Book Jacket

 

rank 2069
word count 78562
date submitted 29.07.2009
date updated 04.04.2011
genres: Fiction, Comedy
classification: moderate
complete

Write, Monkey

Ged Groves

An unemployed optimist finds a strange book that leads to unexpected seduction, love, lust and a comic encounter with a cult of alien-worshipping self-improvers.

 

With his rent overdue, unemployed but upbeat Monkey is cast out onto the city streets. Wandering on the margins of society he finds an odd-looking book as he scavenges for food. Before he can work out how to profit from his discovery he has to escape the designs of a woman in desperate need of his body and finds himself dealing with a bizarre cult of self-improvement gurus with alien connections. And all this whilst trying to salvage his relationship with his landlord’s daughter as his wolfish landlord pursues him with violent intent.

Write, Monkey is a comic romp through a landscape of love, lust and alien inspired lunacy. It’s a funny journey for a hero, but Monkey’s a funny sort of hero.

 
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tags

, alien encounter, bicycle, comedy, escape, fake, jealousy, lost, love, lust, outwitted, pursuit, satire, seduction

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76 comments

 

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Bec C Simmonds wrote 400 days ago

Hi Ged,

Took me a while to get into, mainly because the writing style--although beautifully written--seems quite elevated and I had to read it a few times before I got into the flow. Because the prose is filled with imagery there is a lot to take in, in a short space of time. There are so many beautiful sentences that some of them may become lost because of it's density. I would say don't be afraid to vary the intensity of your sentences. So the important ones have more impact. I loved the tone of your characters and the dialogue.

But then again some people will enjoy this style and find it easier to digest. The way you describe your surroundings of the city is reminiscent of how 'Louis Aragon' would describe Paris in his novel 'Paris Peasant'.

Bec. (Find Mark).

Lara wrote 406 days ago

I found this intriguing. I loved the idea of a locked book and although I can't know the end, the character building strongly suggests our hero's plan of making money from its apparent owner is doomed to embarrassment. A refreshing book, high starred. Lara
GOOD FOR HIM

Bill Carrigan wrote 419 days ago

Hello Ged, Many thanks for backing "The Doctor of Summitville" and for calling my attention to "Write, Monkey." I've read Chapter 1 and find it exciting, character-driven, and well written. I'll get back to you when I've read more. Best of luck, Bill

Charles Thompson wrote 427 days ago

Ged,

I just read the first chapter of WRITE, MONKEY. You have a distinct, unique voice and Ezra's plight is palpable. Also, you have a way with imagery. I notice that you tend to write in the passive voice a lot. For example, in the second full paragraph of the chapter, you have several sentences that you could write in an active voice (e.g., The early sunlight rubbed out the last gray; the chorus birds ranted their obscene show songs; I sat in the shadow of a stone). I think your writing would be even stronger if you used more active voice and less passive voice.

This link may be helpful: http://www.scribd.com/doc/43301829/The-Was-Reduction-Team

Regardless, the dialogue between Ezra and Wolffe was excellent, as was Ezra's abrupt departure. Great work.

Rob
(Aralen Dreams)

Diwrite wrote 428 days ago

You had me at the title.
Interesting, engaging, arresting - this novel grabed me and took me with it for the ride.
Personally, I like a bit more punctuation but that's just the pedant in me.

Good luck with this - not that I think you'll need it.
Diana
Pascual's Birthday

Sly80 wrote 435 days ago

Not sure what to make of Ezra Monk, out in the cold with the other down-and-outs. I enjoyed the repartee between him and Wolffe, but neither endeared themselves to me, and Monkey knows how to make a bad situation worse, or more precisely, doesn't know how to avoid doing so. We get more of an insight into him in 2 - Ginny wasn't something that 'just happened', and he also takes joy in good food. The account of how he lost his job however, has him back in the realms of 'a permanent accident'. Eventually, we do warm to the hapless poet, despite himself.

The writing is tremendous: 'The graffiti of snails', 'cans were footballed through arenas of laughter', 'torn from the bucket of his soul', 'the energy of primitive mechanics', 'poking notes out of a saxaphone'. Then there's 'the Wolffe from the door', *groan* Oddly enough, this is the second novel I've read in as many days which has elements of Virginia Woolf about it (not just the embedded homage). There is something about the intensity of the prose; if normal writing were a star, this would be a pulsar, though being a comedy, it lacks Woolf's gravity. Very clever, very funny, this gets a high rating from me, and a place on my backing shortlist.

Only one possible nit which is hardly worth the mention: 'Then you had better ... then, hadn't you ... I noticed it then'.

Huseyin Angay wrote 461 days ago

Good, strong intro. Haven't seen one as good for a while.

I love your prose. Great style with a funny, ironic look without ever letting go of the sadness of Monk's situation.
One thing that puzzled me at the beginning, though, was the prosiness of an apparent bum. I'm now reading, hoping to discover how he happens to be that way inclined. (Aha! Reconciled. He is a literary type. Thanks for not dragging the mystery on for too long and making his voice somehow unrealistic.)

The description of the store manager looking for the gumless Penny Black is hilarious and depressing at the same time.

I cannot think of anything I would do differently with the writing to make it stand out even more than it does already and that's coming from an incorrigible nitpicker like me.

A couple of points that may help:

The m-dash is the continental convention for speech, which is fine -- I grew up with it; it hasn't made me into a psycopath. But another part of the convention is to separate speech paragraphs from the action because the speech-action separation is not as clear cut as with inverted commas. It would read better if you did the same. For instance, when the coppers speak.

Minor point, I know, but you could do all your readers a favour by using a serif font. The convention is more than an affectation of the typesetters. Sans serif is really tiring on the eyes for long texts.

I am truly puzzled how Write, Monkey is not on more bookshelves. I'll play my part, but it really needs to be promoted more.

One possible turn-off I can see is the abstract City and Headroad, etc. That's not a problem to me, but there are a lot of readers out there who will automatically go, 'Ah, that's just one o' them books,' and look elsewhere when they can't spot references to a real place.
Shrug.

Best of luck.
Huseyin
All Things Noble

Andy M. Potter wrote 484 days ago

Well GG, this is my kind of story. ya done good. very good. the writing is deep yet smooth. first class.
on my shelf.

ok, just so ya don't think i'm gonna gush on, let me drop a macro narrative arc thought. jesus, he says, not narrative arc bullshit. of course, i didn't read the whole novel, so you're right in thinking how can this bloke bs about the arc. i only read chs 1, 9, 17 and 21. love them all, and was bitten by the "love" theme: will M get G? my thought: can you layer in another angle/theme? what else can M want or get tangled up in?

i know, i'm asking you to tell a different story. it's great as is, but could M, W reach for other heights?
best wishes, andy

Conchvegas wrote 486 days ago

A brilliant description of the homeless. You have a poetic style. The dialogue is fresh and authentic. I feel Monkey's desperation.
- Daniel

Eunice Attwood wrote 487 days ago

Monkey is fantastic. This is humour at its best. Great dialogue and a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Backed. Eunice - The Temple Dancer.

Lynne wrote 492 days ago

There is a lot that makes this book different from all the others, but the sheer joy of it is the ability to make me laugh. Well written and lots of fun. Loved it. Backed, Lynne, Brooklyn Bridge.

jossiemarie wrote 495 days ago

Hi Ged
I like the imagery your words the graffiti of snails gave me.
I was a little suprised by how you lad your dilogue out, i've not seen it done like that before but it didnt ditract from the story which flows brilliantly.
backed with pleasure.
love and hugs Jossie

TMNAGARAJAN wrote 496 days ago

WRITE, MONKEY
May be no shakespeare; yet limerick sort of dynamic story. Backed
TMN
"NEVER LOSE..."

petrifiedtank wrote 496 days ago

Saw a comment below about the speech hyphen thing. Charlie Huston does it, why not you?

I liked it. It didn't move fast enough for me, but I'm really lazy.

Other than that, tidy, no mistakes that I spotted, well written, and aside from that, I've nothing useful to add, so I'm off.

Good luck.

Crowel wrote 498 days ago

Great writing. Just... great.

Lacey

nsllee wrote 505 days ago

Hi Ged

Lots of style, a distinctive voice and deliciously seedy. Backed.

Nicole
Chosen

richard thurston wrote 505 days ago

Backed on the basis of the 1000 YEAR history of carrot crunching so glorified in my third NOW classic BEST SELLER 'The sign of the 8 FOOT dwarf.'

BEST WISHES


Best Wishes

Richard

rommyo wrote 509 days ago

This is blessed with a great title. Prose seems solid after 1,000 word exposure. I don't know, maybe it could use tightening. Are you British? Why do British people wrote the only passable unpublished novels? It is probably in your genome.

John Warren-Anderson wrote 511 days ago

A hilarious crazy ride. Very enjoyable and told with a unique style.
Backed.

Jim Darcy wrote 520 days ago

Chapter 13. this made for a different read. Monkey quickly establishes himself as a real characer from his droll speech and I love the wonderfully titled people of his acquaintance. The only thing that jarred for me is the way you begin speech with a hyphen. Got used to it eventually but it made it seem more like I ws reading a playscript. Just IMO. :)
Jim Darcy
The Firelord's Crown

zan wrote 523 days ago

Write, Monkey

Ged Groves

Alien inspired lunacy and a funny sort of Monkey - I am liking this already. What a fun read - and a good plot I'll freely admit.
"I opens the door
And the wolf's smile shows
So I closes the door
On the animal's nose."
This is proceeding nicely! Ouch - hope Wolffe's leg will be okay - must come back and read more to find out. Pleasure giving you a spin on my shelf. Best with it.

KW wrote 523 days ago

This book reminds the reader to stay away from "a bizarre cult of self-improvement gurus with alien connections" just like your Mama told you. Simply, a hilarious romp of a story. I loved what I read and will be back to read more once I get a little more time. "Unfortunately, life doesn't rhyme so sweetly." Your work is bursting with great turns of phrase: "We became monkeys dancing on the end of a string to the hurdy-gurdy of absurdity." This describes the actions of what most of us do on Authonomy. Much like rats pressing levers for treats in a Skinner box. Thanks for uploading the complete text, so I can come back and read more. There's my treat.

Miss Wells wrote 527 days ago

Loved this. It’s immediately apparent how much craft and high voltage imagination has gone into its design by the quality of the prose. “My jaw was frozen into a gargoyle yawn” is fabulous as is “the chorus birds were ranting their obscene show songs” and “it was one of two (not sure why you’ve got a comma here) sentinels of bureaucracy, their sandstone hides shot-blasted by northern hail, grown over by algae, felt tip pen and the graffiti of snails”. Memorable phrases continue throughout the two chapters I read and the narrative swings along with vitality and upbeat humour. Monkey himself is deliciously quirky and engaging as a character. Big thumbs up from me.

LonnieNonnie wrote 529 days ago

Your imagery is like poetry. But this is a novel, therefore in my humble opinion, too much. Coughs staggered like drunks into the night air. Great, but overall the pace is slow in what promises to be a good story. Perhaps less is more? I think part of being a good writer is keeping the reader engaged and you write so well, let there be no doubt, but your story is slowed. In short too flowery for my taste. Backed for potential.

LonnieNonnie wrote 530 days ago

Loved your title and enjoyed the writing. Always up for black humour THE TAILS OF WILLIE GUSTY

CarolinaAl wrote 533 days ago

Your dynamic story grabbed me and kept me riveted. Credible characters. Crisp dialogue. Confident narrative. Sharp wit. Vital writing. I absolutely love this masterfully composed story. backed.

paperbat wrote 535 days ago

Ged Groves. Glad I noticed your book this morning. Have already read the first chapter. Will read a bit more before I made any specific comments [only minor!] All the best. Oh, and I have backed it!

I would appreciate any comments / backing, if you think my childrens' story is fun. Jerry - paperbat Adventures

Andrew Burans wrote 535 days ago

You have written a very novel and entertaining storyline sprinkled with generous amounts of humour. I like your character development of Monkey and your use of the first person narrative voice as well as your use of imagery. This and your descriptive writing style makes your work a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

klouholmes wrote 535 days ago

Hi Ged, Original description in the early scenes. I liked the “obscene show songs” and “wallet on legs.” I was surprised that Monkey didn’t have any confrontation with the police but that establishes his evasive personality. The conversation with the landlord was really amusing and well-written, and then the purse – that made me want to turn the page. It’s a story that picks up in momentum while Monkey becomes more involving as a character. Happy to shelve – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

andrew skaife wrote 536 days ago

A very different style of language sets this out as an individual in a group. You have something of a maverick sense of structure to your sentencing but it works well.

It is very funny too.

BACKED

name falied moderation wrote 536 days ago

Dear Ged
Your short pitch took me to your long pitch which is very well crafted, funny and promises an interesting original read. I I am amazed as I see the books on this site, with the minds, and the talent which produce writtings with such skill. How characters can be depicted to vividly using words as colors, and at how a story can be told and it depicts a movie on the mind. I do wish to congratsulate you on your book. I have not read all your writing but I do wish to back this book so it may asssit you

BACKED BY ME FOR SURE.
Please take a moment to look, comment which is important to me, and back my book. if not that is OK also

The VERY best of luck to you

Denise
The Letter

Barry Wenlock wrote 537 days ago

Hi Ged,
Wow. I'm hooked and a fan of this book. Dark, darker and darker still, funny and the voice rings like a bell.
The cover shows a gorilla, which is an ape (not a monkey) -- just a thought.
Best wishes,
Barry
LITTLE KRISNA AND THE BIHAR BOYS

missyfleming_22 wrote 537 days ago

This made me laugh, You've got a great talent for weaving humor in with your story. This is bizarre in the best way possible, I love things that are a little weird sometimes. I also really liked your writing style, it's backed up by some natural sounding dialogue. Only three chapters in and I know I'd want to read this to the end, without a doubt.

Missy

TalulaJane wrote 538 days ago

Quite commically driven/ definitely unique!
Carrie
The Darkwood Tales: Demouri's Defeat

SusieGulick wrote 538 days ago

Dear Jed, There's so many things I love about your story. :) Your pitch enticed me to read, your quotes before your chapters, your dialogue with lines instead of quotes, & most of all, I love your humor through out. :) Great read. :) Hope you write a lot of books. :) I''ve backed your book :) - hope you'll take a moment to back my 2 memoir books. :) Thanks. :) Love, Susie :)

Su Dan wrote 538 days ago

a writing style that is rich and full of great narrative. funny and interesting. this is on my watchlist///
read SEASONS...

JD Revene wrote 538 days ago

Ged,

Great opening chapter. The scariest thing about it is that I think I lived in that room sometime in 1989. Luckily my landlord was no Mr Wolfe--one thing I should mention, is that th e line about keeping the wolf from the door struck me as a smidgin predictable. I love the description and the dialogue is great.

Backed.

crazy mama wrote 640 days ago

I LOVE THIS!!!! FUNNY!!! FUNNY!!! AND BACKED!!

Marija F.Sullivan wrote 658 days ago

Great writing style and fun story. Congratulations!
Backed with pleasure,
M (Weekend Chimney Sweep)

Francesco wrote 658 days ago

Backed with pleasure! Good Luck!!
A look at Sicilian Shadows would be greatly appreciated.
Frank.
If you back my work, you may also want to approach BJD (a big supporter of Sicilian Shadows) for a further read and possible backing of your book.

Lockjaw Lipssealed wrote 663 days ago

"Was I fantisising or was she stark stunning naked under there?" Now that's some good writing!

Lockjaw

Mr. Nom de Plume wrote 667 days ago

A most unusual protagonist who, or rather that, listens to the Blues. Unusual plots often are sales leaders. Backed. Chuck (Paperboy Adventures)

Ma.Ste. wrote 668 days ago

Smart and funny. Excellent writing. Cool read. Indeed.
Ma.Ste.

carlashmore wrote 670 days ago

You have a wonderful ability to select precisely the right words for maximum effect. This is a wonderfully told book - both funny yet somehow profound. Beautiful use of metaphors and a voice that shines. More than happy to back this.
Carl
The Time Hunters

Burgio wrote 670 days ago

This is a good story. Your writing style is a strength of this. It's witty and makes this an enjoyable read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

PATRICK BARRETT wrote 671 days ago

A funny, well written book. You have an easy to read style and your descriptions are clear and precise. This is definitely worthy of success - congratulations on a great submission. Paula & Patrick Barrett - How Mean is My Valley?

S Richard Betterton wrote 671 days ago

Great voice. I really like the style of your writing, the descriptions, the dialogue (love the word 'slacker' for some reason) and the action. Good stuff! Backed.

T.Edwards wrote 676 days ago

Ha, I love this title!

Colin Normanshaw wrote 682 days ago

Fabulous imagery and a writing style to die for. Every sentence is beautifully crafted and then woven together into the fabric of the story. Nicely done. Empathy is built for your MC from the beginning. I can think of nothing that would improve this other than a careful edit of comma useage - there are a few unnecessary ones hidden in there that could improve the reading experience. Otherwise backed with pleasure (and admiration). This should shoot up the chart..... Colin

Kidd1 wrote 685 days ago

Darkly hilarious. You have it all, Plot, structure, flow, and most of all stylish writing. Loved it. Backed

Hope you will have a look at mine, and back it if you wish.

Best,
Robert
Golden Conspiracy

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