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Wednesday, January 24, 2007Will I Ever (EVER!) Simply Enjoy A Novel Again?I taught myself to read when I was four and haven't stopped since. I found my "writer's voice" at age six, lost my way for a while, but ultimately returned to my true passion and haven't looked back. Sounds like the two should go well together, right? Any writer worth his salt is also an avid reader. Reading (good stuff) improves our writing. And writing feeds our need to keep reading. Except, I've run into a problem. I find that, ever since I've tackled writing on a "this is my lifelong career" level, I have trouble reading novels uncritically. And it stinks. Right now I'm reading Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell (a nineteenth century British author). I'm loving the dialogue, the character portrayals (she's a master), the British-ness of it all. But Elizabeth Gaskell does something that drives me crazy -- something I'd never even thought about until I started writing novels myself. Elizabeth Gaskell shifts her point of view. Constantly. Twice on the same page, even. First we're in Molly's head, then her father's, then Mrs. Hamley's. Then we're back to Molly again. It's beyond distracting, particularly because modern writers are encouraged to stick to one point of view, period. Stay in your protagonist's head, we're told. Don't jump about or you'll confuse your reader. Right. Nobody told that to Mrs. Gaskell. Harry Potter is an excellent example of this modern-day "stay in your protagonist's head" thing. Except for the opening chapters of several of her books that expose a scene that doesn't include Harry (an omnipotent point of view, that), the stories in their entirety are told from Harry's point of view. Not Ron's, not Hermione's, not Hagrid's. Not ever. Everything is beautifully described through Harry's eyes and perceptions. It's "textbook." That's what is expected of writers these days. Maybe it's a dumbing down of society, or maybe it's just a good technique for creating consistency in a story. I haven't decided. I only know that my awareness of point-of-view is destroying my enjoyment of reading-for-pleasure. I recently read one of the most beautifully written young adult novels I've ever laid eyes on: The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable. Ms. Constable has restored my faith in the modern writer's ability to write truly good, truly lovely, truly well-written prose. It's the first in a trilogy and I'm chomping at the bit to read the remaining two stories. And if you've got a reader in your life who falls into the ten-to-fourteen-year-old category, and who happens to enjoy fantasy, grab this book immediately and throw it in the child's lap. It's a must-read. The Singer of All Songs tells the tale strictly from the viewpoint of Calwyn, the protagonist -- except for the chapter in which Calwyn is stolen by pirates. There's a scene that takes place on a separate boat, where Calwyn's comrades are being held captive. Calwyn isn't there, but suddenly we are thrust into the hold and exposed to the story from someone else's eyes. It is jarring. Deeply disturbing, even. There I was, experiencing the entire, marvelous tale through Calwyn's eyes, and when someone else took the reigns, it bothered the bananas out of me. I don't think it would have fazed Elizabeth Gaskell. Thing is, Ms. Constable probably gave a lot of thought to how she was going to handle this particular scene. She might have done it differently. The scene in the hold might've been recounted to Calwyn later, as backstory. But there was something about the tension, the immediateness of the scene, that ultimately led the author to choose the viewpoint switch. If I weren't a writer, I don't think I would have noticed. As it stood, I found myself gasping for figurative breath and trying to rectify this woman's beautiful, almost flawless writing with the fact that she had unabashedly switched her point of view. See what I mean? I'm ruined for life. I guess it's this way with a lot of things. My dental hygienist, who is divorced but hoping to find Mr. Right, claims that she is not interested in men with bad teeth. My husband, who manages a group of fellow computer geeks, is often heard exclaiming that he hates computers. And I'm sure that the folks who design the rides at Disney World have long since lost the sense of "magic" those rides are supposed to offer. Still. Reading is such a simple pleasure. I've got to find some way to reclaim it. Don't even say it. I already know I'm anal retentive. There's got to be another explanation. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. |
About Me
I am: Mother to five stunningly individualistic children... Writer of young adult fantasy... Passionate advocate for Women At Home... Madly in love with my husband... In need of Organic Gourmet Chocolate on a regular basis. I've got a Paypal account if you'd like to contribute to the cause....
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11of my readers are feeling chatty:
Just for the record...those who designed the control systems for the rides in Disney World have definitely not lost the magic of those rides;o)
I worked in television news for five years.
I never, ever, EVER watch the news now.
Makes me want to puke.
I'm don't think that working in a medical office has changed me, though.
I still hate Doctors. :)
Yeah. Talk about books, teeth and computers.
I am studying to become a psychologist. Exactly the same effect.
I feel partially responsible because I helped you learn more about POV. Sorry. :)
Jamie commented: "those who designed the control systems for the rides in Disney World have definitely not lost the magic"
But those who've heard them described in great detail may have lost just a little! 0;-D
Kerrie -- ROFL!!
Dave -- You will forever be my POV Hero. I just need to learn to "turn it off" when I'm working.
Well I don't read often and I'm one of those people you talk about who loves watching the movies....so I guess I'm the minority! *shedding a tear* You still love me, right?
Lisa, I will always love you. :)
Even though I'm not a writer, it peeves me when I see a book that hasn't been edited properly! Just something spelled wrong. Was it just that the editor was too tired by the time they got to that part?
(((Thank you. I needed that.)))
I am so sorry that you can't read for just pure enjoyment any longer...You are right, if we read a lot, the own writing gets better too. Although my blog stuff is not as polished as yours (and I don't have the grammar issue solved - yet), my posts are getting better and maybe one day I will join you on the bookshelf (hey - a girl can dream - right?)...No honestly - I am hoping to publish one day a devotional, maybe when I am in my 50's - lol...Only God knows.
I pray that you will find enjoyment in reading again without 'dissecting' the books.
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