Musing about reading
I was just thinking about writing my personal statement for mfa programs. Yes, that's right, I've decided (if you didn't know) to apply to nonfiction MFA programs for fall 2008. I wish I could have made a decision earlier and gone this fall, because I'm not loving my life right now. But, that's beside the point.
I was considering what authors/writers influence me and my favorite books. My all-time favorite book is Roommates by Max Apple. It's about Max's relationship with his grandpa, Rocky, who lives to be over 100 (107, I think). Autobiography is one of my favorite genres. But, I think I feel/felt most connected to this book because of Rocky. I have a strong relationship with my grandpa, and when I first read this book it wasn't so challenging. I loved him and he loved me and was proud of me. Now, I don't meet his expectations in so many ways, and he worries. So, we fight, which makes me sad. I miss the old relationship. Rocky was a difficult man, too, and made Max's life tough. They were roommates from age 4 through grad school, off and on. Rocky ended up following Max until his death, always living not far away, which touched me. I think that I wished that I lived back in that time (not so long ago), when families lived close together and grandparents babysat the grandkids.
One of my other favorites is The World According to Garp. I didn't have the same instantaneous connection to "Garp" that I felt with Roommates. I remember when I first read this book. I was at camp, between freshman and sophomore year of high school (is that when we read it?). My best camp friend gave me the book, she loved it. I read it. And I think that I thought it was good, but not amazing or anything. I picked it up again in college, and loved it. I fell in love with all of John Irving's books. His style suits me. He's funny and real. I find his words to be accessible. But, "Garp" is the touchstone. In college, I understood Irving. I didn't when I was in high school. In fact, since I had a tendency to read books ridiculously early, I don't know how much I actually understood from the books I read. (I read Gone with the Wind in elementary school). I know that I enjoyed the Wrinkle in Time trilogy much more when I returned to them in high school. (I did not like them the first time around).
I was considering what authors/writers influence me and my favorite books. My all-time favorite book is Roommates by Max Apple. It's about Max's relationship with his grandpa, Rocky, who lives to be over 100 (107, I think). Autobiography is one of my favorite genres. But, I think I feel/felt most connected to this book because of Rocky. I have a strong relationship with my grandpa, and when I first read this book it wasn't so challenging. I loved him and he loved me and was proud of me. Now, I don't meet his expectations in so many ways, and he worries. So, we fight, which makes me sad. I miss the old relationship. Rocky was a difficult man, too, and made Max's life tough. They were roommates from age 4 through grad school, off and on. Rocky ended up following Max until his death, always living not far away, which touched me. I think that I wished that I lived back in that time (not so long ago), when families lived close together and grandparents babysat the grandkids.
One of my other favorites is The World According to Garp. I didn't have the same instantaneous connection to "Garp" that I felt with Roommates. I remember when I first read this book. I was at camp, between freshman and sophomore year of high school (is that when we read it?). My best camp friend gave me the book, she loved it. I read it. And I think that I thought it was good, but not amazing or anything. I picked it up again in college, and loved it. I fell in love with all of John Irving's books. His style suits me. He's funny and real. I find his words to be accessible. But, "Garp" is the touchstone. In college, I understood Irving. I didn't when I was in high school. In fact, since I had a tendency to read books ridiculously early, I don't know how much I actually understood from the books I read. (I read Gone with the Wind in elementary school). I know that I enjoyed the Wrinkle in Time trilogy much more when I returned to them in high school. (I did not like them the first time around).