[stylist] a different take on everything

[Jacobson, Shawn D]

Well said Chris.

I thought Vackie's poem was good (just not to my taste).  I just finished "War and Peace" and am ready for some lighter fare.

I agree that you will probably not grow spiritually much by reading lighter fare, but you can probably learn things about the craft of writing if you read well written Mysteries, Science Fiction, Romances, etc. (some of this is a lot better written than the rest).

Like most Americans, I want to return to lighter material after getting exposed to things that are deep, disturbing, and tragic.  How much of this is distinctly American (as opposed to being the nature of the human beast) I don't know.  The only culture I know enough to comment on is American culture.

Anyway, good reading.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris Kuell via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 9:40 AM
To: Jackie Williams; Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] a different take on everything

Hi Jackie,

I enjoyed the poem you shared, and think comparing your thoughts to those of the female baboon's was a wise choice, especially when the reader imagines the brutality of the male baboon. While domestic violence is a very important topic, I tend to agree with shawn in that I don't know how much of an audience there would be for it. Sure, there are far too many women caught in terrible situations, but they are trapped in psychologically complex mindsets (I don't feel comfortable generalizing) and I don't know if they would really be interested in such poetry, and I don't know if they could even see themselves in it. And while the general public would also benefit from raised awareness, it's been my observation that America changes the channel from World News Tonight to pretty much anything else that's mindless as soon as they are made to feel uncomfortable.

A year and a half ago I started a book discussion group with a friend, and it's been going quite well. The book we are reading this month is 'The Invention of Wings' by Sue Monk Kidd, a novelized version of 2 real women, Sarah and Nina Grimskey, who were very vocal abolitionists and feminists in the early eighteen hundreds. Within the novel are a few descriptions of how slaves were treated in those days, and in her author notes, Kidd explains how the punishments (tortures) were historically accurate.

Last week I talked with 2 women in the group, both of who complained that the book was 'too heavy', and can't we pick something lighter to read in the future? Basically, we try to read literary fiction and non-fiction, and yes, much of it is heavy. But in my view, if it isn't heavy, it's probably not worth reading, and then what would we talk about? Now before I start an uproar, I enjoy a mystery novel as much as the next person, and I've been known to read YA work, science fiction, horror, and even romantic comedy type books from time to time. But I don't really discuss these books, I don't grow as a person--they are primarily entertainment. Yet, they are what America wants, they are what sells.

If it were me, I'd sprinkle your domestic violence pieces among your other work, and that's probably the best way to have it read.

chris


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