Post by Dante on Oct 8, 2010 2:15:44 GMT -5
Columbia Spectator article
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Snicket paid a visit to Morningside Heights to celebrate Bank Street Bookstore's 40th anniversary, and the affair was certainly not an "Unfortunate Event."
By Noor Brara
Published October 4, 2010
The world may be surprised to discover that Daniel Handler and his literary alter ego Lemony Snicket are two very different people.
Handler, famous for the “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books, written under his pseudonym Snicket, visited the Bank Street Bookstore on Friday, to celebrate the store’s 40th anniversary and promote his newest children’s book, “13 Words,” to be released on Oct. 5. Each chapter of “13 Words” focuses on a different word—from conventional words such as “cake” to the more obscure “haberdashery.” The pages are filled with original illustrations by Maira Kalman, who has also illustrated covers of the New Yorker, in her signature painting style.
In the “Series of Unfortunate Events” installments, Handler traced the adventures and misadventures of the Baudelaire orphans, as they searched for a stable home after their parents’ sudden deaths. Handler has always been fascinated with mystery fiction, citing Roald Dahl, Edward Gorey, and E.L. Konigsburg as childhood favorites and key literary influences. Handler wished to adapt the sense of mystery he loved in their works, not only to the unfolding of the plot, but also to the identity of the narrator. “I thought it would be interesting for the book to be a mystery in itself,” he said, a feat accomplished by telling the story through a pseudonym.
Yet, “13 Words” shifts focus, from the fast-paced plots of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” to the musicality of words and their usage.
Handler planned his strategy of investigating words for months. He revealed that the manuscript was written specifically for the illustrator Kalman, with whom he wanted to work. “I’ve been a huge admirer of her work forever,” he admitted. “The idea was to write a manuscript and then charm her into illustrating it.”
After Handler finished the first draft of “13 Words,” he took Kalman out to a restaurant in San Francisco which, he said, “serves an unbelievable roast chicken.” Kalman agreed to the offer. “I think the moral of the story is to take anyone to that restaurant if you ever want to convince them to do anything,” Handler said, laughing.
“13 Words” tells the story of the friendship between a despondent bird and a loyal dog. The title references the 13 words used in the text—words Handler loves and words that, he feels, are not used enough. Words like “goat,” “panache,” “baby,” and “mezzo-soprano” tie together the narrative of a quirky tale.
Concerning the book’s target audience, Handler said, “it’s hard to differentiate between adults and children. The funny thing about words is that I meet more children than adults who actually know what they mean, because children are asked to memorize and look up words they don’t know.”
Handler’s talents extend beyond the literary sphere. He composed the song to his video trailer advertising “13 Words,” which is posted on his official website. “Hello, this is Lemony Snicket,” his voice booms, after which he proceeds to discuss each of the words with a sense of underlying sarcasm.
But this is not Handler’s first venture into the world of music. “I was a boy soprano for a long time, before puberty hit and wrecked my career,” he recalled with a smile. During his time at Wesleyan College, he began playing the accordion and has since played for a variety of independent bands and artists. Offering a sample of his musical taste, Handler recommends “Sound Sun Pleasure” by Sun Ra and “Sandinista!” by The Clash as two albums everyone should listen to before they die.
After a personal meeting with Handler, it is difficult to imagine that he is the man behind the mysterious Lemony Snicket persona. However, upon closer inspection, one realizes that Handler’s deep appreciation for the mysteries in life makes a pseudonym the perfect channel through which to share his stories.
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Snicket paid a visit to Morningside Heights to celebrate Bank Street Bookstore's 40th anniversary, and the affair was certainly not an "Unfortunate Event."
By Noor Brara
Published October 4, 2010
The world may be surprised to discover that Daniel Handler and his literary alter ego Lemony Snicket are two very different people.
Handler, famous for the “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books, written under his pseudonym Snicket, visited the Bank Street Bookstore on Friday, to celebrate the store’s 40th anniversary and promote his newest children’s book, “13 Words,” to be released on Oct. 5. Each chapter of “13 Words” focuses on a different word—from conventional words such as “cake” to the more obscure “haberdashery.” The pages are filled with original illustrations by Maira Kalman, who has also illustrated covers of the New Yorker, in her signature painting style.
In the “Series of Unfortunate Events” installments, Handler traced the adventures and misadventures of the Baudelaire orphans, as they searched for a stable home after their parents’ sudden deaths. Handler has always been fascinated with mystery fiction, citing Roald Dahl, Edward Gorey, and E.L. Konigsburg as childhood favorites and key literary influences. Handler wished to adapt the sense of mystery he loved in their works, not only to the unfolding of the plot, but also to the identity of the narrator. “I thought it would be interesting for the book to be a mystery in itself,” he said, a feat accomplished by telling the story through a pseudonym.
Yet, “13 Words” shifts focus, from the fast-paced plots of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” to the musicality of words and their usage.
Handler planned his strategy of investigating words for months. He revealed that the manuscript was written specifically for the illustrator Kalman, with whom he wanted to work. “I’ve been a huge admirer of her work forever,” he admitted. “The idea was to write a manuscript and then charm her into illustrating it.”
After Handler finished the first draft of “13 Words,” he took Kalman out to a restaurant in San Francisco which, he said, “serves an unbelievable roast chicken.” Kalman agreed to the offer. “I think the moral of the story is to take anyone to that restaurant if you ever want to convince them to do anything,” Handler said, laughing.
“13 Words” tells the story of the friendship between a despondent bird and a loyal dog. The title references the 13 words used in the text—words Handler loves and words that, he feels, are not used enough. Words like “goat,” “panache,” “baby,” and “mezzo-soprano” tie together the narrative of a quirky tale.
Concerning the book’s target audience, Handler said, “it’s hard to differentiate between adults and children. The funny thing about words is that I meet more children than adults who actually know what they mean, because children are asked to memorize and look up words they don’t know.”
Handler’s talents extend beyond the literary sphere. He composed the song to his video trailer advertising “13 Words,” which is posted on his official website. “Hello, this is Lemony Snicket,” his voice booms, after which he proceeds to discuss each of the words with a sense of underlying sarcasm.
But this is not Handler’s first venture into the world of music. “I was a boy soprano for a long time, before puberty hit and wrecked my career,” he recalled with a smile. During his time at Wesleyan College, he began playing the accordion and has since played for a variety of independent bands and artists. Offering a sample of his musical taste, Handler recommends “Sound Sun Pleasure” by Sun Ra and “Sandinista!” by The Clash as two albums everyone should listen to before they die.
After a personal meeting with Handler, it is difficult to imagine that he is the man behind the mysterious Lemony Snicket persona. However, upon closer inspection, one realizes that Handler’s deep appreciation for the mysteries in life makes a pseudonym the perfect channel through which to share his stories.
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