It's Complicated

The process of waiting is happily filled with hours of writing and, that rarest of pleasures (rare for the young mother of three, anyway), reading. (And I don't count children's books, sorry). What am I reading?

A few things, actually. I've got a bookmark in William Goldman's "The Princess Bride" (for the millionth blissful time), I just started Jane Austen's "Emma" (only my second reading--I didn't like it the first time), and a book by my favorite writer.

Who is my favorite writer, you ask?

Well, that's where it gets complicated.

The answer is: Stephen King. Yes, you heard correctly--Stephen King, the Horror novelist.

Appropriate response? Shock and (yes) Horror.

But, wait. I don't actually read Horror books (or see Horror movies, comics, etc.). I don't disapprove of them, exactly, but I can't handle them. I'm not built to appreciate stories created to frighten people. They make me hurt in a bad way and I don't like it.

However, Stephen King has written more than a collection of (widely acknowledged to be brilliant) Horror stories. He created a fantasy as well ("The Eyes of the Dragon") and a marvelous book called "On Writing".

Every now and then, you find a book that resonates with you. A book you read over and over because it speaks your language and you always come out of it inspired, enlightened, and just plain satisfied. For me, that book is "On Writing".

Contained in "On Writing" are Stephen King's past experiences and advice to writers, which is all very useful, but what I really like about it is hearing his voice. Behind the terrifying fiction sits a man with admirable morals, deep inner strength, and a macabre sense of humor.

I find his writing advice useful and inspiring, but I usually get more out of his stories. Some are sad, or painful, or just plain dark, but he tells them with humor, so you're laughing when you probably shouldn't be. Or maybe you're laughing exactly when you should be. The point is, you're laughing when he wants you to.

Which is why I can never read the rest of his books. If he can get me laughing at a horrific situation, what would happen when his intention is to terrify? I guess we'll never know. Sorry. It's just not my cup of tea.

Still, I always come out of "On Writing" wishing desperately that my favorite writer had chosen a genre I actually like! Then again, if he had done so, he wouldn't be writing "Truth" he insists all writers need to do. I suspect his abilities are tied to his truth-telling, so he wouldn't be my favorite if he wrote anything else, would he?

Sigh. As I said--it's complicated.