The meaning of real

[kryssa_girl]

I heard about this woman in a Chicago newspaper a few days ago. However, what I read wasn't the objective news, but rather a commentary on her actions titled, Fake memoir proves novel is devalued. I found that much of what the writer was saying resonated in me, and I thought to share it (and my musings

Comments

[sambucivox]

Haruki Murakami says that a tale may be false in its form, but true in its essence... and viceversa. Some time ago, Alice Sebold wrote "The Lovely Bones" and it became an instant best-seller. However, when it was made public that -just as "Lucky", her first novel- it was based on real-life experiences, some nit-prick tight-assholes "serious" writers told the press that that made the book to be of lesser quality

[kryssa_girl]

Did you say, 'don't refrain from chopping the head off any Sanano kindred?' Done! ^_^ I admit that I'm not particularly known for cowering beneath the demands of either the crowd or critics. In my story Between Seishi and Gods from my FY years, I've been told that the final chapter managed to rip out the hearts of my readers and grind them into the dust. Yet I feel I can do that because I'm not afraid of "not selling", or not being popular (in ff.net's case).

"Serious" writers are liars if they think that we (writers) never draw from our own experiences. I read The Lovely Bones, and learning that the author had suffered similar pains didn't change the book for me either way. Perhaps that's because I took it as a work of fiction. Though the author may fully base the character off herself, she gives the audience the freedom to gauge their willingness to believe. In the end, if handled tastefully and with appropriate weight, I'll believe anything a novelist writes - rape, violence, and even the moment of death.

[sambucivox]

I bought [u]The Lovely Bones from[/u] my favorite bookstore café, and I wasn't able to finish it. It was making me dizzy. Not the actual raping and killing, but the way in which the characters dealt with the loss of the protagonist

[kryssa_girl]

You have some great points about people putting style above plot and emotion. Quite frankly, many of the bestsellers here in the USA suck balls because they're crap - they're grammatically accurate (but boring as hell when they use the same sentence structure a million times in a row), have characters that are nothing more than 2-D figures that exist only to make a point, and absolutely no viable plotline

[wizbiz911]

boy howdy! Most of what I write stems from the inner feelings I never share.

[kryssa_girl]

Thank you for the insightful comment. I have friended you, so please feel free to do the same. ^_^

I agree with your thoughts; it seems that art has been pushed to the side in favor of empty entertainment. I don't think that TV nor movies nor anything else "big name, big money" are inherently bad, but I dislike the fact that they can cause people to apathetically accept the world given to them. There's no challenge to one's beliefs, no chance to learn and grow outside oneself. It's one of the many reasons why writing is so fun for me.

Again, thanks for reading and following my story. I'm glad that you enjoy it, and I hope to keep your attention for at least another four chapters. ^_~