(no subject)

[serene]

1. Give a quote from literature that you return to over and over.

It's from a song that is enough of a story that I consider it literature. The song is by John Gorka, and it's called Flying Red Horse:

"I am not much of a joiner," she says. "That's not where I draw my strength. Some of them go for the depth of field, while most of 'em go for the length. Me, I will go for the hard combination..."

2. Talk about a character in literature that feels to you, in some way, like an example of how to live.

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie Crawford lives a full, unconventional life without apology or explanation to the gossips around her who want, out of envy and boredom, to tear her down for her choices. She confides in her best friend, but doesn't care whether the magpies get the satisfaction of knowing what she's been up to. She lives for love, but she's also patient and flexible. When she finally finds someone who loves her back in the way that fits with her, she accepts his imperfections as part of his beauty.

3. Is there someone out there who has written more than one book that really touched your soul? Who is it, and what were the books?

Everything I've ever written of Amy Tan's work, and of Alice Walker's work, and of Audre Lorde's work, has felt as though someone knew exactly what was important in the Universe and managed to convey it to me.

4. What is your trashy reading? (That is, something you read that you have a hard time thinking of as "literature", but it's a fun, easy read for you -- something you pick up when you don't wanna think too hard.)

Murder mysteries, especially serial-killer books. I have no clue why they're so compelling to me, especially since they all run together in my mind, and very few stand out (though there are a few recurring detective characters I'm kind of attached to).

Oops, more later. Arranging stuff with annaoj.