Owen King's Blog - Posts Tagged "double-feature"
Read an excerpt from Double Feature
I'm thrilled that the wonderful folks at Guernica are running an excerpt from Double Feature. You can read it here!
Best,
Owen
Best,
Owen
DF review, part two!
Another very generous advance review of Double Feature, this one from Kirkus (FYI: I've trimmed a bit. The full review gives away a lot, so seek it out at your peril!):
"...Samuel Dolan graduated from a liberal arts college in upstate New York. His girlfriend, Polly, left to live with her parents in Florida. Sam’s mother is dead, and Sam doesn’t much like his father, Booth. Booth Dolan has made a career out of scenery-chewing in B-movies—and doing what he wants, including chasing skirts. Sam’s passionate ambition is his indie film, Who We Are, "about the costs of growing up—and the costs of not growing up. And that was heavy stuff."
...King’s characters are both attractive and realistic, not only larger-than-life Booth and disaffected Sam, but also Allie, Sam’s mother, who was always cool and accepting, even of Booth’s "blithe selfishness." There’s Mina, Sam’s wise and fragile half sister; Polly, who still beds Sam even after marrying a buffoonish retired Yankee baseball player; Rick Savini, an eccentric yet successful character actor who treats Sam as an equal; and television producer Tess, earnest and bossy, whom Sam meets as he films a wedding. The narrative blossoms and unfolds and expands, Sam becoming wiser and more likable, even as he reconciles with his world at a happily-enough-ever-after homecoming. Unique in concept and execution, with much mention of Orson Welles and Dog Day Afternoon, King's novel is winning.
Superbly imagined lit-fic about family, fathers and film."
"...Samuel Dolan graduated from a liberal arts college in upstate New York. His girlfriend, Polly, left to live with her parents in Florida. Sam’s mother is dead, and Sam doesn’t much like his father, Booth. Booth Dolan has made a career out of scenery-chewing in B-movies—and doing what he wants, including chasing skirts. Sam’s passionate ambition is his indie film, Who We Are, "about the costs of growing up—and the costs of not growing up. And that was heavy stuff."
...King’s characters are both attractive and realistic, not only larger-than-life Booth and disaffected Sam, but also Allie, Sam’s mother, who was always cool and accepting, even of Booth’s "blithe selfishness." There’s Mina, Sam’s wise and fragile half sister; Polly, who still beds Sam even after marrying a buffoonish retired Yankee baseball player; Rick Savini, an eccentric yet successful character actor who treats Sam as an equal; and television producer Tess, earnest and bossy, whom Sam meets as he films a wedding. The narrative blossoms and unfolds and expands, Sam becoming wiser and more likable, even as he reconciles with his world at a happily-enough-ever-after homecoming. Unique in concept and execution, with much mention of Orson Welles and Dog Day Afternoon, King's novel is winning.
Superbly imagined lit-fic about family, fathers and film."
Trifecta!
Another terrifically generous advance review for Double Feature, this time from Booklist:
“Set in a world of B-movie actors and enthusiasts, King’s first novel, about facing reality and failed aspirations, is irreverent and ambitious. Its sweeping scope covers several generations in a humorous and cynical narrative that bounces between decades. Entertaining and thought-provoking, this captivating look at the ongoing process of becoming an adult will especially appeal to fans of the indie film industry.”
“Set in a world of B-movie actors and enthusiasts, King’s first novel, about facing reality and failed aspirations, is irreverent and ambitious. Its sweeping scope covers several generations in a humorous and cynical narrative that bounces between decades. Entertaining and thought-provoking, this captivating look at the ongoing process of becoming an adult will especially appeal to fans of the indie film industry.”
Interview at the Tin House blog
My friend Drew Ervin (author of Extraordinary Renditions) asked me some really great questions about Double Feature over at the Tin House blog.
Best,
Owen
Best,
Owen
Dave Barry reviews Double Feature
One of the great thrills of my writing life, an Amazon Guest Review of Double Feature by none other than Dave Barry. Here's a little of what he says:
"I liked [Double Feature] so much that it sort of pisses me off – the fact that Owen King, who is something like 142 years younger than I am, is such a skilled, imaginative and complete writer. This is a well-wrought and thoroughly satisfying novel, which manages, at the same time, to be both moving and – this is what pisses me off the most – very funny."
Mr. Barry: you're the best. Thank you.
"I liked [Double Feature] so much that it sort of pisses me off – the fact that Owen King, who is something like 142 years younger than I am, is such a skilled, imaginative and complete writer. This is a well-wrought and thoroughly satisfying novel, which manages, at the same time, to be both moving and – this is what pisses me off the most – very funny."
Mr. Barry: you're the best. Thank you.
Gauntlet Press Special Limited Edition
Dear All,
The team at Gauntlet Press is about to begin accepting pre-orders for their "Special Edition" version of Double Feature! It includes the material from the "Deleted Scenes" chapbook that some of you already have, as well as a couple of additional bits that I created just for the occasion. The edition also includes an afterword by one of my oldest, dearest, and smartest friends, the author Scott Snyder (Voodoo Heart, Batman: Court of Owls), and wonderful tipsheet artwork by my brother, Joe Hill (NOS4A2). It's a very cool thing. Here's a link for more details if you're interested in picking up a copy.
Cheers,
Owen
The team at Gauntlet Press is about to begin accepting pre-orders for their "Special Edition" version of Double Feature! It includes the material from the "Deleted Scenes" chapbook that some of you already have, as well as a couple of additional bits that I created just for the occasion. The edition also includes an afterword by one of my oldest, dearest, and smartest friends, the author Scott Snyder (Voodoo Heart, Batman: Court of Owls), and wonderful tipsheet artwork by my brother, Joe Hill (NOS4A2). It's a very cool thing. Here's a link for more details if you're interested in picking up a copy.
Cheers,
Owen
