END OF A JOURNAL

I didn't blog about it, but I finished "Journal of a Novel: the East of Eden letters" a few days ago and began "The Omnivore's Dilemma." It occurs to me now that my reading habits are a lot like my dating habits. Anyway. I want to stress that I have never enjoyed reading someone else's journal SO MUCH. Except for maybe Anais Nin and all her slutty, sexy ways.

This journal was especially poignant for me since "East of Eden" was my favorite book for a really long time and to see how it all came together... it's like the special features function of a DVD or something. Icing on a cake. I actually own the movie version starring James Dean but I'm afraid to watch it cuz I don't want it to ruin what I envision... I've had the movie unopened for about four years now! Crazy.

Steinbeck really breaks down what I think all writers struggle with: being in several worlds at once, what it means to be a writer, the difficulty of pacing yourself and the daunting task of a "growing" novel. I'll let him speak for himself:

"It is the duty of the writer to lift up, to extend, to encourage. If the written word has contributed anything at all to our developing species and our half developed culture, it is this: Great writing has been a staff to lean on, a mother to consult, a wisdom to pick up stumbling folly, a strength in weakness and a courage to support sick cowardice. And how any negative or despairing approach can pretend to be literature I do not know."

And oh! It seems that Elaine (Steinbeck's wife) agrees with me:
"Elaine complains that Carson McCullers always gets tired and tries to resolve a book in a page." Hee. Read about my shitting on "Heart is a Lonely Hunter" here, and here.

Today is my students' talent show, which will be awesome I'm sure. Cuz you don't even KNOW how fly my students are. Seriously.

currently listening to:
I'll Take You There
Big Daddy Kane (maybe my favvvvorite)

xoxo t