Jan Notzon's Blog, page 31
July 13, 2016
Challenges
I'm finding choices between using my time to write, research (not to mention making a living) and learning the ins and outs of promotion and marketing painful. I'm really a novice at the latter and there is so much technology to learn: RSS feeds, QR codes, etc., etc. However, little by little, I'm learning. And for an old dog like me, that's heartening.
I find things on the goodreads author support group that truly astound and often confuse me. But I also find that other authors are quite patient and willing to explain these things. That is also heartening.
So, I'm having a giveaway on Amazon for my latest novel "And Ye Shall Be As Gods" and I'm hoping that promoting it here is not against the rules. Here's the link: https://development.amazon.com/giveaw...
Please do check it out. (Was I supposed to put that in the "Tags" block? Oh well, live and learn.
I find things on the goodreads author support group that truly astound and often confuse me. But I also find that other authors are quite patient and willing to explain these things. That is also heartening.
So, I'm having a giveaway on Amazon for my latest novel "And Ye Shall Be As Gods" and I'm hoping that promoting it here is not against the rules. Here's the link: https://development.amazon.com/giveaw...
Please do check it out. (Was I supposed to put that in the "Tags" block? Oh well, live and learn.
June 30, 2016
The nature of hate
I recently finished "The Rwanda Crisis".
The Rwanda Crisis: History of a GenocideApr 15, 1997 by Gérard Prunier.
It provoked a mini-discussion between my closest cousin and me. His reading of history was that the genocide in that country was sparked by a history of abuse by the Tutsi of the Hutu. M. Prunier mentions that there were abuses of each to the other, but lays the blame primarily on the Belgian colonialists for creating what amounted to a caste system. His theory (as best I can understand it) is that this created in the Tutsi a belief in their own superiority and in the Hutu a belief in their own mistreatment by the Tutsi and even the belief that the massacre was actually defensive--because, supposedly, the Hutu believed that the Tutsi would slaughter them eventually. And, in fact, there was such a massacre in neighboring Burundi. (This is a terribly simplified synopsis of M. Prunier's thesis).
But my question is this: does that kind of hate or paranoia--or whatever the catalyst-- have its origin in some wrong done to a group? For instance, the Jews never did anything to the Germans (although all kinds of horrors were imputed to them). I don't know of anything the Armenians did to the Turks or Kurds to have prompted that genocide. And I would say, if anyone had a right to hate it would be the black South Africans--and there was no retaliation on their part...astonishingly enough.
I think actually people hate because they need someone to hate, someone to blame (perhaps ultimately because they hate themselves, or just because they need someone or some group on whom to exorcise whatever disappointments or entrenched, perverse frustrations they have in life).
I don't know the answer. But I wonder.
The Rwanda Crisis: History of a GenocideApr 15, 1997 by Gérard Prunier.
It provoked a mini-discussion between my closest cousin and me. His reading of history was that the genocide in that country was sparked by a history of abuse by the Tutsi of the Hutu. M. Prunier mentions that there were abuses of each to the other, but lays the blame primarily on the Belgian colonialists for creating what amounted to a caste system. His theory (as best I can understand it) is that this created in the Tutsi a belief in their own superiority and in the Hutu a belief in their own mistreatment by the Tutsi and even the belief that the massacre was actually defensive--because, supposedly, the Hutu believed that the Tutsi would slaughter them eventually. And, in fact, there was such a massacre in neighboring Burundi. (This is a terribly simplified synopsis of M. Prunier's thesis).
But my question is this: does that kind of hate or paranoia--or whatever the catalyst-- have its origin in some wrong done to a group? For instance, the Jews never did anything to the Germans (although all kinds of horrors were imputed to them). I don't know of anything the Armenians did to the Turks or Kurds to have prompted that genocide. And I would say, if anyone had a right to hate it would be the black South Africans--and there was no retaliation on their part...astonishingly enough.
I think actually people hate because they need someone to hate, someone to blame (perhaps ultimately because they hate themselves, or just because they need someone or some group on whom to exorcise whatever disappointments or entrenched, perverse frustrations they have in life).
I don't know the answer. But I wonder.
June 19, 2016
Questions
Having read Caroline Morehead's Village of Secrets, I am left (as I was during and after playing Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank) wondering how I would behave if faced with the choices these people had to make.
Of course, one always sees oneself doing the heroic thing, compassionate, caring and brave. But how would I have responded had I grown up in 1920s-'30s Germany, constantly being told that my people were so taken advantage of by the Versailles Treaty, with such horrendous economic dislocation, loss of hope, chaos, and being told at every turn that it was the fault of a particular group that conspired on a global scale--conspiracy theories being so popular.
Even today, conspiracy theories abound. Witness the Occupy Movement and the voluminous theories of "the one percent", the Wall Street Vultures. It actually seems to go back to Biblical times when the "money-lenders" were mercilessly pilloried.
I try, as best I can, to be aware of my own biases. But I know that as a child and young teenager I cannot count myself among the innocent. Then, coming-of-age in the 60s and early 70s, those prejudices turned against the "rich", those evil ones in power who hog all the blessings for themselves. That reminds me of a quote from Winston Churchill: "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings, and the inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery."
Of course, one always sees oneself doing the heroic thing, compassionate, caring and brave. But how would I have responded had I grown up in 1920s-'30s Germany, constantly being told that my people were so taken advantage of by the Versailles Treaty, with such horrendous economic dislocation, loss of hope, chaos, and being told at every turn that it was the fault of a particular group that conspired on a global scale--conspiracy theories being so popular.
Even today, conspiracy theories abound. Witness the Occupy Movement and the voluminous theories of "the one percent", the Wall Street Vultures. It actually seems to go back to Biblical times when the "money-lenders" were mercilessly pilloried.
I try, as best I can, to be aware of my own biases. But I know that as a child and young teenager I cannot count myself among the innocent. Then, coming-of-age in the 60s and early 70s, those prejudices turned against the "rich", those evil ones in power who hog all the blessings for themselves. That reminds me of a quote from Winston Churchill: "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings, and the inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery."
June 2, 2016
Apology
Well, I must apologize to those of you kind enough to read my missives for "venting" in my last one.
I'm presently reading "Village of Secrets" by Caroline Moorehead, and it's curious, but I tend to see myself in one of the figures of the story. Not that I've ever done anything heroic, but in Magda Trocmé, the pastor's wife and teacher in le Chambón, I see an uncomfortable side of myself. She is given to very changeable moods, and I must admit that fault in myself. Hence, my last entry.
Controlling those moods has been a lifelong struggle. The old advice about counting to ten before reacting is something I must learn to master.
Sometimes before I sit down to write, if it's going to be a challenging part of the story, a cloud will seem to form; until I actually sit down and do it. If it comes, it comes with a feeling of exhilaration. It reminds me of something I heard Sir Lawrence Olivier (or Lawrence Lord Olivier) say about hating acting. Yes when you think about it, because you want to do it perfectly. When you actually are in the midst of it, however... Once, after a performance he stormed to his dressing room in a fit. His dresser, I suppose it was, knocked on his door and said, "Sir Lawrence, are you aware you gave the perfect performance tonight?" His answer was "Yes, damn it, and I don't know how!"
I'm presently reading "Village of Secrets" by Caroline Moorehead, and it's curious, but I tend to see myself in one of the figures of the story. Not that I've ever done anything heroic, but in Magda Trocmé, the pastor's wife and teacher in le Chambón, I see an uncomfortable side of myself. She is given to very changeable moods, and I must admit that fault in myself. Hence, my last entry.
Controlling those moods has been a lifelong struggle. The old advice about counting to ten before reacting is something I must learn to master.
Sometimes before I sit down to write, if it's going to be a challenging part of the story, a cloud will seem to form; until I actually sit down and do it. If it comes, it comes with a feeling of exhilaration. It reminds me of something I heard Sir Lawrence Olivier (or Lawrence Lord Olivier) say about hating acting. Yes when you think about it, because you want to do it perfectly. When you actually are in the midst of it, however... Once, after a performance he stormed to his dressing room in a fit. His dresser, I suppose it was, knocked on his door and said, "Sir Lawrence, are you aware you gave the perfect performance tonight?" His answer was "Yes, damn it, and I don't know how!"
May 27, 2016
Loss
I'm dismayed by the suffering there is in this life. I know, we must always look on the bright side. And, for those who believe, there is deliverance from this vale of tears. Of course, even for those who don't believe, death is a deliverance--the end of all suffering: (heck of a way to do it!)
I apologize to anyone reading this if it is a downer; I've recently experienced a loss.
I suppose the reason I write (at least, the only legitimate one) is that it gives me the opportunity to explore all the questions and paradoxes and contradictions of this curious thing called life that we share. That's really what provoked my most recent novel, "And Ye Shall Be As Gods".
Soren Kierkegaard says that evil posits itself. It sounds rather facile to me, but I can't think of anything better.
What makes people hate enough to commit atrocities? Could I, in certain circumstances be capable of such barbarity? Can any of us? What can the rest of us do to avoid its occurrence?
I wonder.
I apologize to anyone reading this if it is a downer; I've recently experienced a loss.
I suppose the reason I write (at least, the only legitimate one) is that it gives me the opportunity to explore all the questions and paradoxes and contradictions of this curious thing called life that we share. That's really what provoked my most recent novel, "And Ye Shall Be As Gods".
Soren Kierkegaard says that evil posits itself. It sounds rather facile to me, but I can't think of anything better.
What makes people hate enough to commit atrocities? Could I, in certain circumstances be capable of such barbarity? Can any of us? What can the rest of us do to avoid its occurrence?
I wonder.
May 9, 2016
Wuthering Heights
I am struck by the difference in my reaction to Heathcliff compared to when I read it as a teenager.
As a matter of fact, I find it quite astonishing that I was so sympathetic to him then. And I wonder exactly what accounts for the difference.
Perhaps as the youngest of five children who were not at all nice to each other growing up, I identified with the torment that Hindley Earnshaw put him through. Although, again, I cannot see it now as any kind of justification for his behavior as an adult. As a matter of fact, it now strikes me as inexcusable/pathological.
I'm pretty sure that as a dour, emotionally overcharged adolescent (and hopeless romantic) I loved the story for its overarching passion.
I hope it's a sign of maturity, but now I find his and Catherine's attachment to each other pathological as well. Can that kind of desperate need be called love? Even if it leads to the other's destruction?
I think not.
As a matter of fact, I find it quite astonishing that I was so sympathetic to him then. And I wonder exactly what accounts for the difference.
Perhaps as the youngest of five children who were not at all nice to each other growing up, I identified with the torment that Hindley Earnshaw put him through. Although, again, I cannot see it now as any kind of justification for his behavior as an adult. As a matter of fact, it now strikes me as inexcusable/pathological.
I'm pretty sure that as a dour, emotionally overcharged adolescent (and hopeless romantic) I loved the story for its overarching passion.
I hope it's a sign of maturity, but now I find his and Catherine's attachment to each other pathological as well. Can that kind of desperate need be called love? Even if it leads to the other's destruction?
I think not.
May 1, 2016
Overwhelmed
Reading two incredible books and promised a friend in one of my groups to read "Wuthering Heights" together. And I'm usually a one-book-at-a-time type guy!
Well, I'm looking forward to re-reading Emily Brontë. It was the first novel I read that I was truly gripped by. Perhaps because I so identified with Heathcliff. Yes, he does some horrific things. Some even call him a sociopath. I think that moniker is incorrect however. That first time I read it I was in the throes of sibling abuse and clinically depressed. It'll be interesting to read it post-SSRIs and see if I feel the same.
I'm also reading a non-fiction book that I think should be standard reading for all economics and history classes: "Why Nations Fail" by Acemoglu and Robinson. I find it to be a towering work concerning exactly what the title promises. It covers civilizations from the Neolithic Revolution (9,500 BC) to the present, including societies in all inhabited continents: why they were successful or why they failed, why they had preliminary success and later failure. Absolutely fascinating!
Well, I'm looking forward to re-reading Emily Brontë. It was the first novel I read that I was truly gripped by. Perhaps because I so identified with Heathcliff. Yes, he does some horrific things. Some even call him a sociopath. I think that moniker is incorrect however. That first time I read it I was in the throes of sibling abuse and clinically depressed. It'll be interesting to read it post-SSRIs and see if I feel the same.
I'm also reading a non-fiction book that I think should be standard reading for all economics and history classes: "Why Nations Fail" by Acemoglu and Robinson. I find it to be a towering work concerning exactly what the title promises. It covers civilizations from the Neolithic Revolution (9,500 BC) to the present, including societies in all inhabited continents: why they were successful or why they failed, why they had preliminary success and later failure. Absolutely fascinating!
April 17, 2016
Imagery
I'm presently reading My Ántonia by Willa Cather and I'm struck by how her imagery seems to reflect the setting of the story. Here's a sample:
"There was only--spring itself; the throb of it, the light restlessness, the vital essence of it everywhere; in the sky, in the swift clouds, in the pale sunshine, and in the warm, high wind--rising suddenly, sinking suddenly, impulsive and playful like a big puppy that pawed you and then lay down to be petted."
I get a feeling for Nebraska and the plains in general from it--the feel as well as the vision: wide open, embracing, starkly beautiful, infinite and eternal.
He style is gentle--lyrical and direct. It seems almost oxymoronic, "lyrical and direct", yet that's how it strikes me.
Such simple, down-to-earth language: exactly, I imagine, the kind of language the people that populate her story would use.
"There was only--spring itself; the throb of it, the light restlessness, the vital essence of it everywhere; in the sky, in the swift clouds, in the pale sunshine, and in the warm, high wind--rising suddenly, sinking suddenly, impulsive and playful like a big puppy that pawed you and then lay down to be petted."
I get a feeling for Nebraska and the plains in general from it--the feel as well as the vision: wide open, embracing, starkly beautiful, infinite and eternal.
He style is gentle--lyrical and direct. It seems almost oxymoronic, "lyrical and direct", yet that's how it strikes me.
Such simple, down-to-earth language: exactly, I imagine, the kind of language the people that populate her story would use.
April 11, 2016
And Ye Shall Be As Gods
And Ye Shall Be As Gods is now available on amazon.com. I can now add a preview and will be doing a promotion in the near future.
I will also be participating in goodreads.com #ShakespeareWeek, having studied and acted in almost all of his plays. I studied and performed for four semesters at Shakespeare At Winedale in central Texas under the auspices of the UT Austin English department and Dr. James B. Ayres.
I inherited my love of The Bard from my father. When I was nine years old, the movie version of Macbeth with Sir Maurice Evans and Dame Judith Anderson appeared on TV and I watched it with my father. I was enthralled, although I can't say now that I believe that version is particularly effective. I would recommend the version that Roman Polanski directed.
I'll be answering any and all questions from my goodreads author dashboard and I'd love to dialogue with anyone on either topic--or on any book we've both read.
I will also be participating in goodreads.com #ShakespeareWeek, having studied and acted in almost all of his plays. I studied and performed for four semesters at Shakespeare At Winedale in central Texas under the auspices of the UT Austin English department and Dr. James B. Ayres.
I inherited my love of The Bard from my father. When I was nine years old, the movie version of Macbeth with Sir Maurice Evans and Dame Judith Anderson appeared on TV and I watched it with my father. I was enthralled, although I can't say now that I believe that version is particularly effective. I would recommend the version that Roman Polanski directed.
I'll be answering any and all questions from my goodreads author dashboard and I'd love to dialogue with anyone on either topic--or on any book we've both read.
April 7, 2016
Review
Here's the link to my review of "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
