thisnewday | A Good Enough Book

You're viewing

thisnewday's journal
Create a Dreamwidth Account Learn More

Reload page in style: site light

Just finished Fredrik Backman's Britt-Marie Was Here.

It's a good enough book, the third one of his that I've read in recent weeks, months.

It's a good enough book, but not the kind of story that I need...

LPK
Dreamwidth
8.18.2017

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

rosegardenfae

Another story perhaps neither of us needs to experience again, "Our Souls at Night", is being released as a movie next month. Netflix -Sept 29. Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in the lead roles, a draw for me. I'll most likely watch it and cry. I'm foolish like that.

From:

thisnewday

Dear E,

OMG, you may be "foolish like that" but you're still an infinitely braver soul than me. IDK if I could even do it. The book sits on an end table by the couch and every time I happen to glance at it, which is purposely quite seldom, I sigh one of those sighs that's twice as deep as the breath that I'd taken in. And I try very hard not to let it get past that because, if it does, well...

I read it at a very sad time, anyway, and found myself relating, all too easily, to the character of the bullying, self-centered, thoughtless son (I have one of those) and still despairing, after all these months, at how the fictional story turned out.

The weird thing is, I tend to blame the writer these days for the perverse turns their plots and characters take, as if it were something personal between us. As in, "You b_st_rd, that could've been done differently, but you had to f_ck with me." I'm that angry and I'm not really sure what it means.

I do agree with you about Fonda and Redford. I just don't know if I could endure that story again, even for them...

Best always,
L

Edited Date: 2017-08-28 07:23 pm (UTC)

From:

rosegardenfae

I did suspect, L, that you might not want to watch it. I may or may not. The ending pissed me off (I really prefer a happy conclusion) and that alone might be enough to make me say NO.

Besides, do I want to see these 2 old geezers making out, maybe gettjng laid even, and then have to face the reality that I'm not? And Fonda can't top her performance making love to John Voight in "Coming Home." Maybe best to keep that memory intact.

And, well, it is after all the author who decided how the story was going to play out, so if there's blame to be laid, it belongs on the head of the writer.

I gave the book away.

Always,
E

From:

thisnewday

E,

I really need to laugh. And so I've come back several times to your defiant last line, "I gave the book away."

Which, from what I've learned so far, seems like a whole lotta you, wrapped up in five declarative words. And I love you for saying that, lol.

And for all the rest of the wry humor, the sympathy of a fellow-sufferer, which your comments bring.

In response, I thought about setting up the grill and burning the book. And adding several others to the conflagration.

Then, instead, I went out and bought 5 Virginia Woolf novels, including this month's book club selection at the Liverpool library, "Mrs. Dalloway."

E, I can't seem to help myself. Save meeeee, lol...

Best always,

L

Edited Date: 2017-09-01 09:46 am (UTC)

From:

rosegardenfae

Dearest L,

I'm smiling and laughing at your response, truly what I needed this morning and every morning. I actually feel appreciated. And I can hardly express how juicy that feels. Mmmm...

It can be said that I am possessed of a rebellious and often defiant nature and the myriad paths I've taken in life driven by those characteristics have ranged from ecstasy to utter devastation. But no doubt I'd do it again, I'm crazy that way.

So now, I've got this cartoon in my head of you in the deep of night with stacks of romance novels and a blazing grill, Maybe performing a few gyrations as the flames leap high, puntuated by a long howl at the moon as the ashes of dead dreams rise high and are carried away on the breeze.

Oh, oh I love Virginia Woolfe. When I was in my 40's I went to college, major in English Lit, minor in Women's Studies. In that space and time I met Virginia and devoured everything she wrote and much of what has been written about her. I'm thinking she won't add to your sadness, but that she will give you insight on the way women think. If you haven't already read Kate Chopin's, "The Awakening," it could be one to try.

-------
And he kept swimming farther from the shore, no matter the waves broke over his head nor the chill that turned his arm to lead, but at last he turned and she stood on the sand arms out stretched, and as she dove into the water he heard her faint cry, "Wait, I'll save you." So he turned ...

--------

Such a joy our verbal encounters, they inspire and lift me up and I love you for that, you delight my senses and make me warm.

Rave on John Donne, rave on...

E