Thank you so much, Holly! Yeah, this was an early big, blind swing I took. I really never know when I make these bets if they'll pay off but they're great for momentum. I think I've been able to deliver on the promise, but you'll be the judge as things unfold.
Looooooooove this sooooooo much. And way to up the intrigue with the MOMA note at the top! I so enjoyed this deeper look into Kelly’s inner world and how she develops, from suicidal to “being great someday.” Such a true portrayal of those angsty years.
I had to listen twice. So good!! I feel like we’re getting closer to her now, listening as she writes in her journal. It’s giving us so much insight into her relationships, trust issues, sense of alienation…and how important her creative drawing practice is in shaping her sense of meaning and wellbeing. 👊💛
Oh oh! I always think of creativity and inspiration like sparks of electricity. I love what you’re hinting at with Ona and Kelly’s artwork and its power to affect the physical world - I cannot wait to find out more!
Love the elements of intuition and opening something up through drawing. Very cool sequencing there!
Also I'm rereading Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being for teaching and this part you wrote made me think of this part about Franz that really struck me while reading last night - "Who can say what’s real anyway? Who gets to decide? The best conversations I’ve had are when I’m by myself. I know I’m a freak."
Here's Kundera - “I might put it another way: Franz felt his book life to be unreal. He yearned for real life, for the touch of people walking side by side with him, for their shouts. It never occurred to him that what he considered unreal (the work he did in the solitude of the office or library) was in fact his real life, whereas the parades he imagined to be reality were nothing but theater, dance, carnival- in other words, a dream.”
I’ve not read the book, but I saw the movie years ago with Daniel Day Lewis. It is funny, the thin veiled that fiction provides. I’m so flattered to have you reading along with this story. And a little nervous if I’m being honest. Your knowledge of literature and the craft of writing is vast.
Maybe there is more to this seemingly, in some ways fragile, girl than I believed, this weeks chapter makes me feel as though I judged her too hastily last week. Ona's presence, which gives us a far deeper understanding of the real Kelly is a surprise I loved and hadn't anticipated. Brilliant Ben!
Thanks for this peek into Kelly's inner world. It's a treat to witness her self-discovery and to see a scene from another perspective. This feels like the heart of the chapter and (possibly?) the story: "That’s the power of art. You can change things to be the way they should be." Ona is a fabulous creation. Do you know Naomi Alderman's books, "The Power" and "The Future"? You'd enjoy her flavor of speculative fiction.
I don’t know her work, but I will definitely check it out. This chapter was a tricky choice for me to make for the structure of the book (introducing journal entries to allow a first person POV) but also giving voice to a 16-year-old girl struggling with some big issues. I experimented with a couple of new narrative devices in this one and I’ve learned a lot in the process. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Julie!
“In the collection that was donated to MOMA by her estate”! What a beginning. At at once, tell us so much and leaves us with so many questions.
Oh, and Ona is brilliant too.
Can’t wait till next week.
Thank you so much, Holly! Yeah, this was an early big, blind swing I took. I really never know when I make these bets if they'll pay off but they're great for momentum. I think I've been able to deliver on the promise, but you'll be the judge as things unfold.
Can’t wait!
I love Ona!! Makes me wish I had an Ona too! (maybe I do?)
Looooooooove this sooooooo much. And way to up the intrigue with the MOMA note at the top! I so enjoyed this deeper look into Kelly’s inner world and how she develops, from suicidal to “being great someday.” Such a true portrayal of those angsty years.
Thank you, Kimberly. There will be lots of intrigue in the pages to come. ✨
I had to listen twice. So good!! I feel like we’re getting closer to her now, listening as she writes in her journal. It’s giving us so much insight into her relationships, trust issues, sense of alienation…and how important her creative drawing practice is in shaping her sense of meaning and wellbeing. 👊💛
Thank you, Ann. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one enough to listen to it not once, but twice!
Oh oh! I always think of creativity and inspiration like sparks of electricity. I love what you’re hinting at with Ona and Kelly’s artwork and its power to affect the physical world - I cannot wait to find out more!
There’s a lot more exploration of this theme coming so I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Thanks for being here, Emily.
Love the elements of intuition and opening something up through drawing. Very cool sequencing there!
Also I'm rereading Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being for teaching and this part you wrote made me think of this part about Franz that really struck me while reading last night - "Who can say what’s real anyway? Who gets to decide? The best conversations I’ve had are when I’m by myself. I know I’m a freak."
Here's Kundera - “I might put it another way: Franz felt his book life to be unreal. He yearned for real life, for the touch of people walking side by side with him, for their shouts. It never occurred to him that what he considered unreal (the work he did in the solitude of the office or library) was in fact his real life, whereas the parades he imagined to be reality were nothing but theater, dance, carnival- in other words, a dream.”
I’ve not read the book, but I saw the movie years ago with Daniel Day Lewis. It is funny, the thin veiled that fiction provides. I’m so flattered to have you reading along with this story. And a little nervous if I’m being honest. Your knowledge of literature and the craft of writing is vast.
You’d love the book!
Don’t be nervous. :)
Maybe there is more to this seemingly, in some ways fragile, girl than I believed, this weeks chapter makes me feel as though I judged her too hastily last week. Ona's presence, which gives us a far deeper understanding of the real Kelly is a surprise I loved and hadn't anticipated. Brilliant Ben!
She’s been a fun character to write with all of her layers. I’m so happy this chapter gave you a new perspective. Thanks so much for reading Susie.
Thanks for this peek into Kelly's inner world. It's a treat to witness her self-discovery and to see a scene from another perspective. This feels like the heart of the chapter and (possibly?) the story: "That’s the power of art. You can change things to be the way they should be." Ona is a fabulous creation. Do you know Naomi Alderman's books, "The Power" and "The Future"? You'd enjoy her flavor of speculative fiction.
I don’t know her work, but I will definitely check it out. This chapter was a tricky choice for me to make for the structure of the book (introducing journal entries to allow a first person POV) but also giving voice to a 16-year-old girl struggling with some big issues. I experimented with a couple of new narrative devices in this one and I’ve learned a lot in the process. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Julie!