the literary circle
The writing business of today moves in somewhat of a circle. A famous or new author writes a book that hits stores and becomes an immediate hit. Meanwhile, an aspiring writer and book lover goes to the library or bookstore on his daily run and discovers the book. The writer buys it and reads it, and his life, writing style, and love for reading and writing is forever changed. A few years later, the writer's first novel appears on store shelves and becomes a nationwide bestseller. Another book shopper finds it and decides that he must become an author, and the cycle begins again. Ever since fifth grade, I have wanted to be a writer. But at the time, I did not realize that this circle existed, at least until the day when I unknowingly became a part of it.
It all began on a very unseasonably warm Saturday in October of 1998 (I write this in January, 1999). An acquaintance from school and I had decided to spend the day downtown going to the various shops that lined the streets. As we passed the bookstore, we noticed several card tables set up on the sidewalk. On the table were piles of used books. A sign in the window of the store read "SIDEWALK SALE-ALL TITLES 50 CENTS UNLESS MARKED". My friend has the reputation for being a bookworm, and dove into the table looking for something interesting. I scanned the tables looking for books about Buddy Holly or early rock and roll (my main passion, next to literature). But I didn't find Buddy Holly. While looking through the books, I came across a fairly fat paperback book with a picture of a feet up view of a girl wearing a full skirt and saddle shoes. The title was Lolita. The author was Vladimir Nabokov.
I had heard of this book before. A girl I met online had mentioned it to me briefly once before, and Jeremy Irons had played the role of Humbert Humbert in a film that had premiered on Showtime two months before. Due to its risqué contents, the book had been banned in several countries upon its publication some forty years before. You would think a fact like that would have turned me off. But it didn't. I don't know why, but something told me that this would be worth my money.
I bought Lolita for $2.50 (the price was raised because it was in fairly new condition) and took it home upon the conclusion of my shopping excursion with my friend. Two and a half days later, I finished it with tears streaming down my cheeks. The story was so beautiful and so tragic, the characters so vivid that I felt they had become my friends. I never wanted it to end.
Then, in the midst of my sadness over Lolita and Humbert's untimely demise, something dawned on me. Vladimir Nabokov was a great writer. His descriptions of people, places, and things were so vivid that I could picture each part of the book distinctly in my mind. The story was well thought and evidence of hard worked showed through. His ingenious puns brought humor and laughter throughout the story. It was then that I became a part of the so- called Literary Circle. Reading Lolita had not only given me insight to a truly wonderful story, but it had also fed the fire of my passion to become a writer.
Now, almost three months later, I have read several of Nabokov's books. I have made it a goal to do some sort of descriptive writing every day to improve the quality of my work. One of my resolutions for 1999 is to read most, if not all, of Nabokov's work. Because if I do this, it will not only expose me to some of the greatest books of this century, but it will also help me become a better writer.
©1998 The Literary Circle is the property of K.E. Frazier. Please do not reproduce without the author's permission.
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