Some time ago I announced that I was beginning on a new project. It is now time to tell you about it, and to ask for your help.
It will not be a huge surprise for you to learn that I intend to convert the blog posts known as "The Congo Memoirs" into a book. I have contracted with an agent, and I am currently writing a proposal for the book.
Over the last couple of months, I've also been working on the problem of the book's overall structure, and considering what else it will contain besides the 28 existing Congo Memoirs. Oh, and I should mention right away: This is not a memoir. The very first thing my agent said to me when we met was "... please don't use the 'M' word again. Thank you..."
So far, this is what I've got:
1) There are a bunch of individual stories that I held back when writing the Congo Mem....oomph .. ah ... Stories. The Congo Stories. I'm adding them in.
2) That set of stories was actually the second time I'd been to the Semliki. By also describing the first, much shorter, visit I can talk more about the regional cultures, geography, ecology, etc.
3) I am including a healthy dose of the science that was going on, which I largely glossed in the blog posts.
Many of you have very kindly said that I should do this. Others have presumably thought this without saying it. Still more have, I assume, been hoping I won't. But to those of you who are behind me on this, I thank you for your encouragement, and now I ask for your help.
This is a work of non-fiction (plus or minus) so ultimately I will not be the only one deciding what goes in it. My agent has already made excellent suggestions and the publisher, if we get a publisher, will have input as well. But in this case, you as future readers of this book can have meaningful input early on in the process. Tell me what you like, don't like, what there should be more of, less of. Throw me your two cents and I promise you they won't go to waste.
And, since this is not going to be called "The Congo Mem....oomph .. ah ... Stories" I need a title. I need a title that will be used for the book proposal I'm writing now. If it is a good title, it may stick. Or it might go away.
Which one of you has my title?????
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
How about Moby Dick...I've always liked that title.
Posted by: Cain | July 17, 2009 4:42 PM
I was just thinking "Drums along the Congo," but I see someone else already wrote that book.
Posted by: Virgil Samms | July 17, 2009 4:54 PM
How about; The Congo - Stories, Definitely Not Memoirs....
When my brain isn't all mushy from the overstuffing of this last week of several fucking tests, I may have a better suggestion...
Call of the Congo.....
Posted by: DuWayne | July 17, 2009 4:55 PM
Congo Memoirs seems a perfectly cromulent title, but if your agent disagrees ...
I don't know whether you would consider tipping your hat to Hallet appropriate (e.g. "Zaire Kitabu") so passing on to alternatives, possibly "Semliki Days" (I fear that there's some allusion there that I don't recognise).
Posted by: alias Ernest Major | July 17, 2009 5:07 PM
I'm thinking the title, and cover, should play up the bad old "memoirs of a great white hunter in a benighted savage land" schtick. Title: DOWN THE [insert suitable name-of-river here] WITH GUN AND CAMERA. The typography of the cover (logo, blurbs, etc) should be reminiscent of those Days Gone By... and the cover image should have the *superficial appearance* of something in the neighborhood of "white man enlightens the savages", while at the same time, anybody who looks at the details will see that it *really* depicts a bunch of normal (and black-skinned) folk tryna save a white doofus from some idiotic mess that *he (the white doofus) himself* is fully responsible for.
Posted by: Cubist | July 17, 2009 5:17 PM
In the Congo, what could Wrongo now?
Posted by: R. Barber | July 17, 2009 5:17 PM
Beyond the Beer Line: Anthopology in the Congo
Posted by: qbsmd | July 17, 2009 5:19 PM
I'm glad to see there'll be a book. Count on me for at least a couple copies and touting you as a "local author" to a few Capital District independent booksellers and the Albany Public Library.
Please do keep the overall "storytelling" tone, but I'm pleased to see that there'll be more culture, geography and science content too.
Title possibilities -- hmmm. , Prester John and Heart of Darkness are already taken. How about Surviving Research in the Congo?
BTW, if you want an experienced, free set of additional eyes for proofreading, just ask.
Posted by: chezjake | July 17, 2009 5:22 PM
I think the "Behind the Beer Line" approach is a good one.
Posted by: OmegaMom | July 17, 2009 5:26 PM
For a Few Bottles More
Posted by: Rob | July 17, 2009 5:37 PM
"What I did on my Holidays"
?
Posted by: Stephenk | July 17, 2009 5:43 PM
Including a map (a little better than the ones that already appear) would be very useful in keeping track of all the places that are mentioned.
Posted by: John | July 17, 2009 5:45 PM
Congo Bongo!
Posted by: Comrade PhysioProf | July 17, 2009 5:47 PM
CPP: Do you know what "bongo" means? It actually depends on what language because the same work appears in KiNguana as well as Lingala. Totally different meanings, both potentially appropriate. It's meaning in KiLese is not appropriate.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 17, 2009 6:12 PM
What about, "I Personally Elected Al Franken to the Senate While Writing This Book!"
The title alone will assure a place in the NYT Best Sellers.
I wud be honord to prufreed the draf 4 u.
Posted by: JL | July 17, 2009 6:46 PM
"Beyond the Beer Line" may be consrued as a horror book, perhaps "Never Mind the Maginot Line."
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | July 17, 2009 7:25 PM
Whatever else you choose as your title, "Behind the Beer Line" must be the subtitle.
Posted by: Jason Thibeault | July 17, 2009 7:25 PM
"Congo Chronicle"? "Considering the Congo"?
"What was I thinking? My journey into the Congo."
Posted by: Stacy | July 17, 2009 7:33 PM
"Running Shoes and Large Tents"
"Respect for the Hippos"
"Digging the Congo"
Posted by: D. C. Sessions | July 17, 2009 7:38 PM
"Respect for the Hippos: Bongo in the Congo"
Posted by: DuWayne | July 17, 2009 7:40 PM
Congolian Sketches
Posted by: CalderaGal | July 17, 2009 7:45 PM
write it first title will evolve
Posted by: CalderaGal | July 17, 2009 7:47 PM
"Heart of Twilight, The Prequil"
"Jungle Tails"
"Out of Congo"
"Monkeys in the Mist"
This is a natural for me: I live near Canoga Park, California which of course everybody pronounces: "Congo Park."
Posted by: eigenvector | July 17, 2009 7:54 PM
"Congo: the underwear of death"
Posted by: george.w | July 17, 2009 8:08 PM
Ummm...how 'bout The Congo Compendiumumum?
Posted by: Adrian Thysse, FCD | July 17, 2009 8:10 PM
*squee*
Exciting! I'm so happy that you're really doing this. I definitely agree with chezjake that your story telling tone is always wonderfully thrilling to read, please keep it.
For a title, hmm.
"Never forget the Empties." ? Or your title for one of the actual posts "The Lion that ate the Earthwatcher." was a good one.
Posted by: Jodi | July 17, 2009 8:19 PM
I haven't the faintest idea what it actually means in those languages. All I know is that it is used in English to refer to a cool-ass fucking drum.
Posted by: Comrade PhysioProf | July 17, 2009 8:45 PM
"Heart of Darkness, Part 2", obviously.
Posted by: Nathan Myers | July 17, 2009 9:13 PM
Return To Our Roots - A White Man's Journey Through The Congo
Fox News Sucks - Why They Are Neither Fair Nor Balanced and My Journey Through The Congo
Lost Cities Discovered - My Journey Through The Congo
Congo Caravan - My Journey Through The Congo
Naked Prey - My Return To The Congo
Buy My Book! Lessons From The Congo
Conga Lines and Congo Tries - A Scientist Discovers The Real Africa
Obama Goes To Ghana - I Go To The Congo
...so what do I win again?
Posted by: J-Dog | July 17, 2009 10:07 PM
King Kongo: Beyond the Beer Line.
Whether or not the book takes off, the game rights should be worth something...
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | July 17, 2009 10:08 PM
"The Hippos Will Kick Your Ass, Michele Bachmann"
"Greg Laden and the Fire Ants"
"Greg Laden Writes The Congo"
"The Evolution of Greg Laden in the Congo"
"The Definitive Congo Book For Young People"
"I Forgot the Sunscreen: My Journeys to the Congo"
Posted by: Monica | July 17, 2009 10:55 PM
Hmm ... structure ...
I know ... yes, it is a crazy idea. Structure the stories like those kids adventure books where the reader gets to choose what the hero does. Typical decision point is something like, 'you come to a river. There is a boat with an outboard motor. You:
1) cross river and ignore boat Turn to page 55.
2) get into boat and go upstream. Turn to page 85.
3 get into boat and go downstream. Turn to page 37
It would be interesting to read and write.
You can include multiple time lines, what you did last time, what you did the time before, and what you might have done into a combined liminal state like Schrodinger's cat with more choices. You can have multiple endings. With each being equally true from slightly different perspectives.
It would be an interesting foil to explore the nuances of the African experience where different people, having different expectations and views can share experiences but produce widely divergent story lines. It also provides a mechanism that blurs the event enough that people written about, possibly even the author, cannot be prosecuted or blamed for events.
The final product will, despite the non-linear structure, more closely resemble reality in that multiple readers will be able to see and experience the human reality in such places where hero and villain, observer and participant, past and present, all exist at once.
Reading your "Congo Memoirs" posts I got the feeling that the nuanced, multifaceted, looping and interlocking story line would support such a radial structure. I would buy it.
Posted by: Art | July 17, 2009 11:52 PM
Ape Studies Apes
Posted by: Mikey | July 18, 2009 12:42 AM
Greg, I have no snappy titles but you did ask for general feedback. I think including more about the actual customs of the people in the various areas you were living in (esp. the Efe) would be great -- I was really interested in that so would have loved more coverage.
Although I'll probably still buy it even if was just a printout of your blog posts...
Posted by: Michael | July 18, 2009 12:55 AM
Another vote for "Beyond the Beer Line".
Posted by: Susannah | July 18, 2009 1:32 AM
I also like "Beyond the Beer Line". It's such a great illustration of Congo reality.
Posted by: Katkinkate | July 18, 2009 3:12 AM
If you can't use "Memoirs" (why not?), how about "Diaries"?
Posted by: Nemo | July 18, 2009 6:50 AM
"Everything You've Always Wanted To Know About The Congo But Were Afraid To Ask"
Posted by: debunk | July 18, 2009 7:12 AM
MOAR Mishunariez!
I also vote for "Beyond the Beer Line" and expect lots of pictures.
And, more about the people you worked with and studied if they are retribution-proof by now
Posted by: Tsu Dho Nimh | July 18, 2009 9:08 AM
Beyond the Beer Line: Anthopology in the Congo
"Beyond the Beer Line : An Anthopologist in the Congo" would work better, although I would replace "An Anthropologist" with something less likely to scare people away.
(now we could say we don't want the kind of person who would be scared by long sciency words in the first place, but that book would be really awesome and I think it should get into everybody's hands)
"Lines of the Congo" maybe ? A bit boring. "Beyond the Beer Line" is really good, it's just begging for a subtitle or something.
"The Lion, the Hippo and the Anthropologist : Beyond the Beer Line in the Congo."
Posted by: Caravelle | July 18, 2009 10:14 AM
I would say "the story of wally the waterbuck". The whole thing really does revolve around him.
Posted by: Andrew | July 18, 2009 10:31 AM
I second Caravelle -- "The Lion, the Hippo and the Anthropologist : Beyond the Beer Line in the Congo" is an excellent and compelling title. Much better than witches and wardrobes!
Posted by: Jason Thibeault | July 18, 2009 11:04 AM
Quick note: I originally used "Congo" in "Congo Memoirs" because I was concerned that people were not thinking about "Zaire" and I originally intended to make a connection between the modern issues in DR Congo and my experiences in the old country. But the word Zaire is certainly up for grabs.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 18, 2009 11:40 AM
The reason the "M" word is not to be uttered is because the market is flooded with "M's" (as it often is, I suspect) yet publishers are more wary of them because of things like (but not limited to) a million little pieces guy who personally chose to change the rules of memoir writing in a way that pissed everybody off and ruined it for everyone.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 18, 2009 11:45 AM
"Anthropologist to Zaire" with an alphabetical theme? Obviously chapter 2 would be "Beer."
Posted by: D. C. Sessions | July 18, 2009 12:00 PM
"Congo" Wait, Crighton took that, didn't he. How about "Congo: Bigger, Longer, Uncut"? Shoot, been done already. Let's try "There and Back Again: An Anthropologists Holiday". See, this is why I'm not a writer. I seem to have a distinct lack of originality.
Posted by: CyberLizard | July 18, 2009 12:49 PM
Bathing with Hippos? Congo Storms? Shop Zaire?
Posted by: Stephanie Z | July 18, 2009 1:00 PM
"Not Quite in the Missionary's Position: The Anthropologist Beyond the Beer Line"?
Or: "Research Beyond the ..."
Like? Probably depends on whether you'd want to get into the mission activity there.
Posted by: Ben Breuer | July 19, 2009 8:39 AM
"Heart of Ligntness: African Anthropology Beyond the Beer Line"
Posted by: Joe M. | July 19, 2009 2:42 PM
Another vote for including "Beyond the Beer Line" in the title somewhere.
Posted by: cicely | July 19, 2009 7:23 PM
Joe: That title is a lock in for a chapter or a magazine article for sure.
There actually is a problem with the beer line tag that I'll explain at another time.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 19, 2009 8:46 PM
Missionary Impossible: Tales of hippos, hypotheses and hypocrites
Posted by: Jim B | July 19, 2009 10:36 PM
"African Nights." People will pick it up to see if there's anything about sex in it. "Congo nights"?
Titles can't be copyrighted, so you can use a title that's been used before; works with the same title are distinguished by author.
Never mind: "Congo--beyond the beer line" sounds better.
Posted by: Monado, FCD | July 20, 2009 1:33 AM
Halfway Through the Dark Continent
Posted by: henry Harpending | August 3, 2009 7:14 PM
That's pretty good Henry.
Posted by: Greg Laden | August 3, 2009 7:17 PM