New book soon from Nicholson Baker
Comments: 3
News of a new book from Nicholson Baker is a big deal around here, and the day of a book’s actual arrival is a de facto national holiday. Just last night I re-read the first hundred or so pages of Vox (just to get away, for an evening, from non-fiction where I’ve been spending a fair amount of time) and then this morning The Literary Saloon brings news of Checkpoint, his new novel about a man with fantasies perhaps many people have come to share, one way or another.
It’s been something of a week for Baker news, as it turns out, although I’m not sure it’s all good. A friend wrote to send along a snippet (sans link, but I don’t think I’ll be the one to find it for you) saying that Neil Gaiman (heard of him but never seen his work) is writing — it’s very worrying to have to say this — a screenplay based on The Fermata for … Robert Zemeckis.
You know, if Baker sold the rights because he needed the money, I think we should have a whip-around and help him out. Robert Zemeckis directs The Fermata … think about it. Unless someone basically reads the entire novel as a voice-over (and it had better not be Tom Hanks!) … oh, forget it; I’m not even sure that would work (and can you see Zemeckis directing that scene with Marian in the garden?).
•••
Posted to Books • 2004.07.05 (Mon) • 10:11
Comments
Posted by Russ 2004.07.05, 11:22
Interesting bit of synchronicity. I found myself thinking about The Fermata last night. I read it years ago, but found myself with the image of the book cover in my head. I wondered what had happened to the author, couldn’t remember his name. (I had also read Vox.)
Tonight I get your feed in NetNewsWire heralding a forthcoming book by Nicholson Baker.
Funny how these things work sometimes.
Posted by Michelle 2004.07.05, 15:03
I hadn’t heard that Neil Gaiman’s working on The Fermata. But, Gaiman’s a fascinating author, so it could be worse. For more info on Neil you can check out his blog at http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/journal.asp. He does a great job of updating it and keeping in touch with his fans.
Posted by alis 2004.07.05, 19:22
Yeeesh. I haven’t actually read The Fermata, but from what I do know and love (Vox, The Mezzanine, Room Temperature, and bits of The Size Of Thoughts), I really can’t imagine one of his books translating well into a movie.
Also, it’s true that Gaiman is a stunning and very exciting author, but he wrote the English script for the dubbed version of Princess Mononoke and I wasn’t overly impressed with that; I mean, it was competent but not breathtaking or anything. I don’t have that much basis for comparison though, as I generally try to avoid dubs at all costs! Sooo, maybe being a wonderful author of novels (graphic and otherwise) doesn’t necessarily imply of screenplay/scripts? Or maybe I’m just rambling again grin
Post a comment:
Send This Story to an Enemy
• • •
