New Richey book due - a novel this time - Page 22 - Forever Delayed

RoseTintedSpecs · #**316** 18-01-2011, 17:31

I'm about halfway through and if I detach myself from the fact that the subject of the novel was a real person, it's alright. There are proof-reading and factual errors, and having read Everything I think that must have been what Myers used for most of his research. The writing style is annoying me a little bit at times. I think it's helped that I started it with quite low expectations.

coralwings · #**317** 20-01-2011, 17:31

I ordered this from Amazon today, I'm quite interested in Myers' perceptions of Richey, but after reading your posts my expectations aren't too high. Yet I'll try to not let that effect my reading.

SHR · #**318** 20-01-2011, 18:10

Really isn't worth the paper its written on. Even Richey's sister commented on how bloody awful it was.

Slideling · #**319** 21-01-2011, 13:35

I think 'thinking in Manics lyrics' sounds like a better idea than trying to write about Richey 'The man, not the persona' by not making him sound like himself at all - which a lot of writers did before Ben did it as well, mind. The canon material is there for a reason, and that is - writers should take from it when writing about Richey, in my opinion.

Not saying, by the way, that Richey thought in Manics lyrics.

Just that you can use what we already know about the Manics to write a more well-rounded character, even if some of the things that defined the early Manics sound like 'Clichés' to some sceptics in the fandom.

Nikolai · #**320** 22-01-2011, 00:41

Blimey, he seems to have been awfully affected by the online comments of people using (apparent) pseudonyms. I'd be surprised if most people who read the book, and have any level of knowledge about the Manics and/or well written books, would consider it anything but the work of a lazy opportunist.

Anyway, I'd imagine that 'Richard' has died on its arse somewhat in terms of sales, so probably best to just move on and forget about it. I can just picture Myers in an Alan Partridge style scenario at the pulping factory: "It looks like Porridge!".

Little Troll · #**321** 06-02-2011, 14:46

I finally started reading it (on February 1st, ironically).

It's not that bad, there's just a few bits where I've gotten quite annoyed! The bit where he looks at the porn magazine made me cringe, and later on, I don't really know why Myers felt it necessary to describe him taking a shit.

Also, Richey's 21st birthday was written about before the stuff about his 2nd year at uni, but he should have been turning 21 at the beginning of his third year, surely? Unless there's something I missed out on. And he wrote about Nicky graduating at the same time as Richey which was obviously not right.

If I ignore the errors, it's alright though. I think I just have to pretend I know less about Richey and the band than I actually do.
I'm not that far in, either, so it might get better.

Slideling · #**322** 06-02-2011, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicalbertie

I don't really know why Myers felt it necessary to describe him taking a shit.

I haven't noticed that! But I did tend to skim parts which seemed a bit drab.

Little Troll · #**323** 06-02-2011, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richian

I haven't noticed that! But I did tend to skim parts which seemed a bit drab.

Hahaha, I just checked and it's the end of page 57 if you're interested!

I found it a little disgusting - blood and self harm I can deal with, but reading about someone going to the toilet is a whole other matter!

Slideling · #**324** 06-02-2011, 15:23

Hmm, I actually liked that. Page 58 in my book, BTW.

Son of Stopped · #**325** 07-02-2011, 18:51

Do you think the book was mainly written for the film rights?
Surely Richey's family would have to be consulted?

counterlanguage · #**326** 08-02-2011, 14:00

I wonder if they would have to ask for consent because there's no legal requirement if someone's been declared as dead? I suspect that they wouldn't - the fact that Lori Fidler's name is changed in the book but Richey's isn't makes me think that might be the case. i.e. she wasn't traceable, or wouldn't give her permission.

At the same time, you can presumably sell the film rights to a book based on someone's life if they;re dead.

Can you imagine a film adaptation based on the book? Scene 7: Richey hides under a log and watches a dog. Scene 10: Richey takes a dump. Scene 37: He climbs a mountain and meets Gandalf.

riot_star · #**327** 11-02-2011, 14:47

This may be of interest to some people - Ben Myers favourite Manics songs:

http://www.picador.com/Blogs/BenMyer...ersTracks.aspx

astrababe · #**328** 22-02-2011, 21:25

I have to say, this was one of the strangest books I have ever read. I would not be happy about this if I was his family.

The ending was terrible.

Little Troll · #**329** 23-02-2011, 08:49

I keep finding other things to do so I still haven't finished it yet, but I do suppose it'd be very hard to write a proper ending, considering the fact that there has not been a proper ending in real life as we still don't know what happened so it's still open and ongoing.

I've got about 100 pages left so I'll let you know what I think of the end soon!

Ermintrude the Cow · #**330** 23-02-2011, 11:01

I didn't like it. I found the writing style to be clipped and distant; which doesn't really work when the book is meant to be someone's innermost thoughts.
I also couldn't warm to the character of "Richard." To me, he wasn't Richey - and the rest of them were drawn so 2-dimensionally that I just didn't get a feel for their relationships etc. Given how close Richey was to his family and the band (esp. Nicky) I felt a lot of that warmth was missing.
Myers also makes a lot of 'Richard' feeling that his personality has been taken over by "Richey Manic;" but the book concentrates solely on that "Richey Manic" person and his traits - for example he spends more time talking about the depression and the self harm and all the things the media associate with Richey and made no real effort to explore his relationships with his friends, and the one thing I always pick up from people who knew Richey (Simon Price said it again recently) is what a warm, loving person he was and how much fun he was to be around once the cameras were off.
I know what he did in the end was incredibly, incredibly selfish (if he isn't dead, he's the biggest tosser to ever live for putting people through that) but I think Ben Myers allowed this one act to completely overshaddow the characterization of 'Richard' and rather than dramatise his life, he's dramatised the myth and in essence has created nothing other than a new "Where's Richey?" tabloid-esqe piece.