Edgy Mama

I’m taking a page from Stephen King, who writes a “Best of…” (books, movies, TV shows, etc.,) each year for Entertainment Weekly. Of course, most of what King likes actually was published or came to theaters during the year he’s writing about. When compiling my list, I realized that I don’t see many new movies or read many new books and, of course, I don’t watch TV, so this list is not particularly cultural. In fact, it’s rather anemic. But what the hell.

In no particular order, EM’s Best of 2007:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This book arrived in paperback in 2007. And it was, by far, my best read of the year. Moving, poetic, elegaic, amazing. Read it if you haven’t already. Then go stock your personal nuclear bunker.

(Not that You Asked) Rants, Exploits, and Obsessions by Steve Almond. This book was pubbed in 2007, and I actually purchased it in hard cover. Because I adore Steve’s writing. If you’ve been reading the bloggie, you’ve already read my laudatory words for this guy’s work. This book does make me laugh out loud. And if you read my column for this week’s Mt. X, you’ll know I don’t often do that.

Stardust, the movie. Loved the book, loved the movie, despite the addition of the gay pirate bits. Neil Gaiman rocks.

Down River by John Hart. Second novel by a co-North Carolinian. As fast-paced as Grisham but with deeper characterization. When I went to link the book on Amazon, I saw that Uncle Newt gave the novel a great review. Yep, Newt Gringrich, related to me through marriage, is an avid reader and top Amazon reviewer. I still don’t like his politics, but the guy knows books.

Emotionalism by The Avett Brothers. Album of the year, no question. By the funky, alt-bluegrass, incredibly talented A Bros. And they’re fun to look at too.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. Despite it all, the end came too soon.

Ratatouille, the movie. Cute animated rats cooking in a Parisian restaurant. What’s not to love?

Best American Short Stories 2007 edited by Stephen King. The short story lives. Kind of. At least in the Best of series. Buy it and acquaint yourself with great tales, shortly told.

Anyone else got a list to share?

I’ve been writing for work. Sometimes I make the crazy mistake of thinking I can produce two well-researched, well-written business profiles in two part-time working days. I did it, but I’m concerned about the double “well” part. Guess that’s why I have an editor (thanks, K, for putting up with me!). Which brings me to J.K. Rowling.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the magical world that Rowling has created and sustained and expanded on over 1000s of pages. That said, while reading the fourth book, I started asking the question: “Where the heck is her editor?” I asked again during the the fifth and sixth novels. Especially the fifth, which, in my opinion, gets bogged down, and dare I say it, close to dull, in the middle. How much of Sirius Black’s family history do we really need to know?

My guess is that once Rowling got really, really famous and really, really rich, someone said: “Oh, she’s a great writer. We don’t need to edit her. Let her write 800 or more pages, 150 of which could be cut, because, well, the book will sell anyway. Oh, and the longer the book, the higher the asking price.”

And Rowling, who is a good writer with a GREAT imagination, and who, because she toiled for months and months over every paragraph she wrote, probably thought: “Great. I don’t have to cut anything. I can leave all my backstory, flights of fancy, and random character development in the novel.”

I know this opinion may seem blasphemous to some of you who love every detail of Rowlings’ world. But in my humble writers’ opinion, EVERYONE needs an editor. I run everything I write for publication through E-spouse and at least one other writer/editor friend before sending it to my “real” editor. Even then, errors sometimes get through. And in a novel of over 700 pages, a couple typos are to be expected (I’ve found two so far. Anyone else?). But a bit of cutting here and there could smooth the flow of the novels, particularly those hefty in the middle ones.

That said, I do think Number Seven is the best written book of the series. One of the great covenants that Rowling has made with her readers is that she assumes we’re on the journey with her. Well, perhaps a bit behind her since she probably finished writing Number Seven about a year ago. But I love that in this novel, she doesn’t waste too much time explaining, she dives right in (although there is quite a bit of scene setting in the first two chapters before we get to rocking chapter three).

I also think it’s remarkable how many adults love her books. I had a ten-minute conversation about Number Seven with an 11-year-old boy yesterday. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a conversation that long with an 11-year-old boy. At least where the boy actually wanted to talk to me.

So, some of this can get us started on the non-spoiler convo. I was seduced by the lovely Di into drinking beers at Usual Suspects last night, so I’m not quite finished yet (page 608). Next week, when more folks have finished Number Seven, we can have the spoiler convo. Dive in!