The homesman book plot ideas

All these details are clues in identifying the title and author of the book. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. This book, the homesman, caught my eye at costco because of the cover. Three women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across. Sure, i have a few of my own already but by using some of the avenues that you have mentioned, i can bring those ideas into more focus. In fact she was one of four women staking claims alone. A man on death row holds the key to saving the world. Instead, look for writing ideas you can be passionate about ones that are meaningful to you, that you will have fun working with, that you can feel proud to have written. In historical fiction, the fictional story line often symbolically reflects the plot s reallife setting. Im reminded of the two characters in the african queen where a stiffbacked lady katherine hepburn finds herself in the company of a man of similar lowrepute humphrey bogart.

Its an award winning, inventive and enjoyable book, and the plot is ripped right out of the jungle book gaiman has more or less said so himself. If you have a chance to see the homesman, do check it out. But, the first and last times she speaks in the film, shes proposing to a man who turns her down. The first two acts of the homesman are as ungainly and interesting as its main characters. Hilary swank, tommy lee jones shine in the homesman the. Finding a book when youve forgotten its title the new york. At the bottom of the page, youll find links to hundreds of other story starters and prompts. I purchased the book on amazon cheaper and read it in about three sittings. The film stars jones and hilary swank and also features meryl streep, grace gummer, miranda otto, hailee steinfeld, john lithgow, and james spader. One way to open your mind up to great novel writing ideas is to think about stories other people have written that you have felt most passionate about. The homesman is a 2014 historical period drama set in the 1850s midwest, directed by tommy lee jones. Phil scadden, soh kam hung, and i invented a new format for the books which makes it possible to convert them to html format.

One of swarthouts skeletons, the old colts, the melodeon, etc. John freeman because of its limited distribution, i was lucky to catch this at our local art theatre. Adapted from a novel by glendon swarthout that i will soon be devouring, the homesman is an unflinching tale of madness and survival in the fruitless, foodless, and mostly heartless grasslands of. It situates the model of a strong female character alongside three other women who are exploited for suspense and shock value, places convincingly iconoclastic figures in triedandtrue western tropes, and manages to project a consistency of vision.

Choose a historical event, then craft a fictional plot that. Finding a book when youve forgotten its title the new. With tommy lee jones, hilary swank, grace gummer, miranda otto. It may take time to absorb the sorrow of the homesman, to appreciate the odd rhythms and jarring surprises of its plot and to grasp its unsettling ideas about the american west and the. Nov 14, 2014 these are deeply suggestive ideas, and when the homesman works best it teeters around in that morally ambiguous territory. May 18, 2014 actordirector tommy lee jones said that his new film, the homesman, set during the mid19th century western expansion of the united states, was about american imperialism across the continent. This is when a lot of writers give up and file their halffinished manuscripts into a bottom drawer never to be seen again. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Robert belew the fact that this story made a hard left turn is what set it apart. The homesman doesnt play things safe, and thats a welcome change. Tommy lee jones women are objectified and trivialised. The homesman stars hilary swank and tommy lee jones the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Why hilary swank breaks your heart in the homesman.

Hilary swank and tommy lee jones star in the homesman, joness second directorial effort, after 2005s the three burials of melquiades estrada. Three women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by the pious, independentminded mary bee cuddy, who in turn. Which makes sense of the fact that settler state of oregon was the first to give women the vote. In the homesman, a most unromantic american west hilary swank and tommy lee jones play two very different people taking a dangerous trip across the arid plains in a beautifully photographed film. The plot was recognizable if you looked for it, but it didnt read like plagiarism, rather a respectful homage. It is a reverse trajectory of the typical western path, the wildness of the prairies and plains reverting, startlingly, to a tame village perched on the edge of the placid missouri river. Hailed as a feminist western by some, the homesman only is. In the homesman, why did mary bee hang herself screenprism.

In pioneer nebraska, a woman leads where no man will go soon to be a major motion picture directed by tommy lee jones, the homesman is a devastating story of early. In markus zuzaks the book thief, for example, young liesels desire for the knowledge found in books is pitted against the widespread censorship and propaganda of nazi germany. Cudy was unique in struggling to manage a claim alone without a husband. In the homesman 2014, mary bee hilary swank was the antithesis of a regular woman in 1850. Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. Hilary swank, tommy lee jones shine in the homesman. The idea of throwing a feminist and a curmudgeon on a road trip is inspired.

In the homesman, mary bee and briggs travel across the plains, a pious spinster and an ornery rascal towing. The homesman is a thoroughly depressing experience with little energy. Buy a discounted paperback of homesman online from australias leading online bookstore. I want to thank you for giving me ideas on how to get more ideas. Soon to be a major film directed by and starring tommy lee jones and costarring meryl streep, hilary swank, and john lithgow, this classic western novel captures the devastating realities of early frontier life through the eyes of one extraordinary woman. Sometimes the risks pay off, sometimes they dont, but the feeling of risk infuses the film with chaos, humor, violence, beauty. It was a what an odd and ultimately disappointing read this was. A modernday hitler carries out his plan to murder every single person under the age of 22 in the world. Why the homesman is an unusual western a rare look at the trials of a pioneer woman watch a clip from the film the homesman starring tommy. Set on the great plains in the mid1800s, the homesman aims for a story thats poignant and told sparely, but comes across as mawkish, tedious and selfindulgent. Readers will keep reading to find out if the character achieves his or. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the homesman.

So reader doesnt have to go through paragraphs of content to figure out by reading one sentence preferably stated in the beginning of plot section and then state the. The list below gives the first 12 plot twist ideas, examples, and the expected questions readers will. They too were on a dangerous journey though good as it was the homesman is an infinitely superior piece of work. In pioneer nebraska, a woman leads where no man will go soon to be a major motion picture. The homesman by glendon swarthout author website summary. The homesman the homesman audiobook, by glendon swarthout. First, pin down everything you can remember about the book, plot, character names, time period in which the book may have been published, genre, etc. The homesman book lawrence public library bibliocommons. The homesman is a 2014 historical drama set in the 1850s midwest, directed by tommy lee jones. Best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics gift cards. Book writing tips writing prompts for writers picture writing prompts creative writing prompts dystopian story ideas story plot ideas writing romance a writers life books for teens supplication. Homesman by glendon swarthout 9781476754260 booktopia.

She could plow, she could shoot, and she wasnt afraid to take on duties that other men shied away from. A homesman must be found to escort a handful of them back east to a sanitarium. Its a film thats well acted, has mature ideas and an authentic feel, yet features a. Three women who have been driven mad by pioneer life are to be transported across the country by covered wagon by the pious, independentminded mary bee cuddy, who in turn employs lowlife drifter george briggs to assist her. Soon to be a major film directed by and starring tommy lee jones and costarring meryl streep, hilary swank, and john lithgow, this classic western novel captures the devastating realities of early pioneers in the american west through the eyes of one extraordinary woman. Dec, 2018 refresh your story with these fiction writing ideas. Bleak, dark, gritty and unwavering, the homesman takes the western genre an inputs a dramatic tragedy. Nov 14, 2014 it may take time to absorb the sorrow of the homesman, to appreciate the odd rhythms and jarring surprises of its plot and to grasp its unsettling ideas about the american west and the.

The homesman stars hilary swank and tommy lee jones. Directed and cowritten by jones, the homesman is emotionally brutal, unapologetically cynical and utterly thrilling. Its really difficult for authors to come up with a twist in a storyline whichmore the fact that this story made a hard left turn is what set it apart. Does the plot unfold slowly with a focus on character. Jan 26, 2017 but plot twists are also needed during the inbetweens. Maybe this cast alone will be all the reason you need to give the film a go. Nov, 2014 set on the great plains in the mid1800s, the homesman aims for a story thats poignant and told sparely, but comes across as mawkish, tedious and selfindulgent. I think this was a labor of love for tommy lee jones, whomore because of its limited distribution, i was lucky to catch this at our local art theatre. His characters are heartwrenchingly believable because they are drawn from truelife pioneer experiences. A killer recreates famous murders from sherlock holmes. But hang with me for a sec and exert a little patience.

The movie, freed of its schematic plot, went somewhere else, somewhere deeper. Mar 06, 1988 the homesman went off on a strange tangent and i found myself not really caring how it was going to end. Soon to be a major motion picture directed by tommy lee jones, the homesman is a devastating story of early pioneers in 1850s american west. Possibly you have the big, musthave twists, such as the inciting incident at the story s beginning, the mid story crisis in which the protagonist realizes his underlying problem, and the black moment event near the end.

Stories are more interesting when the main character wants something intensely. Complete summary of glendon swarthouts the homesman. The list below gives the first 12 plot twist ideas, examples, and the expected questions readers will have. It also boasts one of 2014s most notable ensemble casts. Here are some ideas for novels and stories to spark your imagination and help your fiction stand out. When three women living on the edge of the american frontier are driven to the brink, the task of saving them from their surroundings falls to independentminded mary bee cuddy swank. How would a bunch of people dropped into ancient r. Swarthouts prose and plot flow like the swirling missouri river, deceptively smooth but with dangerous undercurrents. Research can give you plot ideas and solve story problems for instance, if you need a reason for a character to be delayed on their way home, or a device to get your characters out of a fix. The homesman by michael sragow on november, 2014 tommy lee jones, who reached a midcareer high in the coen brothers adaptation of cormac mccarthys no country for old men and later directed mccarthys novel in dramatic form, the sunset limited, for hbo, has made a movie that declares the nebraska territory in the. The book confounds the feminist knee jerking that mary b.

Online resources can help with your search for a halfremembered book, even if all you have is a basic plot line. Lists tend to suggest an order of events and this isnt the stage to decide that. The film stars jones and hilary swank and also features meryl streep, grace gummer, miranda otto, hailee steinfeld. Jun 20, 2016 how to plot a book using your antagonist i know, i knowwhen you start plotting your book, youre undoubtedly chomping at the bit to start exploring your heros awesomeness. She employs a feisty lowlife drifter, george biggs jones, to join her.

The graveyard book by neil gaiman is another great example. Its really difficult for authors to come up with a twist in a storyline which isnt predictable and somewhat expected. A spinster pioneer hilary swank and a brokendown claim jumper tommy lee jones journey east to bring three madwomen back to civilization. Heres some ideas for stories id like to write at some point. Nov 30, 2009 the graveyard book by neil gaiman is another great example. The homesman was first printed in 1988, and is highly worthy of its 2014 rerelease. If miss meadows is tackling too little for an entire movie, tommy lee joness the homesman has to deal with far too much plot. How to steal a plot for your book and get away with it.

Buy a cheap copy of the homesman book by glendon swarthout. A freak accident at disney world leaves hundreds deadone. But plot twists are also needed during the inbetweens. The journey in tommy lee jones the homesman, based on the 1988 novel by glendon swarthout, travels from west to east, from the unmarked nebraska territory to a town in iowa. Mary bee cuddy is a 30ish spinster, tough as nails but yearning for a man, who has set up a nice homestead out near the town of loup, in oklahoma territory. I am a fan of tommy lee jones so this piqued my interest. The screenplay by jones, kieran fitzgerald and wesley oliver is based on the 1988 novel of the same name by glendon swarthout. The net book of plots online this is the combined net book of plots book versions 1 through 6. The homesman tells the story of religious homesteader mary bee cuddy played by hilary swank who hires homesman george briggs jones to.

Its an unusual story about four women who loose their minds after a hard winter in the nebraska territory in the 1850s. The homesman went off on a strange tangent and i found myself not really caring how it was going to end. Ideas for writing prompts for historical fiction pen and. Cyberpunk cyberpunk fantasy the plot uses or relies on fantasy stuff like magic or dragons. Nov, 2014 in the homesman, a most unromantic american west hilary swank and tommy lee jones play two very different people taking a dangerous trip across the arid plains in a beautifully photographed film.