For a long time now, spanning the years in which I had little free time, due to the demands of work, I have wanted to sit back and read good books. I've wanted to read the lofty tomes widely known as 'Classic Literature'. Reading them, it is commonly believed, serves to elevate one's nature. However, I'm not a reader so much as I'm a listener. I think that still provides the same effect.
It seems that listening to audiobooks of Classic Literature goes hand in hand with drawing, and so while I draw, I listen to books. The proper reading of the typical book takes many, many hours, more than one would think. Whereas a movie is considered long if it goes over two hours, the reading of a classic book takes approximately 24 hours. (Thank God I'm not the one doing the reading).
Wondering just how extensive the list of Classic Literature is, I have done some research. Apparently, not all are agreed on what constitutes ‘Classical Literature’, as there are titles in dispute, but most of the 'Classic Literature' books I have ever seen so deemed have showed up on various reputable lists.
Of those titles, I found that I had already read some. The Great Gatsby, Slaughterhouse Five, Catch 22, Catcher In The Rye, Robinson Crusoe, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, Nineteen Eighty Four, and some others.
Recently, I have had read to me A Tale Of Two Cities (authored by Charles Dickens, the inspiration of a previous post) and am less than two hours from finishing Moby Dick. This has by no means made much of a dent in the long list, but it's a start.
So the question lays before me, after the finishing of Moby Dick (and undoubtedly some reflection upon it), which title will I pick next. This is not an easy decision, seeing as I'm going to spend 24 hours listening to that selection, but a choice will be made and off I'll go. I don't think I can make a wrong decision, but I do want to pick a book that fits my present mood.
Why Classic Literature, a person might ask me, when there is sooo much other content available? The answer to that is I figure it might better serve me to start at the top rather than in the middle of the pile because there is a lot of fluff out there. Also, when someone or some article references a classic book I will be able to understand what they are alluding to. Lots of movies are based on Classic Literature and the sayings and themes within those books have wended their way into the vernacular, memes, and isms of society due to their having stood the test of time.
Of course, in order to keep current I will try and remain appraised of the present day world but most of that deluge of endless, scattershot subject matter is so rapidly here and gone as to be virtually meaningless. It makes no lasting impression, much like the weather of the day is so like the weather of the days before. It regularly passes from one's memory upon the daily dipping of the sun beneath the horizon.
Better upon the mind is the discovery of ingenuity and cleverness to be found in the books written by capable hands, which is a delight to behold as well as an inspiration to follow. No reader of books would avail themself to the storytelling of a mediocre wannabee when a more compelling yarn, contrived by a craftsman, is readily available.
Call me Ishmael.
Taylor Ann Wright- Unsplash.com
Words are building blocks and in the hands of a master can be turned into the most beautiful architecture. In the hands of a buffoon, words can be turned into near gibberish, pointless meanderings, contrived, transparent plots, unbelievable characters, ridiculous scenes, angry diatribes, and a host of other sins.
This should not be construed as saying that an author is a dummkopf if he or she falls short of the mark, it only means that there is enough dreck out there already to fill landfill upon landfill.
Authorship is an art, and as an expression of creativity it is my belief that people must be given the liberty to try their hand, but as technology has enabled many to write not all are up to the task, and fewer still will ever master the craft. Out of a steady stream of chaff the wheat is steadily winnowed, not so much by editors as used to be the case but by sales, and that is the tell.
One can only aspire.
So in that vein, "Write away!", say I. “Give it a go!”. You can only fail to rise again. As for myself the cry is “Upon the pages of this lonely blog post, I shall continuously be offering vignettes to the wind. Should one or more someday gain traction I will have proof that the words I have crafted have hit their mark".
Then, as all writers clearly know, I need to that exhortation add:
"'Tis not for me that I write, though I do take satisfaction in the crafting of words-
'tis mainly for you!”.