One Hundred Minutes of Solitude

[SueScribe]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was an accomplished, but clearly unfulfilled, writer when he commenced what would become a Nobel Prize-winning work of fiction called, "One Hundred Years Of Solitude".

Translated from its original Spanish into every language on The Planet, Marquez's storytelling concerns the mythical South American town of Macondo and its people - its and their evolution from birth to death - in a narrative voice so strong, and imagery so vivid, that the story of Macondo and its cast of characters become imbedded in one's brain. (So the critics and readers say, en sum.)

The novel is astounding, but the story of Marquez's rendering of the manuscript was as fascinating to me as the finished product's acclaimed acceptance. And, it explained a few things about the phenomena as well.

According to a learned, trusted mentor, Marquez became an Inhuman Thing Obsessed when he announced to his family that he was going to write The Book he'd always wanted to write. He locked himself in his "quarters" with several boxes of plain bond paper and had food slid under the door. He took no calls. His publisher could't reach him, no one could get through.

Marquez reportedly lost 30 to 50 pounds (depending upon your source) and screamed at his family through the locked door of his quarters, only for the purpose of ordering yet another box of paper and fresh typewriter ribbons (no `puter in those days).

However, when Gabriel exited his quarters many many weeks and pounds removed, he handed to his publisher three boxes of paper and said, "This is One Hundred Years of Solitude."

The irony was lost on no one who'd attended the birth of Gabriel's book.

I just wanted to share that with ya'll. :smt118

In a few minutes, I shall have enjoyed one hundred minutes of solitude. All I can hear is the faint, distant noise of a television. Not even the dogs have scratched on the door. And what have I done? I've come here rather than doing what I should be doing, because I'm wound too tight to do so. So then.

*sigh*

I cannot work when people are slamming cabinet doors and talking about the successful solution to the bathroom drain dilemma, and the dogs are bumping my leg, wanting something, and did I know that we're not supposed to get any rain until Wednesday? My life demands more of me than one hundred minutes of solitude can fix. *sniff* . . .

Oh, poo-poo (I'm trying to tone-down my blue-collar mouth) !!

The figs are still on the stove! AND - there goes the cell phone . . .

:exit:

[dollfus46]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was an accomplished, but clearly unfulfilled, writer when he commenced what would become a Nobel Prize-winning work of fiction called, "One Hundred Years Of Solitude".

Translated from its original Spanish into every language on The Planet, Marquez's storytelling concerns the mythical South American town of Macondo and its people - its and their evolution from birth to death - in a narrative voice so strong, and imagery so vivid, that the story of Macondo and its cast of characters become imbedded in one's brain. (So the critics and readers say, en sum.)

The novel is astounding, but the story of Marquez's rendering of the manuscript was as fascinating to me as the finished product's acclaimed acceptance. And, it explained a few things about the phenomena as well.

According to a learned, trusted mentor, Marquez became an Inhuman Thing Obsessed when he announced to his family that he was going to write The Book he'd always wanted to write. He locked himself in his "quarters" with several boxes of plain bond paper and had food slid under the door. He took no calls. His publisher could't reach him, no one could get through.

Marquez reportedly lost 30 to 50 pounds (depending upon your source) and screamed at his family through the locked door of his quarters, only for the purpose of ordering yet another box of paper and fresh typewriter ribbons (no `puter in those days).

However, when Gabriel exited his quarters many many weeks and pounds removed, he handed to his publisher three boxes of paper and said, "This is One Hundred Years of Solitude."

The irony was lost on no one who'd attended the birth of Gabriel's book.

I just wanted to share that with ya'll. :smt118

In a few minutes, I shall have enjoyed one hundred minutes of solitude. All I can hear is the faint, distant noise of a television. Not even the dogs have scratched on the door. And what have I done? I've come here rather than doing what I should be doing, because I'm wound too tight to do so. So then.

*sigh*

I cannot work when people are slamming cabinet doors and talking about the successful solution to the bathroom drain dilemma, and the dogs are bumping my leg, wanting something, and did I know that we're not supposed to get any rain until Wednesday? My life demands more of me than one hundred minutes of solitude can fix. *sniff* . . .

Oh, poo-poo (I'm trying to tone-down my blue-collar mouth) !!

The figs are still on the stove! AND - there goes the cell phone . . .

:exit:

Sooo, THAT'S where you've been, Sue! Sounds like a great book. I may have to check into something that excites to that extent. Thanks for the post.

[amanda]

So, is this suppose to be a book review? Or a wish for 100 years of solitude? Or an announcement that you've been lax in finishing your own "book of dreams"? :) Just checking. BTW it wasn't me calling you.

[SueScribe]

So, is this suppose to be a book review?

If you wish.

. . . Or a wish for 100 years of solitude?

HAH ! You of all people . . HAH !

. . . Or an announcement that you've been lax in finishing your own "book of dreams"?

The Annilhation of Space & Time, you mean? That's what I'll hand over in the boxes, if I have any strength left in my shriveled, translucent-skinned bony fingers, and IF the Old Fart Goes Everywhere vehicle will fit through the door of Shady Shallows Retirement Village.

. . . BTW it wasn't me calling you.

No, it was Cass. Remember Cass? Didn't go to the courthouse as instructed, now did you? Did you? :smt021

Ah. It is SO not possible to soar like an Eagle when one flys among the turkey buzzards . . .

[SueScribe]

Sooo, THAT'S where you've been, Sue! Sounds like a great book. I may have to check into something that excites to that extent. Thanks for the post.

CAUTION: Do not read that book unless you are willing to become transformed by the experience. It's not a book, it's a door. They don't hand out Noble prizes in literature to chumps. *sigh*

Seriously, it should be required reading in high school English Lit.

But no, that's not where I've been. I've been in LEGAL HELL part of the time, and FIG HELL the other part, sandwiched in between . . well. I just won't go there today. :smt103

[EricStratton]

CAUTION: Do not read that book unless you are willing to become transformed by the experience. It's not a book, it's a door. They don't hand out Noble prizes in literature to chumps. *sigh*

Seriously, it should be required reading in high school English Lit.

But no, that's not where I've been. I've been in LEGAL HELL part of the time, and FIG HELL the other part, sandwiched in between . . well. I just won't go there today. :smt103

Oh, baby! Lay it on me.....Will you read it to me? I can't read.....As you know, I have a personal assistant named Coolio who types all of my posts....

[amanda]

If you wish.

HAH ! You of all people . . HAH !


The Annilhation of Space & Time, you mean? That's what I'll hand over in the boxes, if I have any strength left in my shriveled, translucent-skinned bony fingers, and IF the Old Fart Goes Everywhere vehicle will fit through the door of Shady Shallows Retirement Village.


No, it was Cass. Remember Cass? Didn't go to the courthouse as instructed, now did you? Did you? :smt021

Ah. It is SO not possible to soar like an Eagle when one flys among the turkey buzzards . . .


First, YOU were suppose to call me back ONCE you got a-hold of Cass. Which you didn't. So no, I didn't waste any of my lunch time hanging out at the Courthouse.

Secondly, I'll just wait until you croak and then publish all those "finished" manuscripts you've done and become a multi-millionaire. I'll make sure the acceptance speach at the Nobel Prize is worthy of you. :)

[SueScribe]

Sue...words cannot describe....

And Stratton is a buzzard. :)

:attack: Theah you are, mah Lovin' Man . .

[amanda]

:attack: Theah you are, mah Lovin' Man . .


LOL. You have these two scrapping all over the forum over you, and you don't even know it. :) I told them you were just being a big tease because you really have the hots for Hawkeye. :smt118

[amanda]

You know amandah, jealousy toward your mother is not becoming. :smt118


Bite me, Doc. :smt118

[amanda]

LOL! You better behave or I'll bring her to meet Hawkeye and let ES know so he can meet her too. :)

[SueScribe]

Oh, baby! Lay it on me.....Will you read it to me? I can't read.....As you know, I have a personal assistant named Coolio who types all of my posts....

. . . isn't this just a tad early in the day to be imbibin' in the Mint Juleps, sweetcheeks ? :smt054

Whateverare you speakin' of, mah darlin'? Read you what? One Hundred Years Of Solitude? Or - my own personal epic (and that of John Luther Jones), tentatively titled "The Annihilation of Space & Time" ?

(I thought you'd given Coolio a few days off.)

[dollfus46]

Off Topic. I'm so confused.

[EricStratton]

Whateverare you speakin' of, mah darlin'? Read you what? One Hundred Years Of Solitude? Or - my own personal epic (and that of John Luther Jones), tentatively titled "The Annihilation of Space & Time" ?



Read anything to me, baby....Read the dang phone book...I don't care....

As Annie Savoy said: "A man will listen to anything, if he thinks it's foreplay."

[SueScribe]

Off Topic. I'm so confused.:smt056 . . . that's fine, my dumplin', I'm not sure what the topic was myself. Literature, I think. Perhaps it was ingrate daughters. I forget.
:smt056
It's unimportant. What IS iimportant is you, and how you're doing today.

[threekidspa]

You Vixen you! You're just trying to cast your spell on all the unsuspecting men of MyHattiesburg...or something like that...

Sue needs to get her 1000 posts so she can change her title to MH Temptress, or something... :)

[SueScribe]

Read anything to me, baby....Read the dang phone book...I don't care....

As Annie Savoy said: "A man will listen to anything, if he thinks it's foreplay."

:smt060

I'm overcome by your delightful delirium. Read you somethinig? Okay, then. Tonight, I shall read you something. A little something, but you must be gentle and tender with me, because . . it will be virginal . . (if you will).

:smt060

[EricStratton]

Sue,

You ever read any Walker Percy?

[SueScribe]

Sue,

You ever read any Walker Percy?

None of his novels, no. Why, I can't say. He would be on my list of authors to read because of his work in Vanity Fair.

Tell me about Walker Percy, mon cher'. Is his style something you enjoy and, if so, why? What compels you forward when you read a story? Seriously.

Southern writers all have one thing in common, or so I've been told:

Mental and/or emotional and/or addictive disease.

:smt118

[EricStratton]

Southern writers all have one thing in common, or so I've been told:

Mental and/or emotional and/or addictive disease.

:smt118

That's pretty much what drew me to Percy.....dark...dysfunctional....funny....try Walker Percy's Lancelot for starters.....if you want some funny, non-fictional psychoanalysis try Lost in the Cosmos....

[SueScribe]

That's pretty much what drew me to Percy.....dark...dysfunctional....funny....try Walker Percy's Lancelot for starters.....if you want some funny, non-fictional psychoanalysis try Lost in the Cosmos....

Lancelot. Will do. E-Bay is wonderful for some good prices on books. I presume you've read Gabriel Garcia Marquez? John Kennedy Toole? John Updike? John Irving? Truman? Mailer? and on and on . . just . .

Great.

Speaking of E-Bay, I was browsing around for a shirt the other day and saw: "Ralph Lauren career shirt! Chets 42!"

Some of the funniest stuff I've read, spontaneously, has been on E-Bay's listings. I've saved a few, stuff you can't make up -

Anyway. Lancelot. Sounds great.

:-D

[EricStratton]

Lancelot. Will do. E-Bay is wonderful for some good prices on books. I presume you've read Gabriel Garcia Marquez? John Kennedy Toole? John Updike? John Irving? Truman? Mailer? and on and on . . just . .

Great.



If you like Toole, you'll love Percy....Percy wrote the forward to Confederacy of Dunces.....Read another Toole novel called Neon Bible...interesting and quick read....

[SueScribe]

If you like Toole, you'll love Percy....Percy wrote the forward to Confederacy of Dunces.....Read another Toole novel called Neon Bible...interesting and quick read....

Neon Bible, the "lost" book? I haven't read that one. I read Confederacy four, maybe five times over the years. I point to that novel as the definitive "Southern" novel - a look at our lives at street level. I've been asked at times, by people who haven't a clue about our part of the country, to cite a literary example of The South and Toole's beautiful work always comes to mind first. Then Faulkner. I tell them that not everything reeks of Tennessee Williams south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Then I call them " Dumplin' " and tell them that I've "always depended upon the generosity of perfect strangers." Shuts `em up every time. :-D

[EricStratton]

Neon Bible, the "lost" book? I haven't read that one. I read Confederacy four, maybe five times over the years. I point to that novel as the definitive "Southern" novel - a look at our lives at street level. I've been asked at times, by people who haven't a clue about our part of the country, to cite a literary example of The South and Toole's beautiful work always comes to mind first. Then Faulkner. I tell them that not everything reeks of Tennessee Williams south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Then I call them " Dumplin' " and tell them that I've "always depended upon the generosity of perfect strangers." Shuts `em up every time. :-D

Yeah....I'd have a hard time disagreeing with you on Confederacy....As for other good Southern "stuff".....I think Willie Morris was one of the greatest story tellers of our area....maybe not a great novelist....but definitely holds your attention, and that damn My Dog Skip makes even a big ol' boy like me get teary eyed every time.....I also got on a kick of reading Shelby Foote's Civil War magnus opus.....hell of a "story" (even though it's supposed to be non-fiction)....I think Barry Hannah is one that gets overlooked....I read Yonder Stands Your Orphan a couple of years back and loved it....really the only Hannah I've ever read, but I've always intended to read more of his stuff...

[EricStratton]

Hush y'all, you're making me horny :smt077

Well.....I was trying to get a special someone on here to get all flushed and froggy.....but.....it wasn't you......I guess cupid's arrow must have gone astray and landed in the neighbor's pool liner....