In the Labyrinth

When the Tortoise and Then the Hare Sit Down to Write

When it comes to writing novels, I am tortoise. At least with the first half, and there is something thrilling about the second half, like sliding down a long snowy hill, or as in below, leaping off the top step. I am still the tortoise right now. 

For assistance, I return to a 1968 Paris Review interview with the great Canadian author Robertson Davies where he describes his writing process, a laborious and methodical investigation long before the narrative is written. 

"I am at the moment winding up to write another novel, and when I say “winding up” I mean I am making notes and plans and perpetually building up what I will eventually write; that is the way I work. I make very, very careful plans and a great many notes—so many notes indeed that sometimes they are as long or longer than the eventual book. And sketches of characters and suggestions and references to things that will be useful. All that takes a long time. Getting to work on a new novel is a dismal business, for the beginnings never seem to get any easier with the passing of time. I toil like a swimmer who feels himself about to sink beneath the waves at any moment. Like all my novels, this one began with quite a simple idea, but as I work on it a mass of complexities assert themselves, and I have to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by extraneous detail. But then—at least the way I work—when you begin to write, you can write quite briskly because you have done all the preparatory work beforehand. I hope it turns out well. But with novels, like cakes, you never know. Even when I finish a book, I’m never sure whether it is good or rubbish."

So, I will making furious notes, plotting, character studies, and the rest -- and I pray the cake will hold. And that will be good. And can I just add, that I love even more that Davies used a food analogy -- another habit of my family when talking about literature that is close to my heart. 

The wonderful illustration is by Guillaume Ospital and you can more of his terrific work at Cake or Death website. 

Notes, References From Janet Smarr's Italian Renaissance Tales

This is a terrific collection, short enough to read all of the stories which range from tragic ("The Duchess of Malta") to naughty, bawdy, and full of fools. These are selections taken from historical collections that span 1300s -- 1600s. Since my interest lies in the 1500s --most of these notes and references are from collections from those years. 

Luigi Da Porto(1485--1529) Sometimes the writer's introduction to the story is more interesting than the story itself. He writes of being a young man, a soldier at arms who rode with an archer named Peregrino, a man much older than him, and who chastised the soldier for his misery in love.

"Do you want always to live your life in melancholy because a cruel beauty with feigned demonstrations cares little for you? And though I often speak contrary to what I do, yet because it is easier to give advice than to follow it, I will tell you, my captain, not only is it unbecoming for you who are in the army to spend a long time in the prison of Love, but also so wretched are almost all ends to which Love leads that it is perilous to follow him. And in witness of this, if it should please you, I could tell you a story that happened in my city (Verona) ... in which you will hear how two noble lovers were led to a wretched and pitiful death." 

Peregrino then recounts one of the many popular versions of Romeo and Juliette. 

Giovan Francesco Straparola da Caravaggio (148-1558)  As part of his collection he establishes a frame story for the storytelling that goes on within it -- a very Italian conceit I think as so many collectors and re-tellers of popular folktales and romantic stories perhaps found it more engaging for a literate class even though it is seen a divertente (a pleasant diversion). Here a group of noble men and women gather at the Venetian Palace of Ottaviano over thirteen nights during Carnivale to entertain each other with stories. (Straparola gives a long introduction to the principals at this gathering, establishing that while the tales have their rugged and at time vulgar characteristics, they are elevated by the splendor of the palace surroundings and the status of the participants sharing the tales. ( p 159, the list of who is there)

Father Scarpacifico Duped Only Once by Three Rogues, Dupes Them Back Three Times and Lives Happily Ever After With His Nina. One of the best trickster tales in the book, when a trio of rogues succeed in tricking Scapacifico, his revenge-tricks are outrageous and dangerous to the rogues. (Note to self -- What is the joke in trying to trick Scarpacifico into believing his mule is an ass? This must be a common ploy elsewhere but how is it funny? ) He in turns manages to convince them that a his goat understands when the priest tells it to take home the food his has purchased and tell Nina to cook a feats. He invites the rogues home for the meal, which Nina cooks (understanding the ruse.) The rogues pay a small fortune to buy the goat and of course it doesn't go as they thought and are mocked by their wives. The priest then pretends to "kill"  Nina (a bladder of blood under her petticoat) and "revives" her from death by placing a pipe between her buttocks and pretending to blow her back to life. Rogues purchase the pipe and then manage to kill their wives. Several more deceptions occur which pretty much winds up killing all of the rogues. The cleverness of the trickster, the set ups, the stupidity and usually greed of the dupes all make it darkly funny. 

The King's Son who is Born as a Pig, Marries Three Times and Eventually Puts Off His Pig Skin and is A Handsome Young Man: pg 168 (cf Three Sisters -- Battista and Swine Herder transformed into a Boar.) A fascinating rite of passage tale for the prince. Three marriages each with a flaw: the two sister-brides are not interested in love or the prince, due to his hideous form as a pig (he shits the bed regularly for one thing)  but they agree to the marriages for the prestige and wealth of aristocracy. The first two plot to kill him but he can hear their thoughts, so, he  kills them with his tusks. The third daughter is kind, loving and indulges all his piggishness, plus she does not appear to secretly harbor violent ideas in her thoughts. The Pig King tests her and when he is sure of her faithfulness, he finally reveals his true self and removes the skin. He is quite handsome as a human and in short order, the bride becomes pregnant. The Queen is astonished, and the bride finally reveals her husband's secret disguise. The Queen then arranges to spy on him and see this for herself and when she does, she removes and destroys the skin (think monkey girl, et al,) and the young prince is ready to take his place as a man, a husband and a father.  The fairies play a role here too -- putting on the spell, helping take off the spell. They show up whenever there is a need for a change in the status quo -- alternating between creating conflict and assisting when the time is right to resolve it. 

A Conversation of Flowers

That moment when the old and the new seem to speak to each other. It is a wet and cool spring here in Boulder, keeping the blossoms on the trees longer than usual --much to my enjoyment.

The Challenge of Sharing an Office: Side by Side

My husband and I share an office -- a modest rectangular room in a small condo in Boulder -- noted for small apartments.  Here is how we each occupy our own space.

His side, so clean and zen. Martial arts certificates in a neat row, the surface of his desk, quiet, waiting. 

And this is my side -- and to be fair, made more mad by the 1970s mirror-closet doors! Even still, I am probably still hiding small birds unseen in nests made of the left-over thrums from weaving, or behind the pile of books I have yet to read....It is a mess, I know, but, I do enjoy it.