tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post115188357927184258..comments2024-03-16T01:00:59.945-04:00Comments on Query Shark: #116-RevisedJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-73804570972883974472016-07-17T17:27:25.659-04:002016-07-17T17:27:25.659-04:00I'm so VERY late to the game on this (because ...I'm so VERY late to the game on this (because I am doing as the Shark demands, and going back to read every post from the very beginning)... but I felt an instant connection to Mavis. My usually charming, occasionally foul-mouthed, always filter-less grandmother absolutely insisted we kill her if she had not died by age 100. (She made it to 98.) Little old ladies of this caliber really do exist.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04899864371116991078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-77450312345170685242009-11-18T14:08:09.817-05:002009-11-18T14:08:09.817-05:00The book sounds funny, and I might actually read i...The book sounds funny, and I might actually read it, but I agree with QS that as the older we get, the moe life is precious. <br /><br />This does, however, remind me of one of my very first patients, and her story would be ironically funny if it weren't so tragic. <br /><br />My patient had been a very active rancher, even though she was past retirement, until one day she had gotten kicked in the head by one of her horses, and the trauma had left her paralyzed on one side. After suffering from the physical constraints, she decided to take her life and shot herself in the head, paralyzing the other half of her body but leaving her life and cognition fully intact.Lanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16250426387059799179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-83112395722566874742009-07-29T04:53:20.780-04:002009-07-29T04:53:20.780-04:00I actually like the idea of this book; although no...I actually like the idea of this book; although not quite the same, it reminds me of A Long Way Down (Nick Hornby). I think it would depend completely on the writing quality and style...QS is right, it could go either way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-47763887392329906652009-06-17T08:50:50.746-04:002009-06-17T08:50:50.746-04:00Harold & Maude is exactly what I was thinking....<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHekCJdQUHE" rel="nofollow">Harold & Maude</a> is exactly what I was thinking. I <i>loved</i> that movie, and Ruth Gordon. I was picturing her the whole time. This does sound like a great black comedy, if the author takes the advice to come up with a plausible reason for Mavis to want to do herself in, and can make us care about her.astrologymemphis.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08094432734141490681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-77867673663913054042009-06-16T16:21:12.277-04:002009-06-16T16:21:12.277-04:00I think this story sounds very interesting, as wel...I think this story sounds very interesting, as well as hilarious! I just hope in the book Mavis has more depth of character and that we can see a better sense of introspection than the query indicates. Either way, though, the premise itself would be enough to get me to pick up a copy. :) Best of luck.T.R. Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05929086683669201333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-73066588360306097182009-06-14T18:30:18.743-04:002009-06-14T18:30:18.743-04:00This sounds different and funny. A refreshing depa...This sounds different and funny. A refreshing departure from the formulaic...<br />Good luck!Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16732006129353079344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-54190505231302381082009-06-14T10:10:11.428-04:002009-06-14T10:10:11.428-04:00This sounds exactly like that Burt Reynolds movie,...This sounds exactly like that Burt Reynolds movie, "The End," with Dom DeLuise. Burt finds out he has a terminal illness and doesn't want to wait for the end, so he asks his best friend Deom to end his life for him. Every attempt fails with much hilarity and then there's a major reversal at the end (I won't give it away). The movie was super funny, an oldie but a goodie (1978), and I can see how this story would work if the character has motivation. But a lack of it = plot fail.Karen Duvallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839711547501582977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-7639792633952890772009-06-10T22:13:03.319-04:002009-06-10T22:13:03.319-04:00interesting comments...if I may respond, directly ...interesting comments...if I may respond, directly to some: <br />1. about it being a movie, funny, but actually a screen-play is also in the works. Before I write word one on any book, I see it as a complete "movie" in my head. Somehow, it appears you saw that too. I find that very encouraging. Think: "Groundhog Day" as directed by the Cohens, with Jack Nicholson as "Stan". Judy Dench plays Mavis, in my dreams...<br />2. Lehcarjt, just a question, but how can something be "funny" and yet manage to elude the simultaneous descriptor of "engaging"? Doesn't one presuppose the other? <br />3. I think Query Shark's insights are very apt. Originally, I wrote the letter with more "Mavis" in the first paragraph, but then second-guessed myself, as I decided that being "imprisioned" for 20 years in a nursing home and being 102 years old would make suicidal tendancies self-evident. Clearly, I was wrong. I've tried to remedy the ambiguity. Thanks. <br />4. About the title "Mercy", I thought it would also be a clear play-on-words: by Mercy, do we reference the fates that relentlessly keep Mavis alive, or, do we mean it would be merciful to grant her wish for release? That's really the central theme of the book, and the answer is more than either option entails on its surface. I wonder, did anyone pick up on that?<br /><br />And lastly, what a great site. Kudos and many thanks to the shark.C.S. Einfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08363164389132403475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-71331935299455664262009-06-10T18:34:29.854-04:002009-06-10T18:34:29.854-04:00It reminds me of "The Very Gentle Murderers&q...It reminds me of "The Very Gentle Murderers" by Ray Bradbury. Fun!_*rachel*_https://www.blogger.com/profile/03293167107180931700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-19322239575406808082009-06-10T12:02:41.840-04:002009-06-10T12:02:41.840-04:00I'd do away with the first sentence. The seco...I'd do away with the first sentence. The second sentence is much stronger and funnier. Try this for a starter.<br /><br />Mavis McCreedy's 102nd birthday party is just two weeks away, and she's determined not to attend.<br /><br />Also, I'd lose the word "hilariously" in the last sentence of the paragraph and just say ineffective suicide attempts. The second paragraph tells us how hilariously they go wrong, without ever having to use that word to praise yourself.Margaret Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464624057491288244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-79350514761391549982009-06-10T09:24:19.200-04:002009-06-10T09:24:19.200-04:00Dark comedy? I think I might want to read it but t...Dark comedy? I think I might want to read it but the Query Shark is right again...I don't feel Mavis' personality coming through strong enough to know if I'm going to care. <br />Could be a good one.Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-26576448935978450002009-06-10T08:13:27.464-04:002009-06-10T08:13:27.464-04:00It sounds like it could be a very good and very fu...It sounds like it could be a very good and very funny book. It's true, I don't know much about Mavis from the query, but I can already infer that she's a sassy old lady who probably has a sharp tongue and no patience for suffering the fools around her gladly.Alissa Grossohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16701189791875707920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-20839794030782422762009-06-10T05:31:16.270-04:002009-06-10T05:31:16.270-04:00This reminds me of Chocolat, where one of the char...This reminds me of Chocolat, where one of the characters decides to die for no readily apparent reason, and everyone goes merrily along with it.<br /><br />I hated that book.<br /><br />With this book, so much depends on how it's done. Yes, it could be painful, but it could also be hilarious. I'd have to see some of the writing to decide.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-22608665538660583782009-06-10T02:45:29.614-04:002009-06-10T02:45:29.614-04:00The premise seems a bit too forced for me - and a ...The premise seems a bit too forced for me - and a bit macabre - who's the intended audience... most of us know or are old people dying or who want to die and it's normally a painful journey. I understand the rationale of lightening the specter of death through humor, but I agree w/ Lehcarjt that the premise seems more suited for a movie than a book.Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-48825393525465551072009-06-10T00:51:19.834-04:002009-06-10T00:51:19.834-04:00I can see this as a movie, but it doesn't have...I can see this as a movie, but it doesn't have enough heart in it to be a book. Funny - yes. Engaging - no.Lehcarjthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17171145477602995121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-29211701377317210532009-06-10T00:35:06.926-04:002009-06-10T00:35:06.926-04:00Ooh! I wish this had more of a "voice" ...Ooh! I wish this had more of a "voice" and more about Mavis -- this could be fun and a different take on aging. <br /><br />I like the basic premise and hope its bit of promise shines in the actual story.Buffrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12013636988179594889noreply@blogger.com