The French Exchange Whale by Cal King – Book Review
The French Exchange Whale by Cal King – Book Review
The French Exchange Whale
and Other Rejected Book Ideas
Author – Cal King
Publisher – Hodder & Stoughton
Pages – 176
Released – 21st September 2017
ISBN-13 – 978-1473661127
Format – ebook, paperback
Reviewer – Stacey
I received a free copy of this book
Post Contains Affiliate Links
It’s said that everyone has a book inside them. Cal King doesn’t have just one though; he’s bursting with ideas for everything from children’s books to (in his mind) prize-winning novels.
Unfortunately for Cal, his ideas are all a bit silly. However, refusing to be deterred by rejections from publishers and agents (or the laughter of his girlfriend) he managed to secure a meeting at a top publisher and arrived at their London offices with a head full of dreams and a folder full of concepts.
At the end of the meeting (during which the editor seemed to have the most terrible cough) it was gently suggested that Cal compile his pitches into a collection of ‘terrible book ideas’ for the joke book market. Slightly hurt by this suggestion, but driven by a desperate and all-consuming need for approval, he agreed. And here it is . . .
Review
Cal King is a wanna-be-author, well, I suppose seeing as I’m reviewing this book then that ambition has been achieved, but I would hazard a guess this isn’t how he envisaged his first book to be. You see Cal is a man with a very vivid, and what I would call strange or bizarre, imagination.
Over the years he has come up with lots of ideas for books, including: ‘Nun Taken’ – A crime fighting Nun that is kidnapped, ‘This Towel Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of us’ – A story of swimming twins who, now they are older decide that they should stop sharing the same towel, ‘The 100m Sloth’ – A sloth who wants to win the 100m race at the 2020 World Championships. I could go on.
The French Exchange Whale, is a collection of all the ideas that he sent to the publishers that were rejected (I would love to of been in the publisher’s offices when Cal’s letters arrived). Upon reading his outlandish plot summaries I did wonder who I felt more sorry for, Cal receiving rejection after rejection, or the publishers having to read his work – sorry Cal.
I have to say though that with a bit (okay a lot) of tweaking some of his ideas may just work – ‘The Family Tree’ being one of them, if he removed the actual tree from the plot!
Alongside Cal’s ideas are amusing illustrations by Sean Bright, which did heighten the laugh out loud factor. The book is highly amusing (is this what you were aiming for Cal?), but it also lacked the one thing I was hoping to see – the rejection letters. I do wonder if these would be as humorous at the plot ideas.
This book is a fun, short read, and certainly different from anything I have ever read before. It would make a great gift, maybe for Christmas (well, this is what it was intended for).
In all seriousness, it is a great book of wacky ideas that made me giggle, and was fully enjoyable from beginning to end.
Reviewed by Stacey
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Cal and I work in digital marketing at a TV broadcaster here in the UK.
I love to write and make things as well as poking my camera where it isn’t wanted.
As frustrating as writing and publishing are, the ‘writers writing about wannabe writers’ theme has been overdone, to the extent I do a big eye roll when I read about this in any book. So not for me today.
I know what you mean. This was just a whole book of plot summaries that he came up with. They are hilarious plots but were never going to see the light of day in any novel form.
great review
I’ve never read a book like this, but it sounds hilarious to hear all his ideas.
I like a book that makes me laugh. Sometimes it’s just great to take a break from thinking when I read.
Sound great, I’ll be adding to my TBR!
OMG – A book about crime-fighting Nun who is kidnapped and titled Nun Taken – Golden! Made me smirk!
I wonder if this could be a good source for writing prompts for like a high school or college creative writing class…I mean, not that I’d be taking or teaching either of those things, but that’s the first thing I thought of reading your review.
I got confused at some point but am I to understand that this is a story within a story? Those always confuse my soul because it is used as an excuse to get away with bad grammar and such. I will look into this but I doubt i will read it.
The book is filled from front to back with the authors ideas for lots of different books. Each page includes the title, tagline and the synopsis. Just lots of weird book ideas.
Thank you Ashleigh. Glad you like it.
Thank you for your comment. It certainly is a funny book.
Thank you Terri. Then you would love this book.
Thank you Bella. Good to hear you are adding it to you TBR list.
Thank you DJ, It is certainly is a strange and good fun book.
Thank you Katie. Good that the review made you reminisce.