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/
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.
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
Thanks so much, Doug!
(and hopefully the typos will be purged by the time the next person buys a copy)
http://beachbeneathpavement.co.uk
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)
The story is nonfiction but the names fictionalized for legal reasons and to protect personal identities