New Richey book due - a novel this time

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by keeley

I'm collecting questions from fans who have read the book and want to ask Ben anything related to it. The first fan interview (pre-publication) is here, if you need reminding / haven't seen it: http://cultofrichey.com/2010/08/15/m...-myers-part-i/

Please message me here with your questions, along with a name you want to be publicly credited as when the interview is posted (either first name and last initial or a username).

The deadline for questions is Dec. 11.

Benjamin, why is your book so riddled with simple errors and badly written shite? A published book really shouldn't contain so many examples of the completely wrong words printed in the wrong places.

I hope that Brown Stripe (or whatever she's called) is proud of the lazy atrocity that's named in her honour.

Nikolai
x

[franny]

Originally Posted by keeley

I'm collecting questions from fans who have read the book and want to ask Ben anything related to it. The first fan interview (pre-publication) is here, if you need reminding / haven't seen it: http://cultofrichey.com/2010/08/15/m...-myers-part-i/

Please message me here with your questions, along with a name you want to be publicly credited as when the interview is posted (either first name and last initial or a username).

The deadline for questions is Dec. 11.

I'll use Franny.

Ben, how far do you think writers should be allowed to ignore factual detail in the writing of biographical fiction? Your book ignores certain facts but I feel that this is justifiable.

Originally Posted by Nikolai

Benjamin, why is your book so riddled with simple errors and badly written shite? A published book really shouldn't contain so many examples of the completely wrong words printed in the wrong places.

I hope that Brown Stripe (or whatever she's called) is proud of the lazy atrocity that's named in her honour.

Nikolai
x

Great question dude...

[Ermintrude the Cow]

I've just finished reading this. I honestly don't know what to say.

[Slideling]

Originally Posted by Ermintrude_the_Cow

I honestly don't know what to say.

Still at that stage also, at least as far as the questionnaire goes.

[Little Troll]

Originally Posted by Ermintrude_the_Cow

I've just finished reading this. I honestly don't know what to say.

In a good way or a bad way?

I've asked for it for Christmas and really don't know what to expect.

[Slideling]

It's an OK book, but didn't really revive my fandom, more like made me want to shift my eyes over to the TV.

[Little Troll]

Originally Posted by Richian

It's an OK book, but didn't really revive my fandom, more like made me want to shift my eyes over to the TV.

Rather dull then?
I've heard all sorts of accusations about it being badly written and factually inaccurate etc, from this site and one or two others, would you agree with this?

[Slideling]

I don't mind inaccuracies in a *story*, and I haven't actually noticed any mistakes and wrote them down, so I wouldn't know what to say. There weren't any glaring ones to me, I suppose, but I'm not from the UK and didn't follow the Manics when Richey was around, so it's easy for me to not notice things that may be obvious to some people. As far as it being badly written, I didn't find the character engaging. When Ben seems to relax from the self-deprecating narrator voice, though, it's funny/cute, at times. But in the beginning you'll have to get used to that narrative.

[keeley]

Originally Posted by franny

I'll use Franny.

Ben, how far do you think writers should be allowed to ignore factual detail in the writing of biographical fiction? Your book ignores certain facts but I feel that this is justifiable.

Thank you for your question. Do you want to elaborate any on what facts were ignored...?

To everyone else - please be serious if you're going to give me questions. I'm not going to round up any old shit that's thrown at me to be funny or sarcastic or whatever. I don't give a crap what you think of the novel, but realize that it takes some fucking balls for Ben to allow us to interview him like this--not once, but twice--so show some respect for that, at least. It's more than most anyone else does, especially in an online setting.

[Ermintrude the Cow]

Originally Posted by magicalbertie

Rather dull then?
I've heard all sorts of accusations about it being badly written and factually inaccurate etc, from this site and one or two others, would you agree with this?

If I had known nothing/minimal about the band/Richey I'd have probably enjoyed it. I quite like the way it skips from first person (the present situation of Richey doing his disapearing act) to second person (flashbacks from his childhood), especially as second person is notoriously hard to write in but he pulls it off well.
However, I find in a lot of places the author tries to 'sound like Richey' and ends up using over-pretentious language that I know Rich used in his lyrics but doubt he would have used in private thoughts/conversations with his parents etc.
Factual errors, well, you have to accept that it is fiction and no, James probably didn't have that exact conversation with Nicky etc, but the two things that really stood out for me were that on the inside cover it makes reference to Richey disappearing andd leaving "the rest of MSP" in the hotel when of course only James was in there with him. He could have just said "leaving MSP to continue as a three-peice" or something; and the other one was that early on in the book it states (quite correctly) that Nick was a school-year behind Richey and then later on has Richey getting his 2.1 and being disapointed (again, a fact) and it then says "Nick was perfectly happy with his 2.2" - now if Richey was just getting his degree, surely Nicky had only just finished second year (both in real life and the continuity of the book). It also mentions Nicky "popping round" when they were both in Swansea, despite it being well doccumented that they lived together, and also says something about Nick dragging Rich to the Union bar for a drink, despite Wire being on the record saying he was proud of having never entered the Students Union.
Most people won't be bothered by these little things, but I guess we aren't "most people" and I think he should perhaps have researched a little bit more; to make it as believable as possible. These things are quite easy to find out, a scan of FD would have told him most of them!

[Slideling]

My last post was strictly in response to Bertie, just to make it clear. Not trying to be rude.

[ennanire]

Sorry, to intrude..but I'm confused, so, the author posts here?
(I haven't been on FD for a few weeks I've been busy )

[Ermintrude the Cow]

@Keely - I'd quite like to ask him why he chose to write the flashback scenes in second person, rather than the more traditional first person/third person writing styles. For me, that was one of the best things about the book.

[Little Troll]

Thank you to both Richian and Ermintrude for your responses

It definitely sounds like I should give the book a go. I might not find it brilliant but I'd better give it a chance because you never know, I might quite enjoy it.

[keeley]

Originally Posted by Richian

My last post was strictly in response to Bertie, just to make it clear. Not trying to be rude.

If you're responding to me, I wasn't talking about you I meant Nikolai's attempt at phrasing a question.

Originally Posted by ennanire

Sorry, to intrude..but I'm confused, so, the author posts here?
(I haven't been on FD for a few weeks I've been busy )

Not that I know of, but he is aware of this forum and this thread.

Originally Posted by Ermintrude_the_Cow

@Keely - I'd quite like to ask him why he chose to write the flashback scenes in second person, rather than the more traditional first person/third person writing styles. For me, that was one of the best things about the book.

Thanks for your question! Do you want to go by your username in the credit or another name?