Thursday, May 21, 2009

a certain type of novel


Family reunions are like novels written from multiple POVs, each narrator unreliable and sympathetic.

A quote from a new book I am reading: Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend From Far Away, about writing and remembering:

Let your mind first believe you are dedicated, that you sincerely want the truth, are willing to take what comes through. Keep moving the pen. Keep practicing.

Till the next time, when I will return with more observations about how family reunions relate to writing, and quotes from Goldberg.

5 comments:

tanita✿davis said...

...Hah. That's a great quote. Hang in there.

Sarah Stevenson said...

Ditto--that is a great quote. I've only read Writing Down the Bones by her, but it's already a standby for me when I'm feeling stuck. I'll have to look for this one.

Sherrie Petersen said...

Great quote. It sounds so simple, but it can actually be quite hard.

Cicily Janus said...

Great quote. Now, what about the terribly dysfunctional family? Unreliable? Sure. Sympathetic? Hmm...maybe pathetic. LOL. Nice blog Yat-yee. Definitely makes me want to pick up this book.

Yat-Yee said...

Glad you liked the quote. The book is keeping me grounded and slightly more sane than I would be otherwise.

Hi Cicily: *wave* welcome to my blog. Nice meeting you at the Pikes Peak Conference recently. I am working on burning down the house.