I was enjoying this post so much and then I WAS IN IT. What a thrill! Thanks, Tor. And, please can I pre-order the Toile de Jaws on whatever it ends up being. Literally anything.
Oh boy, this post has a lot to enjoy! Firstly Jaws-themed Toile de Jouy, come on! Fantastic. Shower curtain maybe? Sign me up!
Second, I am similarly haunted by the sight of ET in the river - it always brought to mind a slightly powdery dried fig, If you know what I mean.
And thirdly, novelisations! Back in the 80s when we had to wait several months between the US and UK release of blockbusters, I would kill the time/assuage the longing by reading the novelisation of, amongst others, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghostbusters and Gremlins. Oh and Escape from New York, because I wasn’t old enough to see the film. I would read them multiple times, and inevitably they dulled the experience of actually seeing the film, since I already knew the plot and had formed my own ‘pictures’ to go with. I remember the Raiders book coming in a variety of coloured foil covers. Mine was yellow/orange.
And fourthly, Jaws the book! I remember it well. Too well, perhaps 😳 It was de rigueur for such books to have sexy bits, it seems. James Herbert’s The Rats was passed around our classroom many times, and The Fog had a horrific scene involving a boner and garden shears (sorry). What colourful memories you’ve sparked this morning Tor, thank you :) I hope your mum’s wrist is in better shape than a dedicated alien 🤞
I do know what you mean about the dried fig - him lying there is just too unbearably sad isn't it.
I remember having to wait for films!! And then if you or someone you knew went to the States, they could brag about having seen something a full six months before it came here. I never read a novelisation, do you remember them being good, or at least readable? Have you still got any? There's a writer I really like called Ryan North who did a blog where he went through the novelisation of Back to the Future, page by page, it was extremely funny, and the book was dire. Also do you remember how you knew about films coming out? I can't remember, and given there was no internet etc I wonder how we knew... magazines probably?
Hahahaha that's hilarious!! How funny that sexy bits were in at the time, in books where they seemed a bit out of place! The scene in The Fog sounds hilarious!!! Did the boner get shorn???
I don't think I still have any... maybe Escape from New York somewhere. I'm sure they were awful, but I read them avidly. It was probably magazines like Starburst and Barry Norman on the telly that alerted us to future releases. Also, I remember the marketing for Ghostbusters beginning with the mysterious logo only on ad hoardings starting months ahead - I think that film pioneered that particular technique. A childhood friend spent her summers in the states, so she was a useful source of enviable intel. Having to 'novelise' a film might be an interesting writing exercise...
Yes I'm pretty sure the boner got cut back, or at least pollarded 😬
I read JAWS as a teenager too! I remember l'affair de Hooper and Mrs. B as seeming so scandalous. She just couldn't resist that cheap wine and his Bass Weejuns. I need more of these drawings from the film! (Possibly because I can no longer watch it--too scary!)
I was enjoying this post so much and then I WAS IN IT. What a thrill! Thanks, Tor. And, please can I pre-order the Toile de Jaws on whatever it ends up being. Literally anything.
You most certainly can!! x
Can I respectfully suggest that you use the *toile de Jaws* on something summery, like some shorts or a skirt? Or even better, a SWIMSUIT x
This an excellent suggestion, and because it's so respectfully framed I give it EXTRA weight. I'm into the shorts idea... xx
You know how I prize respect x
A generation haunted by shrivelled ET!!
Argh, totally!! 😢
Oh boy, this post has a lot to enjoy! Firstly Jaws-themed Toile de Jouy, come on! Fantastic. Shower curtain maybe? Sign me up!
Second, I am similarly haunted by the sight of ET in the river - it always brought to mind a slightly powdery dried fig, If you know what I mean.
And thirdly, novelisations! Back in the 80s when we had to wait several months between the US and UK release of blockbusters, I would kill the time/assuage the longing by reading the novelisation of, amongst others, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghostbusters and Gremlins. Oh and Escape from New York, because I wasn’t old enough to see the film. I would read them multiple times, and inevitably they dulled the experience of actually seeing the film, since I already knew the plot and had formed my own ‘pictures’ to go with. I remember the Raiders book coming in a variety of coloured foil covers. Mine was yellow/orange.
And fourthly, Jaws the book! I remember it well. Too well, perhaps 😳 It was de rigueur for such books to have sexy bits, it seems. James Herbert’s The Rats was passed around our classroom many times, and The Fog had a horrific scene involving a boner and garden shears (sorry). What colourful memories you’ve sparked this morning Tor, thank you :) I hope your mum’s wrist is in better shape than a dedicated alien 🤞
ARGH SHOWER CURTAIN!! What a good idea!
I do know what you mean about the dried fig - him lying there is just too unbearably sad isn't it.
I remember having to wait for films!! And then if you or someone you knew went to the States, they could brag about having seen something a full six months before it came here. I never read a novelisation, do you remember them being good, or at least readable? Have you still got any? There's a writer I really like called Ryan North who did a blog where he went through the novelisation of Back to the Future, page by page, it was extremely funny, and the book was dire. Also do you remember how you knew about films coming out? I can't remember, and given there was no internet etc I wonder how we knew... magazines probably?
Hahahaha that's hilarious!! How funny that sexy bits were in at the time, in books where they seemed a bit out of place! The scene in The Fog sounds hilarious!!! Did the boner get shorn???
Thanks Joe, me too!
I don't think I still have any... maybe Escape from New York somewhere. I'm sure they were awful, but I read them avidly. It was probably magazines like Starburst and Barry Norman on the telly that alerted us to future releases. Also, I remember the marketing for Ghostbusters beginning with the mysterious logo only on ad hoardings starting months ahead - I think that film pioneered that particular technique. A childhood friend spent her summers in the states, so she was a useful source of enviable intel. Having to 'novelise' a film might be an interesting writing exercise...
Yes I'm pretty sure the boner got cut back, or at least pollarded 😬
I definitely need a Toile de Jaws tote bag!! Also now feel I missed out not reading the book...
I don't think you missed out, though my memory of it isn't that clear!!
“It is so important to vote in your local elections”. Love it!
Toile de jaw please!
And good luck to your mum…
🌞 🌊 🦈
The toile!!!
I read JAWS as a teenager too! I remember l'affair de Hooper and Mrs. B as seeming so scandalous. She just couldn't resist that cheap wine and his Bass Weejuns. I need more of these drawings from the film! (Possibly because I can no longer watch it--too scary!)
Love this xx
Love this xx
Love this xx