The Beach Beneath the Pavement
The Beach Beneath the Pavement, is a quirky novel by a first-time English writer named Roland Denning. I first came across Roland when I was reading a thread on authonomy about finding an agent. He posted a link to a hilarious video he made that showed a bunch of robots (author, agent, publisher, friend, etc) acting out the plight of trying to get a novel published. I figured I should get the book, just as a way of showing appreciation for his video.
The book itself is about a guy named Bernard (I always thought of him as Roland, but whatever) who is a journalist in London and gets pulled into a series of bizarre events. These involve a woman named Animal who is apparently a terrorist, a mysterious person named “JJ” who noone is really sure is real or just a myth generated by internet buzz, something called the Tranquillity Foundation which promised “serenity with security”, and a bunch of other New Age hilarious characters. There is also a group of theater performers who are trying to “break down the barriers between audiences and theater” who carry out a series of bizarre productions that confuse and involve the audience. The novel itself has the feeling of continued confusion which the author appears to induce deliberately. I found it interesting for some of the ideas conveyed (a monologue by “JJ” about the age of “post-credibility”, amongst others). So I would definitely recommend it for someone looking for something different than a Tom Clauncy or Dan Brown novel.
Backed!
Originally posted on Doug Bremner’s blog
http://www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com/index.php/2009/11/28/the-beach-beneath-the-pavement/
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By Therapy Patient, November 28, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Welcome back! Congratulations on finishing (I am assuming) your book. I hope you get it published. I bought an electronic reader in July before my vacation and I’ve been spending less time on the internet and more time reading e-literature. I just finished “Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin (highly recommend)which is a much more traditional-style novel than what you describe here, but I LOVED it, and with the wizardry of electronic downloading was almost immediately able to start reading “Mothers and Sons” also by Colm Toibin. After years of working a bazillion hours a day in my own business, followed by a year of being in a teaching credential program plus teaching, it’s a pleasure to me to sit and read. Electronic delivery is so perfect for me. I can read 4 different books at the same time or just settle into one and keep flipping the pages. Thanks for the heads up on authonomy.com I will check it out some time.
By Duncan, November 28, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
You’re right. I have been wondering where you have been…… Glad your back. Looking forward to more posts.
During your absence, I have been reading several novels by Margaret Atwood: 1. Oryx and Crake 2. After the Flood. both contain some very interesting views on health, research, profits, gene splicing and unintended consequences.
Thanks
By Roland Denning, November 29, 2009 @ 5:24 am
Thanks so much, Doug!
(and hopefully the typos will be purged by the time the next person buys a copy)
http://beachbeneathpavement.co.uk
By Fat Tony, December 5, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
Howdy,
Last time I checked your book on authonomy.com, you only had 11 chapters up. Now I see you have 69. Woo-hoo!!! Reading pleasure for me. Thank you.
A question, though. When you first started posting your novel on your web page, you named names…Accutane, the actual drug manufacturer, the real names of the people involved…etc. Now I see you have fictionalized your account. Was it simply a decision to fictionalize, or were there legal consequences you had to consider if you kept if (for lack of a better term) factual. Just curious. A good read either way. I must admit, though, I would be fascinated by a non-fictional account of what went down.
Oh, and don’t forget to get your flu shot! (nyuk, nyuk)
By Doug Bremner, December 7, 2009 @ 10:53 am
The story is nonfiction but the names fictionalized for legal reasons and to protect personal identities