Monday, April 12, 2010

First Lines of a Novel

Real Simple magazine's May issue asked readers: What is your favorite first line of a novel?

Among them was a favorite of Andrew's and one that I admit illustrates Hunter S. Thompson's talent in 18 words.

We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.

While I do not and never have condoned the drug culture, there is something very compelling about these 18 words, as if in so short a time, Thompson has shown himself to the world, not caring how anyone else feels about his lifestyle.

Here are some my favorite first lines from novels:

It is only at night that she has the strength to wander.----Lisa Carey, The Mermaids Singing
(The last paragraphs on page 340 of this novel are amazing as well.)

The widow Arden and her two daughters lived in a one-room cottage just outside the village of Mortlak, less than a mile from the Thames.--- Patricia C. Wrede, Snow White and Rose Red

Don't worry, David, I'm on my way.--- Spoken by Steve Earle and recorded in his biography Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle by Lauren St John.

Although a good quote shouldn't need explanation, I believe the one above is the exception. Earle mutters these words to his lawyer or agent, who has brokered a multi-million dollar deal for Earle, despite the fact that Earle has fucked up his music career, upset everyone who's ever known him or helped him, and is in the midst of poverty, heading towards homelessness in South Nashville on account of his several-thousand dollar-a-day cocaine/ heroin habit.

David is waiting for Earle to make a contract negotiation meeting in New York City and Earle insists he's on his way, but he's nowhere near an airport. Instead, he's on the street about to get some blow or heroin or both, another attempt to slowly kill himself. All this, in two paragraphs of the biography go to illustrate just how a drug can ruin a man's life; how he can ruin his own with a drug.

Everybody lies---Michael Connelly, The Brass Verdict

Monday, April 5, 2010

Small Things

There's this concept, outlined beautifully in Malcolm Gladwell's book Tipping Point, about how little things can make big differences.

What if more people could grow their own produce, or afford the better, organically grown stuff served up in gourmet stores like Whole Foods? What if this led to people being a bit healthier, more immune to illness, and more fit? What if being more fit led to people exercising a bit more, increasing their "happy hormones" and being happier, calmer people in general? Could we surmise that there might be a bit less violence, road rage, etc? Maybe, healthier people wouldn't need so much insurance, or so many doctor's visits.

Here's another example. What if neighborhoods inspired beauty, even where low-income families lived? What if there were some vines, flowers, trees and grass to sit on? What if the Projects that might have inspired desperation and hopelessness, uplifted people a bit? Might they also feel better about themselves? More capable to improve their life's circumstances? What if these people got involved in community outreach groups that instilled lessons of self-reliance, hope, community and faith? What if these people inspired students and youngsters to stay in school, to go to the library after school, to get involved in their local neighborhood and city governments? What if these governments became more responsive to communities in need, and people didn't feel neglected? What if this all led to safer streets, where kids and adults could play and walk? Might these people also stave off the effects of obesity, adult on-set diabetes and other health issues?

Here's my point: what if all we needed to do to better the world was to keep at the smaller things. To attend to them carefully and with lots of observation. What if we could improve these things which would systemically improve other things.

I think we need to stop looking at life as if it were a series of lines; as if part A only affected parts B and C. Life doesn't work that way. I think life is more wholistic and connected than that. We need to start looking at life as if one thing affects everything else and vice versa. Part A affects parts G and Z of life. Changing one affects 30 other different life aspects.

I am a proponent of experimentation, study, observation and making little changes to lead to larger ones. Malcolm Gladwell is my prophet and I hope to practice, in some way, the concept that small things lead to a tipping point, a major point of change, where anything is possible.