Five Questions with Author Tabitha Carvan
We do actually talk about Benedict Cumberbatch
Tabitha Carvan wrote one of my favorite nonfiction books of the year, This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something — Anything — Like Your Life Depends on It.
As I wrote in my review of it, “Carvan had two young kids at home and was struggling to prioritize her writing career when she discovered the “Sherlock” star. She quickly devoured his entire filmography, began reading about him obsessively and joined fan sites to discuss the actor with other “Cumberbitches.” Her fascination concerns her, but she ultimately decides to embrace this thing that is bringing her such joy, even if it is a little odd. The essays explore topics ranging from identity and motherhood to online fandom cultures. Through it all the message is love what you love, even if it’s not cool.”
It's hard for me to explain exactly how much I loved this book. At times, I felt that Carvan was in my brain, putting words to stray thoughts I’ve had, so I was thrilled when she agreed to chat (from Australia!). Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How did This is Not Book About Benedict Cumberbatch come about?
It took me a long time to develop a regular writing practice, outside of blogging. I was always a blogger and when we moved to Vietnam, I developed a a broader writing portfolio.
When we came back to Canberra, as I described in the book, I felt ‘I’m finally a writer, not just someone who works in communications and blogs.’ I’d just had two children and it was the worst time to develop a writing career.
It took the Benedict Cumberbatch obsession to make space to start writing again in this new context. I applied to a national book writing program and at the end of that program, you get to meet publishers and agents. It’s through that program that I was able to get connected with an agent.
I love how the book’s title and structure work together. Each chapter is an essay about something — mothers, obsession, fear, guilt. How did you land on that?
The title was there from the very beginning. I started writing an essay called “This is Not a Story About Benedict Cumberbatch.” It featured some older women about being older fan girls. It was in the process of writing that essay that I thought ‘Oh, this is something much bigger,’ and I repurposed the title to This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch.
The chapter titles started as a placeholder to remind myself of where I was in the context of writing the story, but I came to realize they were extremely helpful in guiding the reader trying to understand what it is they're reading.
Because the title has “not about” in the title, it’s a huge act of faith for the reader to dive in, without knowing what it’s about — whether it’s an essay collection, a memoir, a humor book or a feminist sociological study. The chapter titles and the section titles are my way of saying to the reader ‘Trust me. This is about something you know, even if it seems like a random collection of thoughts. It is about something and it’s going somewhere. We’re going on a journey together if you allow me to hold your hand.’
Has Benedict Cumberbatch read your book?
Not as far as I know. He has seen the book. Someone handed him their copy of the book to sign at an event in the U.K. and he wrote a very funny message, saying it was the first he heard of it.
He made some kind-of funny jokes about how he'd like to read it, which is a very Cumberbatchian response. But as far as I know, he has not read it.
What’s the response from Cumberbatch fans been?
I don’t want to speak on behalf of the entire Cumberbatch community because everyone's experiences are different. But it seems that people are very, very happy with the result of how they’ve been represented. So have people from other fandoms who have contacted me to say they feel validated by this representation of their community and their experiences, even if the object of their fascination is something quite different.
Any books you want to recommend?
I want to recommend two fan-girl books. The first is actually called Fangirls. It’s by Hannah Ewens, a British music journalist. It’s amazing and does an excellent job of showing the individual people beyond the fan girl persona. The second book is Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands by Maria Sherman. My kids don’t know who New Kids on The Block are, but they know that is a sacred text.
Thanks to Tabitha for chatting with me. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram and purchase her book here.
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Great interview! I really enjoyed Tabitha’s book. And Fangirls is so good and should be much more well known and widely read. I recommend to people all the time!