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Mike Ruth (Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.A.)
Sunday, June 29, 2008 / 6:38:08 PM |
Mr. Neate: I stumbled upon your work "City of Tiny Lights" and just finished it this morning. Thank you! As an often visitor to London, and with a daughter attending college there, I try to read as much as I can (fiction or non) about your fair city.
I enjoyed the story very much, especially the slang, at times wishing there was a glossary. Too, as I am a college faculty member and around any number of international students, I enjoyed attempting to follow the text with an Indian accent in mind. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more of your work.
Finally, and more seriously, the way you discuss the 'fundamentalism v. terrorism v. economics v. racism (ethnocentrism) v. classism' is thought provoking to say the least. As travelled and open minded as I think I am, I dare say you introduced some concepts that I have not thought a lot about.
Thanks again.
Mike
Thanks Mike. I can't tell you how much it means to me to hear feedback, so thanks for taking the time.
I'm glad you got so much from the book. I wanted to write something that worked as an easy read while raising an issue or too, so it's cheering to know you found so much in it.
best indeed
Patrick |
reagan (london, UK)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 / 10:56:11 PM |
| write a book, dammit. i'm bored. |
hilary (buffalo, ny, usa)
Sunday, April 13, 2008 / 8:42:52 AM |
thank you very much for "city of tiny lights". it was a challenging and compelling novel.
my mother and i were discussing and and we both wonder about one small detail.
why are all of the, as farzad would put it, "strong curse words" blanked out?
thank you for your work.
hilary
Hello Hilary
Thanks for you comment and I'm glad you liked the book.
Why are the curse words blanked out? With hindsight, I think it was probably a mistake. But I chose to do that for a couple of reasons. One is that Farzad hates cursing. Tommy doesn't swear at any point in the text (all the cursing's reported speech) and I had this idea that, for all his foibles and flaws, he would try to maintain some level of decorum; even if only in the way he spoke (or wrote).
I suspect it's one of those ideas that was more appealing in my head than on the page!
best
Patrick
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Kathrin (Munich, Germany)
Sunday, March 30, 2008 / 11:38:44 PM |
Hi Patrick,
I am just writing my dissertation on post-colonial crime novels, doing a comparison between anglophone and francophone literature. And City of Tiny Lights is in it (and is my favourite out of the 15 novels I am working on). I do not want to be blunt (although I'm Germna, we can't really help it) but I have got some questions and if you wanted to answer them I would be really happy and if you don't I will still write very positively about your book. Why did you choose crime fiction for this book? Is it possible that you worked intertextually, drawing loosely on the Maltese Falcoon (or am I imagening that, I might also be reading to many crime novels). Why did you pick a sleuth with an Indian-Ugandan background? Did you find it difficult to write from the perspective of somebody whose background you don't share and do you think you suceeded (I do, but I am not English with an Indian-Ugandan background)? Will you write another novel with Tommy (that is not important for my work, but I really like Tommy, so I would hugely enjoy another novel with him)?
I am already looking forward to reading the rest of your novels. Wish you loads of inspiration!
Bye bye, Kathrin
Hello Kathrin
Thanks for your e-mail and glad you like the novel. Flattery will get you everywhere!
Why did you choose crime fiction for this book?
I don't think there's any one reason. I love gumshoe detective fiction, always have, and thought it might be fun to have a go. I had an idea for a detective story. I
recognised that it's possible to address some issues more subtly in genre than in a literary novel ... basically, I wanted to write about the so-called 'war on terror' but in a way that was entertaining and mainstream.
Why did you pick a sleuth with an Indian-Ugandan background?
A recurrent issue in the novel is racial, cultural and national identity. I wanted someone who was from a complex and, arguably, incoherent background.
Did you find it difficult to write from the perspective of somebody whose background you don't share and do you think you suceeded?
I wouldn't say difficult exactly. It's just a feat of the imagination. As for the success of it? Well, I don't know ... but even the whole idea of 'succeeding' seems somewhat flawed. I mean, there's an enormous diversity in voice/ personality/ morality etc etc of people across all backgrounds, isn't there? I guess what I'm saying is that the character doesn't have to conform to any archetype, he just has to be consistent and true to my imagination. And I think he is.
Will you write another novel with Tommy?
Maybe. It certainly wasn't the initial intention ... but I'm missing him a little ...
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selina (belgrade, serbia)
Monday, March 24, 2008 / 11:24:21 AM |
dear sir,
would you send your musungu jim to serbia some day? i am sure he woud have such fun here. and that would be a great book, too. sincerely, selina
Hello Selina!
Unfortunately Jim's not going to make it to Serbia. He does have further adventures though ... as I've just finished the third 'Jim' novel ... Maybe another character will have to head to your neck of the woods one day ...
best
Patrick |
Herbert Mueller (Frankenberg, Germany)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 / 7:58:01 PM |
Dear Mr. Neate,
Just finished reading "Twelve Bar Blues" (within the last two evenings). I really enjoyed it - loved the african part which seems quite authentic to me (I lived in Zambia for 7 years and met some characters that could have been role models).
Keep on the good work! Thanks,
Herbert
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Ryan (Vancouver, Canada)
Sunday, March 16, 2008 / 4:08:44 AM |
| Hi Patrick i am a high school student from Canada i am currently half way through city of tiny lights and i am so into it its even beside me rihg tnow even though some of the british slang is a little hard to comprehend i still just love it please email me back |
Alain Clapham (Londinium, UK)
Thursday, February 28, 2008 / 12:32:44 PM |
| Loved '12 Bar Blues' when I read it many years ago. Recently recommended it to my girlfriend who feel in love with it too. Now I want to read it again. You must be doing something right. |
Alessandro (Milan, Italy)
Thursday, January 24, 2008 / 11:01:40 PM |
Hi Patrick I'm Italian wjo had just start t read your latest book came out here in Italy (and sure i'm reading it in italian). and I'like it. i can't say more beacuse I've smoked...AH I like your webpage too
bye bye from the bookeater
p.s I'd put "get down" of nas before tha epmd...the flow nas and the beat is simple fkin good!! |
michael (berlin, germany)
Saturday, January 19, 2008 / 3:38:31 PM |
Hello Mr. Neate,
I just wondedred wether you wanted to know that I enjoyed your twelve bar blues a lot. Actually it was one oft the most impressive books i read within the last months. When I checked the archive I found that only two papers in Germany wrote about its German translation. Both critics - in the FAZ and taz when you know what I mean - were positive. I found a third mentioning that will make you smile: a writer for the travels pages of the FAZ quoted your book in an article about bars - like quoting an expert on blues to drown in cocktails.
I would never have sent you a message had you not just written about Christine O. As I am a sports writer I just want to say hello. All the best with your new book. If not the world, I am looking forward to it. Congratulations to your Blues! Michael Reinsch
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Zamo (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Monday, January 14, 2008 / 6:49:53 PM |
| Wow. I recently bought your book Msungu Jim. I haven't read it, but I did read 'Running'. Wow. I had to write to you immidiately. Great, twisted, twisting little tale. You sure know how to pack them in. Looking foward to Msungu. |
Dan Anderson (Edinburgh, UK)
Saturday, January 12, 2008 / 5:22:40 PM |
Much impressed by 12-Bar Blues-worked 14 yrs in Malawi,lifelong jazz fan;as James Lee Burke fan feel I know New Orleans-till I saw youpic,was convinced you must be African village-born-How did you do all the background research?
Congrats anyway |
Aisha (London, actually Romford, but I still live in with, U.K)
Sunday, January 06, 2008 / 7:36:46 PM |
Dear Mr Patrick Neate
A teacher at my university suggested your book Where you’re at as secondary reading material, unfortunately it was too late to read your book. I finished university last summer, and we all had to write a compulsory dissertation. I wanted to be lazy, but keep my dissertation unique, so hip-hop came to my mine, and I proceeded to write a dissertation on how rap music represents the social and linguistic history of the black Diaspora? Now what is usual about this, is that I am I’ve never liked hip-hop, if truth be known, till last year I hated hip-hop. To me it was vulgar, derogative and a gross misrepresentation of the black people, however my middle names are hypocrite, complicated and contradiction. I may have hated hip-hop but it didn’t stop me from bobbing my head to one certain eight-figure-nigger-by-the-name-of-Jiggy. Actually, that question wasn’t the original question to my essay, I had already premeditated the conclusion, the very negative conclusion that hip-hop was crap. But something happened, which I put down to divine intervention. David La Chappell’s Block Party, which happened to be on one night and I watched out of curiosity and I heard Definition by Black Star. Now I’ve heard of Mos Def, when he did Oh No! on the lyricist lounge album, I had never heard of Talib Kweli. But the moment I heard that song, my perception of hip-hop did a one eighty. Up to this point, hip-hop was Jiggy’s party tunes, pimps and hoes and 50 Cent (who, if I had the balls, would love to cuss down, but that’s wishful thinking), I didn’t know about this other hip-hop. In fact, with much research and carefully listening to between the lines, I begin to substantial substance that wasn’t injected or snorted, but heard. I found lyrical depth alongside Jiggy’s party tunes (my favourite being Meet the Parents), I embraced the full scoop (well, nearly the full scoop) of hip-hop, and that’s how I came to change my essay. Now, in retrospect, I find it funny that I begin to embrace and discover hip-hop when all and driving nails into its coffin.
On after taking six months (out of my year), I planning to return to university to do an M.A and possibly write my M.A on hip-hop again, so in preparation, I began reading your book. Actually, I started on the second of this month. And it has put me off sending you my essay, because so far, it’s very good, actually better than good. But what really interested was the issue of identity, because as an Yoruba, Nigeria, British, East End, North Londoner, Islamic, Liberal yet Conservative who has had various incarnations as a wannabe Spice girl, Afro centric, bookworm, cinematic aficionado, unsuccessful skate-boarder, black panther, all-round black sista and Islamic sister, and revisiting my primary school incarnation, comic book collector, and my most recant incarnation, designer toy collector. My other name is eclectic, because of years of trying to find any identity, I have embraced all identities. My sojourn with hip-hop, like with all interests, was short-lived, it ended when my essay ended, however, one Lupe Fiasco has restored my faith in both hip-hop and its identity. Actually, that and the fact, he is Muslim and nobody has ever made sounding like a hypocrite, cool.
I wanted to say something about your book, but I haven’t finished but I’ll probably type you an e-mail when I actually finish. But for now, thank you for producing a thought-provoking essay, particularly the bit in Japan.
Thanks
Aisha Badmus
A sister and a sista – depending on how I wear my headscarf.
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Saskia (Brighton, England)
Sunday, December 16, 2007 / 3:52:53 PM |
| Hi, I just finished reading 12 bar blues for the second time and it was just as good as I remembered! I was just wondering if you've ever read 'Jazz' by Toni Morrison? Because I think there are a lot of similarites, to the point where I think I can get away with using 12 Bar Blues as a literary comparative to Jazz for the coursework essay I have to write about it. Oh and I loved London Pigeon Wars as well! |
Sian (London, UK)
Saturday, December 15, 2007 / 1:53:00 PM |
Hi Patrick,
Your site is great! But where have the fun little cartoons gone? They were my favourite!
I took them off ... I can't now remember why ... I need to write to the wonderful sean ... |
Stu (Middlesbrough, UK)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 / 7:03:25 PM |
| Just to say thanks worked in zambia years ago - twelve bar blues really brought the people and life back. Cheers |
Heavenairport (Everywhere, In the ether)
Monday, November 12, 2007 / 3:23:48 PM |
I saw that show. did you really write snoops speech?
No fucking way man.
Way ... |
Fee Dejari (Seattle, U.S.A)
Saturday, October 20, 2007 / 4:59:03 AM |
| I just read Marechera'a Ghost and I absolutely love it. After reading it i get the sense the story is more like a summary of zim: like when it was rhodesia, the typical life rhodesians led in the low density, the colonial connection (that's probably very politically incorrect but somehow i think u'll know what i mean) that remains between zim and u.k..To cut a long comment short Patrick 'i get' the esssence of this story! Excellent piece of work, the lingo, interaction between characters, and Everything's right on the dot! |
David (Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 / 11:22:03 PM |
Howzit?
In this case, not just a copycat of your "current favourite greeting," rather I live in Hawaii, where the term originates. Anyway, just wanted to give some positive feedback. I gobbled up City of Tiny Lights after spotting it in the library. Amazing read. The wife dug it too. 12 Bar Blues was very different but equally enjoyable. Now I guess I'll have to start *buying* your other books 'cause the Hawaii library system only has those two - regrettable. I'm reading a lot more for fun lately, and you are certainly my "current favourite author." Keep the writing coming when you can.
Aloha,
David |
Andre De Carteret (Guernsey, UK)
Tuesday, October 02, 2007 / 1:35:02 PM |
Hi Patrick
Great stuff....(thats a general big up!)
And well done for supporting Amnesty... I represent Vale Earth Fair here in Guernsey and all our efforts and every penny of profit go to Burma campaign, Free Tibet and Amnesty..
Just thought I'd share that!
check out www.valeearthfair.org if you ever fancy a wicked, totally non corporate and chilled weekend in Guernsey!
All the best mate.
Andre / oneofakind |
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