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The Rules of Perspective

November 7th, 2006


The Rules of Perspective

I love reading and writing. Usually the first place I check out when I go somewhere new is the library. When I first moved to NYC and I was in Manhattan, I checked out the New York Public Library. It was ok, but not great. The huge imposing building with lions in front isn’t a real library in that there are no books that you can check out. The other libraries look like office buildings, and they are scattered through Manhattan.

Later when I moved to Brooklyn, I went to the Brooklyn Public Library, which is beautiful, lively and amazing! It’s under renovation, but you can still see how nice it is. The building suggests the library at Alexandria with it’s concave curved front, Egyptian images, and pillars. Also, the library is always full of people, including kids, students, and regulars. I’ve been going every Sunday to refresh my stash of books.

I’ve come to believe that good fiction is much harder to write than good non-fiction. I’ve written lengthy history papers on everything from the ancient war elephant trade to the role of women in WWII, but I’ve yet to write a single story anywhere near as long as any of my papers. I think it’s much harder to create an entirely new reality through words that a reader can become a part of. I believe this ability is what separates good writers from great writers. When reading The Lord of the Rings, you never really question how a creature like Gollum could exist, or how Gandalf’s magic works. In the Snows of Kilimanjaro you understand why Harry would quarrel with Helen, even as he dying.

Speaking of fiction, I’m currently reading The Rules of Perspective. It’s an account of the last days of WWII in Germany as told from three different points of view and centered on art. There are several passages which are beautifully written and the characters are very real. Check it out if you have some time =).



-Vikas




Currently Reading


The Rules of Perspective


By Adam Thorpe


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