Post by Dante on Feb 6, 2011 17:22:25 GMT -5
Two accounts of a talk Handler gave entitled "Why Does Lemony Snicket Keep Following Me?"
Noteworthy quotation: "His current projects include two collaborations with illustrator Maira Kalman - a picture book titled "13 Words," published October 2010, and a forthcoming novel for young adults called "Why We Broke Up," as well as a fourth novel for adults, the script for the long-awaited second Snicket movie, and a top-secret new series for children." The fourth novel for adults is presumably the long-awaited pirate novel, and this would seem to confirm that a second Snicket movie is, yes, still on the cards.
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The Very Funny Daniel Handler at Mondavi
by Bill Burgua
If Daniel Handler had not become a very successful novelist, he could have easily become a stand-up (and sit-down) comedian. Wednesday night’s audience in the Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall was treated to this side of Mr. Handler and responded enthusiastically.
The event was titled “Daniel Handler: Why Does Lemony Snicket Keep Following Me?” referring to his alter-ego author of the hugely bestselling series of children's books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and the movie of the same title based on the first three of the books, staring Jim Carrey. Handler has also written three books for adults: “The Basic Eight,” “Watch your Mouth” and the recently published “Adverbs.”
Handler is also a composer (“The Composer Is Dead”) screenwriter (“Rick” based on Verdi’s “Rigoletto”) and has written for several magazines.
One of the things he is most proud of is that he is an accomplished accordionist. “Best accordionist any one knows,” he said. Before 9/11 he usually traveled with his accordion, a practice he gave up. “Accordion cases resemble the science-fiction writer’s dream bomb.”
Handler started his research for his visit to Davis from “its suburb of San Francisco.” First was the front-page news item from The Bee on the danger of sleeping with pets. (link) That was followed by assaults by carloads of muggers in Davis, including a group of newly arrived Norwegian students. (link) This morphed into assaults by carloads of cats on Norwegians.
It is truly hopeless to try to convey Handler’s humor by repeating his stories and jokes in print. It is his delivery that makes him so funny. He could be said to fall somewhere between Garrison Keillor and Gore Vidal. He is a master of timing, especially the pause. He rivals Jack Benny at his best, including “the look.”
Although Handler is best known for his children’s literature, none of his humor is juvenile. In fact, most of it is very sophisticated. He does not rely on obscenities or sexual innuendo to make the audience laugh, yet during most the evening nearly everyone was laughing constantly.
I must make a confession here. During a Harry Potter dry spell I was encouraged by a magazine article to read “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” I did not make it through the first one. I could not handle another tragedy suffered by the Baudelaire orphans. Yet when Handler read a section from one of the books, it was very funny. I guess I need to go back and listen to the audio books, three of which are read by Handler, the rest by Tim Curry.
After the formal presentation, Handler joined Lucy Corin, UC Davis associate English professor, who moderated the post-performance Q&A. Poor Professor Corin. She could hardly get the questions out from laughing so hard.
Most of the individuals asking questions were from preteen to young college age. Some seemed like they were left a little perplexed by Handler’s answers to their questions. Of course, the audience was laughing the whole time.
The overall audience was well represented from preteens to seniors. A look around Jackson Hall revealed that most everyone was having a great time.
As I stated in the beginning, Daniel Handler, besides being a great children’s novelist, is a great comedian. He deserves a TV comedy special. Are you listening, Comedy Central?
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Daniel Handler entertaining but evasive on Lemony Snicket
by JIM CARNES - McClatchy Newspapers
The simple answer to writer Daniel Handler's question, "Why does Lemony Snicket keep following me?" is this: Because he keeps writing Snicket stories.
The unconventional Handler can be notoriously hard to get a straight answer from as either himself or as Snicket, his pen name for (and a protagonist in) his "Series of Unfortunate Events."
So, he is on the lecture circuit? "I've spoken before."
After some prodding, he added that he's "interested to go to places and speak with people who have read or pretended to have read books with which I'm associated. It's nice to go out and meet actual flesh-and-blood people, strangers."
And, he likes hearing the opinions of others, he said, but, "if somebody insults my work, I don't stay up nights crying about it."
On the flip side, compliments "usually make me question the source."
Handler also is the author of books for adults. "The Basic Eight," was released in 1998; "Watch Your Mouth," was completed in 2000.
His most recent collaboration was with composer Nathaniel Stookey on a piece commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony, entitled "The Composer Is Dead," which has been performed all over the world and is now a book with CD.
"A Series of Unfortunate Events," which Handler wrote as Lemony Snicket, came out in 1999. A dozen Snicket stories followed until the "13th and final" volume was published in 2006.
More books involving the Snicket character and written under that nom de plume have followed and there are more to come.
His current projects include two collaborations with illustrator Maira Kalman - a picture book titled "13 Words," published October 2010, and a forthcoming novel for young adults called "Why We Broke Up," as well as a fourth novel for adults, the script for the long-awaited second Snicket movie, and a top-secret new series for children.
So, what's the difference between the latest books and their predecessors?
"I would still probably describe (plot points) as unfortunate events, in the lowercase form," Handler said. "It seems in general you expect terrible things to happen, don't you?"
Those plot points "may not be actual events, but they are actually unfortunate," he concluded.
Precisely.
Handler, as affable an interview subject as he is evasive, is fascinated by the dark and dangerous. But don't ask if he's afraid of frightening young readers or if he writes about such topics orphaned children in perilous circumstances, drugs and murder among high school students in order to deliver a moral.
"I think we're all attracted to stories in which terrible things happen. It's hard to think of a story that's (all upbeat) that would interest anyone of any age.
"Many, many children have read terrible, terrible books, thanks to the publishing industry. I don't know of any children who are immune to worry or fear. But I don't think (Lemony Snicket) causes that distress. (Maybe) it's an example of what not to read. The books have warnings all over them urging people not to read them."
And yet they do.
"Initially, I thought they would be too tough for anybody (subject-wise)," he said, "but people reassured me that wasn't the case. (Most of them) worked in the publishing industry. That might account for their immorality."
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Noteworthy quotation: "His current projects include two collaborations with illustrator Maira Kalman - a picture book titled "13 Words," published October 2010, and a forthcoming novel for young adults called "Why We Broke Up," as well as a fourth novel for adults, the script for the long-awaited second Snicket movie, and a top-secret new series for children." The fourth novel for adults is presumably the long-awaited pirate novel, and this would seem to confirm that a second Snicket movie is, yes, still on the cards.
---
The Very Funny Daniel Handler at Mondavi
by Bill Burgua
If Daniel Handler had not become a very successful novelist, he could have easily become a stand-up (and sit-down) comedian. Wednesday night’s audience in the Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall was treated to this side of Mr. Handler and responded enthusiastically.
The event was titled “Daniel Handler: Why Does Lemony Snicket Keep Following Me?” referring to his alter-ego author of the hugely bestselling series of children's books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and the movie of the same title based on the first three of the books, staring Jim Carrey. Handler has also written three books for adults: “The Basic Eight,” “Watch your Mouth” and the recently published “Adverbs.”
Handler is also a composer (“The Composer Is Dead”) screenwriter (“Rick” based on Verdi’s “Rigoletto”) and has written for several magazines.
One of the things he is most proud of is that he is an accomplished accordionist. “Best accordionist any one knows,” he said. Before 9/11 he usually traveled with his accordion, a practice he gave up. “Accordion cases resemble the science-fiction writer’s dream bomb.”
Handler started his research for his visit to Davis from “its suburb of San Francisco.” First was the front-page news item from The Bee on the danger of sleeping with pets. (link) That was followed by assaults by carloads of muggers in Davis, including a group of newly arrived Norwegian students. (link) This morphed into assaults by carloads of cats on Norwegians.
It is truly hopeless to try to convey Handler’s humor by repeating his stories and jokes in print. It is his delivery that makes him so funny. He could be said to fall somewhere between Garrison Keillor and Gore Vidal. He is a master of timing, especially the pause. He rivals Jack Benny at his best, including “the look.”
Although Handler is best known for his children’s literature, none of his humor is juvenile. In fact, most of it is very sophisticated. He does not rely on obscenities or sexual innuendo to make the audience laugh, yet during most the evening nearly everyone was laughing constantly.
I must make a confession here. During a Harry Potter dry spell I was encouraged by a magazine article to read “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” I did not make it through the first one. I could not handle another tragedy suffered by the Baudelaire orphans. Yet when Handler read a section from one of the books, it was very funny. I guess I need to go back and listen to the audio books, three of which are read by Handler, the rest by Tim Curry.
After the formal presentation, Handler joined Lucy Corin, UC Davis associate English professor, who moderated the post-performance Q&A. Poor Professor Corin. She could hardly get the questions out from laughing so hard.
Most of the individuals asking questions were from preteen to young college age. Some seemed like they were left a little perplexed by Handler’s answers to their questions. Of course, the audience was laughing the whole time.
The overall audience was well represented from preteens to seniors. A look around Jackson Hall revealed that most everyone was having a great time.
As I stated in the beginning, Daniel Handler, besides being a great children’s novelist, is a great comedian. He deserves a TV comedy special. Are you listening, Comedy Central?
---
---
Daniel Handler entertaining but evasive on Lemony Snicket
by JIM CARNES - McClatchy Newspapers
The simple answer to writer Daniel Handler's question, "Why does Lemony Snicket keep following me?" is this: Because he keeps writing Snicket stories.
The unconventional Handler can be notoriously hard to get a straight answer from as either himself or as Snicket, his pen name for (and a protagonist in) his "Series of Unfortunate Events."
So, he is on the lecture circuit? "I've spoken before."
After some prodding, he added that he's "interested to go to places and speak with people who have read or pretended to have read books with which I'm associated. It's nice to go out and meet actual flesh-and-blood people, strangers."
And, he likes hearing the opinions of others, he said, but, "if somebody insults my work, I don't stay up nights crying about it."
On the flip side, compliments "usually make me question the source."
Handler also is the author of books for adults. "The Basic Eight," was released in 1998; "Watch Your Mouth," was completed in 2000.
His most recent collaboration was with composer Nathaniel Stookey on a piece commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony, entitled "The Composer Is Dead," which has been performed all over the world and is now a book with CD.
"A Series of Unfortunate Events," which Handler wrote as Lemony Snicket, came out in 1999. A dozen Snicket stories followed until the "13th and final" volume was published in 2006.
More books involving the Snicket character and written under that nom de plume have followed and there are more to come.
His current projects include two collaborations with illustrator Maira Kalman - a picture book titled "13 Words," published October 2010, and a forthcoming novel for young adults called "Why We Broke Up," as well as a fourth novel for adults, the script for the long-awaited second Snicket movie, and a top-secret new series for children.
So, what's the difference between the latest books and their predecessors?
"I would still probably describe (plot points) as unfortunate events, in the lowercase form," Handler said. "It seems in general you expect terrible things to happen, don't you?"
Those plot points "may not be actual events, but they are actually unfortunate," he concluded.
Precisely.
Handler, as affable an interview subject as he is evasive, is fascinated by the dark and dangerous. But don't ask if he's afraid of frightening young readers or if he writes about such topics orphaned children in perilous circumstances, drugs and murder among high school students in order to deliver a moral.
"I think we're all attracted to stories in which terrible things happen. It's hard to think of a story that's (all upbeat) that would interest anyone of any age.
"Many, many children have read terrible, terrible books, thanks to the publishing industry. I don't know of any children who are immune to worry or fear. But I don't think (Lemony Snicket) causes that distress. (Maybe) it's an example of what not to read. The books have warnings all over them urging people not to read them."
And yet they do.
"Initially, I thought they would be too tough for anybody (subject-wise)," he said, "but people reassured me that wasn't the case. (Most of them) worked in the publishing industry. That might account for their immorality."
---
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