I am a firm believer that the books people love reflect their "story". That part of their life that they need told and retold in a variety of ways, not as an instant therapy tool but just as something intimate and recognizable to them at the deepest levels. This is why being able to effectively recommend books to people will always be more of an art than a science.
What I have noticed lately is that my story has changed. Until a few years ago, the stories I loved, that touched me, all revolved about building family, not always biological, but family all the same, the quirkier the better. Lately though, the stories that have blindsided me aren't about that. Some still have elements of family but most are about solitude. The main character is learning self-reliance and self-knowledge. Consider last years favorite (and if I might brag, picked before Oprah and the Pulitzer committee discovered it) The Road. It is about family but also about endurance, solitude and ultimately, hope.
2 comments:
You know, I still don't know how she scored the first live interview with Cormac in forever...
and watching clips of it still i find myself cringing, though I couldn't tell you why.
The Road was so about family and sacrifice, though, wasn't it? The things we are willing to do for family...
True. It did have those elements of family but it was also about coming to terms with life and death which is a very internal, inwardly focused activity.
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