I don't know a lot about what exactly makes writing good, or funny, or captivating, and I don't know the formula to word sequences that pull a reader's eyes across a page without them putting forth much effort, but I know that whatever it is, things like Paper Towns, and The Brothers Karamazov have it, and American Gods (no offense to the man who suggested it to me) did not.
I mean, I started American Gods with high hopes because it's frikkin Neil Gaiman and who doesn't love Neil Gaiman and Stardust was certainly awesome plus, Coraline, I didn't see it but jeez it looked interesting...but it took, like, 5 tedious days to get through the first ten pages. Luckily, an awesome friend suggested reading "No Exit" first and I'm extremely susceptible to the suggestions of those participating in the Challenge. (Yay, one act plays!)
To kill time between then and when I could go to the school library(today) and check it out. I started reading The Brothers Karamazov and ten pages of that breezed by in minutes and were accompanied by clear and present laughter at points which I found weird. Really weird.
The question is, what does an existentialist, 19th century Russian writer with no awards and no notable movie adaptations have that a 21st century rock star of literature with scores of awards and like ten films with his name on them doesn't?
I leave you with a non sequitur, yet very true statement.
-My favorite things are beginnings.
P.S. I like "No Exit" so far.
Next Tuesday will be time to begin The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party.
(day one can be found here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=8822520&blogId=508370549 )
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