When A Book Chooses You
Browsing the shelves of a library two summers ago, I was trying to find something to replace the empty antsiness left from reading Judy Blume's adult fiction. I just finished Summer Sisters, a book that somehow survived my dwindling collection from all those moves.
I don't remember buying it, but I'm glad I did.
At this point, I had already checked out Wifey and Smart Women. I wished she wrote more.
A computer search for a Jennifer Weiner novel came up zilch. I didn't know the name of it, but Redbook used to run summer teasers, excerpts from good beach reads. One was about a woman who finds out her husband Tosh is leaving her, had an affair, etc.
(I'm intrigued by names and love to use original, uncommon monikers. I never heard that one before. Interesting...)
So she goes to the airport to take a trip. Maybe to follow him. I can't remember. But a volcano eruption has grounded all flights. (I do remember that happening in real life.) Whilst stranded on standby, she meets a stranger and has a one night stand. I thought, what?? How irresponsible...but also, hot.
Anyway, I was browsing the shelves under W, and none of her books had that premise. So I wandered around. Suddenly under M or K, a book was sticking out! And it was by one of my favorite author's from Guideposts magazine, Sue Monk Kidd. The Mermaid Chair.
The plot was something very different from her spiritual, Christian writing. A bit steamy, even.
It was something I was wrestling with myself as a writer. Usually I'm the more naïve-themed kind of girl, but I had a novel half done that was anything but, based on real events in my life.
As a Christian, was it the right thing to do to craft a book like that? I also had Behind Frenemy Lines going on with a similar sultriness as well as whether or not to use an F word, which is unlike me. It was the only word to fit the sitch, and all the substitutes sounded cheesy. Was it okay to use it? It was just a word, after all. Who appoints value and morals to the structure of letters anyway?
Well, The Mermaid Chair answered these soulful questions! Not only was the book sensational, it was deeply embedded with mystery, monks and an an off-limit hunk. It also contained two F words! My literary guilt lessened. At least for the moment. My use of the word was an artistic choice.
So, I often wonder, was the book a sign from God? A writing muse?
One thing is certain. I want to read it again.
Do you like to browse libraries? Has a book ever chose you, or help answer an inner struggle?
I don't remember buying it, but I'm glad I did.
At this point, I had already checked out Wifey and Smart Women. I wished she wrote more.
A computer search for a Jennifer Weiner novel came up zilch. I didn't know the name of it, but Redbook used to run summer teasers, excerpts from good beach reads. One was about a woman who finds out her husband Tosh is leaving her, had an affair, etc.
(I'm intrigued by names and love to use original, uncommon monikers. I never heard that one before. Interesting...)
So she goes to the airport to take a trip. Maybe to follow him. I can't remember. But a volcano eruption has grounded all flights. (I do remember that happening in real life.) Whilst stranded on standby, she meets a stranger and has a one night stand. I thought, what?? How irresponsible...but also, hot.
Anyway, I was browsing the shelves under W, and none of her books had that premise. So I wandered around. Suddenly under M or K, a book was sticking out! And it was by one of my favorite author's from Guideposts magazine, Sue Monk Kidd. The Mermaid Chair.
The plot was something very different from her spiritual, Christian writing. A bit steamy, even.
It was something I was wrestling with myself as a writer. Usually I'm the more naïve-themed kind of girl, but I had a novel half done that was anything but, based on real events in my life.
As a Christian, was it the right thing to do to craft a book like that? I also had Behind Frenemy Lines going on with a similar sultriness as well as whether or not to use an F word, which is unlike me. It was the only word to fit the sitch, and all the substitutes sounded cheesy. Was it okay to use it? It was just a word, after all. Who appoints value and morals to the structure of letters anyway?
Well, The Mermaid Chair answered these soulful questions! Not only was the book sensational, it was deeply embedded with mystery, monks and an an off-limit hunk. It also contained two F words! My literary guilt lessened. At least for the moment. My use of the word was an artistic choice.
So, I often wonder, was the book a sign from God? A writing muse?
One thing is certain. I want to read it again.
Do you like to browse libraries? Has a book ever chose you, or help answer an inner struggle?
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