Zen in the Art of Writing (Ray Bradbury)

Paperback

This is a collection of previously published essays by Bradbury on the art of writing...or HIS art of writing, to be more precise. I ate up the first couple of essays, but then they just got a little repetitive, a little too specific, and kinda boring.

The guy's definitely likable and passionate about his craft, but he's also adamant that his way is the correct way and that just DOING (1,000 words a day for 20 years or so is his prescription) will turn anyone into a writer. Since I disagree that writing can be taught to just anyone, believing instead that inherent talent is a necessary part of the puzzle, it left me a little cold. I was also probably slightly chilly because I, myself, don't really aspire to be a writer.

Regardless, he was good company for a while, I just wanted to change the subject.

C+

House of Sand and Fog (Andre Dubus III)

Paperback

I saw the movie years ago, which is my preferred order. Going book then movie results, too often, in "but why'd they change this or that?" and "they totally missed the point of the blahblah!" Going movie to book means that I can enjoy the movie on its own terms and then go to the source to have the experience enriched rather than ruined.

And wow, was my experience enriched. Everything just felt so inevitable -- I was never doing the eye-rolling that occurs for me when reading so many everything-goes-wrong books. Usually the obvious avenue is ignored; the one thing that someone should obviously say or do goes unsaid or undone. Here, however, everyone behaved how everyone would and tragedy is around the corner... exactly where it would be.

It's a terrible, compelling piece of work.

A