Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet -- Book Review

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I just finished reading a most wonderful debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford. It's about a Chinese boy, Henry, and Japanese girl, Keiko, who fall in love at the tender age of 12, but circumstances beyond their control, the evacuation of Japanese people during WWII, kept them apart. The story is written in two eras, the 1940s and 1986 shortly after Henry became a widower. With the insistence of his son, he attempts to find his long lost love.

It's a sweet and tender story, sure to dampen your eyes a bit.

If there is something to criticize about Jamie Ford's work, I couldn't find it. It's a powerful and compelling story about how love can endure.

Frankly, I highly recommend it. You can read more about Ford's book at this site.
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About Paul West

Paul West is a freelance writer and novelist. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Paul claims to be a "Prune Picker," though he now makes his home in Taylorsville, Utah.

You can follower him on Twitter: @PaulWWest

Published: Tuesday, December 28, 2010

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The problem arises, as I see it, when what is called edgy becomes something that appeals more to kid's prurient interests than as a learning experience.

For example, I once started reading a novel by Judy Blum. Yes, the same Judy Blum who wrote all those cute childrens books. It was touted to be a young adult novel, so as a writer of young adult novels, and the book having been written by a famous author like Judy Blum, I thought it would be a good read. About a quarter of the way through it, I had to take it back to the library. I could not read it any further. It was filled with graphic sex, describing the act in great detail. I suppose it was supposed to have some kind of lesson about a girl losing her virginity and the consequences that follow, but to me it was nothing more than child pornography. It made me sick to think our children are reading that kind of filth.

I don't have a problem with an author writing about sex, even events leading up to a sexual encounter, but to describe the act in detail is pornography in my mind.

I like an edgy book now and then, if it's done without appealing to our children's baser and prurient interests. And I could go off on another tangent and say edgy does NOT need to have the infamous "F" word, or many of its synonyms. But that is something for another discussion.
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There has been quite a lot of talk recently on the utahchildrenswriters email forum about what constitutes edgy young adult fiction. There have been a lot of great comments, some pro and others con.

So, what is it, and is it good for our youth to read?

Well, I think a lot of people have differing ideas about what constitutes "edgy" fiction. I may be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) but to me, edgy does not have to have graphic sex, violence, or use the infamous "F" word on every other paragraph - or at all for that matter (and that's a subject I've covered before).

I think edgy is more a function of subject matter. If a novel touches on serious issues, such as rape, hatred, prejudice, bullying, unwed pregnancy, drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, etc., it's edgy - at least in my mind - without all the graphics.

In my first novel, I tried to be as edgy as I could get without crossing the line into what I consider unacceptable. In the first chapter, I have described a horrific scene where a family is killed in a fiery automobile crash. Only two survive by being thrown clear of the accident (this was before seat belts). I may have pushed the limits of acceptable violence a bit, but I don't think it's out of line. The story is about forgiveness and judging, and throughout the story the main character is subjected to acts of violence as he tries to find who caused the accident that killed his family. He makes some rash judgments and eventually has to face his fears and the person he believes killed his family. In the end, their feud finds them on opposite ends of a gun – and Mark’s next move could be the biggest mistake of his life.

Still, with all this going on, I don't feel my novel crosses over the edge of what I consider acceptable.

Our youth today are deluged with graphic sex and violence and hear the "F" word constantly in school and other places. I think we, as adults, need to raise the bar of what constitutes good literature for young, impressionable minds.
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The other day, a fellow writer asked to see my first novel, you know, the one I began writing nearly 25 years ago, and after having gone through several critique groups, I thought it was as good as it could get??? Well, this writer wrote me a note, suggesting I read it aloud. Well, actually, I have never done that, at least not all the way through, but despite everyone saying how beneficial that usually is, I didn't think it would help. After all, my novel has been through the critique mill. It's gotta be near perfect. At least I thought so until I took up the challenge. Today, I read the first two chapters aloud, from a printout, not on the computer screen.

GASP! and GADS! What a horrible mess!!! I never dreamed it was so bad. I found typo after typo, extraneous words, noun-verb disagreements, and dialog that sounded stilted.

Now, I'm totally embarrassed that I actually sent it out to a couple of agents. They must think I'm something to think it was good enough for their consideration.

What now? Give up? NEVER!!!

Just let this be a lesson to me, and to all of you, my faithful readers (all 1 or 2 of you). Never think your writing is good enough. Read it aloud from a printout, not on screen. You'll be surprised as the goofs and gaffs you will find.

I certainly am.
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Recently, a writer friend commented that it seemed most middle grade novels begin with a "child of destiny" being attacked by a bully, then the bully disappears while the main character goes on to do whatever it is the book is really about.

I wish my novel I'm calling GERTA! were finished. It's about a horribly ugly, smelly, and fat girl who nobody likes - at first. She's not a child of destiny, far from it. She's also a slow learner, does poorly in school, but she's a genius mechanic. The boys in the class tease and ridicule her until the MC (POV character) eventually learns to love her as a child of God.

Yes, there are bullies, but they run through the entire novel, not just at the beginning.

I just wish it were close to being finished. I think there would be a big market for it.
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I wrote this blog a long time ago, but I'm re-posting it as I'm hearing a lot of bull about the necessity of using profanity in one's writing.

Some people believe using profanity in their writing makes their prose sound more realistic. They claim it's necessary for shock value. While that may be, I don't believe it's "necessary" in order to create a sense of realism, which is all fiction is anyway.

In my novel "Sweet Revenge," I have some pretty tough characters, but I don't have any of them using profanity, even when they are being beat up by a group of thugs, or by the thugs themselves, for that matter. The antagonists (thugs) swear, but I never use the actual swear words. I just say, "So and so swore," or something like that, which allows the reader to imagine the epithet.

I don't think it's necessary to show a person swearing in order to show his emotional state. That can be shown by what he's seeing, hearing, saying, but mostly feeling in his heart.

I was part of a critique group once that was supposed to be strictly for writers of young adult literature. A young boy (around 16 or 17) joined the group and proceeded to put the infamous "F"-word in every other paragraph. When I told him publishers of YA material probably would not accept that kind of language, he became even more profane. I complained to the moderator, but she refused to do anything about it, so I quit rather than read any more of his filth.

I know I don't like to read those kinds of words when I’m enjoying a novel, and I think a lot of readers would prefer not to be subjected to them either, if the truth were known.

I for one, do not believe using profanity in ANY book is necessary, adult or young adult. I've seen many books depicting bad characters who use profanity, but the author chooses not to use the actual words. I think it's sufficient to indicate that a character swears, or swore, without using those profane words.

As an example. I read "The Great and Terrible" series by Chris Stewart. I recommend reading this series and other "best-selling" books by Mr. Stewart as great examples of what I'm talking about. Mr. Stewart has some pretty awful characters depicted in his books, characters who swear and use profanity, but he does not use the actual profane words, choosing rather to indicate that a character swore, and leave the bad word up to the imagination of the reader. It works. I don't think anyone reading his books will think they are fake or phony. They're quite realistic.

Another example is Dean Hughes' books. He writes about WWII and other difficult subjects where profanity should be expected. But I can't recall a single profane word and his books are totally believable.

Certainly, it takes a bit more creativity on our part, but isn't that what we writers pride ourselves as being -- creative?

I think we can avoid using profane words and still be realistic. It just takes a slight bit more effort. In my mind, using the actual words in our writing cheapens our work and is the lazy way out, and what example are we showing our youth?
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You know what? WordPerfect is wonderful!!! Maybe you can do this in MSWord too. I haven't tried it.

But today during my lunch break, I took my current version of GERTA! and compared it with a previous version side by side on the computer's monitor. It was great. I found where I was off and quickly fixed the problem. I wasn't off as much as I'd thought.

I'm back on track now, but I had to change the chapter numbers. My last post was Chapter 7 (I think), but my next post will be Chapter 10. don't ask how that happened, but it did, and it works.

Now to keep on track!
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I was just going through my WIP, GERTA! the other day, doing some edits, finding plot holes, and reconstructing some chapters, etc., and found whole sections and chapters out of place. I don't know how that happened, but I now have my work cut out for me. I think to fix this I need to print out at least the first 5 chapters (where I first noticed this problem), so I can see the whole thing at once, and figure out what needs to be where, and what's missing. Thank goodness for backups.

GRRR!
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I know it's been a while since I last commented here. It's not that I've given up on it, I've just been really busy at work. Being out of town for 3 weeks didn't help, then I was backlogged with office work to do. UGH!

Anyway, I'm back so all my faithful readers (all one or two of you) can breathe easier now.

As for some big (well maybe big maybe not) news. I got a request for a partial of BRIDGE TO DESTINY from a major, super, dream agent. I don't know if she will ask for more or not, but while I'm not holding my breath, I am finding it more difficult to exhale.

I thought today I'd make a couple of comments about revisions. BRIDGE TO DESTINY has gone through numerous revisions since its inception. Even the characters themselves have gone through a kind of metamorphosis. Mark, the main character was originally a pretty wimpy, reactionary kind of guy, but over the years has become more assertive, even aggressive at times. Genie, the main love interest has also changed. Originally, she was something of a drugged out slut. Now, she's a sweet, loving girl who grows to love Mark in the end. Charisse, Mark's first love interest hasn't really changed all that much. She's still the self-absorbed egoist she started out to be. And Gary, he started out as a hippie, became a beatnick, then back to a hippie. He also started out as just a friend to Mark, but in my latest revision he is now Mark's cousin.

Interesting how many changes have taken place in this novel, yet I believe each change has made it stronger.

When I first wrote the words "The End" the book was about 130,000 words long. I soon realized that was WAY too long for a young adult novel. I was told it shouldn't be more than 70,000 words. So, I started in editing a paragraph, even a sentence, at a time. Soon, I realized I could only save about 2,000 words that way and was still too far from my goal. So, deeper cuts were in order. I agonized over this next decision. I knew I had to cut whole scenes if not chapters.

Then, I realized I had some scenes that with some work could be combined with other scenes. I made a list of all the chapters and scenes and began the mental process of combination. Then, when it was solid in my mind, I started work on the actual manuscript. I saved it to a different file name on my hard drive so I wouldn't lose any of my original work in the event I ever needed it. I combined two dance scenes into one and found it actually worked better. I combined other scenes and cut out several others that I figured were not needed if I could put the essence of the scenes elsewhere. After all was said and done, I ended up with a manuscript about 80,000 words. Not quite the 70,000-word goal but close enough.

I think a lot of people who say they don't know where to cut need to take a lesson. Any story can be cut down with some work. I know it's hard work, and hard to see your prose being slashed, but it's often necessary, and I don't think I've ever seen a story being hurt by the process.
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The answer to last week's trivia question, what is a 409?, is it's the size of Chevrolet's first muscle engine 409 cubic inches. It was kind of a dog, so Chevrolet replaced it with the 396 and the 427, bot of which, in my opinion, were far more powerful engines.

Since last week's trivia question was so well received, I thought it would be good to continue with another question. This one may be a bit more difficult, unless you were tuned into the drug culture of the 60s.

Who coined the phrase: "Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll?"

Bonus points (just kidding) for anyone who can give me some details of this person's life, and what kind of drugs was this person most interested in?
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Hey everyone,

I just thought of an idea to generate interest in my completed, but as yet unpublished novel. As all my faithful followers (all 1 or 2 of you) know, it's a young adult suspense novel, set in the mid-1960s. So, I'm thinking that maybe, if I post enough about it here, someone will get interested, and just maybe even an agent or editor will stumble on this site and want to know more (you think?).

Anyway, over the next while (time-frame yet to be determined) I'm going to post trivia questions about the 1960s and see if anyone wants to respond with an answer to the questions. I'm sure I'll have a lot of takers, so come one come all. Join the fun.

Sorry, but no prizes at this juncture. Just fun reminiscing.

So, my first question is this:

What is a 409?
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BasicGuy has another award winning post titled "It's not Time to Retreat, but to Reload." Check it out. I think Sarah is right-on.
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Again by Laurie Halse Anderson. Frankly, "Prom" disappointed me. She was nominated for the National Book Award with "Speak" but I can't help wondering whether she only had one good book in her? Maybe she'll write another good one someday, but "Prom" just didn't grab me. There was no trouble in the first few chapters for me to get concerned about. Then, she describes how the main character (girl) was hot for some loser. I suppose if I'd read on, I would have gotten concerned for the MC's judgement, but I got tired of wading through the first few chapters and gave up.

Maybe someone else will have a different opinion.
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I just finished reading "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anders. It's a YA story that won "National Book Award Finalist" several years ago. Frankly, I enjoyed this book more than I did Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol." It's a not-too-edgy story about how a 9th grade girl copes with having been raped by a 12th grade boy. There are a few scenes that I don't see as being necessary, except to let us understand her mood, but overall, the story is great. Very poignant. And Ms. Anders' writing style is great. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to write YA.

What I especially liked was that the story was told without foul language, vulgarity, and without being graphic when it came to the rape depictions and it still was an exciting read. So, for those of you who say you gotta be "realistic" I say, you're being lazy. Our youth hear enough of that garbage in school. They don't need to hear it from us adults too. We need to be better examples.
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No spoilers here.

Having heard so much pre-publication publicity about Dan Brown's latest novel The Lost Symbol, I couldn't wait to get hold of a copy. I was intrigued with the idea of him explaining Masonic symbols, some of which are even found on LDS temples. Anxiously, I waited. Then it came out and I grabbed the first copy I could get.

I have to say, it was okay. That's about it. In about the first 1/3 of the novel, Brown drags his readers through tons of explanations of what various symbols mean, and tells us where they're located, even if they have to relevance to the story. Eventually, the book picks up as a life or death scenario develops. The chase to beat a ticking clock lends suspense, and the unraveling of hidden meanings of the various symbols' and how they lead to an ultimate solution is interesting, and there's a great twist near the end. But after the resolution, Brown goes back to explaining symbols that have little or no significance to the plot. The story actually ends about 4 or 5 chapters before the end of the book.


Overall, it's a fun read, but by far, Dan Brown's best novel so far was The Divinci Code.

Just my opinion.
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Some people believe using profanity in their writing makes their prose sound more realistic. They claim it's necessary for shock value. While that may be, I don't believe it's "necessary" in order to create a sense of realism, which is all fiction is anyway.

In my novel "Sweet Revenge," I have some pretty tough characters, but I don't have any of them using profanity, even when they are being beat up by a group of thugs, or by the thugs themselves, for that matter. The antagonists (thugs) swear, but I never use the actual swear words. I just say, "So and so swore," or something like that, which allows the reader to imagine the epithet.

I don't think it's necessary to show a person swearing in order to show his emotional state. That can be shown by what he's seeing, hearing, saying, but mostly feeling in his heart.

I was part of a critique group once that was supposed to be strictly for writers of young adult literature. A young boy (around 16 or 17) joined the group and proceeded to put the infamous "F"-word in every other paragraph. When I told him publishers of YA material probably would not accept that kind of language, he became even more profane. I complained to the moderator, but she refused to do anything about it, so I quit rather than read any more of his filth.

I know I don't like to read those kinds of words when I’m enjoying a novel, and I think a lot of readers would prefer not to be subjected to them either, if the truth were known.

I for one, do not believe using profanity in ANY book is necessary, adult or young adult. I've seen many books depicting bad characters who use profanity, but the author chooses not to use the actual words. I think it's sufficient to indicate that a character swears, or swore, without using those profane words.

As an example. I read "The Great and Terrible" series by Chris Stewart. I recommend reading this series and other "best-selling" books by Mr. Stewart as great examples of what I'm talking about. Mr. Stewart has some pretty awful characters depicted in his books, characters who swear and use profanity, but he does not use the actual profane words, choosing rather to indicate that a character swore, and leave the bad word up to the imagination of the reader. It works. I don't think anyone reading his books will think they are fake or phony. They're quite realistic.

Another example is Dean Hughes' books. He writes about WWII and other difficult subjects where profanity should be expected. But I can't recall a single profane word and his books are totally believable.

Certainly, it takes a bit more creativity on our part, but isn't that what we writers pride ourselves as being -- creative?

I think we can avoid using profane words and still be realistic. It just takes a slight bit more effort. In my mind, using the actual words in our writing cheapens our work and is the lazy way out, and what example are we showing our youth?
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Today, in the Query Tracker Blog, Elana Johnson has an excellent posting about the dreaded bio.

I've read a lot about the need for a short bio in a query letter. It should highlight your writing experience or credentials. But what do you do if you really have nothing to brag about? I have no publishing credits, at least not yet. I'm not a member of any prestigious writing associations. I'm not an expert in any field related to the subject matter. So what do I write?

There are two kinds of bios we writers need to be concerned with. The short paragraph, in the query letter, and the longer one sometimes asked for separately, often along with a synopsis and sample chapters.

Here's some examples of both:

Short, query letter, version:

I grew up in the town and era in which this novel is set. I currently work as an environmental biologist writing technical reports, and use fiction writing as my therapy from boredom.

Longer version:

Paul West is a freelance writer and novelist. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Paul claims to be a "Prune Picker," though he now makes his home in West Jordan, Utah.

The rustic San Francisco Bay Area countryside, the quaint small town he grew up in, and the colorful people who once lived there, have all teamed to fertilize his ever-churning mind with stories that are yearning to be told.

From his earliest days in high school, his English teachers saw some raw writing ability in him, both for fiction and non-fiction, and urged him to pursue his dream of being a writer. In college his creative writing professors also encouraged him to mold his ability into a talent.

After settling on a career as an environmental biologist, where he’s written numerous technical publications, the stories swarming through his mind kept crying to get out. So Paul began writing fiction, but only as a hobby at first. He has recently finished his first novel, SWEET REVENGE, and is close to finishing his second, GERTA! Paul intends to keep letting his stories out through future novels.

Paul is a member of several writing and critique groups including Authors by Design, Writers Pen, Query Tracker, Children's Writer's & Illustrator's, Utah Children’s Writers, among others. In addition to his writing, he and his wife, enjoy spending time with their four children and six grandchildren, gardening, reading, and researching their family history.
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