It took me a long time to decide how to start this post
(read: I debated what book, how to talk about it, what book, what style to use,
what book, WHAT BOOK!). I scanned my shelves to get inspiration and I started
with a book that I have loved for a long while. The cover makes me happy, the
contents make me happy, and it just makes me happy. Which seems like a decent
place to start.
Barbara Kingsolver is an American writer from Kentucky, born
in 1955 and she has been writing since 1985. She also has two degrees in
biology one from DePauw University and one from the University of Arizona. Small Wonder is the first book I read
from Kingsolver and as I’ve already said it is one of my favourites. It is a
small collection of stories about all manner of topics (American culture,
family, environment, hope, etc.). From the first story about a child rescued by
a bear in Iran to the last story about really seeing people and life for what
is. Kingsolver offers up tidbits of her life, the lives of Americans, and asks
that the reader look, really look at what is happening. She does it in way that
does not leave us scared to move forward. Although her stories often uncover despair
and unhappiness that lurk just beneath the surface of American life she offers
up equal measures of hope and faith.
The story/essay I want to look at is ‘What good is a story?’ It begins with Kingsolver reminiscing about a time she had to read 125 stories
and decide which ones would be published in a book. She starts with an
intricate ranking system, which she claims lasted only three stories.
Realising her ranking system is inadequate she simultaneously becomes aware of
what makes a good story good: “I love it for what it tells me about life. I
love fiction, strangely enough, for how true it is” (210). I will return to
this momentarily, but first it is important to mention her second realisation. It is not a revelation (although then again maybe it is) --
humans are mortal, we cannot read or experience everything there is in life.
That is our curse. Our blessing. If a story, book, novel, essay, is not actually
saying anything what is the point.
I am an avid reader. I have read many a good book, and some
bad ones. The truly bad stick out, and the truly beautiful ones do too.
Beautiful for me is well-written. Well-written is then word choice and story.
Story is then what I am being told, be it from an essay, novel, poem, etc. There
is a difference between I am not into this right now and this is just not worth
it. I have picked up books only to enjoy them years after putting them down. Kingsolver’s two realisations really resonate with me.
Back to her story. Unpacking what Kingsolver means by “tell
her about life” she goes on to say that she wants accuracy. When she reads a
story that contains historical/linguistic/scientific inaccuracies, she stops
reading it. Her reasoning, “literature should inform as well as enlighten, and
first, do no harm” (213). Is this a tall-order for authors? Maybe, but in an
age of “fake news” and “alternative truths,” it is a fair demand.
Kingsolver has two degrees in Biology, I do not. But one of my first creative writing teachers made it
very clear that although one can write about ANYTHING, if one does not do adequate
research stories fall apart. Of course there are science fiction stories and
fantasy stories that create their own universals* and languages. Have you ever
read one that trips itself up? Claiming maybe that wood elves only live in the
woods and then ten pages later claims they have always lived near the sea. An
overly thick example, but nevertheless if a story cannot even uphold its own
truths how can it reveal truth?
The importance of the second half of Kingsolver’s statement “do
no harm” cannot be overstated. The stories/novels/essays/etc. that I hope to
discuss on this blog will all have to do with environment, existence, and the global
effects of climate change. The authors who write about these topics have a duty
to their readers to be accurate, fair, and above all give hope. Authors are able to
shape and influence cultural thought (maybe they just reflect it, but then is
this not just propagating a certain view point?). That is a remarkable and
weighty ability.
I realise this post does not give any direct questions, but
if you would like, please respond. If you can get your hands on a copy of Small Wonder, I highly recommend it.
I will be setting up some ‘Tuesday Tidbits’ (quotes that fit
the blog theme). I will also try to set up my “Book Library” for those of you
interested in this literature and unsure where to start. I welcome submissions
and suggestions of books to be placed on that list.
Until next time!
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