tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070994655591158907.post4751277677190062338..comments2023-09-30T11:51:27.224+01:00Comments on We liked it but not quite enough: Hotel, Festivals, Fact and Fiction.Writearoundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04820159609095158259noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070994655591158907.post-9464274592426953432009-03-30T17:12:00.000+01:002009-03-30T17:12:00.000+01:00No I actually meant Beryl was part of the debate, ...No I actually meant Beryl was part of the debate, she is indeed still alive if rather frail now but she is as witty and incisive as ever.<BR/> I do agree that some fiction writers can engage you in such a tangible world that they create their own reality but it has to be said that memoirs are huge sellers these days and people seem to want to buy into them. many of course lie or manipulate the truth so as to become a strange work of fiction in some ways. I think it is a question of the quality of the writing and not the fiction versus fact tags we give them. however if something says it is an autobiography I think I approach the book differently, a little less willing to suspend disbelief maybe, but that may be a purely personal thing.Writearoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04820159609095158259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070994655591158907.post-14616998349116029882009-03-30T07:00:00.000+01:002009-03-30T07:00:00.000+01:00Do you mean that someone wrote an historical novel...Do you mean that someone wrote an historical novel with Beryl Bainbridge in it? How did she take to that? <BR/>I don't know why but I thought she was dead: glad she isn't. I would often sit, once upon a time outside the Spreadeagle opposite the Bottle Factory of legend, and she would often ride by on her bike........I disagree about the novel: I can think of several, at least, which are more real than many memoirs: even if more fantastic. Just as a one, Alastair Mcleod's 'No Great Mischief': more real than all that Angela's Ashes paddywhackery.pkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02678679294859263012noreply@blogger.com