Sorry in advance if this isn't the right forum for this. I didn't find one that suited this question exactly.
Right now I'm helping an older man query his novel, as well as type it from it's paper and ink format. I'm about finished helping him polish it, and so next comes the query letter.
The first part reads like a novel, non-linear, but all taking place as the MC goes back to his home country, Israel, for the summer. He's just come back from finishing his degree in the States in the novel, and is in Israel visiting his family. This whole part is about his hometown, his relationships, the conflict of where he belongs, and his upcoming marriage to a French woman. There is a good mix of dialogue and prose.
The second part is later in his life, he's ill and his marriage (to the previously mentioned French woman) is falling apart, but it is written more like a stream of consciousness because of the illness and the despair of his marriage's end and his kids leaving the nest. This portion takes place in France, where he currently lives, and is more contemplative. He talks a lot about France, Israel, Romania (his birth country) and the States, as well as where he fits into all of this. This part deviates from the novel-format a little more. Some of it seem like non-fiction essays, in fact. He also uses excerpts from the history of Nathanya, Israel where he spent most of his life at the beginning of each chapter (he has permissions).
Then there's the third part, his marriage has ended and he is in the twilight of his life (the writer is in his early eighties), and they are letters to his grandson (who is three at this time). Now at an even more mature part of his life, he offers advice, tells stories, and ties everything together from parts one and two. The themes are very consistent throughout: the idea of place, culture, identity, history and how an individual navigates through all of it.
So, it's all written in the first person, approximately 70,000 words, but he has changed a handful of details: details about his parents, which University he attended, names, small details about his time at war. I'm as lost as the writer is at coming up with genre and really need help. I'm curious if any of this is automatically screams something. I've been helping with this work for some time now and may be too close to it to see a genre.
I appreciate any help!
Right now I'm helping an older man query his novel, as well as type it from it's paper and ink format. I'm about finished helping him polish it, and so next comes the query letter.
The first part reads like a novel, non-linear, but all taking place as the MC goes back to his home country, Israel, for the summer. He's just come back from finishing his degree in the States in the novel, and is in Israel visiting his family. This whole part is about his hometown, his relationships, the conflict of where he belongs, and his upcoming marriage to a French woman. There is a good mix of dialogue and prose.
The second part is later in his life, he's ill and his marriage (to the previously mentioned French woman) is falling apart, but it is written more like a stream of consciousness because of the illness and the despair of his marriage's end and his kids leaving the nest. This portion takes place in France, where he currently lives, and is more contemplative. He talks a lot about France, Israel, Romania (his birth country) and the States, as well as where he fits into all of this. This part deviates from the novel-format a little more. Some of it seem like non-fiction essays, in fact. He also uses excerpts from the history of Nathanya, Israel where he spent most of his life at the beginning of each chapter (he has permissions).
Then there's the third part, his marriage has ended and he is in the twilight of his life (the writer is in his early eighties), and they are letters to his grandson (who is three at this time). Now at an even more mature part of his life, he offers advice, tells stories, and ties everything together from parts one and two. The themes are very consistent throughout: the idea of place, culture, identity, history and how an individual navigates through all of it.
So, it's all written in the first person, approximately 70,000 words, but he has changed a handful of details: details about his parents, which University he attended, names, small details about his time at war. I'm as lost as the writer is at coming up with genre and really need help. I'm curious if any of this is automatically screams something. I've been helping with this work for some time now and may be too close to it to see a genre.
I appreciate any help!