Thread: The Road, by Cormac McCarthy

This is why Shawn will never improve as a writer. He'll be condemned to make the same mistakes because every sentence must mean something and have a hidden message which will actually stymie the flow of his prose. He's so worried about crafting the sentences to what he believes is important and, consequently, misses the story entirely. We all go through this phase. But in order to get better as a writer, we need to shift or completely change our ideas to what the readers want. Readers want to be entertained, not preached to. That's how Christ worked miracles. He didn't just preach; he told stories. I believe we all can learn somethng from the Bible.

Originally Posted by Candrah

Do you mean that all "literature" has to be pedantic, academic, informative and contain hidden messages and themes that only a "student of literature" can discover?

I don't mean that at all. I mean that if you're reading to only be entertained, then don't complain when you read academic literature... which I sort of resent being bunched in with "pedantic."

I find that most of the things that seem pedantic in academics is actually attempted emulation. I think there's a distinct difference between a top student attempting to write the best essay, and a scholar writing an essay. That is, they both know the elements and patterns in good writing; but only one of them knows how to arrange them for effect.

Originally Posted by Black_Board

But in order to get better as a writer, we need to shift or completely change our ideas to what the readers want.

More easily sold is not equal to "better."

If you think there isn't any merit to academics, then it is no wonder that you are not aware that you cannot "get" better as a writer; but you can only become a better writer.

A writer's ideas are the only elements on which to base writing. If a writer were to switch their ideas to those that readers want, how would one inform, change, or grow? In order for me to become a better writer, would you not agree that I need to grow? If I need to grow to become a better writer, would I not need to read about others' ideas? Would not those better writers I must read already have the ideas that I want, since I am the reader?

According to your definition of a better writer, Blackboard, nobody can become a better writer, so I would think myself amongst many in your opinion.

Originally Posted by Shawn

The problem is that The Road is literature that's found its way into a best-seller's list.

Indeed. Thus my mention of Oprah's endorsement. A nod of the head from her can sell a truckload of books and, as in this case, inflict literature on those just looking for a good read.

Shawn's half right - most novels do have hidden/blatant messages. They're only there for those who wish to interpret them though. I believe the first and foremost thing a novel must do is entertain the reader. It's the same with movies: you wouldn't go and see one if it was absolutely confusing and utterly rubbish just to get the hidden meaning. There's usually a meaning there, but it's on the table. Take it or leave it; it's your choice.

Sometimes I actually laugh in my English class because some of the analysis the teacher guides us towards is fucking ridiculous. I wonder, though, if the particular author did intend to create some comparisons mentioned in class. It's crazy.

Well this has all been an interesting read.

Some of the art and beauty I see in writing, is the personal connection you make with the reader. You could try to make your points obvious, or complicated and sublime, but either way, you can't please every reader (like spike to cormac; personally I thought it was brilliant). It's your book when your writing and revising, but once you get lucky and publish that sucker, and the reader pays his due over the counter, its his/her book and he/she can say whatever they damn well want about it. Overall I think a book can be better in skill and merit, like comparing 'The Road' to some cliche fantasy novel, but somewhere, while The Road might touch a lot more people then the fantasy novel, that fantasy novel has touched a reader more then The Road ever will. That however would make a poor excuse for publishing crap.

For me personally the holy grail is 'The End of Evangelion'. It's an anime movie, but it was a real catalyst in my style and the way I view a story. Many critics might call it down and those opinions may even be well founded, but I couldn't care less, to me it was genius. They have their cup of tea, and I have mine.

Of course as a writer, I want my success to be more then some obscure discovery, but even if I touch one person the way End of Evangelion touched me, and someone can say they were glad to have picked up my book, I'll be smiling.

Originally Posted by Brendan M

Sometimes I actually laugh in my English class because some of the analysis the teacher guides us towards is fucking ridiculous.

I think that, in most cases, meaning within a particular work is invented, rather than discovered. Given that all art and thought is generated from limited human experience, I would loathe to dismiss any literary explication that could further shine light on life. For instance, how else other than analysis does one know how to look for the "Knocking at the Gates" in times of trouble?

It's pure speculation, of course. However, where else will one be offered insurance of speculative thought in life without consequence, other than in literature?