some smart, some don't
Book blogging (mostly)
Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories
Aug 23rd
I’ve never felt the need to defend the enjoyment I get out of reading science fiction or fantasy novels. As a result, though, I’ve never really considered what it is about these types of books that interests me so much. Fortunately, C.S. Lewis has, and in this collection of essays, he perfectly articulates why such stories are worth reading, writing, and discussing.
It’s not worth summarizing each of the essays here (they are so efficiently executed that it’s hard to trim anything out in summary), but there are a few points that Lewis makes that I want to highlight.
First, he repeatedly points out that, regardless of audience or subject matter, a good book is simply a good book. If it’s not good enough for adult’s to read, then why should our children? He also enjoys emphasizing the idea that one should not arbitrarily choose a genre, but should let the story dictate the best means of delivery. These are just two of the many points he raises, and I’m hardly doing them justice. Lewis brings so much warmth and humor to each essay that you should really just read them.
In addition to a collection of fascinating essays (see the number of times I had to mark a sentence or idea that I wanted to return to), Of Other Worlds also has several short stories and the beginning of an unfinished novel. While these stories were good, it was definitely the essays that make this collection worth reading.
This book has reminded me how much I love reading Lewis’ writing and, as a result, you’re probably going to be seeing a lot more posts about his works. Most of it will be nonfiction, not because it’s any better than his fiction, but just because I haven’t read most of it.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about literature, even if they hate science fiction or fantasy. I say this not because I think Lewis will convince you to suddenly start liking them, but because his humility and insight may increase your respect for these genres. It won’t make you want to read them, but it may help you understand where those of us who enjoy them so much are coming from.
“I am almost inclined to set up as canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story” (24).
“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up” (25).
Canvas or: the One That I Wrote
Aug 17th
Last November I participated in National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short). I’ve always wanted to write a novel, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. The core concept of NaNoWriMo is that, while there is a time for careful writing and editing, there is also a time for boundless creativity. NaNoWriMo is all about output; quantity is emphasized over quality, and it has to be if you are going to finish a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days.
It was crazy, but fun, and at the end of 30 days, I had a novel that I could be proud of. It was coherent and complete, and that’s about all I was asking of myself. In the mean time I’ve done some editing, but the text itself has remained pretty much what is was as of November 30, 2009. Now, thanks to some cool technology, and some risk-free publishing services, I can actually share my novel with others.
Before I continue, let me be honest for a moment. This is not a professionally published novel. If I were reviewing it on the blog I would probably say something like: “While there are some interesting ideas in Canvas, the writing is really uneven, and mostly mediocre. The few moments of quality aren’t enough to make me recommend this book.” At the same time, though, I’m pretty excited about having written a book, and I want as many people as possible to read it. If reading a flawed novel written by someone you know interests you, I’ve listed possible acquisition methods below:
- You can purchase a paperback copy from Amazon.com, to put on your bookshelf next to Johnny Tremain, for $8.00 (not including shipping. It does qualify for Super Saver shipping if you have anything else to buy). Also, if you live near Houston/know me in person and you want a paperback copy, let me know because I can order them through CreateSpace (the company that actually prints the book) for a little cheaper.
- You can purchase the Kindle edition from Amazon.com for $0.99. If you are considering this option, I highly recommend you look below.
- You can download the ePub version directly from me. This will work on most eReader devices that I’m familiar with. If it won’t work on yours, you can use Adobe Digital Editions to read it on your PC.
For the sake of full disclosure, I should note that I do, technically, make money if you buy a copy of this book, but I promise that’s not why I’m posting this (see: free version). I literally make less than $0.10 from each paperback sale, and something like $0.34 from the Kindle version. I made the for sale versions as cheap as possible because I’m far more interested in people being able to read it than I am in this becoming a source of income.
So there you have it. If you have decided to read it, I hope you enjoy it. If you read it and don’t enjoy it, rest assured that I agree with your criticisms without even knowing what they are. Finally, I hope that everyone joins me for NaNoWriMo 2010!
The Handmaid’s Tale
Aug 14th
Wow, it’s been so long since I last posted that you’re probably thinking I decided to read The Tale of Genji all over again. I did not, though, so I promise that’s the last reference to the length of Genji that I’ll make (in this post). No, the real reason I haven’t been posting is due to a combination of being on vacation with no internet, and laziness. I was still reading, however, so let’s get to that.
The Handmaid’s Tale, sexual pun intended, is set in a futuristic dystopian society and tells the story of a Handmaid – a religiously and politically sanctioned concubine. The Handmaid who serves as our narrator is not a huge fan of her new role in society.
Though Atwood does an excellent job of creating a cohesive, well-realized, and clearly defined society, I would not go so far as to say the events she portrays are believable. I don’t think our own society is just one step away from heading down this particular path. That isn’t a criticism, however, because I don’t think you have to consider this a real possibility to appreciate what Atwood is trying to tell us.
As a matter of fact, one of my favorite aspects of this book is how it captures both the bad qualities of the society before the new “Handmaid” regime is put in place, as well as the “Handmaid” regime itself. It would probably have been easier just to cast the latter regime in an evil light, but I appreciate that Atwood was willing to criticize the extremes of the pre-dystopian society as well.
I definitely recommend The Handmaid’s Tale, especially to anyone interested in dystopian literature. However, considering how well-crafted the book is, I don’t think you have to be a fan of similar books to enjoy this book.
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations” (270).
Full database entry on The Handmaid’s Tale. Beware spoilers.
The Tale of Genji
Jul 30th
If you’ve been reading this blog recently, you know that I’ve been reading (and enjoying) The Tale of Genji. I’ll do my best not to reiterate anything I’ve said already, but that shouldn’t be hard considering there are so many great things happening in this book.
First of all, the briefest of synopses. The Tale of Genji follows 4 generations of individuals in Japan’s Imperial court during the late 10th Century (which is also when it was originally written). Though Genji is the main character, he is not the only one we get to know in this epic tale.
Ultimately, though, it’s not what happens in The Tale of Genji that makes it so appealing (not to say that there isn’t a lot that happens. Here’s a quick rundown off the top of my head: sex, rape, death, cuckolding, spirit possession, exorcism, suicide, inclement weather, exile, love, jealousy, infidelity.) It is the characters, and the reality of their hopes, fears, joys, heartaches, desires, and transgressions that make Genji such a compelling work of fiction. Or, in Genji’s own words:
“Not that tales accurately describe any particular person, rather, the telling begins when all those things the teller longs to have pass on to future generations – whatever there is about the way people live their lives, for better or worse, that is a sight to see or a wonder to hear – overflows the teller’s heart” (461).
I think I have already given The Tale of Genji the highest recommendation that I can – I spent the last month reading, and enjoying, all 1120 pages. At no point did I even consider giving up, or reading something else instead. I never got bored, I never even motivated myself with another book (which I do all the time). In fact, the only frustration I did feel in the last month was frustration over not having more time to read. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely pick up The Tale of Genji. Between its individual style and unique place in history and literature, you won’t ever read anything else quite like it.
“How true it is that bitter experience yields fond memories!” (815).
For more information, see the full database entry on The Tale of Genji. Beware spoilers.
Tale of Genji – Update 3
Jul 27th
Yes, you are seeing that picture correctly – I finished reading The Tale of Genji over the weekend. I’ll do a final post, database entry, etc later in the week, but for now I just want to bask in the glory of finishing an epic book. Now I’m going to spend a week collecting my thoughts and trying to condense a months worth of reading in a few thousand words….
Done!
Quick aside – considering the numerous characters, titles, and interconnected relationships in The Tale of Genji, I’m also considering putting together a few tools to help anyone who wants to read it. More on that if I actually have the energy to compile the necessary data.
Tale of Genji – Update 2
Jul 21st
If you are at all familiar with the Summer of Genji reading schedule, you will probably notice that I’m a little ahead of where I’m supposed to be at this point:
940 down, 180 to go
There are two reasons for this. First of all, I really want to finish before going on vacation in the first week of August. Bringing a book this big onto a plane simply seems absurd. Second, though, is that the nature of this book begs for it to be read in huge chunks. There are so many characters, often identified only through generic, frequently changing titles, that if you stop reading for even a day, it’s easy to forget completely who you are reading about.
Plus, many of the best moments in the book consist of a subtle shift in the relationship between characters over the course of 50 or more pages. If you didn’t read it all at once, however, it is much harder to pick up on these shifts. I’ve noticed several times that the first 20 minutes I spend reading in the evening are slow, and at times dull. 30 minutes later, however, I don’t want to put the book down because some enthralling sub plot has begun to develop. Ultimately, I’ve found that my enjoyment for the book increases dramatically the more of it I can read in a single sitting.
It’s worth noting that this edition of the book (Royall Tyler’s translation) helps immensely in identify characters and their relationships through footnotes and appendices. I can’t imagine reading Genji without them!
Finnikin of the Rock
Jul 15th
We interrupt your regularly scheduled episode of “Talk About How Long The Tale of Genjii Is” to bring you this post on Finnikin of the Rock. (I actually finished this a few weeks ago, and just didn’t get around to writing about it.)
I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for a good story. The Hunger Games isn’t the most sophisticated piece of literature, but it was a lot of fun to read, and it does contain quality writing. A good story, however, isn’t enough to make me overlook major flaws in a novel.
You may not have seen this coming but, in spite of its promising plot, Finnikin of the Rock has far too many flaws for me to overlook. Finnikin, the son of the captain of the guard, is from Lumatere. Ten years ago, however, his homeland was cursed, and since then no one has been able to cross its boundaries, either in or out.
Like I said, this is definitely a promising story. Unfortunately, between a lack of consistency in the geography of the world, and flat, boring characters there isn’t much else to like about this book.
Speaking of boring characters, why can’t any of them communicate like normal human beings? Why do they always have to jump to conclusions, and flee from each other at the slightest (assumed) offense? The School Library Journal review on Amazon.com calls Finnikin and Evanjalin’s relationship “intensely emotional”. I think a better description is “annoyingly unrealistic” or “frustratingly devoid of reason”. It’s not a good sign when even The Tale of Genji, in which characters purposefully obfuscate their language by speaking in ancient Chinese poetry, has more open communication.
Suffice it to say, I don’t recommend Finnikin of the Rock. If you could consider the plot apart from the characters, no doubt you would be able to find some moments to enjoy, but those pesky characters just keep getting in the way.
Full Database entry on Finnikin of the Rock. Beware spoilers.
First Line: Tale of Genji
Jul 9th
Let’s jump right into it:
“In a certain reign (whose can it have been?) someone of no very great rank, among all His Majesty’s Consorts and Intimates, enjoyed exceptional favor” (1).
This immediately reminded me of the opening line for Don Quixote, another lengthy, historic tale. Just as Cervantes’s claim that he can’t remember quite where in La Mancha Don Quixote was from is brimming with irony, Genji’s introduction strikes me as slightly ironic as well. It may not be immediately evident (unless you consider just how long the book is), but Genji is rife with details about ancient Japanese court lifestyle. Considering that, there must be some intentional humor in the narrator’s claim that she can’t quite remember whose reign it was.
Yet, at the same time, we must also consider the fact that this is a female author telling us about the behavior of an Emperor in somewhat unflattering terms. Periodically throughout the book the narrator will address the reader directly, making claims about how it would not be appropriate of someone of her rank to reveal too much about what happened between these more noble characters. This could simply be the first example of the narrator revealing her own rank and status relative to those she is speaking of.
I think it is also worth considering that, to the original audience of this book, it was painfully obvious who she was referring to. In that case, this slightly sarcastic “whose can it have been?” interjection is not quite so subtle or deferential at all. She may be treading somewhat softly, but only because she knows her audience doesn’t need the truth to be stated explicitly, just as all the poetic allusions that follow would have been evident to them as well.
Or, perhaps I’m just reading too much into this, and the narrator is simply attempting to establish from the beginning that, while this work may seem to be real it is, in fact, a fiction. Her original audience may have immediately known who she was referring to, but by slipping this uncertainty in she is effectively telling them “Any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.”
Either way, I think it’s safe to say that I think this is a captivating introduction to the Tale of Genji.
Tale of Genji – Update 1
Jul 6th
I feel like I’ve been reading The Tale of Genji nonstop since I started last weekend. Even so, though, I’ve still hardly made a dent in this massive book:
364 down, 756 to go
Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s really quite enjoyable. As the characters were being introduced in the first few chapters it felt more like a collection of isolated short stories, but at this point things are coming together in a much more cohesive manner. Additionally, the discussions happening over at the Summer of Genji blog are entertaining and informative. To make things even more interesting, the translator of this edition of the book (Royall Tyler) has joined in on the conversation. I’d post more, but I need to get back to reading if I’m going to finish this book any time soon.
Oh, on a completely unrelated tangent, I implemented a new comment security feature to help prevent all the spam I’ve been getting recently. If for some reason you are unable to successfully post a comment, please send me an email at scott [at] somesmart [dot] com.
Cringe Worthy Covers: Ender’s Game
Jun 30th
Nathan’s recent rant has inspired me to start a new semi-regular feature on the blog. It won’t be “every Wednesday”, but I’ll try to do it about once a week. Depending, of course, on how frequently I can find good examples of bad book covers. The idea here is simple – even the best books can have the most terrible cover art, and any publisher who commits such a crime deserves to be ridiculed.
Let’s start things off with one of my all-time favorite novels: Ender’s Game. I was originally planning on elaborating more on the various covers, but I realized that’s unnecessary. These are going to be awful, and you don’t need me to convince you of that fact. So here we go.
Good idea:
Bad Idea:
Way to go publisher! You made cover art so bad I can’t even find this edition of the book for sale on Amazon. High five!