David Thayer

Wellington Leg: Ed Champion asked Marisha Pessl the following question: “What sort of herringbone plot structure did you jump off from?” Sadly we don’t know what Ms. Pessl’s reply was as the edition of the Bat Segundo Show “An Interview with Marisha Pessl” was spiked by Ed in deference to his inability to connect with his subject.

Marisha Pessl is the author of SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS, published by Viking last year.  The last time I wrote about Pessl the hits went through the ceiling and the squirrel cage that powers this blog overheated. But we’ve come not to praise Ms. Pessl nor defame her since the merits of her novel versus the size of her paycheck creates intense but uninformed response in the hearts of authors everywhere.

I’m thinking more about Ed than Marisha. He is the most talented book reviewer working today bursting at the seams with passion, energy and flamboyant insights that cause some discomfort, angst, even schadenfreude. Perhaps Marisha flinched in the batter’s box noting Ed in full windup is a daunting sight.

I think the correct answer to Ed’s herringbone plot structure question is: “Huh?” That’s just me. Someday I hope to be worthy of a Bat Segundo interview after topping the charts with one dazzling novel after another ( unputdownable!). Fortunately I have time to prepare for Ed with an informal study of men’s  suit and a subscription to WOMENS WEAR DAILY.

Here’s to seersucker plot devices and next year’s fashions.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 9:34 am and is filed under Author Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.