False Start
I don't know how to begin
What is this I don't even
What else can be said for
WHY CAN'T I THINK OF A
*Clears Throat*
Okay, those are out the way, and I'm ready to write about George Saunders and his book, The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip. First and foremost, I'm legally obligated to notify readers that this story is not about legendary guitarist Robert Fripp, nor makes any reference to him, other than to praise his virtuosity and to exhort you (extort if you're nasty) to purchase the entire King Crimson catalog.
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| Except for this. |
I was introduced to George Saunders (the concept) by a college classmate, about fifteen minutes before seeing George Saunders (the man) give a live reading, mini-lecture, and Q&A about George Saunders (the author). He read some pieces that were eventually published in In Persuasion Nation, which takes great umbrage with consumer culture and so sadistically subverts it through unremarkable, largely unsympathetic protagonists*, trapped so deeply in the world of brand-naming and advertising that they're unable to think clearly for themselves. This is a recurring theme* throughout his works, which are difficult to categorize, if you're into that sort of thing. They're not quite futuristic fantasies, nor cautionary tales of dystopia* and social satire*. Yet, it's all of that. Some of the plots are absurd, yet not far-fetched.
Saunders's work has had a major impact on my reading interests and my writing. Anything off-kilter immediately captures my interest, but what he writes is so convincing, the dialogue in particular. He's so tuned into our spoken language that when it's on the printed page it looks foreign - yet this is how we talk. Many of his characters engage in up-talking*, that is, ending every sentence on a rising tone, as if asking a question. And I think, wow, this guy can't be stopped. Why can't I write like this? So I try, and turns out this is really hard, mom! Saunders has this down. Check it out:
"Being a man who knows something about grandfatherly disapproval, having had a grandfather who constantly taunted me for having enlarged calves - to the extent that even today, when bathing, I find myself thinking unkind thoughts about Grandfather - what I prayed on both occasions was: Dear Lord, he is what he is, let me love him no matter what. If he is a gay child, God bless him; if he is a non-gay child who simply very much enjoys wearing his grandmother's wig while singing Edelweiss to the dog, so be it, and in either case let me communicate my love and acceptance in everything I do." - from "My Flamboyant Grandson".
That's two sentences. TWO. But that's how we talk! If I received this in a language arts class I'd probably say to the kid, "Hey, that's some really complex sentencing you've created, but I think, because you're a young writer, that these long sentences with all the fancy punctuation marks like the semicolon* and dashes? Not to sound mean, but those should go, because you're not a famous author so you can't get away with that kind of thing yet, which is too bad, but that's how it goes, kid; so here's what you do: break them up into smaller chunks. Do you even know what a dependent clause* is?" - from my really bad impression of George Saunders just now.
That's two sentences. TWO. But that's how we talk! If I received this in a language arts class I'd probably say to the kid, "Hey, that's some really complex sentencing you've created, but I think, because you're a young writer, that these long sentences with all the fancy punctuation marks like the semicolon* and dashes? Not to sound mean, but those should go, because you're not a famous author so you can't get away with that kind of thing yet, which is too bad, but that's how it goes, kid; so here's what you do: break them up into smaller chunks. Do you even know what a dependent clause* is?" - from my really bad impression of George Saunders just now.
*LANGUAGE ARTS TERMINOLOGY ALERT!
GET ON WITH IT!
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| What do you mean, you "forgot to pick up eye drops"? |
So, the guy wrote a book for kids. As with the best kids books, this one works for YA and adult readers. While George tones down the complex sentences and keeps the story simple, there is enough strangeness and subtext for the older crowd. It's 84 pages, with gorgeous, fractured illustrations by Lane Smith, who most notably did the art for The True Story Of the Three Little Pigs.
The plot: In a seaside community of goat keepers, the gappers, spiny baseball-sized creatures with multiple eyes, are irresistibly drawn to goats. When they reach the goats, they issue high-pitched shrieks of joy that stress the goats, who won't produce milk. It's up to a little girl named Capable to find another way to make a living for her family when the goats won't give and the neighbors refuse to help.
The illustrations do well to augment the story, but it's all in the words. Sure, sure, the main idea is sharing and caring for one's fellow humans, but the themes can be applied to social studies discussions of forms of economy, how people interact in the marketplace, and how one's value system dictate their actions - and how those values contradict themselves with circumstance. Pretty heady for my four year-old, but perfect for the YA crowd, who, despite what education "experts" would believe, actually do want to think and form their own opinions on the BIG QUESTIONS in our contemporary society: In a land of plenty, why do so many people go without(?); Who moved my cheese(?); and other such classic queries. Highly recommended.
The plot: In a seaside community of goat keepers, the gappers, spiny baseball-sized creatures with multiple eyes, are irresistibly drawn to goats. When they reach the goats, they issue high-pitched shrieks of joy that stress the goats, who won't produce milk. It's up to a little girl named Capable to find another way to make a living for her family when the goats won't give and the neighbors refuse to help.
The illustrations do well to augment the story, but it's all in the words. Sure, sure, the main idea is sharing and caring for one's fellow humans, but the themes can be applied to social studies discussions of forms of economy, how people interact in the marketplace, and how one's value system dictate their actions - and how those values contradict themselves with circumstance. Pretty heady for my four year-old, but perfect for the YA crowd, who, despite what education "experts" would believe, actually do want to think and form their own opinions on the BIG QUESTIONS in our contemporary society: In a land of plenty, why do so many people go without(?); Who moved my cheese(?); and other such classic queries. Highly recommended.
Boring Stuff
George Saunders
2006 McSweeney's
Next time: It's the second straight book whose main character has an obviously loaded name. Let's just say, this book is THE BOMB!
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