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Novel examines conflict between art and pop culture
Any addiction, even one to books, can be dangerous. And Thomas Friesen, the central character in Shelf Monkey by first-time novelist Corey Redekop, is an addict. He works at a mega bookstore and becomes involved in a plot to stop the erosion of readers' minds -- a phenomenon caused by the obsessive popularity of a talk show host and his book club.
"I worked in one of the name big box bookstores a few years ago," says Redekop, who is a librarian and freelance writer in Thompson, Manitoba. "Oprah's book club was at its peak, and many employees and I became frustrated with customers who refused to purchase anything other than what Oprah told them to read," says Redekop.
"It was kind of a running joke, and I had this idea of taking revenge somehow. Shelf Monkey grew from that urge."
Besides maintaining the energetic and entertaining flow of the book, Redekop had to ensure that the publication dates of all of the books mentioned in the novel -- and there are many -- worked in the timeline of the story. "I had to rewrite certain scenes a number of times to make sure that there were no glaring errors, such as, 'You set your novel in 2004, yet Elmore Leonard didn't write The Hot Kit until 2005."
Redekop's love of books has definitely influenced his career path. "I became a librarian for the same reasons that I wrote Shelf Monkey: a love of literature. Being around books always cheers me up, even though it depresses me that there is so much I will never read."
However, being a newly published novelist has changed Redekop's perspective somewhat in the other kinds of writing he does, particularly reviewing books for the Winnipeg Free Press.
"I am suddently painfully aware of how much work an author puts into every book. I always strive never to be malicious and to seek out something good, no matter how awful I feel the novel is. But if a novel, in my opinion lacks merit, I won't hesitate to say so."
Redekop is sometimes surprised by people's comments. "My main drive to write the book was to make myself laugh; anything I get beyond that is gravy," he says.
"But I have already been astonished at what others have read into my story. One astute individual pointed out that my protagonist Thomas becomes torn between two people, both of whom are wearing psychological masks. To be honest, I never noticed the parallel, but I love that someone else did."
And while Redekop hopes that Shelf Monkey, which grew out of the three-day novel contest, will entertain readers, with any luck, it will get them reading more. "Maybe they take away an idea to read another novel," he says.
"If they hate it, well, that's okay, too -- at least they read it."
Paula E. Kirman is a freelance writer, editor, and photographer in Edmonton. She edits two community newspapers, Boyle McCauley News and Our Voice Street Magazine, and is a long-time contributor to Prairie books NOW.
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