Historical Fiction

I just finished a novel by the author of the immensely popular "The Other Boleyn Girl" and I found it lacking in many ways. This novel, "The White Queen", set in the time of the War of the Roses is told by a character whose fate is known. I personally prefer the historical novel to have an unknown or relatively unknown protagonist tell the tale. There can be little suspense otherwise. This also gives the author more freedom in personal opinion and interpretation, as with the Poe book mentioned in the last blog post. It could just be me and my current state of mind, but I could not form any loyalty or sympathy for this Elizabeth since all the plotting, intrigue and casting of spells done against her and her family was no more or less than what she and her own family were up to...dog eat dog on the royal level. I love historical fiction for the insights into life in those times. And one of the things this novel brings up is life for women and how it all hinges on marrying the right man and how his fortunes progress. Our own time saw a change after the feminists brought women the ability to work and support themselves but this 'golden age' may be endangered by the economy of this decade. In a few hundred years, the historical fiction of the period from 1970 to 2010 may seem like a dream to those depending on others once again. What do you think??

More on Poe

In an earlier post, below, I mention that I had written a poem about the death of Edgar Allan Poe, an unsolved mystery ironically involving the inventor of mystery/detective literature. One of my poet friends, Tammy Houtz (who also inspires me to write in different poetry forms I never knew existed!) has leant me a novel that is about a young lawyer in Baltimore who is obsessed with Poe's death (he had correspondence with Poe) and desperately tries to unravel the mystery so he can clear Poe's name of the negative images that came up during the days and years after the event.
The writing is very good...the book is called "The Poe Shadow". It's by Matthew Pearl. What I really love about good fiction is that it has the ability to offer us information about our own society without the direct finger pointing that we find in political rhetoric. Apart from an fascinating exploration of the life of Poe and the 'climate' of Baltimore in the mid 1800's, we get a wealth of information on how media operates and the lengths many diverse individuals and groups are willing to go to promote and protect their own special interests.
Even if you're not a big Poe fan (and I admit that I am not an avid reader myself) this book will be fascinating and thought provoking reading.

Musing on What's Hot and What's Not

I was thinking today that, to be truly radical now in the writing world you need to go back to writing in forms, rhyming (without trying to...poets, you know the difference. One is a flow and one is a greeting card!) and tackling sacred cows like: 'don't write poems about poetry'.
And since that is really 'the way' to break with the mainstream now (oh, Slammers will be angry and so will the unconstructed, but hey, there's just so many of you out there now...you are no longer different!) I realized I had a truly radical and groundbreaking poem in "Fruit of the Banyan Tree" (a collection by the Ruminators, published in 2009). It is called "Somewhere the Goddess" and commits the two sins of writing in rhyming sonnet form and writing about writing poetry!! And then, it's also kind of Dorothy Parker in places. Here it is:

Somewhere the Goddess

If he compared her to a summer's day

In the current age of global warming,

While turning bright red in intense sun rays

She would not think it sounded so charming.

If he said his love would stay as strong

As the moment he first eyed her eye,

When passionate ties don't last that long,

She would surely think, "He lies."

But though sonnetteers must all move along

Dip their pens in the ink of the latest fad

Fill their cups from the latest hip-hop song

Learn to write post modern verse and be glad

Somewhere the Goddess of Romance still lurks

Feeding on small, sweet sentimental quirks.

Tell me that ain't so! And guys, don't forget to bring flowers...

Thanks to my new followers...I appreciate you! Please don't be shy and share if you have something to add to whatever I post as long as we are on the topic of writing.

Poems posted on Shelliewrites.com

Hi

I was asked to post a poem I wrote last October about Edgar Allen Poe...so it is on the website now, on the page you find if you click Read More under Writing Previews on the homepage.
Another poem from my volume, Journey to the Meaning of Love is also posted. Hope you enjoy them! My book is available for purchase through my website...or you can find it on Amzon.com.

Good news...a different poem from my book, Morgaina's Lament, was just published in the first issue of Poetica Victorian.

I'm now reading an interesting book, set in rural Georgia in the early 1930's. The reminisence of a young girl, this feels a lot like Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird) and racism is clearly a theme, but definitely not the only one in "The Cailiff's of Baghdad, Georgia". This is a more complex journey and a very good example of the regional novel. Check it out! Author, Mary Helen Stefaniak.

Welcome

Welcome to Shellie Writes!

Please feel free to comment on anything I post and to post information about favorite books, events or any tips about publishing and all aspects of the written word. The only ground rules are that we maintain a high level of language and a respectful communication space here. Opinions may differ. Agreement is not necessary; argument is not encouraged.

I'd like to share a Cinquain I recently wrote. The Cinquain is a distinctly American poetic form which you can read about here: http://www.cinquain.org/ I chose the syllable form for a poem about our recent winter storm here in South Carolina.

My week

Icebound longing

Birds in feeding frenzy

Reveal the pecking order rules

Home school

Here's another...the form is 2,4,6,8,2...

Skiers

Worship mountains

Covered in hard packed snow

Offering sport, to others dread

Stay home

Try one!!