#IWSG: Liking Out of the Mainstream

          Wouldn't you know that my first Tossing Out Post of 2013 would be about insecurity!   Will thirteen be an unlucky year?  It's not something I'm counting on so let's hope not.  But since it's first Wednesday of the month, insecurity is the topic du jour.

Me--the Different Drummer Marcher

           A somewhat tepid response to my recent review of Veronika Carnaby's Bohemia was still another reminder that my tastes in literature are a bit out of the mainstream.  My stats for that post indicate that several hundred hits were recorded, but less than twenty visitors took the time to comment and the response from over half of those who commented was something to the effect of "this is not a genre that interests me".

          The scary part of this is that not only Carnaby's book is in a genre that I prefer to read, but this genre is closer to what I tend to write.  Perhaps her style is not necessarily the style I write, but the tenor of my style is similar.  This is probably why I feel such an affinity for Carnaby's book.

          Likewise for Flannery O'Connor--I sometimes tend to approach what she tried to do, not by imitating her style, but taking a similar thematic bent.  Who else is reading O'Connor just for personal entertainment or whatever you might call it?   When I mention Flannery O'Connor most people haven't even heard of her let alone read her work.   She's mostly for the scrutiny of college literature classes.

Don't Get Me Wrong

          I don't want anyone to come to the conclusion that I'm trying to rank myself with the likes of O'Connor.   And I'm expressing my admiration for Carnaby's new novel, not saying I want to write something like it.  I want to tell my stories in my own voice.  If I publish something that I like because of what I'm saying in the story and the way that I'm saying it, will I find the readers?

           Insecurity, yes, the demon of self-doubt is apparently diverting my attention.  I've got all of these projects started in one way or another, but I keep finding excuses not to finish any of them.  Is it due to my genre of choice?   If I am trying to write with more of a literary leaning, but not adept enough to pull it off, will I have lost audiences on all sides?

           "Just do it already", some of you are saying.   I know, I know.  Perhaps I need to reassess my genre interest.  But no, I'm not sure that's a good idea.   I know what I like, what I want to read, what I want to write.   I just don't want to waste my time.

             Perhaps I should go with the philosophy that anything finished with an honest effort and a belief in what one has done is never a waste of time.

            Yeah, I like that.  But it still doesn't totally eliminate my insecurity.

             In my next post I'll be talking about reading outside of ones genre or comfort zone.  Then on the post after that I'm going to examine the concept of taste or why we like what we like.  In this post I'll also be giving my thoughts on the 2012 film Marvel's The Avengers (yes, I finally saw it on DVD).

              Do you write in a genre that you feel is not overly popular?   Would you compromise your personal  preferences to write in a style or with a theme that would be more popular to more people?   When you've written something that you've felt was exceptional but was met with a lackluster response what have you done about it?  

 First Wednesday of the month means another edition of Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group.   You can discover more participants here.

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The Kind of Surprise That I Like to Get

       

        In mid-November I received a request to read a book for review on this blog.  Since I first started reviewing books on Tossing It Out, I have been receiving a number of such requests and have been happy to oblige when I'm able to fit it into my schedule.  Of course, I always accept the mission with the caveat that yours truly, Mr. Super Slow Reader, author of this blog, may take a while to get the job done.   But I try.  I try.

         Now I am spoiled.  Future books will have to meet new expectations set by one Veronika Carnaby.  She has raised the bar by forwarding to me a book that I will call one of the best of 2012--or at least my favorite of the year and one of my favorites of all time.   Veronika's Bohemia is my kind of story written in the kind of style that I enjoy.

          As with any book review, my opinions are totally subjective.   This can be seen in the range of reviews that one can find for Bohemia on Amazon or Goodreads.  Bohemia seems to be one of those love it or hate it novels with a large group in the middle of it all.   Count me as one who loved, loved, loved the book.  As far as I'm concerned those on the lower range of opinion just didn't get it.   I got it as soon as I started into the book and I was getting it and it never let up for me.   I became a part of the story and was thrilled to be there.

         What is the story?   Here's how the author describes it:

       Influenced by the works of Beat Generation authors and great poets, the story takes place during 1960 and chronicles a group of bohemian twenty-somethings who defy the "ideals" of a mid-twentieth century society to seek creative fulfillment. On a deeper level, it portrays the creative path that artists of all mediums tread, all the while depicting the challenges faced by youth and women in the ‘60s.

          This was enough to lure me in--yeah, my kind of tale.  The story of the artist, the creative thinker, my struggle and your struggle.   Bohemia is a literary journey in the tradition of the Great American Novel.  It's a female version of Huckleberry Finn become Holden Caulfield without all his self-absorbed angst following the paths set in Kerouac's On the Road.  

            The style of Bohemia is essentially Beat.  The writing is funny at times, while beautifully insightful at others.  Carnaby does a tremendous job of capturing the spirit of 1960 and creating characters that seem real and likable.  The narrator of the story, Valerie Freed, starts out as a naive college grad with little idea of what she's going to do in life.  During the course of the story, Valerie discovers her calling as a writer and begins to pursue her dreams in the biggest way she can.  The character arc is one of the most natural I've ever experienced from any book.

             Experience is a key word here.  I felt like I didn't so much read this book as much as I lived it, felt it, and became a part of it.  Carnaby did a splendid job of putting me into Valerie's mind.   When the end of the book came, I wasn't ready to leave Valerie.  She was now like a friend, so close that she was a part of me.  Bohemia is one of those books I wanted to keep going.

             Veronika Carnaby--I don't know how you found me and decided to share your book with me, but I'm glad you did.  So often I am less than gratified by books that I read.  Yours has left me satisfied and has lingered in my mind.   Readers, if you like books like what I've described here, I encourage you to support Carnaby and hasten to obtain Bohemia.  Use that Amazon gift certificate you got for Christmas.  Buy a copy for a friend who has an interest in the Beat era or America circa 1960.   Follow the dreams of Valerie Freed and her friends.   Are these dreams similar to your own?

Veronika Carnaby can be found at her blog:   http://veronikacarnaby.blogspot.com/

My reviews of Bohemia can be found at:

Amazon

Goodreads

         Have you read Bohemia by Veronika Carnaby?    If so please share your thoughts about it.    Are you a fan of Beat literature or the era?   Are there any books that have taken you by surprise to become a favorite read?

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