Sunday, July 6, 2008

Miles Davis vs David Eggers

I'm tired of literary disappointment. In every recent novel I've picked up, the writing is more concerned with drawing attention to itself than with telling a good story. I keep wondering if the writer is waiting for me to say, "You're SOOOOO clever! Look at the clever little writer!" I know writers are needy people (trust me, I know), but dammit, they still have a job to do. Just tell me a story, you bastards. Give me some characters I'll love and remember, give me some gestures and sentences to roll around in my head. Don't give me your precious little premises and your narrative quirks. Don't give me your writerly asides and your plotless plots. And above all, do not give me your oh-so-forcefully ambiguous endings! What's so wrong with a damn story arc? You think you know better than Aristotle?! Oh, I get it. Too commercial, too predictable. No, you write literary novels. Literary meaning here, "without a beginning, middle, and end".

Okay, before I start really ranting, I'd getter get back to specifics. Several months ago, I started reading some wonderful hype about "Atmospheric Disturbances", by Rivka Galchen. It's about a psychiatrist who is treating a man who believes he is a secret agent of the Royal Meteorological Society. This man goes missing just as the psychiatrist becomes convinced that his wife has been replaced with a perfect look-alike. The book follows his wonderful descent into oblivious insanity, told through his delightfully droll self-analysis.

Fifty or so pages in, I began to wonder how much time I really have on this planet and how I should best use that limited resource. This led me to recall the advice my freshman English teacher gave me. He said that every time you write something down, you should read it over and ask yourself, "So what?" As an analytical tool, it will force you to keep thinking over your positions and assumptions. As an editing tool, it will force you to question whether anyone else will want to read the crap you've been putting onto paper. Did Galchen ask herself this question? I don't know. But I did. Then I stopped reading her book.

I need some real writing in my life. Crafted storytelling. I've had enough of these posers and stylists. I want to enjoy contemporary fiction. Somebody help me!

13 comments:

Super Nana said...

Jumpa Laihiri I've told you a million times.

savannah said...

i second what super nana said! and fulmer - you're gonna like the story!

CreoleBeBop said...

Play your horn man, play your horn.

Write your book man, so we can read and listen.

Or in the words of "convict" in 48 Hrs - Jack? Tell me a story."

Pops

TC said...

It's not fiction, but still captivating. I really recommend Into the wild. I couldn't put it down.

And because I was so engrossed in that, I just bought Into thin air as well. I'm pretty much expecting it to be as gripping.

captain chaos said...

The end of Pops citation is "Fuck you! Oh, that's my favorite." Take from that what you may. Wumpspew!

dive said...

I stick with the Russians and Dickens. About the most modern book I like is Catcher In The Rye, though Murakami has his moments.
Your time would be far better spent listening to Miles Davis.

And hey, Happy Birthday!

Momentary Madness said...

You mean writers like Dan (brilliantly boring) Browne and so ....
I just read the same book over and over again, that way I can read more that one or two pages at time and I don't have to check the dictionary, I've already scribbled the meaning on the page lest I should forget.

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night .....
....In the back booth of an all night cafe
two dripping raincoats are hanging
outside in the weather
the shade on the streetlight is clanging
and they smile ear to ear and eye to eye
ice cream is melting on a piece of pie
Oh, my my ......

The Mistress said...

Happy Birthday, Mr. Moose!

I'm here via Savannah.

Pat said...

Came to wish you a happy birthday - via Savannah. Love your photograph at the top of your site and will bear in mind what you say about story telling. I'm presently editing my autobiog so it is very relevant, thank you:)

Kim Ayres said...

Happy Birthday! No ambiguity there :)

TC said...

Happy birthday!

Mr. Moose said...

thanks for all the birthday wishes everybody - and the book recommendations (MM: I just can't wait to pick up the new Dan Brown...uh, "novel"). My favorite birthday wish so far is from super nana: "Congratulations! You've reached an age of no significance!" Yeah, 34 is pretty boring, but I'm not complaining about reaching it. Moose lives!!

Manuel said...

happy birthday Mr Moose......x