comfort
Just finished reading a short story by Alice Munro called "Comfort." As soon as I was through, I turned to the first page and started reading it again. I've heard that other people do that, but I've never done it until now.
I wanted to immerse myself in her writing ever since buying a book of hers for a flight back from Montreal. I bought it at an airport bookstore and it cost me $9. (Nine dollars for one short story printed kind of crooked behind an ugly book cover. See photo below.) It was the book-turned-movie "Away From Her." Despite the cheesy book cover, I loved it. It led me to seek out more of Munro's writing almost as soon as I landed.
Sarah Polley wrote the foreword to my expensive little book. Polley is fairly well-known as a Canadian actress. She's about my age. This is the first film she directed. And boy, did she hit a home run. For her directorial debut, she made something thoroughly beautiful and rich with meaning. Did I mention she directed Julie Christie? The foreword contained a memorable observation about love being related to perseverance. I'm not sure if that's the word she used. But close. Something between two people that lasts. Here's someone who doesn't shy away from trying to uncover the mysteries of life.
Mystery. There is something about reading a book of short stories that is like listening to a music album. If you listen again and again and steep yourself in the music, you'll develop a certain sensibility from the artist. It's hard to describe what the sensibility is - the artist's style? their spirit? I sometimes get stuck on a song and play it over and over. This is the first time I've ever been stuck on a story. I don't know what the significance of this is, except that I guess I have a tendency to obsess. And maybe dance around things.
At this point, I'm basically stalling here, not wanting to admit that there's something new in my life. Some-one new. I'm afraid I'll jinx it. It's amazing. He's been around for a year now. He's Canadian. See link below for cheesy photo (for some reason, it comes out as a faint dotted line.)
I wanted to immerse myself in her writing ever since buying a book of hers for a flight back from Montreal. I bought it at an airport bookstore and it cost me $9. (Nine dollars for one short story printed kind of crooked behind an ugly book cover. See photo below.) It was the book-turned-movie "Away From Her." Despite the cheesy book cover, I loved it. It led me to seek out more of Munro's writing almost as soon as I landed.
Sarah Polley wrote the foreword to my expensive little book. Polley is fairly well-known as a Canadian actress. She's about my age. This is the first film she directed. And boy, did she hit a home run. For her directorial debut, she made something thoroughly beautiful and rich with meaning. Did I mention she directed Julie Christie? The foreword contained a memorable observation about love being related to perseverance. I'm not sure if that's the word she used. But close. Something between two people that lasts. Here's someone who doesn't shy away from trying to uncover the mysteries of life.
Mystery. There is something about reading a book of short stories that is like listening to a music album. If you listen again and again and steep yourself in the music, you'll develop a certain sensibility from the artist. It's hard to describe what the sensibility is - the artist's style? their spirit? I sometimes get stuck on a song and play it over and over. This is the first time I've ever been stuck on a story. I don't know what the significance of this is, except that I guess I have a tendency to obsess. And maybe dance around things.
At this point, I'm basically stalling here, not wanting to admit that there's something new in my life. Some-one new. I'm afraid I'll jinx it. It's amazing. He's been around for a year now. He's Canadian. See link below for cheesy photo (for some reason, it comes out as a faint dotted line.)
posted by Lisa at 6:35 PM
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