Mary Kay Zuravleff's Blog: Mary Kay Zuravleff's Author Blog
March 23, 2014
Your Trauma, My Trauma
In every book group I visit, someone has been through something you can barely fathom. At the fabulous all-male book club (homemade liquor, grilled meats!), the guys argued about whether Owen being struck by lightning was a metaphor for midlife crisis or not. They'd identify usual midlife issues, and then someone would say, "But he was actually struck by lightning."
Eventually, they urged one member to reveal his own tribulations. An eye doctor, this man diagnosed his own brain tumor, and after the operation, he experienced such migraines that he took to making beautiful guitars. He's well now, thank goodness, but I was struck by two things. First, the obvious bouncing back and forth between metaphorical and life's actual takedowns. But second, I got to watch this group of buddies and readers, like herding dogs, shepherd their friend into talking about his experience as we sat, awestruck.
Eventually, they urged one member to reveal his own tribulations. An eye doctor, this man diagnosed his own brain tumor, and after the operation, he experienced such migraines that he took to making beautiful guitars. He's well now, thank goodness, but I was struck by two things. First, the obvious bouncing back and forth between metaphorical and life's actual takedowns. But second, I got to watch this group of buddies and readers, like herding dogs, shepherd their friend into talking about his experience as we sat, awestruck.
December 6, 2013
Character Likeability
Someone in the recent book group asked, "Do you like your characters?" The way she asked, I imagined there was someone in the book she didn't, but I decided to take her question at face value, because, in fact, I love my characters. I've lived with mean people, and I have to live with my fictional souls for years, so I'd rather not live with mean ones. Readers can and do feel any way they wish to about these folks. People we love do all sorts of reprehensible things such that others might not find them worthy of their love.
So then another book club member said, "Your love for them was so evident that when they behaved badly or came on dark times, that care held them until they regrouped as a family." It was all I could do not to run across the room and give her a big smooch.
So then another book club member said, "Your love for them was so evident that when they behaved badly or came on dark times, that care held them until they regrouped as a family." It was all I could do not to run across the room and give her a big smooch.
December 5, 2013
Mary Kay Zuravleff's Author Blog
My plan is to especially report interesting or moving book club conversations about my novel Man Alive! here.
- Mary Kay Zuravleff's profile
- 99 followers
