Booking it with Lit-Tra-Chure

The difference between journalism and literature is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. ~Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891



1. When somebody mentions “literature,” what’s the first thing you think of? (Dickens? Tolstoy? Shakespeare?)

My thoughts tend to stray to the classic works I HATED growing up, not the ones I loved, as well as the "modern" literature out there that "they" consider a must read. For me, "literature" as a genre has a very negative connotation. I adore Shakespeare, so I don't really consider him "literature". OTOH, I despise Steinbeck with every fiber of my being, followed closely by an incredible dislike of Hemingway. They definitely fall into the "literature" category for me. It may be thusly for me because in my English Literature classes, those were the writers we read... not the really cool classics like Jane Austen or Shakespeare or Edgar Allen Poe.

2. Do you read “literature” (however you define it) for pleasure? Or is it something that you read only when you must?

Dear heavens, no. "Literature" takes itself far too seriously, uses incredibly complex and utterly un-understandable phrases and never has a happy ending. Why would I use my few spare minutes trudging through a depressing and pretentious novel when I can laugh, smile and basically just feel good about reading genre fiction? I'm proud to say that I'd take Nora Roberts over Tolstoy, and Dean Koontz over Steinbeck. Every day of the week.

You?

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I managed another 700 words on my HQA yesterday...not the 1000 I wanted, but I'll take every last one of them. My heroine has just caught a glimpse of the hero, though she doesn't know that's who he'll end up being, of course. She's just shopping for curtain rods.

I also edited a bit more of "Kitchen Matches", and am falling in love with the story all over again. However, I can see why this last editor who rejected it had difficulty seeing Micah (the hero). I really rather gloss over him a bit. This was originally written as a short story, and I never switch POV between H/H in my short stories, so "Kitchen Matches" is written completely from the heroine, Cori's POV. It makes Micah very difficult to "get". That's all about to change. In another few pages, Micah gets his own scene, right after poor Cori ends up on her behind in the gutter.

I want the reader to love Micah and Cori as much as I do.

My writing plan, currently, is to work on the HQA in the morning and "Kitchen Matches" in the afternoon. Mostly, it's working so far. But DH is home for the next four days, so that may not be as easy. Especially since he wants my help putting in the hardwood floor today and tomorrow. **sigh**

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The snow is finally melting off my lawn again. I'll go around a take a few pictures once the sun is out to prove it to you *G*. There is only one problem (aside from that pesky mole): Dakota doesn't know where to go potty!

We got her in November, and the day after we got her...it snowed. And there has been snow on the ground ever since. She was potty trained on snow, and now searches for a patch of it to go pee on. She won't go on the grass! Poor puppy. I feel bad for her, because she's trying to be a good dog and not go where she's not supposed to. Times like these I wish we could reason with our canine companions.

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Your Celebrity Baby Name Is...

Freedom Poppy

What's Your Celebrity Baby Name?

Peace, bruthah....