Jan Notzon's Blog, page 32
March 29, 2016
Tastes
I remember one time when I was young (and much stupider than I am now, believe it or not) I had an argument with some of my co-workers at a psychiatric hospital for adolescents called St. Jude's.
They were all aficionados of Charles Bukowsky and I was a recent college graduate with a rather religious devotion to Shakespeare. I remember one clearly stating, "I like Bukowsky because he writes about the '70s." (It was in the mid-decade.) Obviously, the implication was that Shakespeare was dated and not relevant to the times. Full of myself in those younger years, I of course argued that one must have the capacity to see how the themes of human striving, desire for power and wealth and for love (and the conflicts that result) have never really changed.
Looking back on those days, I just shake my head. As I said in my review of "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I believe that if you like something, it's good.
I would draw the (very) rough analogy of comparing a violin and a hammer. If what you want to do is drive in a nail, that violin won't do you much good.
True, a violin is more finely made and more rare. But if you want to make a door or cabinet or just repair a frame, that Stradivarius is not the answer.
So, love Bukowsky, or whoever floats your boat. I'm the world's worst carpenter.
They were all aficionados of Charles Bukowsky and I was a recent college graduate with a rather religious devotion to Shakespeare. I remember one clearly stating, "I like Bukowsky because he writes about the '70s." (It was in the mid-decade.) Obviously, the implication was that Shakespeare was dated and not relevant to the times. Full of myself in those younger years, I of course argued that one must have the capacity to see how the themes of human striving, desire for power and wealth and for love (and the conflicts that result) have never really changed.
Looking back on those days, I just shake my head. As I said in my review of "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I believe that if you like something, it's good.
I would draw the (very) rough analogy of comparing a violin and a hammer. If what you want to do is drive in a nail, that violin won't do you much good.
True, a violin is more finely made and more rare. But if you want to make a door or cabinet or just repair a frame, that Stradivarius is not the answer.
So, love Bukowsky, or whoever floats your boat. I'm the world's worst carpenter.
March 25, 2016
Navigation
I'm spending today (Good Friday) trying to teach this troglodyte how to navigate the goodreads website. I've gone in many circles, but I suppose that's a part of self-education. Anyway, I discovered that I hadn't reviewed or rated Beloved by Toni Morrison--definitely an oversight on my part. Perhaps I can link this to my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Well, it doesn't look like any link I've seen, but hope springs eternal.
At any rate, Beloved is, in my estimation, a definite 5 stars: an extraordinary story with fascinating characters, She makes you care about them enormously. The novel took me into a world so far from my own that I couldn't have been more captivated. Astounding imagery.
Love to hear from others who feel the same or differently. I'm always interested in alternative opinions.
Well, it doesn't look like any link I've seen, but hope springs eternal.
At any rate, Beloved is, in my estimation, a definite 5 stars: an extraordinary story with fascinating characters, She makes you care about them enormously. The novel took me into a world so far from my own that I couldn't have been more captivated. Astounding imagery.
Love to hear from others who feel the same or differently. I'm always interested in alternative opinions.
March 23, 2016
And Ye Shall Be As Gods
Well, boy, I just snuck by with the title. After I'd all ready written and copyrighted it, I found several of the same title, just without the initial "And". In future, I will take the advice of a fellow author on goodreads author feedback group and browse Amazon to see if it's already been taken.
I have to plead guilty to this work being very ambitious. It deals with the nature of evil, but I hope that doesn't scare people away, for I believe it's a compelling story with a sympathetic protagonist and antagonist (that's antagonist in the classical sense), romance social commentary (but not ideological or polemical; more simply questions to consider).
Where does evil lie? How can we human beings be capable of acts of incredible generosity and benevolence and, at the same time, of such horrors as The Holocaust, ethnic cleansing, serial murder, etc., etc.
Again, it's not my intention to beat people over the head--rather, just to make us reflect and wonder.
I have to plead guilty to this work being very ambitious. It deals with the nature of evil, but I hope that doesn't scare people away, for I believe it's a compelling story with a sympathetic protagonist and antagonist (that's antagonist in the classical sense), romance social commentary (but not ideological or polemical; more simply questions to consider).
Where does evil lie? How can we human beings be capable of acts of incredible generosity and benevolence and, at the same time, of such horrors as The Holocaust, ethnic cleansing, serial murder, etc., etc.
Again, it's not my intention to beat people over the head--rather, just to make us reflect and wonder.
March 17, 2016
First Time
This is my first dip into the waters of the blogosphere. I suppose one can write on any topic one chooses. So, let me take this opportunity to announce the imminent release of my new novel "And Ye Shall Be As Gods".
Like my first, it is set in a sleepy town on the Mexican border, Austin, TX and New York City. It traces the journey of Jake Kazmareck on his quest to discover the evil that sent his beloved baby-sister into the whirlpool of despair.
As his trek continues, he encounters the myriad faces of evil and speculates as to its ultimate origin.
That origin, though necessary to face and know to its terrifying heart, is a tale of ultimate pain and final redemption.
Like my first, it is set in a sleepy town on the Mexican border, Austin, TX and New York City. It traces the journey of Jake Kazmareck on his quest to discover the evil that sent his beloved baby-sister into the whirlpool of despair.
As his trek continues, he encounters the myriad faces of evil and speculates as to its ultimate origin.
That origin, though necessary to face and know to its terrifying heart, is a tale of ultimate pain and final redemption.
