Thursday, October 7, 2010

It's Alive!


I started writing a post to follow up on my musicspeak post last week. It took me quite a bit longer than I expected, but it was a good exercise that made me think harder about and dig deeper into the subject of genres and labels and assumptions. I'm letting that post mull for a bit.

In place of a follow-up to last week's post, this is a follow-up to Monday's post, in which I wondered if writing had killed reading for me.

I am happy to report that reading is still very much alive!

Yesterday at the library while I was checking out books for my kidlets (Sid Fleishman and Gary Paulsen and Linda Sue Park, delish;) I picked up A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby on a whim.

So far, I find myself at times delighted and at other times, thoughtful and somber.
It's a story about the New Year's eve when four people meet on a rooftop, each intending to jump to their deaths. Not the most uplifting topic, but Hornby manages to, so far at least, make me smile even as I am confronted with the cruel things in life that cause people pain and despair enough to make them consider suicide.

I have never read any of his other books but have heard good things about them. I find Hornby's writing is so unforced, and his observations so acute
that I am convinced that underneath the humor and the seemingly casual treatment of people and their lives, is a thoughtful author who carefully scrutinizes his surroundings and ideas. And that, is a good draw for me.

Oh great, I meant this as a light-hearted post. Don't know why my thoughts keep wandering around unlight-hearted things. But I will rectify that. Here is a sentence from the book I hope you find as cool as I did:

If she hadn't tried to kill me, I'd be dead, no question.

Aqua fortis and Domey Malasarn both mentioned in the comments section last week about how, when they come across a book that captures them, they pause and study, to find out how the author did it. I, however, am feeling rather like I've just found a beautiful feast and just want to eat and leave the thinking about the recipes till later.

My offering to you today: food analogies, a surprising sentence, and a promise I will have that post up, soon.

Addendum: I realize I highlighted a book about suicide in a post titled "It's Alive!" Hmmm.

7 comments:

Margo said...

I'm with you - when I find a book that moves me, or that I truly enjoy, I savor the feast. I don't worry about how it was prepared.

Yat-Yee said...

HI Margo: are you my old neighbor, Margo? Thanks for dropping by.

Bish Denham said...

I read for enjoyment most of the time. Occasionally I'll find myself analyzing, but not often. If I read for that reason I wouldn't enjoy reading.

Yat-Yee said...

Bish: yes, reading with an over- analytical mind can be detrimental to the reading process.

lotusgirl said...

I keep trying to get Hornby on my TBR list but I can't choose which of his books I want to start with. I should probably just grab one and jump in.

Yat-Yee said...

That's what I did, basically. Reaching into the Hornby section of the shelf and pull out the book that looks the cleanest.

Metal Roofing Waterloo said...

Nice postt thanks for sharing