writes about love; liberation theologian Leonardo Boff assesses Pope Francis. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books


Black confirms 'strategic review, potential sale' at Osprey

The chairman of the Osprey Group has confirmed the company is undergoing a “strategic... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strategic review #osprey group #potential sale


Hillary Clinton's 'Hard Choices': Here's what the reviews are saying

Hillary Clinton's memoir 'Hard Choices' was released on June 10. What are critics saying about the book? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hillary clinton #hard choices


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, June 11, 2014

Starred review for a historian's thoughtful, humorous memoir of his Mormon missionary youth; Christian pastor Bill Hybels offers strategies for simplifying life. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books #starred review


The Future of Music: U.S. to Review Rules Covering Streaming Music Fees

Lobbyists for the music industry and streaming music services are gearing up to battle one another after the Justice Department said it will review decades-old agreements that govern songwriter royalties.The review, which follows court battles between rights holders and Pandora internet radio,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #playing field


Kirkus Reviews Offers Three New $50k Book Prizes

Book review magazine Kirkus Reviews has announced three $50,000 book prizes to be awarded for fiction, nonfiction and young adult literature. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BEA 2014: Sugar Advisories: JJ Virgin

Munching on a “healthy” muffin or drinking a “skinny” latte while reading this article? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, May 28, 2014

New books look at the religiously unaffiliated--the "nones"--and what it means to be born anew. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spirituality books #forthcoming religion


‘Adventure Time’ Expands with Abrams

Abrams continues to add to its adult-skewing publishing program tied to Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adventure time #cartoon network


PW Launches BookLife; Integrates Self-Published Reviews

PW will introduce BookLife, a new website for self-publishers, at this year’s BookExpo America. Simultaneously, we are integrating reviews of self-published books into our regular review coverage. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookexpo america #self-published books


Review: J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary'

PW's review of this first publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's translation of the seminal poem, which had a profound interest on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, May 14, 2014

A Mormon writer takes a spiritual journey; a Presbyterian minister finds support for same-sex marriage in the Bible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books #spiritual journey


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, April 21, 2014

Pope Francis sounds key themes of his papacy; the nun on the bus encourages activism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books


History of make-up for Abrams

Abrams has bought world rights to make-up artist Lisa Eldridge's history of make-up,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, April 9, 2014

A new children's picture book imaginatively depicts Hildegard of Bingen; a Christian pastor welcomes the end of Christendom. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books


Obituary: Abrams's Erica Kochman Warshal, 31

Erica Kochman Warshal, director of national accounts at Abrams, passed away suddenly on March 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #national accounts


BBC axes Review Show

The BBC has axed "The Review Show", just two days after announcing a plan to put... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #review show


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, March 26, 2014

Catholic priest Ronald Rolheiser examines late-life spirituality; scholar Michael Coogan offers a brief history of the Decalogue. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books


It's Complicated review – 'online space is teenagers' only public space'

This study of teenagers' social networking habits shows that's it's not technology they are 'addicted' to – it's friendship groupsForget the revelations about the NSA: one group in society has been living with surveillance for years. A group whose every move is tracked, whose freedom of movement... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simply don #teenage girls


Writing a First Novel: Reflections on the Journey – review

Karen Stevens's collection of essays offers practical advice and inspiration for those embarking on the long, lonely journey of writing a novelAccording to Karen Stevens, "writing a novel is the longest and loneliest journey a writer can embark upon". Her collection of essays by established and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |