Title: “Aberrations“
Author: Penelope Przekop
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1934572030
Publisher: Emerald Book Co
Date of Publication: July 1, 2008
4 stars: An eyeopening look at life with narcolepsy
“What do you really think about it?” I asked.
“I’m not gonna judge,” she said, opening her car door. It was time to go.
“Because you’re a virgin?”
“No, because I’m human.” ( “Aberrations” pg 10)
Every once in awhile, I think about a book’s cover art. Some are hideous, ugly, boring and bland. Then there are the beautiful ones. I found myself struck by this one. (Stephenie Meyer’s books also come to mind.) Of course once you’re impressed by the cover, you hope that the words inside are just as wonderful. (I’ve been disappointed in the past: see my review here for “Tantalize” by Cynthia Leitich-Smith.) But in this case, the book lived up to it’s cover. The blue flower is somewhat symbolic, and I just love the way the sun hits her hair.
The story itself kept me hooked. As I mention below in my interview with Penelope Przekop, I’ve never read anything about narcolepsy. I only knew that it was some kind of sleep disorder, and Penelope was exactly right when she mentions that narcolepsy is usually used in some humorous way. The movie “Moulin Rouge” comes to mind. If you’ve seen it, then you know what I’m talking about. In “Aberrations”, Angel’s condition is far from being funny. She’s forced to take medication in order to keep her awake, but even with it, she lives a sort of ‘half life’.
“Aberrations” isn’t solely about Angel and her narcolepsy, although I found that to be the most fascinating aspect of it. It’s also about life, death, family and friends. If there was anything that I disliked about this book, it was probably the Southern twang to the speech. That said, it doesn’t take anything away from the story, and if you’re a fan of Southern fiction, then you’ll probably have no problem at all.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. See below for my interview and giveaway.
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Hello all, today I’m joined by Penelope Przekop. Her new book “Aberrations” will be released in a few days on July 1, 2008, and I eagerly welcomed the opportunity to interview her.
Q. As I mention above in my review, I found the cover art to be very interesting. Were you involved, or did you have any input in the final design?
A. Yes, I was able to brainstorm with the cover designer about initial ideas, images, and concepts. We were both focused on creating a unique and eye catching cover that would reflect the themes and tone of the novel. We both liked the idea of using some type of blue flower. It seemed unique and would reflect a specific scene in the novel as well as the aberrations of life we all must deal with in some form. As for the hair, we started out thinking about somehow incorporating a braid, which evolved into the hair on the cover. The designer suggested that a braid may influence folks to think of the book as a young adult novel, which was not the intent. The cover designer created numerous designs, which were circulated internally. I was able to see the top five covers, and provide my input. I was lucky because the cover I liked best was also their top choice. It was a fun process and I’m extremely pleased with the outcome. The designer loved Aberrations; she was dedicated to creating a beautiful cover that would inspire people to take a look.
Q. Your main character, Angel, is narcoleptic. This is the first time I’ve read about someone with this disorder, and I found it an eye-opening experience. What inspired you to write about a woman with narcolepsy?
A. When I began planning the novel ten years ago, I threw together several unrelated ideas and concepts that interested me, including narcolepsy. I have a degree in Biology and always found narcolepsy to be particularly interesting from a biological standpoint. I also recognized that the media had not accurately portrayed or fully explored the topic. Interestingly, ten years later, this is still the case. Narcolepsy continues to be commonly used as comedic relief. I suspected that it wasn’t actually funny for those who suffered from it, and thought it might be rewarding to tell their story. The more I learned about narcolepsy and rolled it around in my head, I realized it would be a fascinating and powerful avenue for character development. It is a great metaphor for how, at times, we’re all in jeopardy of sleeping through life. As I wrote the novel, Angel became incredibly real to me. I felt that if I could relate so intimately to her based on my own history, surely others might as well. Her struggle reflects many emotions that we all feel, and deal with, regardless of our specific aberration. I hope that it will help build more compassion and understanding of narcolepsy for readers, while providing some universally thought provoking messages about life that reach far beyond a specific medical condition.
Q. I believe this is your first foray into writing fiction. Did you find it difficult to switch from nonfiction to fiction?
A. Actually, fiction is my first love. I wrote another novel before Aberrations, which has yet to be published. I’ve always loved fiction. When I was five years old, I used to sleep with my favorite book, The Pokey Little Puppy. I stuck it under my pillow every night when I went to bed. I wrote my nonfiction book, Six Sigma for Business Excellence (McGraw-Hill) during the ten-year period I was writing Aberrations. At the time, I was asked to speak at an industry conference, and my editor at McGraw-Hill came across the conference brochure. I’d been plugging away on novels, trying to get an agent, a publisher, etc., for years, and out of the blue, McGraw-Hill calls to ask, “Have you ever thought of writing a book?” It felt like a miracle! So I put Aberrations aside to write the McGraw-Hill book. It took about a year. I was also finishing a Master’s Degree during that time, which I could not put aside. In addition to that, I was working full time as a Director at Johnson & Johnson, and raising a family. Needless to say, it was an extremely busy time. It worked out great because by the time I finished the McGraw-Hill book, I’d worked through how I wanted Aberrations to end. I’ve particularly enjoyed writing my blog, Aberration Nation, as it allows me to write non-fiction in the tone and voice I’ve developed while writing fiction. Business books don’t lend themselves to that quite as easily.
Q. I enjoyed your unique beginning, with the definition of ‘Aberration’, as well as the newspaper clipping (which I also thought was a good way to end too). What made you decide to start and end like this?
A. I’m one of those strange folks who actually spends time reading the dictionary; I’m a word freak. When coming up with the title for Aberrations, I scanned the Internet for a word related to photography that would miraculously relate to the underlying themes of the novel. I wasn’t sure if such a word existed, but in the end, I found it. The word aberration has several interesting definitions that are all a perfect fit for the novel. The first three definitions relate particularly well to Angel’s story, and to my own. I decided to include the definition simply because it was so fantastically perfect and I wasn’t sure readers would fully see the connection without having the definition. I used the beginning newspaper clipping to hopefully build some questions in readers’ minds. Once I’d finished the book, it seemed fitting to show them some of what had become of the characters through a subsequent news clipping.
Q. Many authors find that as they write, the story goes in a different direction. Was this the case for you, or did you always plan for the story to go the way it did?
A. I usually create my characters and the general plot before I begin writing. I also decide what themes I want to explore, the overall setting, and some of the settings for various scenes. The themes I choose come from ideas, emotions, or philosophical points that I want to explore and better understand rather than things I want to preach or instruct about. The aspects of life that I’m most sure of and confident about usually don’t creep into my writing. I also think about the format of the novel, which I believe is a creative element that’s underutilized in novels. Lastly, I choose symbols and recurring ideas that I want to weave into the story. As I sort through all this, the various elements eventually begin to connect in my head. Then I’m ready to write. With that said, I’ve only written two novels, but I’m now in this planning phase for a third. This process seems to work for me and so I plan to continue. As indicated above, for Aberrations, I didn’t have the ending figured out when I began. This eventually became a challenge for me, and I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again. I like the idea of creating all the various elements I mentioned above and weaving them into the story backwards and forwards, sideways, and upside down to create what feels like a self contained globe or a world rather than a linear experience.
Q. And now just a few bookish questions! What kind of books do you like to read? What is your favorite book? Who is your favorite author? Finally, what are you reading now and why?
A. I love to read a variety of books. This year I’ve read Alan Greenspan’s book, books on painting, numerous novels, and also biographies. I particularly love books that teach me about other cultures such as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
My all time favorite is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I read it as a teenager and couldn’t get past the writing style. Then I picked it up about twelve years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. My added maturity and my own life experiences enabled me to relate to it in a profound way. Its timeless relevance shocked me. Other favorites are Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Ran, Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. As you can tell, I love books that are entertaining but also thought provoking. This is the type of book I’ve always longed to write. I do enjoy purely entertaining books, and read many of those, but my ultimate desire is to read and write books that are highly meaningful and timeless.
I’m just finishing The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield because it was chosen by my neighborhood book club. They’re planning to read Aberrations soon, which will be interesting! I included book club questions in the back of the book, so I invite book clubs everywhere to put it on their list!
Well folks, there you have it! You can purchase “Aberrations” here. (Don’t forget to suggest it to your book club as your next read!) And if you want to know more about Penelope and “Aberrations“, visit her blog: ABERRATION NATION.
ATTENTION: Penelope’s people have sent me an extra copy of this book to giveaway to a lucky commenter! (I’d give mine away, but I’m rather attatched to it lol.) Simply comment on this post telling me why you’d like to read this book, AND something about Penelope’s interview– make sure you do both ! (Don’t just say “Pick me please!” – those will be ignored. Make an effort!) Link to this post (and tell me about it) for a second entry. You have until 9:00 EST on 7/3 to do so, and I’ll randomly pick a winner that night.
Thanks to Penelope Przekop and TJ Dietderich.
But don’t just take my word for it! See Out of the Blue’s review here.
Missed my last post? It was CONTESTS.
No need to enter me (I already have the book), but thank you for the great interview!
I would love a (the?) copy because (as with yourself?) I’ve always known narcolepsy as the ‘funny illness’. The Groucho Marx of ailments. We’ve all seen the youtube video of the narcoleptic dog bounding around before – poof – he stops, dead in his tracks, and the camera pans…and he’s lying there…and he’s sleeping; “oh God! That dog kills me”. It’s exactly like Przekop says: “Narcolepsy continues to be commonly used as comedic relief”.
I want to get past that; I want to get in the head of someone who suffers from narcolepsy. Can they drive? Can they work properly? Do they suddenly wake up without awareness of time and place? In essence: can narcoleptics function? So, I would like to read “Aberrations” because I want to question my original assumption that “I have narcolepsy” is a funny ‘ld party ice breaker; furthermore, I want to ‘out’ my ignorance on the subject.
Finally. I must say Przekop has good literary tastebuds (“Alas Shrugged by Ayn Ran, Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky”) has she read Tartt’s ‘The Secret History’? Very Dostoevsky-esque.
Hokey, cokey. Cya ’round! (RSS added.)
I’d like to read this book because I really don’t know anything about narcolepsy. Except that it makes people fall asleep at any moment, I think? And I agree that it’s usually seen in a comedic way.
What I really liked about Penelope’s interview was where she talks about the cover design and how she was involved in the process. This is something I’ve been curious about now for a long time. I’ve heard authors say they hate their covers (that’s horrible) and I guess it’s because they don’t get to have as much say as I think they should. It’s almost like someone else putting together your resume for you. It’s the face you show to the world. It sounds like Penelope had a great experience in this case. I’d love to learn even more about this subject!
Great review and great interview! I can’t wait to get to it myself. Only two more books to go! 🙂
Yes! I’ve read Tartt’s The Secret History! It’s another one of my favorites. My daughter, who’s an avid reader, also loved it. I’ve haven’t read Tartt’s more recent novel but I plan to.
Thanks to all for your interest in Aberrations!
Hey Penelope. Sorry for addressing you in third person, didn’t know you were ’round.
I was definately less keen on Tartt’s second book (‘The Little Friend’), although saying that it won two literary prizes. Would love to hear your opinion. (after reading it, of course)
Sorry Katheen for turning your comment section into a makeshift forum. 🙂
Feel free ! Lol so long as you spread the word about the review/interview/giveaway:)
Howdy!
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the main characters was a narcoleptic and I’m not going to lie. I read narcoleptic and I wanted to read the book. I know this may be a very “shallow” reason, plus Ms. Przekop seems to have spent time researching about the disorder, so I know from that it would be a great read.
I’ve made a post about this at my blog also. proudbookworm.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing the interview. I always find it interesting to learn the background of a story–where it came from and how it evolved.
My aunt suffers from narcolepsy and there were a few very frightening moments when she fell asleep at inopportune times (like while driving home from work). I am looking forward to reading this book.
No need to enter me into the contest as I’m expecting a copy of this book already. 🙂
I love reading the dictionary too – and I love this cover. It’s one of those covers that would make me pick up the book and read the first page.
Thanks for the chance to enter the giveaway!
I’d love to read this book. Narcolepsy is fascinating and would lend itself to being a good “character” in a novel. I also tend to judge a book by the cover, even when I try not to, and this cover is great. I’m glad she had unput. I always wondered about that.
Love, love the interview. It is great to know more about authors, book development, and I am always fascinated by what people read. I also enjoy books about other cultures. My family jokes that I only read books by authors whose names I can’t begin to pronounce. Thousand Splendid Suns, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, etc. are on my list of favorites and I also just finished The Thirteenth Tale and really enjoyed that.
Looking forward to more of your blog. Thanks!
Okay, the cover art grabbed me right away too — I admit it! I’m extremely guilty of judging books by their covers. But is that always such a bad thing?!
I think it’s always great to read an unfamiliar author, so I’m anxious to give Penelope a try! (Regardless of whether or not I get this copy, I’m going to go add this book to my wishlist right now. Thanks for exposing a new author to me, Kathleen!)
Narcolepsy…like everyone else, not so familiar with this as a serious condition; however, I did have a penpal in Texas whose husband had narcolepsy. I remember her telling me how he fell asleep while brushing his teeth. That sticks in my mind, even today.
I love interviews where the author tells what they’re reading currently, so I enjoyed that. Also, as I stated before, I love the cover art, and I think this is the first time where I’ve read an author’s comments about their input on the covert art. I’ve always wondered about that. Now I know! :’)
oh, wow…that is the strangest thing!! I thought I entered this when I first saw the post, well..maybe that was during the read-a-thon when my mind was salami, haha. Yes, for sure I’d like to have my name in the hat for this one, it sounds like a great read…..fingers are now crossed.
I enjoyed this interview, I haven’t heard of this author that why i enjoy reading things on people’s blog, find alot of people you haven’t heard of yet. I liked reading about how she picked the title of her book and being a “word freak” and about books she likes and what she’s reading now, it remindes me i have The Thirteenth Tale on my shelf i need to read also. I would like to win a copy of this book to read something by her, and also because i don’t know alot about narcolepsy , it’s like a bonus in a story when you can learn something you didn’t know much about. i would like to be entered in the contest Thanks, photoquest@bellsouth.net
Well, my husband says I need to win this book because he’s SURE I’m narcoleptic. (Actually, I just fall asleep alot watching his boring video game network – not the same thing!)
I would like to win the book because I love books about things that are not commonly written about – who has ever written a novel about a narcoleptic? Fascinating! And, any woman who lists Ayn Rand as one of her faves is on my list of must-reads. It was interesting reading about the process of creating the cover, as I am always a sucker for a good one. Thanks for the great interview!
I have this book on my TBR list and hope to get to it soon but great interview. I like learning more about an author who’s book I am reading
p.s. I also linked to your blog on my site – thanks for chance to win this one!
Now added to my Mt. TBR.
Wow, what a great interview. Interesting questions, it’s wonderful to hear from the author! This book is next in my TBR pile, so I was glad to read the interview! (Don’t enter me in the contest, I have the book already, just wanted to comment!)
Hi Kathleen, I really like the interviews you’ve added to your blog; it’s so nice to get that “extra” behind-the-scenes look into an author.
I’d love to read the book; the cast of characters sound very interesting.
Hi Kathleen, Thanks for the giveaway.
I was not aware of a condition called narcolepsy and would like to read the book. The cover design is very striking.
It was wonderful to hear from the author. To write a non-fiction, direct a company, study for masters, manage your family and also find time to write and read fiction is amazing and inspirational. Great interview!
I would like to get a copy of this book because I am narcoleptic. I hate the way it is shown in movies and sitcoms. Though there are often some funny moments because of it – did you know being narcoleptic is a great way to get out of a lecture from your parents 😉 – often it isn’t a laughing matter. When you haven’t been diagnosed yet, and you experience the symptom called cataplexy – it is like passing out – but you can hear, think, feel and remember everything – just not interact with it – you think you are going mad.
That is why I really liked your interview with the author, because she studied biology and wanted to portray a serious disease in a serious manner rather than making the poor narcoleptic the but of the joke every time. I was linked to this blog by the mother of a narcoleptic daughter, and I am glad she sent me. I really want to read this book. 🙂
I will be linking this on my blog so that other people can see what this is about. Thanks for reviewing this book, reading the review made my night.
Kris
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I would love a copy.
Okay guys, sorry to be picking the winner later than I promised (4rth of july weekend and all!), but I used the random number generator and the winner is #22 Kris! Congratulations 🙂
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It’s amazing
Great review and interview! Rats, I would have loved a copy of this book. I added a link to your review on the ARC Challenge site on my blog.
Just wanted to let you know that I mentioned your review in my review of this book. (Click here to see my review.) Unfortunately, I didn’t like the book as much as everyone else seems to have!
Aero- I def agree 🙂
Teddy- thanks!
aviannschild- I’ll check yours out.
When I initially commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I recieve 4 emails with the same comment. There has to be a means you are able to remove me from that service? Many thanks!|
under what name did you comment? I can try to do that.