Saturday

When a really good novel makes me want to write again...

I'm in the midst of a really, really good novel. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is one of those books that I'm enjoying so much, I'll sometimes put it down just because I don't want it to end. It also marks the first kindle book that I wish I'd purchased in "real book" form because I want it on my shelves. I currently am carrying about 20 ebooks around via the kindle app on my iphone. Some of them I would have purchased as actual books, but there's a few I probably would rather no one saw me reading. But this one is different. Sure there's a trace of my yankee white bleeding heart liberal upbringing that is angered by the subject matter (essentially the racist white southerners who hire black maids to raise their children & cook their food, but can't deign to share a bathroom with them), but I think this novel goes further than that. To a place or level of emotion that is universal. I was about 13 or 14 when I came up with the theory that at 2 o'clock in the morning, once everyone's usual social barriers are down, we can all relate to each other. And I was probably a bit older when I came up with my cheerleader broken nail theory. (ie: the tragedy of a broken nail for a cheerleader might be utterly laughable to anyone not quite so shallow, but that cheerleader's feelings about the situation are just as real and valid to her as anyone experiencing a "real" tragedy).

This novel reminds me why I had planned on being a writer for my entire childhood. I want to tell a story that hasn't been told before. I want to create characters that are so real they breathe right off of the page and people feel their struggles, triumphs and fear as if they were the closest of friends. I haven't written fiction in so many years that I almost changed the "wants" in the last sentence to "wanted". But the truth is that I do still want to write again. Someday. Yeah yeah I know, writers write. I guess I'm just a reader these days, but this novel makes me want to write.

2 comments:

-blessed holy socks, the non-perishable-zealot said...

You're EX-tremely beautiFULL. I bet guys wanna do you hard and fast in their KnowNuthin of how to gratify a precious, wonderful, adorable woman. Not me. I only wanna make love to you soft, slow, and smoooth for AT LEAST three hours, feeding you those lil oranges, baklava, purple grapes; kiss your beautiful feet in your panties as 4play, as my ManMeat gets rock solid, while I nuzzle around your beautiful tummy; then, when we're both nude, dance to a slow, soft Beethoven or Tchaikovsky and hit the showers. I will have everything for you, dear, a feather duster, lotion, soft hands to caress... as we love in different positions. Would you like that? Would that please you to be on top, slowly succumbing to the passion of sighs and moans, where we look into each others eyes and hold each other? Fabulous. Outstanding. Then! Meet me Upstairs in Heaven Above! Where we can have all this and MORE for eternity!! I LOVE YOU!! The Devil only wants to kill, steal, and destroy. So, make up thy mind who you're willing to follow. God bless you.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that his comments are way out there and this guy missed how beautiful your mind and soul are.

ted