Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

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Oh, I've got that book I believe. Classic by....I can't remember whom at the moment, but i've wanted to read it for ages. Good story then?


I can't believe it's only the 12th and there are already so many excellent stories in the challenge. I already have a short list that is longer than one would usually use to describe "short".
 
J-WO said:
The film in question is The Name of the Rose if anyone's interested. Easily one of Connery's best. Real sense of place to it too-- heartily recommend it to any fantasy writer trying to evoke a dark medieval feel.
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Excellent film, but the book is also very good. As is usually the case the book and film differ in emphasis. There is much more discussion in the book regarding topics like humour in the bible and Umberto Eco highlights some of the absurd, logical conclusions that can be drawn by following any written text without applying a bit of common sense.
 
The book is very, um, dense, BookStop, and I have to confess I tended to skip bits to try to get on with the plot -- I have an abiding memory of a description of some carvings around a door which went on for pages, and all as one paragraph. I haven't read any other Eco, but I got the distinct impression he's a man who likes the sound of his own voice. There's also quite a bit of theological discussion, some of which can be a bit daunting. But yes, well worth a read. I think I'd recommend the film first, as a gentler introduction -- of necessity a lot of the more esoteric stuff was lost.
 
BookStop said:
Would you recommend film first then?
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Difficult to say which one I enjoyed the most. The film is very well done - a murder mystery, so just up my street. The location and the time of the year the film was shot, matches exactly the mood the Eco was trying to capture.

The book I found fascinating. I couldn't remember the outcome of the murder mystery from the film by the time I got round to reading the book so that part of it was just as enjoyable. As for the 'density' that TJ mentions, well I absolutely revelled in it. Besides the murder mystery there's a kind of maze to be solved and the publishers were good enough to included a plan of the castle to help things along.

To be honest, I'd say if you've got the book - read it, alternatively if you're passing a cinema and it's on - go in and see it. You won't be disappointed with either. :)

Whoever it was that brought this up - thanks. I'm going to read it again - starting tonight.
 
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I've never read the book but I have seen the film a couple times and it has a nice atmosphere to what its plot is, and though it might be considered slow in some parts, it's still definitely worth a watch.



Unlike my past months I don't have a favorite yet but I think I'm getting close to it.
 
digs said:
Couldn't you say that dark humour is also one of these gifts? It allows us to process and consider issues that we might otherwise find too confronting. Dark humour is just as capable of making people laugh or smile as other forms - I laughed at the premise of A Modest Proposal just because it's so ridiculous.

Or were you just saying dark humour doesn't make you laugh, and therefore you personally don't count it as humour?

P.S. Are there any Christian writings about this kind of thing? It'd be interesting to see what's off-limits or not. The Bible's full of dark things - but is it okay to joke about them?
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(My last reply to this disappeared into cyberspace!:mad:)

Serious Questions!

On the whole I was saying that dark humor does not make me laugh. But I feel as though the reason it does not is my Christian world view trying to assert itself into my often straying life. I do not know of any portion of the Bible which would put dark humor beyond acceptable behavior for a Christian, neither do I know of any author who has written on this subject.

(Caveat: Christian publishing is SO BIG, that my knowledge of it almost makes that previous statement irrelevant.)

Moonbat said:
On a recent visit to Venice we were told about a Martyr who was burned, and as a joke he said 'I'm done on that side, better turn me over' It was considered wrong as (apparantly) there is no humour in the bible.
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It might be closer to the truth to say that there are no biblical scholars with a sense of humor. If you read the Bible and try to put yourself into the story rather than try to read into it you find yourself laughing often. For example let's take a couple of the Jesus stories. Can't you imagine the crowds laughing at the man who built the fancy house on the sand by the river? Or do you think Peter never laughed about Jesus sending him to go fish for tax money? One of my favorite representations of Jesus is "Laughing Jesus."

That Jesus was an immensely popular teacher in his day is beyond doubt. It is hard to imagine him holding the crowd's attention without a quick wit and an engaging chuckle.


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I think I will start looking for The Name of the Rose sounds like it would be something which would be right in my sweet spot for enjoyment and theological discussion.
 
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The book definitely, Parson. There's a disputation on the question of poverty and heresy which I imagine will be of great interest to a theologian.


And getting back to the thread, I've had an inkling of a couple of ideas but have been too busy to devote enough time to either. I've not even thought about forming a short list as yet, but one or two have caught my eye.
 
Some dangnably good ones. Karn made me chuckle. Sjabs alien water is neat.
Again, Mouse(who I haven't ever voted for (yet)).. that is a very good, and very sad, (I forgot - I did vote for you in the photo challenge)...story.
 
So until this evening (now passed into early morning) I had not put a single word of a single story on paper for this month's challenge, I had so much else on my mind.

But now I've written a story and posted it in haste, before the brain-lock could take over again.
 
Eek. Two consecutive stories with foreign titles. I hope to goodness that doesn't become a trend!

And for those who haven't checked up Hoopy's title, I'd recommend you do so sharpish - very witty and appropriate.
 
Thanks, J Riff!

I've been busy with NaNoWriMo, so didn't have time to do anything other than what I've entered! Luckily, it came to 75 words exactly when I wrote it, so no fiddling required. Though I do like a good fiddle...

Now, the dog's chewed through my internet cable, so I'm having to pay for the BT open thingy... £3 for one hour, until I get everything sorted. Soooooo stressful! I hate being without the internet.

Not had chance to read many of the entries yet!
 
The Judge said:
And for those who haven't checked up Hoopy's title, I'd recommend you do so sharpish - very witty and appropriate.
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Heh, thanks. About the first time that's happened. Generally 'cos I'm so useless at titles.

I started off basing it on E.T.A Hoffman's version of it all, and then things fell into place better than I could've imagined.


I love it when a 75-word-story comes together.
 
It must be dog month... 1st my dog destroys the world..then Mouse's dog eats the internet...and now I walk outside and my favorite street dog, Old Blue...has passed on. Tremendous sadness, even without Mouse's story, and now Teresas story which is also very moving. The new bionic writing implant has made her even better!
But lots funny ones! Going to be tough choice, again.
 
That was alarming. Running my eyes down the list of new posts, I saw the Writing Challenge and beside it Cul's name -- and thought I'd lost a week of my life and it was closing day already...
 
Grief! I thought I'd missed my opportunity for entering this month.


* Wipes brow in relief. *
 
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