Then Again...

I got lots of books read on the trip to Europe. My favorite was Diane Keaton's memoir, Then Again. It was like having a real heart to heart with your smartest, most honest, funniest girl friend about what's really important in life. I loved the structure of it - back and forth between her life and her mother's, quoting from her mother's journals. I also read a novel by one of my very, very favorite writers of non-fiction, and hated it. It had no plot, an insufferable main character and felt oddly self-indulgent. There's an strange sense of - and I'm searching for a word for this - encouragement? - in reading an author you love who writes a book that you don't love. I'm inspired to go back to my not yet sold novel and give it another go. 

Thanks for all the sweet comments about how perfect it must be to write on a river boat cruise. As with all perfection, it didn't last. I got the flu, then R. got the flu, and then we had to fly back to L.A. from Budapest. The trip from hell. But L.A. has never looked more beautiful, nor has being home ever felt so good. My book deadline had to be pushed back a week,  Christmas cards have yet to be written, we just got the tree today - five days before Christmas, and all the presents we meant to buy in Budapest never got purchased, but we're home. Sometimes you have to go faraway to realize how wonderful that is.

 

Comments

[Denise Emanuel Clemen]

Welcome home!
And good-bye , flu!
I hope you are both on the mend.

[Loren Stephens]

Welcome back Barbara. Sorry about the Budapest debacle. Yes there is no place like home. Especially yours. What could be more perfect? Will definitely read Diane Keaton's book. Just finishing Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. So English, and so heartfelt with a bite of British irony. Have a wonderful holiday. Hugs, LOren

[Barb Force]

Yes, welcome home! Sorry you both
were ill-it certainly is major yucky to be sick away from home!
And....family will understand about the shopping. Have a very Merry Christmas! Hugs

[Beverly Higginson]

Late as always...I just read about your trip and being ill. So sorry to hear that. Glad you made it back and are on the mend. About the book you hated? I know what you mean about somehow feeling encouraged. It makes you think that if a favored author can fall out of favor (temporarily) because of a not-so-great effort, you think maybe there's hope for you and your less than wonderful attempts. And so you rededicate yourself. I've felt that way many times. Unfortunately, the feeling is fleeting. But it's also a jumpstart. Happy New Year Barbara.