The laughter comes from my ever-changing mind about the working title of this book I hope to write. I got tired of trying to pronounce "Shenzhen," although it should be easy, and I like alliterations. Besides, Hong Kong is next door to Shenzhen, and yet I need a visually interesting but fictional place to avoid geographical faux pas descriptions. So, for the time being, the story takes place in and around Hong Chi's environs.
READING RESEARCH
One of the tasks I undertake before getting too far into creating a manuscript is to read inspiring literature, hopefully in the genre that I intend to write. But, in this case, I'm a novel behind. Right now, the book I'm enjoying and marking up is something I should have read before the novel I just finished, Tiger's Hope (see below the distraction). Tiger's Hope is a cautionary tale about a singer-songwriter's IVF mix-up, a few Catholic priests, and a prelate. SABRIYA, while there is a subtle Catholic motif to the story, is NOT about the church or its prelates.
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| Shenzhen and Hong Kong at Night by Mike Leung (flickr) |
Regardless, the idea is to read an author that I want to emulate. I hope to learn how to write better. I stumbled upon the prolific pile of 105 books written by Ralph McInerny (1929-2010), 52 of which were fiction. A little research suggested that "The Priest" (1873 ~160,000 words) may have been his best. I'm only 102 pages into the 563, and so far, there's plenty to admire in McInerny's command of English. The Priest is about a young man who has just returned to Ohio to be a junior associate priest after three years in Rome earning his Doctorate of Sacred Theology degree. The conflicts he faces are rooted in the shadows of the Vatican II council, a controversy that persists today despite the council's sessions, held long ago between 1962 and 1965.
Nonetheless, here are some juicy examples of language...pardon the lack of context. Similes, metaphors, color, and ironic juxtapositions.
"Trying sinning on the side of charity, Monsignor."
Arthur Rupp was a first drip followed by many more...
...his brows dancing suggestively...
"Someone's been taking notes on your forehead."
Something happened to the embalmed line of Agnes's mouth, as if she were trying to pop the stitches and scream that she was still alive.
She turned abruptly, the movement causing her eyes to snap open. She might have been catching him in a lie.
Did he really think Rome [the Vatican] was the buzzing center of it all . . . its major industry was postage stamps.
A moral theologian had several dozen ways of being less than candid [i.e. lying]
His voice seemed to force its way through the bridge of his nose.
...the newer neighborhoods and eventually suburbs spread west, munching into the orchards as they go...
...eyes downcast, corners of the mouth drooping, a general promise of tears.
"...the Second Vatican Council is a vicious rumor launched by Newsweek and the National Catholic Reporter."
The row of brick residence halls might have been a squadron of sinking ships.
She peered at her watch, hidden in a fold of flesh.
She wrinkled her nose and knitted her brows, prepared for the worst.
She became a poet of the nuptial bed in public.
It (the confessional) was a setting for the enactment of sad scenes.
Bev freed a pickle slice that had been embedded like a fossil in the hamburger bun.
...but no matter where he looked he saw the infinitely interesting landscape of himself.
He had bared his soul to her, such as it was, and now they were to cuddle and coo. She felt like throwing up."
The Priest is a great read. I'm reading scenes aloud to Pam, as she doubles over in laughter .... hopefully at McInerny's wit and not my reading.
And now for the... |
| Rejected cover (left) Desired cover (right) |
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