Reading and research

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bootlegging, New York City, postaday2013, prohibition, Reading, research

I am now at the point in my book where my two characters have crossed the Atlantic and enter prohibition era New York City, specifically the year is 1926. I am getting ready to switch gears because New York City of any era is different than Paris and I want to try to be faithful to the New York City flavor and also try to describe it through the eyes of a newcomer. I think that I have my work cut out for me but I have already taken steps to try to make it easier to recreate what life was like back then in New York. My local library here in Blandford did me the wonderful service of ordering me a few books all related to New York during the prohibition era. One is a beautiful pictography called “New York Then and Now” and it shows gorgeous pictures of all the great neighborhoods way back in the late 1800’s and how they look now. It is so fascinating to see how industrious the early New Yorkers were, it definitely has always been the city that never sleeps.
One book in particular that has me very excited is “Dry NewYork” I have already gotten into a few chapters and it is a fascinating look into the sociological, economic and political dynamic of prohibition in New York and every single impact that you can think of throughout the fabric of its society. There are two others, “Taxi cabs and its Culture” and “Criminology of the Prohibition Era”, these two will surely be helpful in giving me insight into what universe my character Madeleine will be walking into with her lover Jack who she will come to see is knee deep in the criminal activity of prohibition.

I have my research in front of me and the only thing that is worrying me is that once I start writing, I’ll be involved in another book before I am done. Which by the way is all good and fine, but I am kind of chomping at the bit to get this book finished and out into the world of rejection. Joking. This book will be done when it is done. I vaguely remember the legendary actor Orson Welles shilling for an American wine maker Paul Mason and he used to say “No good wine shall be opened before its time” or something to that effect; I am merely extending the sentiment to my book, no good book shall be finished before its time.

Lawless; a movie review

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gangsters, movie reviews, movies, postaday2012, prohibition

I neglected to mention that my hubby and I, last weekend, went to go see Lawless, starring Shia leboeuf, Tom Brady and Jessica Chastain. I wanted to see it for research purposes for my novel because the last part takes place during prohibition and the movie was based on a true story. The twenties as an era were very different in the States than they were in France and it always helps to get a visual feel of the trials and tribulations my character might encounter.

We both liked the movie, surprised? You shouldn’t be, we always like our movies, we are willing participants in the director’s flight of fancy. The movie, set in the 1920’s, revolves around three brothers, who believe that they are somehow indestructible, after a few brushes with the law you tend to believe their little myth as well. The conflict of course rests between the law and the bootleggers, the three brothers aren’t the only bootleggers in town. But they are the only ones who won’t pay off the law men to look the other way. Therein lies the conflict. I won’t say more but there is suspense, a sweet little love story and characters to love as well as characters to hate.

There was some mighty fine acting, Guy Pierce was fantastic, I despised his character so completely that I was surprised that only a few movies ago I was loving Guy Pierce as the hero in the futuristic sci-fi movie, I can’t remember the name of it but it was a good one. Tom Brady continues to impress me with his acting, in this movie he was a man of few words, a criminal but only in the sense that he was selling alcohol, he wasn’t part of the mob, he didn’t believe in shaking anyone down, he treated those near and dear to him with respect and kindness. His character is a gentle giant complete with a cuddly cardigan with pockets. That is the visual that I will leave you with.