Two more books
Some of the best writing I have ever seen is in these two books.
Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead is such exquisite writing that tears drip from every word. It is so tender, this writing, and the subject matter so painful that the book fills and breaks your heart at the same time. This is not an ordinary book by any means. Not in structure and not in style. Very remarkable book. It hurt, and, at the same time, I never wanted it to end.
The story takes place during the Civil War. The boy's father has gone off to serve -- it's not even clear to me which side the father is fighting on -- it doesn't matter. The boy's mother has a sense of prophecy, and she tells her fourteen-year old son to go find his father before it is too late. So he goes off into the wilderness of nature and man to find his father.
Approximately six months later he returns. He has seen what no man let alone a boy should see. He has starved, been swindled, seen brutality, madness, pitiless death, etc. He has had to kill or be killed. In the approximately six months, he returns a man, a good man, utterly dependable, caring, the kind of man you would die for.
Today fourteen-year old boys are kept children.
Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga is another book that breaks your heart. It takes place in a town in India. It is about corruption, and it is about honor, often the honor in unexpected places. Now, The Godfather, had plenty of corruption, but, in this book, corruption is told about on such a human scale, one man's experience with one other man, that's all, yet the corruption is so unkind, the rich stealing from the poor, for example, and there is no recourse -- it is all too much to bear. No man in this town of Kittur seems to stand a chance.
The book is made of incredible interlinked human short stories.
Both of these authors have remarkable vision, awareness, and searing hearts, and yet each author is far different from the other.
If you brave reading these books, I would love to know what you think and how you feel.
Comments
The book that immediately came to mind as having a similar impact on my mind, was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I remember being really moved by the writing and story.
I like this: "...wilderness of nature and man to find his father."
I don't think 14 year old's are being kept children. It's more like one arm is being pulled towards a weak form of adulthood and another arm being pulled towards an incoherent youth.
The nature of "a good man" is inherent in all males. The experiences that trigger the awakening of "a good man" are not so important. It's the choice to be a good man that counts. We become good men, because we choose to become good men.
Our world could do with more people choosing to be good men and good women. I know that Heavenletters are surrounded by them.
Your writing is as powerful as the writing of the authors mentioned above.
I never thought of it this way, One. And I want to think about it more. I think you have opened my eyes.
Have you ever had a Godwriting workshop for young people? Wouldn't that be something....
Children have far too few role models. How do you choose to become a good man or woman if you don't know what that encompasses?
Thank you for the book recommendations. They both sound amazing.
Oh, Angela, what a great idea. I would love to do that.
The vehicle is not easy to find. When I was teaching school, I would have sneaked it in with the kids, and gotten into a lot of trouble over it.
I have a friend who has a youth group at her church, but I kinda doubt the church would go for it. I could be wrong.
So, Angela, I wonder if it comes down to that I haven't pursued teaching teenagers because I may not like the response I get from their parents, church etc. That's not a good reason, is it?
We used to have a fourteen year old subscriber. She was fabulous. She asked God several personal questions.
As for role models, like the rest of us, kids have been bombarded with emphasis on material possessions, grades at school, popularity at any cost, and Viagra. However, that is going to change.
ONE commented: "The nature of “a good man” is inherent in all males. The experiences that trigger the awakening of “a good man” are not so important. It’s the choice to be a good man that counts."
The nature of GOOD is in all of us, male and female. Whatever a brother soul has done, I see the seeds of in myself. It comes down to, as you write, CHOICE. But to SEE we have choice, I believe one needs the EXAMPLE another gives you of nobility, of strength, of goodness. Without examples of being a good man, how could we rise above the confusion all about us?
Books! Of course, we learn from the men and women who write. I believe that was my saving grace, Margaret.
And, of course, One who is such a good man himself, was not leaving out women, not at all.