I think of it more like the best novels *have* containers, while the lesser ones spill out all over the place.
Matthew, your comment went the way of the twilight zone - I approved it but it seems to have disappeared. In response, I haven't read Helen Dunmore's books, but she's been on the perimeter of my radar for awhile now b/c of the awards her novels have won.
I suppose I was thinking more of the experience. My favorite books are the ones where I feel like I lived another life for a while. The created world completely supplants the real one. It's hard for me to think of such a book in terms of containment.
I think of the container, or vessel, as being almost like an offering the author is giving to the writer - having gathered up that other world made it available for the reader to experience.
The word "containment" is a positive thing to me - probably b/c I come at it from the POV of being a therapist, where being the "container" for someone's experience and story is what helps them heal.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment - I love reading them and respond as often as I can. I also love comments that add to the original post, so feel free to share your own experiences, insights, and thoughts.
And the best novels probably break their containers.
ReplyDeleteI think of it more like the best novels *have* containers, while the lesser ones spill out all over the place.
ReplyDeleteMatthew, your comment went the way of the twilight zone - I approved it but it seems to have disappeared. In response, I haven't read Helen Dunmore's books, but she's been on the perimeter of my radar for awhile now b/c of the awards her novels have won.
I suppose I was thinking more of the experience. My favorite books are the ones where I feel like I lived another life for a while. The created world completely supplants the real one. It's hard for me to think of such a book in terms of containment.
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from, however.
It's just different ways of looking at it, Jason.
ReplyDeleteI think of the container, or vessel, as being almost like an offering the author is giving to the writer - having gathered up that other world made it available for the reader to experience.
The word "containment" is a positive thing to me - probably b/c I come at it from the POV of being a therapist, where being the "container" for someone's experience and story is what helps them heal.