When does adhering to a format become a confining box?
It's difficult to escape cliches. At this point, hearing "think outside the box" to describe innovation or creativity makes me groan. But mentally reviewing my blog format while on a long drive yesterday I found myself uttering that dreaded cliche under my breath. How to get outside my box here? Forget the questions? An occasional post with less than three paragraphs? Eliminate punctuation? Stop using spellcheck? Wow, those notions would really push the envelope, right? Talk about flying without a net.
Shit.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
A Hard Book Can Be Good To Find
"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it".
Those wise words of Flannery O'Connor are the fitting epigraph to "A Good Hard Look" (2011) by Ann Napolitano. Fitting because O'Connor herself is a central figure in this novel of power and beauty.
What was the last work of fiction you enjoyed a great deal that featured an actual person? Mine goes back 40 years - Gore Vidal's "Burr" (1973). Napolitano got me so involved in O'Connor's inner life as a writer and actual life in small town Georgia that her early death as the novel ends jarred me like a good O'Connor short story (are there any bad O'Connor short stories?). But this being a book with O'Connor as both subject and muse, a warning is in order: There is no shortage of sadness here; sometimes this can be a hard book to read. But there is also, as in O'Connor's bleakest work, redemption. And, there are plenty of luminous insights like this:
"He figured everyone had, at best, only one big story in his or her life; a story that rendered everything else a footnote".
That gem goes with Melvin Whiteson, the main fictional character, a man who ends up being O'Connor's friend in her final years. This book is full of wonderful sentences like that - it's a good find.
Those wise words of Flannery O'Connor are the fitting epigraph to "A Good Hard Look" (2011) by Ann Napolitano. Fitting because O'Connor herself is a central figure in this novel of power and beauty.
What was the last work of fiction you enjoyed a great deal that featured an actual person? Mine goes back 40 years - Gore Vidal's "Burr" (1973). Napolitano got me so involved in O'Connor's inner life as a writer and actual life in small town Georgia that her early death as the novel ends jarred me like a good O'Connor short story (are there any bad O'Connor short stories?). But this being a book with O'Connor as both subject and muse, a warning is in order: There is no shortage of sadness here; sometimes this can be a hard book to read. But there is also, as in O'Connor's bleakest work, redemption. And, there are plenty of luminous insights like this:
"He figured everyone had, at best, only one big story in his or her life; a story that rendered everything else a footnote".
That gem goes with Melvin Whiteson, the main fictional character, a man who ends up being O'Connor's friend in her final years. This book is full of wonderful sentences like that - it's a good find.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Huh?
Though loath to admit it, I have come to accept the fact that much modern poetry escapes my grasp. I also know penetrating "Finnegan's Wake" is not in my future. Even when forced to skim the more difficult sections of essays by Christopher Hitchens or David Foster Wallace, I remind myself that occasionally being out of my depth is good for me.
But being confused by a science fiction movie is deeply frustrating. Isn't this genre supposed to be mass entertainment? I'm not a modern poet, literary scholar or intellectual. But I'm fairly certain I am part of the "mass" that Hollywood is aiming to entertain with science fiction. Hell, I don't even care if a movie doesn't entertain, per se; I actually enjoyed "The Master" because I knew going in, based on the reviews, that movie wasn't supposed to necessarily add up. P.S. It also wasn't science fiction.
But in their own way, science fiction movies are supposed to at least add up, right? I'm ready to suspend my disbelief when that alien jumps out of a chest because I understand how it got there. I can throw logic out when HAL takes over or Richard Dreyfuss starts building a mud dome in his living room because later in those movies I don't feel dense.
Rocket scientists need not respond to offer any explanations for my current dilemma. Anyone else who saw "Prometheus", please do so discreetly. I'm feeling a bit insecure.
But being confused by a science fiction movie is deeply frustrating. Isn't this genre supposed to be mass entertainment? I'm not a modern poet, literary scholar or intellectual. But I'm fairly certain I am part of the "mass" that Hollywood is aiming to entertain with science fiction. Hell, I don't even care if a movie doesn't entertain, per se; I actually enjoyed "The Master" because I knew going in, based on the reviews, that movie wasn't supposed to necessarily add up. P.S. It also wasn't science fiction.
But in their own way, science fiction movies are supposed to at least add up, right? I'm ready to suspend my disbelief when that alien jumps out of a chest because I understand how it got there. I can throw logic out when HAL takes over or Richard Dreyfuss starts building a mud dome in his living room because later in those movies I don't feel dense.
Rocket scientists need not respond to offer any explanations for my current dilemma. Anyone else who saw "Prometheus", please do so discreetly. I'm feeling a bit insecure.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Stop & Continue, 2013 - Start, Again
http://reflectionsfromthebellcurve.blogspot.com/2012/01/stop-start-continue.html
Batted .666 from my first "stop-start-continue" post; I count that a success. If you joined me last January 1, how did you do this past year? And what will you stop, start and continue in 2013?
* This year I will stop looking at e-mail more than twice a day. In my final years working full time, I found this an effective way to manage time. But I've fallen out of the habit; time to re-establish it.
* And I will continue working on having to be "right" so much. Several times this year, I embarrassed myself and hurt others based on this silly pre-occupation.
The one I missed last year was to start recording my original songs, using my daughter as the vocalist. So rather than inventing a new "start" pledge for 2013, I'm renewing that.
Good luck to you & me.
Batted .666 from my first "stop-start-continue" post; I count that a success. If you joined me last January 1, how did you do this past year? And what will you stop, start and continue in 2013?
* This year I will stop looking at e-mail more than twice a day. In my final years working full time, I found this an effective way to manage time. But I've fallen out of the habit; time to re-establish it.
* And I will continue working on having to be "right" so much. Several times this year, I embarrassed myself and hurt others based on this silly pre-occupation.
The one I missed last year was to start recording my original songs, using my daughter as the vocalist. So rather than inventing a new "start" pledge for 2013, I'm renewing that.
Good luck to you & me.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The Best of 2012
Unless plans change, it could be difficult to post tomorrow so I'll use this penultimate day of 2012 for a brief retrospective of the year past. I'd welcome hearing your "Best of 2012", using my categories or better yet, your own.
* Best time away: Bike riding in Tuscany. Actually, this might be the all time favorite for this category.
* Best time with friends: An adult sleepover! Early on a Saturday the four of us worked with Habitat For Humanity. Next: Our local coffee shop, then a matinee of "Lincoln". Played some guitar, had dinner, talked into the night. Started all over Sunday morning - breakfast, sharing the Sunday NY Times, more conversation & guitar. What a gift having such an extended interaction with other people.
* Best book club meeting: Discussing "The Tattoo Artist" by Jill Ciment.
* Best concert: Tie - The Dukes of September at NYC's Beacon Theatre and Joe Jackson at the Count Basie Theater.
* Best discovery: The Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver.
* Best family event: My niece's wedding in Alexandria, dancing so long to the great live music my green shirt turned translucent.
Happy new year!
* Best time away: Bike riding in Tuscany. Actually, this might be the all time favorite for this category.
* Best time with friends: An adult sleepover! Early on a Saturday the four of us worked with Habitat For Humanity. Next: Our local coffee shop, then a matinee of "Lincoln". Played some guitar, had dinner, talked into the night. Started all over Sunday morning - breakfast, sharing the Sunday NY Times, more conversation & guitar. What a gift having such an extended interaction with other people.
* Best book club meeting: Discussing "The Tattoo Artist" by Jill Ciment.
* Best concert: Tie - The Dukes of September at NYC's Beacon Theatre and Joe Jackson at the Count Basie Theater.
* Best discovery: The Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver.
* Best family event: My niece's wedding in Alexandria, dancing so long to the great live music my green shirt turned translucent.
Happy new year!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Tangled Up In Kudzu
This bookworm is semi-evangelical when considering which books to give as gifts. There's even a taxonomy (no laughing!) of sorts in my head:
1.) A book worth discussing with others.
2.) A book worth recommending to someone vetted as a discerning reader.
3.) A book worth buying as a gift for someone I care about.
While shopping for readers in my family this season, I realized Tom Franklin's "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" (2010) had in fact ascended to level three in my taxonomy. Though I finished it almost two years ago, it has remained with me. And my wife, the person I most rely on vis-a-vis steps one and two in the taxonomy, shares my passion for Franklin's tale of two men sharing a deep history.
Novels squarely facing how black and white people in the U.S. consistently miss each other are, in my experience, pretty rare. What was the last book you read that did this well? Often, I'll turn to non-fiction when looking for this kind of reading. "Crooked Letter..." not only nails this charged subject many of us avoid, it engages a receptive reader emotionally, without cheap manipulation. This novel works in a big way because it's near impossible to remain in your head while reading it - you're compelled to examine your heart.
Now about the title of this post. If you get around to reading this wonderful book, let's talk about all the kudzu, OK? That will mean you're joining me on step one of my taxonomy. I'd welcome that.
1.) A book worth discussing with others.
2.) A book worth recommending to someone vetted as a discerning reader.
3.) A book worth buying as a gift for someone I care about.
While shopping for readers in my family this season, I realized Tom Franklin's "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" (2010) had in fact ascended to level three in my taxonomy. Though I finished it almost two years ago, it has remained with me. And my wife, the person I most rely on vis-a-vis steps one and two in the taxonomy, shares my passion for Franklin's tale of two men sharing a deep history.
Novels squarely facing how black and white people in the U.S. consistently miss each other are, in my experience, pretty rare. What was the last book you read that did this well? Often, I'll turn to non-fiction when looking for this kind of reading. "Crooked Letter..." not only nails this charged subject many of us avoid, it engages a receptive reader emotionally, without cheap manipulation. This novel works in a big way because it's near impossible to remain in your head while reading it - you're compelled to examine your heart.
Now about the title of this post. If you get around to reading this wonderful book, let's talk about all the kudzu, OK? That will mean you're joining me on step one of my taxonomy. I'd welcome that.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
My Grade (So Far): Optimism
Optimism: A disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of happenings or possibilities.
How would you grade yourself so far on this most prized of attributes? Before you answer, read that definition carefully. And try to forget the hackneyed (dare I say half-assed?) "glass half full vs. glass half empty" metaphor. That's semantics and less than half the story.
"Happenings or possibilities" from this Random House definition makes grading myself for optimism very challenging. So far, I give myself a "C-" or "D+" when it comes to the former; I seem to have significant difficulty with the "silver lining" model.
On the other hand, I'm quite likely to look at the favorable side of possibilities. On that end I'd give myself a "B+" for optimism. So, split the difference and I'm in "C+" territory. The phrase "cautious optimist" fits me, at least at present.
Given today's attribute, now seems like a good time to respond to an old friend who thinks I've been too hard on myself in this series. Beginning with "ambition" on February 23, I've graded myself (and asked you to join in) on eleven attributes. My report card to date is two "A's", one "B+", four C+'s", two "C's", one "C-", one "C-/D+" split; sorry old friend, this feels about right to me. What does your report card look like? Which of the eleven attributes needs more homework?
How would you grade yourself so far on this most prized of attributes? Before you answer, read that definition carefully. And try to forget the hackneyed (dare I say half-assed?) "glass half full vs. glass half empty" metaphor. That's semantics and less than half the story.
"Happenings or possibilities" from this Random House definition makes grading myself for optimism very challenging. So far, I give myself a "C-" or "D+" when it comes to the former; I seem to have significant difficulty with the "silver lining" model.
On the other hand, I'm quite likely to look at the favorable side of possibilities. On that end I'd give myself a "B+" for optimism. So, split the difference and I'm in "C+" territory. The phrase "cautious optimist" fits me, at least at present.
Given today's attribute, now seems like a good time to respond to an old friend who thinks I've been too hard on myself in this series. Beginning with "ambition" on February 23, I've graded myself (and asked you to join in) on eleven attributes. My report card to date is two "A's", one "B+", four C+'s", two "C's", one "C-", one "C-/D+" split; sorry old friend, this feels about right to me. What does your report card look like? Which of the eleven attributes needs more homework?
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
My Solipsistic Season
solipsism: the theory that only the self exists or can be proven to exist.
First things first. Blogging is arguably the personification of a solipsistic activity. So the line I'm about to pursue could be adding insult to injury, solipsism-wise. But here goes.
When was the last time you gave yourself a Christmas gift? Maybe you did this as recently as yesterday. Or maybe it's been a while. Me? Never, that I can recall. Now before anyone goes all sanctimoniously "spirit of the season" on me, I'm not claiming to be unselfish or looking for a martyr medal.
But I promised myself (there it goes again!) when starting this blog I'd reflect on stuff average people like me sometimes have on their minds, warts and all. So... Twas the night after Christmas and I thought of me, and buying a gift to put under the tree.
First things first. Blogging is arguably the personification of a solipsistic activity. So the line I'm about to pursue could be adding insult to injury, solipsism-wise. But here goes.
When was the last time you gave yourself a Christmas gift? Maybe you did this as recently as yesterday. Or maybe it's been a while. Me? Never, that I can recall. Now before anyone goes all sanctimoniously "spirit of the season" on me, I'm not claiming to be unselfish or looking for a martyr medal.
But I promised myself (there it goes again!) when starting this blog I'd reflect on stuff average people like me sometimes have on their minds, warts and all. So... Twas the night after Christmas and I thought of me, and buying a gift to put under the tree.
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