Reviews: How to Be a Public Author & The Motel Life
Introduction
kevinrunsblog.com – Reviews: How to Be a Public Author & The Motel Life. Regular readers (for there are a few!) might remember that I made a few pledges in my manifesto for 2021. One of those pledges was to keep buying books from independent publishers. I chose this beauty from Gallery Beggar in January. Like a full roast dinner, I wasn’t put off by its size and woofed down all 300 pages in a couple of days.
Plot Overview and Characters
Paul Ewan has created the fictitious Francis Plug and tells the tale of learning about how authors behave in public through Plug’s eyes. On the front cover, The New Statesman declares it “a comic masterpiece,” and I’m not going to argue. From quite early on, I found myself irritating my wife as I burst out laughing. Francis Plug isn’t so much a car crash waiting to happen, as constantly in the middle of one. On more than one occasion, I found myself looking away from the page, cringing as it became apparent what inappropriate questions Plug was about to ask.
Ewan’s Narrative Technique
Ewan pulls off a neat trick—quite early into the book, I was living the story and had forgotten that Plug was a creation. He attends literary events, armed with a copy of each author’s Booker Prize-winning novel and attempts to get them signed while observing the writers’ behavior, attire, and manner. All of this is research for the book he’s writing, How To Be A Public Author, which, of course, is the book you are reading. Even though it is fictitious. For me, Paul Ewan has been fiendishly clever in making Plug believable—there are pictures of dedications to Francis Plug at the start of each chapter, and Plug’s behavior plays little tricks with the narrative in relation to each author. Or rather, Ewan does.
Plug’s Literary Adventures
He attends some events as a genuine ticket holder, others he simply waits outside for the signing, and others still he enters through devious and dubious means. The same goes for the books themselves, although I won’t spoil this brilliant little twist for you.
Writing Style and Humor
For sure, it is a literary tale. There are anecdotes about 25 or more Booker Prize-winning authors, but the joke never tires because it is different every time. Parallel to Plug’s literary journey is the disintegration of the rest of his life. There are moments of poignant beauty alongside the humorous carnage. Plug is a lost and lonely soul, and I couldn’t help but feel sad for him as his work and meager domestic life start unraveling. The drink is never far away as he battles his own self-destruction. The ultimate goal is to culminate his research at the actual Booker Prize ceremony, leaving him both able to complete the book and also prepare himself for when he is awarded the prize himself. He is happily deluding himself that this is a given.
Personal Reflection and Conclusion
Written in such a way that I couldn’t help but march forward from chapter to chapter. Plug notices some charmingly obscure details in each of the surroundings he finds himself. He takes these little details and creates new behaviors for himself, peeling stickers off the books on supermarket shelves to decorate the trolley handle while adorning the books with labels he’s taken off the fruit. Maybe it’s just my humor, but those quirky anecdotes kept me smiling throughout the book.
My lovely wife Nicky has just started reading Wolf Hall, and so I had to share with her Plug’s challenge that maybe Hilary Mantel had made up the name of the town where she lived, Budleigh Salterton, in order to throw people off the scent. A quite lovely scene.
Now that I’m working harder at my own writing, I can only imagine the years that have gone into creating such a richly detailed tome while retaining the light-hearted romp through the literary world. There is a sequel. It will soon be joining my ‘to be read’ pile.
Book Review: The Motel Life by Willy Vlautin
Introduction and Exploration
To paraphrase Forrest Gump, reading books is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get—unless, of course, you stick to one author or genre. With Nicky’s lukewarm review of The Motel Life, I decided to explore it myself. Notably, this book, featured on Radio 4’s A Good Read, was praised by Benjamin Myers, one of my favorite authors, as potentially the best American novel of its time.
Plot and Characters
The Motel Life delves into the lives of two brothers living on society’s fringes. It’s a story about enduring hardships, grappling with loyalty and responsibility, and the elusive quest for opportunity. Furthermore, it portrays the struggle with guilt and the search for love amidst a backdrop of pain and minimal prospects.
Writing Style and Americana Feel
The narrative follows Frank and his elder brother Jerry Lee as they navigate small-town America after a tragic accident caused by a misjudgment. Alongside a dog they acquire, they interact with a small yet impactful cast of characters. Willy Vlautin’s prose is personal, crisp, and rhythmic, evoking a strong sense of Americana. The narrative feels akin to an early Springsteen album, with Jerry Lee driving the story through challenges and moments of fleeting luck. Vlautin masterfully explores human fragility and persistence, compelling readers to empathize with the brothers despite their dire circumstances.
Themes and Reflections
Moreover, the novel offers a poignant portrayal of everyday struggles, framed through the lens of Americana. Vlautin’s depiction of the brothers’ lives, while simple, reveals a profound and understated beauty. It’s a testament to the resilience and vulnerability of the human spirit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Motel Life is an exceptional read that left a lasting impression. It’s a heartfelt exploration of life’s trials and triumphs, making it a standout piece in contemporary fiction.