A Sad Day
I'm extremely saddened today to learn that my favorite author, Robert B. Parker, died at age 77. For the record, his books are one of my biggest influences in my own writing. He was never preachy, but he managed to be pro-woman, pro-minority and pro-gay rights by creating characters who were as strong as his straight white male ones. His smart, funny, sparse prose directly impacted one failed attempt at my own novel, which pretty much read like one of his novels set in muncie with a whiney college freshman as the hero. As I find my own voice, his will continue to influence. And it is impossible to read the Spenser novels without sentimentality, because the relationship between Spenser and Susan mirror Bran and I in a lot of ways (Bran is nothing like Susan, and I'm only like Spenser in that I like beer, good food and books. The love story still resonates, however, because I am a romantic dipshit). His books were also at times incredibly thoughtful looks at things like honor, love and duty. I will miss his work.
Because he was so incredibly prolific, it'll luckily be a year before his underwear drawer gets raided, but this year's offerings will take a special significance to me. Hopefully his multiple series get wrapped up well, with there being no intended closure planned.
Also I learned today that Eric Segal died, who wrote the book Love Story. BTW, that is a surprisingly good read. yes I am a sap. But today was not a good day for pop fiction.
Because he was so incredibly prolific, it'll luckily be a year before his underwear drawer gets raided, but this year's offerings will take a special significance to me. Hopefully his multiple series get wrapped up well, with there being no intended closure planned.
Also I learned today that Eric Segal died, who wrote the book Love Story. BTW, that is a surprisingly good read. yes I am a sap. But today was not a good day for pop fiction.