I haven't been online in a while: computer not working, then a number of unexpected extras on my plate. I am tired of getting extras, tired of updating the blog less than I'd love to. Guess you too are tired of hearing me saying this...but believe it or not, there's nothing I can do about it - unless you expect me to sleep less than I already do (average of 5 hours a day...my mind doesn't stop unfortunately).
Anyway...here I am, so very happy of writing ...and I hope you will somehow still want to listen.
I came across Paul Auster a few months ago. A friend gave me The Invention of Solitude saying I should read that. I didn't have time so the book kept looking at me every single time I went to bed - put it there thinking I would be able to read a couple of pages before sleeping -. I finally managed to read it last night - couldn't sleep but was to tired to do everything other than relax and read -.
It's a short book, less than 200 pages, and it's divided into 2 parts: 2 narrators, 2 different perspectives. The title of the book is taken from part 2, which, I guess, was supposed to be the best/more interesting. Is it really so? Would love to have feedback from you. IMHO it is not. In fact, Part one is challenging and so very emotional. Part two is boring, a summa of quotes, bits and pieces from several authors. Some are very interesting but the whole thing is way too "croweded" if you allow me.
The book has a very powerful beginning: a son having to deal with the death of his father, a man he did not really know because they were never that close and did not live together (his parents were divorced). Still, his father, a man he's just beginning to know via the objects in the big house, full of absolutely everything.
How would you feel for a man who was by name your father but not by heart, not the way a "real" or "good" father is?
The narrator doesn't seem to know. He remembers, he criticises, he feels. And it is just amazing that you, the reader, a stranger, cannot help but feeling the exact same way. I did at least. I could see the big rooms, filled with objects; I could hear the silence; I could smell death...
Death is a major character in this novel. It is the answer, the question, the connection, the solution. It is the element that makes characters "human".
Then, there is part 2. The narrator is no longer the son, it's the father this time. We get to understand him a little better than we did through his son's tale. But it does feel as if he was trying to impress the reader considering the number of quotes and the way he describes some parts of his life.
If I was to analyse the structure I would say it does make sense that part two is the last one because it is based on the father's view. Solitude is the key word in this part as well as that of the father's life and choices. I couldn't help thinking the structure of the novel seems to send some sort of message from Paul Auster: there's no hope because there's none at the end of the novel; none in the father's view (part 2) whereas part one, the son's tale, is more vivid and somehow represents light at the end of the tunnel: his son, his family, the differences between his life and that of his father. SO I'd suggest you to read part two first...
It was not my cup of tea but don't think it's bed either.
Labels: Male writers , solitude , novels , narrators
4.03.2010
3.04.2010
Die, Slowly
Hello everyone,
I don't have much time these days, for nothing basically...so I decided to take a book of poems and read at least one a week. It's a real treat!!;-)
I want to share one with you, hope you'll enjoy!
DIE SLOWLY, Pablo Neruda
He who becomes the slave of habit,
who follows the same routes every day,
who never changes pace, who does not risk and change the color of his clothes,
who does not speak and does not experience,
dies slowly.
He or she who shuns passion,
who prefers black on white,
dotting ones is rather than a bundle of emotions, the kind that make your eyes glimmer,
that turn a yawn into a smile,
that make the heart pound in the face of mistakes and feelings,
dies slowly.
He who slowly destroys his own self-esteem,
who does not allow himself to be helped,
who spends days on end complaining about his own bad luck,
about the rain that never stops,
dies slowly.
He or she who abandon a project before starting it,
who fail to ask questions on subjects he doesn't know,
he or she who don't reply when they are asked something they do know,
die slowly.
Let's try and avoid death in small doses,
always reminding oneself that being alive requires an effort by far greater than the simple fact of breathing.
Only a burning patience will lead to the attainment of a splendid happiness.
I don't have much time these days, for nothing basically...so I decided to take a book of poems and read at least one a week. It's a real treat!!;-)
I want to share one with you, hope you'll enjoy!
DIE SLOWLY, Pablo Neruda
who follows the same routes every day,
who never changes pace, who does not risk and change the color of his clothes,
who does not speak and does not experience,
dies slowly.
He or she who shuns passion,
who prefers black on white,
dotting ones is rather than a bundle of emotions, the kind that make your eyes glimmer,
that turn a yawn into a smile,
that make the heart pound in the face of mistakes and feelings,
dies slowly.
He who slowly destroys his own self-esteem,
who does not allow himself to be helped,
who spends days on end complaining about his own bad luck,
about the rain that never stops,
dies slowly.
He or she who abandon a project before starting it,
who fail to ask questions on subjects he doesn't know,
he or she who don't reply when they are asked something they do know,
die slowly.
Let's try and avoid death in small doses,
always reminding oneself that being alive requires an effort by far greater than the simple fact of breathing.
Only a burning patience will lead to the attainment of a splendid happiness.
2.25.2010
bookshops, characters and solitude
I recently found out a friend of mine works, part-time, in a local bookshop which has been there my whole life. Same place, same people. The owners are two sisters who, I understand, decicated their entire life to books. Since they never got married they share a flat not far from the bookshop and their daily routine is something like...they open the bookshop at 9 am, close it at 12:30 am for lunch, open it again at 2.30 pm and close it at 7pm.
I confess I was always curious about them, what they do, how their lives are really like and I was somehow happy to find out someone knew them. I didn't get to know anything special, nor of great interest...but in a way they look like characters from a book - to me at least - and the feeling was that of finally opening the book.
Still, it was also quite upsetting: do all people who dedicate their lives to books die 'alone', have no children, no love, nothing of the kind?
Do people from small bookshops do nothing but read and read and...read? I know there's a lot to say about theme, I know they have so much to offer but I also have the feeling books are losing their ability to connect people.
I remember attending a conference once about the importance of tales for kids. The speaker pointed out that tales give children the opportunity to learn about life, to understand they are not alone and can overcome problems, just like Cinderella does.
I've always read about the solitary life of writers and I myself know how difficult it is to have a socialise while trying to write a novel but I do have the feeling modern times stole the magic within/around books. We read, but have no time to share.
Not so long ago people would meet in cafes to talk about books, literature in general...where's all gone?
As much as I love internet I think it created a funny idea of what 'Culture' is...need info? Check online...easy, practical, fast. Still I miss the touch and smell of books...
2.10.2010
J.D. Salinger
The death of a great writer is, no doubt of that, something to talk about. But it's hard. Hard to think a real talent is no longer with us; hard to be left with nothing but what has been published while he was alive because there's no certainty his heirs will want to share the rest. Or, maybe, there is because of the money they might get, but for those who love books (fiction, non fiction), talent has no price.
J.D. Salinger is no longer with us. He left at the end of January (27, to be precise). But although I did read The Catcher in the Rye and understood (hope so) his amazing American talent, I confess I didn't feel his passing that shocking. Was it because he was born in 1919? To be honest, it was not. Point is...he wasn't much around. Only two interviews were ever published while he was alive: one for a local magazine (if I don't get wrong from Cornish) and the second to The New York Times in 1974.
We do not know much about Jerome as a person. We only know what he wanted us to, almost nothing, which is somehow weird considering the number of people wanting to be "famous" (who would do everything to get there). Weird also because characters in The Catcher in the Rye are rebels, people who are going to get noticed, in a way or another. Still, Jerome, was different, somehow his rebellion was fitting the role of the perfect "outsider" by being as normal as he could ever be.
You may have not read his books, you may feel they are not that good...but at least as far as I'm concerned, J.D. Salinger represented my idea of "writer", of someone who feels the need to write, not because he wants to be famous, but because it's a necessity, something he couldn't live without. And I think a life spent writing is worth it, do you?
I guess a part of me will always love Salinger because he was born in 1919, just like grandad who's still here (hopefully for many years to come): silly, and sentimental, but that's me;-)
Ps Did you know that when The Catcher in the Rye was firstly published it was banned in most parts of the US because of words such as "go**amn" (used 255 times)!?
J.D. Salinger is no longer with us. He left at the end of January (27, to be precise). But although I did read The Catcher in the Rye and understood (hope so) his amazing American talent, I confess I didn't feel his passing that shocking. Was it because he was born in 1919? To be honest, it was not. Point is...he wasn't much around. Only two interviews were ever published while he was alive: one for a local magazine (if I don't get wrong from Cornish) and the second to The New York Times in 1974.
We do not know much about Jerome as a person. We only know what he wanted us to, almost nothing, which is somehow weird considering the number of people wanting to be "famous" (who would do everything to get there). Weird also because characters in The Catcher in the Rye are rebels, people who are going to get noticed, in a way or another. Still, Jerome, was different, somehow his rebellion was fitting the role of the perfect "outsider" by being as normal as he could ever be.
You may have not read his books, you may feel they are not that good...but at least as far as I'm concerned, J.D. Salinger represented my idea of "writer", of someone who feels the need to write, not because he wants to be famous, but because it's a necessity, something he couldn't live without. And I think a life spent writing is worth it, do you?
I guess a part of me will always love Salinger because he was born in 1919, just like grandad who's still here (hopefully for many years to come): silly, and sentimental, but that's me;-)
Ps Did you know that when The Catcher in the Rye was firstly published it was banned in most parts of the US because of words such as "go**amn" (used 255 times)!?
1.19.2010
Save the Words (in English)
A recent survey pointed out that we are losing a number of languages/dialects every year. That is shocking, and quite upsetting, especially considering how important languages are. For example, they represent our history and culture.
Which languages are to be saved? Them all, I should say and think, but I do know that unfortunately it is not going to happen. Not that easily at
least. However, I confess I always thought English was not one of them.
Still, I just found a website trying to save words...in English (and English only. Would love to know if there are similar websites in other languages) and I thought you might want to have a look so here's the link
Also, you might want to look at a website which comes quite handy if you want to know "the structure of language". For example, how to use a word properly:here.
I guess the best way to end this is...save the words and you will save yourself too (was that silly?;-)
1.09.2010
Venus - and other women
I confess I am not very fond of historical novels. In fact, I think most authors tend to show you how well they know the subject rather than using infos as a simple background for stories which need to be told.
However, when a very good friend of mine suggested I should read The Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunant, I decided to accept, main reason being I didn�t want to disappoint her. Plus, she had spoken so well of the novel that I was quite curious to know how the book was really like.
The book, set in Renaissance Florence, opens with a couple of nuns having to sort things out for the funeral of one of their sisters, Alessandra. We are told that, as a general rule, none of them can look at naked bodies (theirs included) therefore these two have been given a special permission to do so. When that happens, they find something unexpected: the painting of a snake all over their sister's body. The face of the snake is that of a man...
From this moment on, we are thrown into Alessandra's life before she became a nun. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a fighter. Basically, she played all the roles every woman does, but quite often with very hard-to-digest extras. For example, I was almost in tears when she discovers that her newly-wed husband, Cristoforo, has a secret: he's been dating her brother and won't ever be able to love her the way a husband should. They will talk, befriend each other...and have sex only a couple of times so that she gets pregnant and people do not get suspiciuos...
Is this the life she wanted or dreamt of? Of course not! Still, she didn�t even imagine to find herself in love with a young artist, nor to face the consequences of such a "mistake"...
I loved this book because it is well written and history has a part in it but is not the protagonist. Characters are believable, especially in regards to the relationship between one another: Alessandra and Erila, Alessandra and her mother, Alessandra and Plautilla...
The only/main problem I found is that I sometimes had the feeling modern age, ideas, opinions, views were popping up too strongly in a book set in a different time, age...frame of mind...but I want to read the other (historical) novels from Dunant to understand if that�s just my own impression or a mistake she made.
PS: I haven't added links and a number of other details yet: I apologise for this but am having problems with that -or, simply, I am not that expert. I am really sorry and I am trying my best to sort this out. Help appreciated indeed;-)
However, when a very good friend of mine suggested I should read The Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunant, I decided to accept, main reason being I didn�t want to disappoint her. Plus, she had spoken so well of the novel that I was quite curious to know how the book was really like.
The book, set in Renaissance Florence, opens with a couple of nuns having to sort things out for the funeral of one of their sisters, Alessandra. We are told that, as a general rule, none of them can look at naked bodies (theirs included) therefore these two have been given a special permission to do so. When that happens, they find something unexpected: the painting of a snake all over their sister's body. The face of the snake is that of a man...
From this moment on, we are thrown into Alessandra's life before she became a nun. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a fighter. Basically, she played all the roles every woman does, but quite often with very hard-to-digest extras. For example, I was almost in tears when she discovers that her newly-wed husband, Cristoforo, has a secret: he's been dating her brother and won't ever be able to love her the way a husband should. They will talk, befriend each other...and have sex only a couple of times so that she gets pregnant and people do not get suspiciuos...
Is this the life she wanted or dreamt of? Of course not! Still, she didn�t even imagine to find herself in love with a young artist, nor to face the consequences of such a "mistake"...
I loved this book because it is well written and history has a part in it but is not the protagonist. Characters are believable, especially in regards to the relationship between one another: Alessandra and Erila, Alessandra and her mother, Alessandra and Plautilla...
The only/main problem I found is that I sometimes had the feeling modern age, ideas, opinions, views were popping up too strongly in a book set in a different time, age...frame of mind...but I want to read the other (historical) novels from Dunant to understand if that�s just my own impression or a mistake she made.
PS: I haven't added links and a number of other details yet: I apologise for this but am having problems with that -or, simply, I am not that expert. I am really sorry and I am trying my best to sort this out. Help appreciated indeed;-)
1.03.2010
Welcome;-)
Dear Reader,
thank you for visiting my brand new blog. I hope you enjoy the experience,
will come back and join the conversation.
My life is quite hectic at the moment and I don't know how often I will update the blog but am hoping to do so at least once a week. - please let
me know if you want to receive an email everytime I do so.
I somehow let Destiny chose the name: there was not much available and I tried with two of my favourite things: lilies - after the l. of the valley - and cherries. It may lack originality but I think it's nice and if that
was some sort of "stream of consciuosness" exercise...I would link the name
to the English countryside...a cottage with a secret garden (you know what I'm talking about if you ever read that book)
Books are my main interest but I am quite versatile and will also write about a number of other issues and topics which I find of interest and I hope you do too.
I love emails so please do get in touch with comments, suggestions...teachings, but do so with respect: I want everyone, myself included, to feel at home here.
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