I'm finally reading The Life of Pi.
As I cram in my last few weeks in Belgium, my own personal writing has fallen by the wayside. Not including blog or website stuff. No, lately I’ve been tending to that all humungous task of balancing. After several weeks of watching my social spirit shrivel up, I’ve spent this month tending to it. Point being, I’ve put that great writing attitude on the shelf while I gave my people skills a much needed emergency booster shot.
BUT….When I read the “Author’s Note” to The Life of Pi, I was moved to put the book down and pick up the wheezing laptop.
Now, I just gave you the link so you can read it from the beginning, but the part that got me was when Yann Martel shared his fantasy of what it would be like to write his book from a hill station in India.
“The lady who ran the place would tell me stories about the struggle to boot the British out. We would agree on what I was to have for lunch and supper the next day. After my writing day was over, I would go for walks in the rolling hills of the tea estates.
The part that got me was his attitude towards writing first, playing later. I liked that. And it was morning when I read it, so I put the book down, and wrote.
I just wanted to share that with you in case it could help you, too.
Jen, The Life of Pi is really such a wonderful book, I think you’re going to enjoy it. I read it last year while in Australia, and just the mention of it brings back images of Melbourne (sigh!)
I just read Life of Pi a few weeks ago and I thought the author’s note was part of the story? I’m not sure how far into it you are but the author’s voice reappears.
The story is fictional, yes?
more inspiration…thanks jen! i will have to get that one. i am always trying to balance reading, writing, socializing…it is a constant challenge. i just thought i’d share that i have made a stronger committment to my dream in the past few weeks…take a visit…it just makes my dream public, so i am officially committed to it 🙂 my name link should take you there: “all over the place”
Thanks everyone. I’ll let you know when I finish the book so that we can all start gabbing about it.
And thanks for emailing in that you liked the last post.
A good share and an absolutely delightful, wonderful, awe-inspiring book.
The imagination is a special place and when it is put down in writing, writing that is a joy to read – well, it feels darn good – and it churns the mind and relaxes the spirit.
A good book is a friend, a teacher – many things to many people.
And this author has more to tell. I’m waiting.