Well winter has fully arrived today as it’s 10 degrees Fahrenheit out with a wind chill of -3. Ouch. They say this “Arctic blast” should be over by tomorrow though. We have about five inches of snow on the ground. My dog loves it of course and still wants her long walks, sigh. It’s okay though because next week we’ll be celebrating the Christmas holiday with family in Southern Cal, enjoying balmier temperatures.
My reading has taken a hit this month as the Christmas season has prevailed over all things. Though Ti over at Book Chatter and I are doing a read-along of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1934 novel “Tender Is the Night.” I’m struggling a bit with it and trying to hang on to the story of Dick and Nicole Divers set amid the French Riviera and Switzerland. Perhaps they’re a kind of flip side to Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Of course Ti has zoomed through the novel and is done, waiting to discuss it. I will see “Tender Is the Night” through or else be damned.
Meanwhile I continue to have good luck with audiobooks from the library, which I listen to while on my frozen walks with my dog. I finished the audiobook of Amy Rowland’s 2014 debut novel “The Transcriptionist,” which I very much enjoyed. It’s about 33-year-old Lena, who works as a transcriptionist for a big NYC newspaper called The Record. She sits alone in a room all day with a headset and Dictaphone transcribing stories from reporters out in the field — until one day she comes across a story so shocking that it gets under her skin and eventually unravels her world.
Wow, this little gem of a novel is both funny and heartfelt, though dark too. It’s apparent from it the author worked at a major newspaper and indeed she was a transcriptionist at the New York Times for a few years from 2001, before transferring to the book review section. Like the character Lena, she sat in a room transcribing the words from reporters’ calls and tapes. I remember those days, now obsolete, when I was at The Post. So old school but good. Funny to think back on the by-gone newspaper days when transcription and newspaper paste-up and typesetting were commonplace.
In “The Transcriptionist” the author nails the experience of a low-life newspaper employee and how the job and the tragic stories she transcribes begin to fray her soul. The other newsroom employees she comes in contact with are wonderfully drawn and caricatured. In time, Lena plays her card at the paper, which has its consequences, but not before raising ethical journalistic infractions going on there.
The book rang true for me, which was cool. You don’t necessarily need to have been at a newspaper to be engaged by “The Transcriptionist,” but it’s sort of a kick if you have. Anyone might like how the novel touches on themes of the written word, isolation, technology, ethics, and the discontentment with a job.
This audiobook was expertly narrated by Xe Sands. One sign of a good audio is that you want to read the print version as well soon afterwards, and you likely want a copy of the book for your shelves too. So far, I can say that about “The Transcriptionist” and “Station Eleven.”
As for movies, the husband and I saw “Spotlight” about the Boston Globe’s 2002 uncovering of the sex abuse scandal of minors by priests and the cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese. It’s hard to turn investigative newspaper stories into dynamic movies but the screenwriters pulled this one off. It’s a powerful rendering of the explosive scandal and focuses on how the journalists pieced the story together. The cast is superb, and the victims stories are horrific (a couple cases are briefly described, the rest implied). It’s hard to fathom the scale of the abuse and the cover-up even now long after it’s been made public.
We also just saw the movie “In the Heart of the Sea” about the sinking of the whaling ship (Essex) in 1820 by a giant whale. Much of the movie focuses on the captain and the first mate (played by the hunky Chris Hemsworth) who don’t see eye-to-eye over the ship’s destination or seamanship — and how the ship’s surviving crew are pushed to the brink to stay alive. We liked the film, though it received just a 41% favorable critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It deserves better! Be forewarned: it’s not easy to watch majestic whales being hunted and killed, but it’s hard to deny whaling was a considerable part of U.S. history. The film’s visual effects may seem unreal at times, but the story of the real-life maritime disaster is well worth seeing, as well as for its role in inspiring Herman Melville’s epic “Moby-Dick.” Melville, played by British actor Ben Whishaw, has an interesting part in the movie.
What about you — have you read “The Transcriptionist” or seen the movies “Spotlight” or “In the Heart of the Sea” — and if so, what did you think?
Till the next time, have a happy holiday season!
Well, I like the premise of The Transcriptionist, though I haven’t read it, nor have I seen either movie. I would like to see both, but maybe after they come out for rental.
Yeah rental on both would be fine Carmen. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
And to you as well.
I know that feeling of reading a novel set in a milieu where one has worked, especially when they get it right. The Transcriptionist sounds good. I haven’t seen too many movies lately due to holiday goings on but my girlfriend and I are going to frequent matinees the week after Christmas since she has the week off work. Brooklyn, Carol, and something else are on the list.
Hi Judy, Yeah I’d also like to see Brooklyn and Carol. We’ll have to compare notes. Happy holidays!
Hi Judy: I just thought of another film to see besides Brooklyn and Carol — how about 45 Years?! Charlotte Rampling. She’s a pro. Will check back after Christmas week.
Wow! I hadn’t heard of that one. It looks good. And I look forward to checking back with you after the holidays.
I really liked Tender is the Night.
Among the reasons that I liked it so, without giving too much away I found its resolution to be very poignant. I am looking forward to reading your commentary on it.
I live on Long Island. So far winter has been very mild. Hopefully it will stay that way.
Thanks Brian, good to hear Tender Is the Night prevails. I’m nearing the end of it and liking it better. It’s a bit sad & disillusioned though. We will see.
Neat to hear you’re on Long Island. Our winter had been very mild too, until just recently. I like the snow but not the ice. We have good snow in the foothills for cross-country skiing which is fun!
Now I must READ The Transcriptionist…(I’m not a fan of audio). It sounds like the kind of book that will capture my interest all the way through.
I have been meaning to see Spotlight, too…great reviews of this one.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy your holidays…here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Hi Laurel: You might like The Transcriptionist, though the lead character is a bit of a loner — another lonely character who becomes a bit unglued but sort of for good reason. Spotlight is pretty good, on an important issue. Happy Holidays to you!
I love when I find books that resonate in my own life experience — cool that The Transcriptionist did that for you.
Yeah it is sort of neat when that happens Joy. Thanks for stopping by and happy holidays to you!
I read In The Heart Of The Sea with book club and would love to see the movie. I enjoyed the book and loved the writing but wasn’t too carried with the story.
And now I WANT to read The Transcriptionist!! 🙂
Good to hear Laura. I would like to read In the Heart of the Sea too. And see how the book & movie differ. Happy Holidays. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m not sure how I even zoomed through the book the way I did. I think it was because I knew my next couple of days was going to be busy with Disneyland, etc. I wanted to be sure I didn’t flake out like I did with Neverwhere in October. I think I maybe read it too fast though! So many details escape me.
Yeah I find it quite detailed and that I need breaks from it. But I hope to finish in the next day or so. Have you gone to Disneyland or is it coming up? Enjoy your trip there!
The Transcriptionist sounds so good! I think the audio would be the way to go for me because I love Xe Sands narration.
Oh Xe Sands did a terrific job with this book. You’ll like it!
The Transcriptionist sounds great–I’ll see if I can get an audio copy through my library. I remember the days of paste up and layout, pre-computer!
I didn’t like Tender is the Night either–I love The Great Gatsby and Fitzgerald’s short stories, but I found nothing of interest in Tender is the Night, when I read it decades ago.
Happy Holidays! It’s cold and snowy here in Colorado too 🙂
Jane – I think you will like The Transcriptionist on audio if you recall those paste-up days! Yeah Tender Is the Night seems a bit of a train wreck but I just finished it and am gathering my thoughts for a review. Have fun in the snow!
I read The Transcriptionist but, from the sounds of it, did not get as much out of it as you did. I liked it but I remember being somewhat horrified that such a job used to exist. I am sure Xe did an excellent job narrating; she always does!
My husband and I really want to see Spotlight. Perhaps it is something we will get around to seeing over the holidays.
Have a good one!
Thanks Michelle. Yeah this was my first Xe Sands audio and she blew me away with great narration. Spotlight still boggles my mind. Enjoy the holidays!
I’d like to read the Transcriptionist; sounds very interesting.