The Webs They Weave

"That he did not finish his studies is true, but to say that he was stupid or dull would be a great injustice. He entered upon this path only because, at the time, it alone struck his imagination and seemed to offer ... a means of escape for his soul from darkness to light ... He was to some extent a youth of our past generation - that is, honest in nature, desiring the truth ... believing in it, and seeking to serve it at once with all the strength of his soul, seeking for immediate action, and ready to sacrifice everything, even life itself. These young men unhappily fail to understand that the sacrifice of life is, in many cases, the easiest sacrifice of all." - Fyodor Dostoevsky, "The Brothers Karamazov"

Say what you want about Dostoevsky - he is verbose, complicated, rambling, etc. - but I have always loved his ability to spin some of the most eloquent, intriguing and profound sentences in any literature I have ever read. I use the above quote as a classic example. You almost have to read it three or four times and even then you can't really be sure if it is speaking jibberish or speaking the most hidden secrets that may very well give you life or at least prolong your death. The point is good sentences and good writers are generally able to move you forward - into the story - and make every word, every sentence completely believable and engaging. So what I gain from actually reading such quotes is usually irrelevant because more often than not Dostoevsky is capable of convincing me he is writing something profound if not prophetic. And, as in the quote above, he leaves me asking, "So you say, but why is the sacrifice of a life an easy alternative for a young man?" Right there, the author has me hooked; the writer is begging me to contradict him or at least read a little further and see if his theory holds true. And the truly great stories are able to keep leading the reader on and on - continually pulling with bold assertions, stunning events and unresolved conflicts.

These past two weeks I have been immersed in two "stories," which are doing this cat-and-mouse game with me ... and doing it very well! The first is a book by a splendidly talented author named David James Duncan - someone Brad Smith had recommended to me over two years ago. The book is titled "The Brothers K," and is essentially Dostoevsky's 19th Century novel edited and updated to address the social realities of 1960's America and how these realities play out in one specific family. Duncan's novel shows how social unrest in greater America manifests itself uniquely and tragically in the Chance family. And like Dostoevsky, Duncan uses any subject to keep his story going - from baseball to religion (all of them), Vietnam to Oregon, sex to prayers. And somehow, he manages to weave many events which would otherwise seem ridiculous into the perfect connection. It makes you - the reader - believe entirely that the place a certain character is at on page 374 is completely genuine and appropriate given what happened on page 34. Seemless. As I said, Duncan is talented; he is brilliant, and I highly recommend his stuff. (however, be advised that he does not shy away from using vulgarities, which I read more as an artistic tool to enhance his characters than as senseless. I haven't finished the book yet, but I'm guessing Duncan's overall stance is that the sacred and profance are often found closer than we'd care to imagine. Thus, it is not too surprising to find a saint right alongside a sinner, or a great truth buried in very crass language.)

Anyhow the second story that is keeping me begging for more is the television show "Lost." Anna and I recently bought season 1, and we also watched the opening episode of season 2 last night. Hey, there's a lot of junk on television these days, but "Lost" is just plain good drama. Here's to J. J. Abrams and all the other writers who have pieced together an impossibly addictive show out of random events and characters! Of course, the Calvinist that I am cannot help but love the character Lock, but really all of it is great. And I attribute much of its success to its ability to (a) create mystery and tension in the drama which all but forces you to watch and (b) gives enough assurance and answers that it is not simply a wild goose chase. Overall good drama is able to create intrigue through suspense or creativity and also to provide some return on the reader's or viewer's investment. Like life overall, everyone wants to know deep down that a story is both intriguing enough to pursue and meaningful enough to enjoy. Let's just call it the yin and yang of mystery and purpose - the passive female principle being pursued by the active male principle of the universe if you will. Whatever it is, it seems to be an absolute must for good stories.

I'm just tremendously thankful I'm being pulled into two of these webs nowadays. Great stories seem to enrich everything else in my life, and the further I chase the rabbit into the hole, the deeper and richer the world appears.

cheers,

Wes