Caroline Bock's Blog: Caroline Anna Bock Writes, page 17

VALENTINE'S DAY 2012

Two Haiku Reflections on Valentine's Day 2012 
 
We are like those birds--Swans: pearl-white, long-necked, in pairs--one as much as two.                        *School day.  Time to get                              Up.  Wash up. Brush teeth?  Breakfast?
                              Hearts hurry.  Kiss.  Kiss. 
                              Truly, the author of LIE.

Why It Is A Good Week?

Why it's a good week so far:
-Giants won the Super Bowl and my husband is so happy 
-It's another clear-blue 50 degree winter day in New York
-My six year old does NOT have bronchitis, 'only' a cold
-The Women's National Book Club ran a new member interview with me, one of their newest members:  http://wnbanyc.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/member-Monday-meet-caroline-bock/
I think I heard this from an 'expert' on NPR --  he did a study on people who wrote down every day something that they were grateful for -- at the end of the month, they were less depressed. I am grateful for: family, close friends, a passion for books and writing.  It feels okay to write it down, good even, but I can't commit to every day -- that sounds stressful!:)   I will be grateful for what I have, for today, for right now. 
 
Why is it a good week so far for you?   Truly, author of LIE

A WRINKLE IN TIME 50th anniversary edition -my first classic read of 2012

A Wrinkle In Time 50th Anniversary edition is a gem. As an
adult reader (and full disclosure: an author of my own young adult novel: LIE],
I have fallen in love with the story of Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin again. One of my resolutions 02 2012 (does anyone really keep these??) was to read or re-read some classics.  Friends sent me ideas:  Sylvia Plath, Nabokov, Shakespeare, and to start, I chose this magical childhood favorite celebrating it's 50th year in print. 
 
First, I must say that this new hardcover edition is worth buying --
it's physically beautiful, with a luscious red and gold updated cover, and additional material
including essays by noted children's writer Katherine Paterson and L'Engle's
granddaughter, as well as to the delight of this writer -- a copy of a work-in-progress
manuscript of the opening chapter. 
This piece is complete with L'Engle's notations. Lastly, I was inspired
by the inclusion of her Newbery Medal acceptance speech.  Every aspiring writer must read this
speech, 'The Expanding Universe' from 1963 and this book!  
If you are an adult reader, be prepared to be transported by
the language (quotes by greats Pascal, Aristotle, and more, which I'm sure I glossed
over at 10 or 11 years old, are so terrific now).  I've fallen in love again with Charles Wallace and his love
of words, his obsession with the meaning of them.  Most of all,  I've
fallen again for the story of the search for a father -- and for meaning in
this far-reaching universe.  I plan to re-read
again with my 11- year-old and 6-year-old, but first I wanted to savor it all
by myself!    
A Wrinkle in Time expanded my horizons as a
young child and has done so again.  As L'Engle says in her medal acceptance speech, "A book, too,
can be a star, 'explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life
endlessly,' a living fire to lighten the darkness leading out into the
expanding universe."

 

What Movies Do You Want to See Before the Oscars?

I take the Oscars seriously, and like to see, at least, all of the Best Picture nominees before the Oscars.  But with my novel, LIE, coming out this past fall as well as teaching, writing,  and well, life, I haven't been going to the movies as much as in the past.  I am going to channel Roger Ebert, brilliant critic and a dear man, and give a thumbs up/down to the movies I have seen and ask the internet's advice:

Moneyball  - Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill     Thumbs Up!!
Hugo           -Scorsese's sentimental homage to the movies and movie restoration -           Wonderful for children ages 6 and above and their parents!! Saw this 
                    with my 6 year old! Thumbs up from both of us!!
The Descendants
                    -George Clooney cries -- set in Hawaii --   Thumbs up!!
Movies I must see in the next few weeks-- but don't have time to see!  Which one is a must see -- The Help (read book, loved it!), Midnight in Paris  (don't know how I haven't seen this Woody Allen film),  or Girl with a Dragon Tattoo  (devoured all the books).   I would love to see The Artist -- but I'm afraid I'm going to get someone seated behind me hissing, 'I can't hear what they're saying?  What are they saying, Arnie?'  i.e. The Artist is a homage to silent pictures!! 

What is the must-see movie before Oscars??

Or, do I just go see The Grey directed by talented Joe Carnahan starring Liam Neeson  (anyone out there remember: Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane premiere in Sacramento -- I was there at the door!!)
So many movies, so little time!! 

The Difference Between Being a Writer and A Parent: Giving Names

Names are hard.  I had a seasoned journalist ask me this week, how did I decide what to name my characters?   There are ten distinct first person characters in my novel, LIE, and about ten additional secondary characters. 
I said I had to create the characters first, and then name them.   He pointed out that we name babies before we know them.   So I've been thinking of this. 

The difference between parents and writers and giving names is that when you're a writer you can create the character, the inner life, the psychological turmoil, the hair and eye color, whether they have bad breath or not, before you name the character -- and if you don't like any of this, or if you don't like the name, you can change it.   Upon reading my young adult novel, a few readers have remarked that the teenage boy's names feel old-fashioned -- Jimmy and Sean -- and in fact both are named after their fathers.  Jimmy is someone trying to prove himself to his father.  He does this through sports -- and through the hateful actions against Hispanics.   I wanted him to have a name that reflected his father, and to be all-American, hence he is James Seeger, Jr.,  or Jimmy, the  popular Scholar-Athlete to all his friends.   I wanted the father, James Seeger, to be filled with rage, bigotry and hate and to reflect that back on the son.  I wanted an unbroken circle, the apple not to fall far from the tree.  These characters practically named themselves.

However, when you have a baby, and you hold him close, you don't know much about this baby, even the hair or eye color can change from birth.  You may have an idea about the name, you've researched some, discarded the one that is the name of your high school nemesis, been told that it would be nice, so nice, to name the baby after your husband's  great-great grandmother. The fact is: you are totally unqualified, still in a fog from a 14-hour delivery, to name a baby, much less remember you're own name.  Yet, you are commanded, by the nurse, to fill out a birth certificate, to name him.  You think of all the names you've writen down, hope that one will work.  Even more so,  hope that this name will bestow good--   that he will go strong and smart and make a difference in the world.  When he kicks his swaddling blanket off, you notice, again, his big feet.  These are the feet that have been kicking you the past few months.  For some reason, that reassures you enough to name him. 
Or, if she smiles at you, less than a day old, the nurse will tell you it's gas.  But you know it's her trying to tell you her name.  You hold her mouth to your ear.  Is she, this new born baby, trying to whisper her name?  You smell her baby smell: milky and musty,  as if that will give you a hint.  I held my daughter this way -- and she spit in my ear as if curious to my reaction.  I laughed, and I swear, so did she.  Of course, she could have no other name than the one my husband and I gave to her. 

So maybe it's not that different -- at the start.  Maybe the only difference is that a writer can with a few clicks change a character's name, adjust the inner life or physical description to match, if they must, if the character insists upon it. 

But once you give a name to a child, it's his or hers, even if they go to great lengths to change it, which people rarely do --  it's the name your mother and father gave you.  You're running from something if you change that name, you have something to  hide.   Help!   Why do I feel a new character coming on? 

Am I onto something with names?

This post is dedicated to Michael and Sara, may they grow tall and strong, may they run fast, may they be curious about the world and be kind to others, and to themselves.      Truly, from the author of LIE.

    

SNOW FAIRIES and GO BIG BLUE! GO GIANTS!!

Found this poem in my email box...perfect for snowy, grey weekend.... The Snow Fairyby Claude McKay Throughout the afternoon I watched them there, Snow-fairies falling, falling from the sky, Whirling fantastic in the misty air, Contending fierce for space supremacy...   rest of poem can be found at site for Academy for American Poets... www.poets.org  You can even sign up for Poem-A-Day- (whomever selects these poems does a terrific job!) -- they're free -- and inspiring. Though warning, the end of this poem is for adults only as it takes a wonderfully unexpected turn.  Last thought as I veer in life from the high brow to the low brow (both important, each has its place)  GO BIG BLUE!  GO GIANTS! Truly, from author of LIE.  

SUNDANCE great films...and DOLLY'S BOOKSTORE...a great indie bookstore!!

if you are lucky enough to be at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, and you are between movies.... and you're on Main Street.... not far from the Egyptian... check out DOLLY'S BOOKSTORE and you'll find, I'm told, copies of LIE (my debut novel) inside.  One of the best times I ever had was seeing eight movies (I think that was the number)  in one day from 8 am to  12 midnight, in Park City with super friend Lynette!!  Here's to the discovery of great movies (and great books!).  Thank you, Sue, at DOLLY'S BOOKSTORE for carrying LIE!!   Caroline

ENVY

I envy:-People who can pay for college in full for five sons
-People who get shoeshines on their way to private corporate jets-People who use the word 'envy' with such moral gravity to describe those who are struggling to pay bills, the middle class and all the rest of the 99%, as if there was time enough in our days for 'envy.'
When asked what he and his striking men wanted, Samuel Gompers, famous union organizer, simply replied: 'More.'
It's not envy to want more -- from our politicians, our country, and from ourselves.  We should be given the opportunity to want more -- and to dream too.

Envy HaikuEnvy, covet orWant?  I prefer want, simpler:Want more, envy less.

Truly, from author of LIE.  

Hurricane Sandy and the Day After on Long Island

There are times when it's hard to write.  In the middle of100 mile per winds, it's hard to write, it's hard to imagine the night will end, and if it ends, will there be a roof on the house or trees on the roof. Hurricane Sandy. The rain drills sideways. The wind rips. You have to be the grown up because technically you are grown up even if you want to hide under the covers too.  You are thankful you do not have that house that you always wanted with the water view and afraid for those you know near the water.  Lights blink, revive, and blink again.  Dark hits you in the face.  Your children cling to you -- even your twelve- year- old son who earlier in the evening ignored you like always. They want to go, leave, escape, now.  You remember you live on an island -- the bridges closed, the railroad shut down, you cannot leave even if you were brave enough to drive anywhere. You're not brave enough.  And then,with a final heave of darkness and wind, the skies sigh in exhaustion.  The dawn seeps through the horizon, the land is speckled with wet leaves and downed trees, the sky blue and clear. Your neighbor lets you know he has a guy who has a chainsaw coming as if that is an every day thing -- and you are thankful to that neighbor and to the guy with the chainsaw.  Everyone has lost power.  A generator buzzes from someone's backyard and spews gasoline fumes into the storm-fresh air.  Your son takes off on his razor to find out what happened to his friends and their houses, waving you off, racing toward the sun.   I hope all are safe and working on recovery --   Truly,author of LIE set on Long Island,inspired by true events.  

Reading the New Year...

Starting off 2012 with eclectic reading selection...since the beginning of the year:-Kill Switch (sharp new thriller by Neal Baer and Jonathan Greene)
-Daughter of Smoke and Bone (ya, fantasy with angels, first in trilogy, good, but leaves me yearning for Hunger Games)
-Lost Wife (holocaust-love story-haunting though not the best holocaust love story out there)
-What Alice Forgot (remember: unexpectedly entertaining and thought-provoking women's fiction, read with my book club -- go Paula!!)
-Meridian (black woman in the 60s, evocative by noted Alice Walker)
-The Half Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer (2011 Nobel prize winner, poetry, full of winter and strangeness)  "Truth doesn't need furniture."   
-2030 (first novel by Albert Brooks, not very funny look at near future)
-Italy and the Holocaust (nonfiction, just starting, hoping not for nightmares)
-plus, several Curious George books with first grader, Sara!  (love that man in the yellow hat and his little monkey!!)
Last thought, am planning to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird since several people compare LIE, my debut novel, to this classic.  Any other classic suggestions??