“And each stroke of his tongue ripped off skin after successive skin, all the skins of a life in the world, and left behind a nascent patina of shining hairs. My earrings turned back to water and trickled down my shoulders; I shrugged the drops off my beautiful fur.”
Lately, I’ve felt the need to recede from reality. I’m burned out on the mundanities of my daily routine, politics (which makes me want to scream, but that’s another story), the endless regurgitation of the same ol’ stuff in my Google Reader, and the humid nastiness that just will not die. Something had to give, so after a long absence of fiction in my life, I decided to throw myself into the collected works of Angela Carter. I’m so glad I did. Her re-workings of classic folk tales and the lives of historical figures, magical realism style — including Lizzie Borden, Edgar Allan Poe and Little Red Riding Hood — allow me to contemplate a world where life-size puppets suck the life-force out of their masters and tigers live in abandoned castles. And her writerly style? Endlessly inspiring; in fact, it makes me want to take up fiction again. Her words are like cooling aloe on the harsh sunburn of my mind. (Dramatic much? Ha!)
So, if I haven’t already convinced you, I’ll put it in other words: pick up some Angela Carter, and quick!
What are you reading?
when i was in graduate school i taught college writing and lit classes. i taught carter’s collection of short stories- the bloody chamber- and loved it. the students (even the male students) really loved reading and discussing it. she’s pretty awesome, if you ask me.
I’ll have to look in to her books – thanks for the recommendation!
I’ve been working on a series of drawings based on poems by a good friend of mine and it has been so rewarding. I’ve always looked to reading when I get stuck with painting.
I had to unsubscribe to many tumblrs b/c I was finding that I appreciate a thoughtfully compiled post more than these blurts of images, often the same across many tumblrs. I’m laying off of pinterest for the same reason…
I love Angela Carter too. So brilliant. This extract reminded me of The Tiger’s Wife, the new Orange prize winner. Maybe it is just the tiger but there is something in the way Obrecht recounts fairy-tales/myths/histories that is reminiscent. Have you read it? Quite good. I think I become quite boring when I don’t read enough fiction. Should probably go read some now!
OK I just noticed this comment after posting my own about the same book. I had that exact thought. Loved her prose. Best last line ever.
agree. I finished The Tiger’s Wife a bit ago and highly recommend it. Especially if you like tigers
) Thanks for the recommendation; I will check it out.
OK I did not know that dumb emoticon would be inserted into my post. I hate those things. Please disregard the juvenile smiley face.