Literature, of one sort or another
Sigh. My mother is playing one of my favorite Rachmaninoff preludes...absolutely lovely. The solo piano literature is amazing; the ability to use all 10 fingers to create numerous voices certainly helps. I used to complain that violinists were limited to Bach and Ysaye* but there actually is a wealth of solo violin literature if you dig around. This is one of the reasons I love being a life-long musician…there is always something new to discover, whether it is a new piece, technique, or artist.
But I’ve been thinking about literature of a different sort today. Last night I stayed up too late** finishing A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cossé. I highly recommend reading it. Briefly, three individuals seemingly unconnected become victims of crimes because of their secret affiliation with a bookstore in Paris also under attack. This bookstore-The Good Novel-is the realization of two people’s dream of a bookstore where one can only find good novels. It was an enthralling story with many layers of intrigue and a love of literature, and I was completely blindsided by its ending. How can I classify this as any particular genre after such an ending? It defies any label; any expectation you might have had, and makes me believe Cossé has delivered just the sort of story she praises-a story that profoundly and painfully reflects the twists and turns of life.
Of course, what I found myself musing over most today was a question from in A Novel Bookstore…what is a good novel? I think everyone has their own criteria-mine is a mixture of emotional and intellectual insight as well as a certain bit of wonder. One thing that surprised me about The Good Novel’s choices mentioned was the lack of children’s fiction. Many great novels discuss, require, or cause a loss of innocence, but I think that childlike wonder is part of our reading experience as well. Why do I love Harry Potter and other children’s stories? There is a magic invoked in reading them that I think is as great, if not greater as the power and insight lifted from the adult experience.
*Although the Sonatas and Partitas themselves are sufficient enough for a lifetime of study. And Ysaye’s Sonatas are devilishly fun to play.
**And I’ve spent most of the day sleeping as a result, although 11:30 is actually much later than I’d managed this past week. It seems my body is still recovering from finals.
But I’ve been thinking about literature of a different sort today. Last night I stayed up too late** finishing A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cossé. I highly recommend reading it. Briefly, three individuals seemingly unconnected become victims of crimes because of their secret affiliation with a bookstore in Paris also under attack. This bookstore-The Good Novel-is the realization of two people’s dream of a bookstore where one can only find good novels. It was an enthralling story with many layers of intrigue and a love of literature, and I was completely blindsided by its ending. How can I classify this as any particular genre after such an ending? It defies any label; any expectation you might have had, and makes me believe Cossé has delivered just the sort of story she praises-a story that profoundly and painfully reflects the twists and turns of life.
Of course, what I found myself musing over most today was a question from in A Novel Bookstore…what is a good novel? I think everyone has their own criteria-mine is a mixture of emotional and intellectual insight as well as a certain bit of wonder. One thing that surprised me about The Good Novel’s choices mentioned was the lack of children’s fiction. Many great novels discuss, require, or cause a loss of innocence, but I think that childlike wonder is part of our reading experience as well. Why do I love Harry Potter and other children’s stories? There is a magic invoked in reading them that I think is as great, if not greater as the power and insight lifted from the adult experience.
*Although the Sonatas and Partitas themselves are sufficient enough for a lifetime of study. And Ysaye’s Sonatas are devilishly fun to play.
**And I’ve spent most of the day sleeping as a result, although 11:30 is actually much later than I’d managed this past week. It seems my body is still recovering from finals.