As readers of this blog know, at the end of every interview I ask: “If you could have written one book that has already been published by someone else which book would it be?”
So for this week’s Topical Tuesday, Jay suggested we ask this of ourselves.
Immediately, I found myself pleading for what every interviewee asks, “Can I pick two? Please?”
But, I’m putting my foot down. I will not pick two. Here are the additional stipulations so that you can play along:
1. The choice may not be influenced by how much money you would have made had you written that book.
2. The choice can be a book within a series, but cannot be the entire series lumped into one.
At first I thought Harry Potter. And not because of the money, but because of the fun those books brought to people’s lives and the joy kids as well as adults found in reading them. Also, I really loved the world-building.
Then, I thought The Hobbit, because, well, it’s my favorite book. But…no dice.
If I could have written any book, I would choose…(drum roll, please)…
The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably like, “Say what? You write YA, your first thought was that you wanted to write Harry Potter and then maybe The Hobbit, and then you go and choose Styron!”
It’s ok. You can be disappointed in me because I went all pompous-Pulitzer-Prize-winning-literary on you…And that is sooooo not me. But wait! I have reasons why. I swear! I’m not just a snob!
Here’s why I wish I wrote Confessions of Nat Turner:
1. I’m super patriotic and this book is profoundly American. It covers a pivotal part of our history as a country even if it is the equivalent of casting a spotlight on our dirty drawers.
2. The writing took my breath away. Yes, I’m using a cliche, but I’m not using hyperbole.
3. Gray characters. Styron took a lot of flack for portraying many of the slaves in the story as not good people and many of the slave owners as halfway heroes. However, there were also slaves who were good people and slave owners who weren’t. That’s life. And much of his point is that the institution of slavery brought out the best in no one.
4. The entire book, I was upset by how Styron portrayed God. Big, fearsome and out for revenge. Then, FINALLY, on the very, very last page, the reader got to see something different. And Styron, through Nat, revealed a different angle. It was refreshing and, what is more interesting–this view was personified throughout the story by a white girl.
5. Nat is a compelling narrator, though not always a sympathetic one.
I could go on, but really, you should just read it. I can only hope that one day Mr. Styron’s ghost will sprinkle some of his magic, writing fairy dust and then I can create a story equally beautiful.
Now, for the fun part! Which book would you have written? Reminder: Every comment you make will enter you in the drawing to win one of three hardback copies of Heather Terrell’s The Map Thief!
Can’t get enough Topical Tuesday? Check out Ideas and Execution in Book Packaging and Brand Yourself.
Status: Last night, I read half of The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart. I’m loving it so far. It’s really cute and, for a first person narrative, is framed wonderfully. I talked a lot last night with SCOUT’s artist and I love the vision he has for Scout. She is modeled after an actress who I wouldn’t call A-list but who is perfect for the part. And I wouldn’t have thought of her in a million years!
The artist has been out-of-town but soon he will be sending me some more of his work. I’ve already seen sneak peeks! So, as you might guess…I’m writing SCOUT today! And the audition for the video game company.
6 Comments
July 29, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I guess I’m going to have to go out and get myself a copy of The Confessions of Nat Turner. Sounds great and that was a very compelling review. I particularly enjoyed your talk about the author’s portrayal of God. I too am bothered when God is portrayed in that light. People often ask, Do you believe in God, and I always say, Not the God of the Bible – precisely because that is the God you described in this book: big, fearsome, and out for revenge. However, I’m totally compelled to discover how we get a glimpse of something else on the last page, and I love books that reflect an historical period.
July 29, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I love historical fiction, so my one book that I would have chosen to have written would be “London” by Edward Rutherford.
The way he wove about half dozen families through 2,000 years of history was quite interesting. Book keep me spellbound for a week solid.
Second runner up would be the “Wheel of Times” series by Rober Jordan. Quite maddening to read at times, but well worth the effort if you love fantasy.
July 30, 2008 at 12:13 am
I wish I would have written Marley and Me and its because I just finished reading it and I loved it! The whole idea of the book seems so simple, those are usually the best kind and the whole time I was reading it I thought, “I could have written this!” So many people, especially animal lovers can relate to the book and connection with multiple people is the ultimate book seller!
July 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm
But I don’t wish to have written a book that already exists, because…well, it’s not my book, then. It’s someone else’s creation, someone else’s baby. To want to lay claim to it seems, somehow, deceitful.
I want to write the books that I will have written (does that even make sense?)
July 31, 2008 at 1:41 am
Cold Fire by Dean Koontz
That book is a masterpiece.
August 5, 2008 at 2:38 pm
[...] For more of my Topical Tuesday posts try Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda–The Book I Wish I Wrote and [...]