Fiction

[poliphilo]

I didn't do any work on the book yesterday. I must try and do some today. I'm revising it, and that is relatively easy but not much fun. You don't get the adrenalin-rush of being carried away by story.

I write novels. But I don't read novels. Not any more. I'm forcing myself to read the Color Purple, but it doesn't do anything for me. I can't really explain this. Maybe I've reached saturation point; I read all the GREAT novels when I was a kid, and now there's nothing left worth bothering with. Or maybe it's just that, having learned the tricks of the trade, I'm no longer fooled by other people's illusions.

Someone asked Stevie Smith what poetry she read. She gave a feline smile and said, "why, only my own."

But I love the movies. That's how I get my fiction ration these days.

Comments

[balirus.livejournal.com]

The movie is always better than the book..., well, for pornography anyway.

[archyena.livejournal.com]

I used to read fiction voraciously, but now I find that I have limited use for almost all fiction. It's strange really, but I figure it's about like your former statement: I've read almost everything worth reading, understood it, and gotten everything that can be usefully gained from it for now.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

I have been jumping back and forth between works of old and the undead authors. Here Kitty Kitty put me in such a terrible mood that I almost didn't finish it.

I'm glad I did, though. I need to start finishing what I start. I never had this problem with books, but I would hate to start. I just now have started reading The Mystified Magistrate and other farces by de Sade, which I think is simply delightful fun.

I don't know whether all the great books are written, whether we change so radically in taste from youth to adulthood, or whether as writers we eventually figure out too many parts of the process, but there is nothing like finding a particular author that moves you.

If I bump into anything particularly amazing, I shall let you know. You let me know about movies worth renting. I am very behind in terms of films--any help is welcome (especially from you, since you obviously possess such good taste)!