Business Talk - The Book

AUDIO BUSINESSTALK

THE BOOK

In this phone call, a book writer, James Hargreaves, is phoning up his publisher to talk about possible future projects. He is speaking to his literary agent, Sandra Blower. Listen to the conversation and answer these two questions:

1. What is James’ prison book about? 2. Why doesn’t Sandra want to produce another book with

James?

Sandra: Sandra Blower here. Who’s speaking? James: Hi, it’s James here. How’s it going? Sandra: Oh, James. Great to hear from you. How can I help? James: I sent in a few book proposals a couple of weeks ago. Did you get a chance to have a look at them? Sandra: Yes, of course. (sound of shuffling papers) Just remind me what they were about… James: Well, there was that idea for a book on prison cuisine. Sandra: Erm, yes, erm… James: You know, the one where we get prisoners to cook their favourite food in prison, using just the basic ingredients. The book would include colour photos of their creations. There could be a spin-off TV show too. Sandra: Erm, yes, I think I’ll have to think about that one. What were the other ideas? James: Famous toilets. Sandra: And that was? James: A book full of nice, colour photos of toilets that famous people have sat on. Sandra: No, I’m sorry, but that’s an awful idea. James: OK, OK, bear with me here. What about “Computer World”. It’d be photos showing how computers have changed over the past ten years. Sandra: No, no. Stop! Look, we’ve done one book together, The Concise History of 17th-Century Chairs and, frankly, sales were pretty poor. And right now, we’re not prepared to launch any more of your ideas. James: Please! I really need the work. I’ve just bought a new house… Sandra: Look, we’re not a charity, and we don’t owe you a living. James: I’ve got lots of other ideas for other kinds of books. Sandra: Such as? James: I’ve got one called A Tale of Two Medium-sized Towns. Sandra: Would this by any chance be similar to Charles Dickens’ book, A Tale of Two Cities? James: Oh, erm, yes. But it’s about time a new version came out. Sandra: And how would your version be different? James: There’d be photos. Sandra: No, no. Look, I’m always prepared to listen to your ideas, but so far not a single one of your projects has interested me. I suggest you take your ideas somewhere else. James: I will. And don’t come crying to me when my master novel, The Grapes of Goth, becomes an international bestseller. Sandra: No, I won’t. Goodbye. James: Bye.

Exercise

1. Did you get a chance to have a look ______ them? 2. The book would include colour photos _________ their creations. 3. OK, bear ________ me here. 4. Computers have changed __________ the past ten years. 5. It’s about time a new version came ___________ .

G L O S S A R Y

a chance n an opportunity a spin-off TV show n a television show that is based on a book or other product bear with me exp please wait a minute pretty poor adj quite bad to launch vb if a product is “launched”, it is put on the market so people can buy it we don’t owe you a living exp Literally, “we are not responsible for you”. A “living” is the money you earn every month to come out phr vb if a product “comes out” on the market, it is on the market so people can buy it don’t come crying to me exp “don’t come back to me later when you need me because I will reject you”