Recently, a friend on Facebook launched a discussion about the readability (or otherwise) of John Grisham’s books. The discussion that followed was interesting. Grisham kept you hooked, the conclusion was almost unanimous; but almost all of those who participated in the discussion agreed that his novels did not have “staying power.”
I’ve read many of his books and, apart from the racy style, what endeared me to his writing was the fact that he left the reader with the feeling that justice would eventually hold sway. Even when you’re thinking that it is quite different in the real world, there’s this lingering hope that may be, just may be, someone would save the world.
But that “feel good” feeling would never last long. Not as long, for example, as the characters from Harper Lee’s “To kill a mockingbird” would! Could be something to do with the quirks of memory of my increasing age, but I don’t remember much of the details of Grisham’s “A Time to Kill”. Both books deal with racial prejudices, although set in different periods, and yet I would say Harper Lee had written a classic and John Grisham a bestseller.
I guess both genres have their niches amongst readers. In fact, all kinds of writings have their loyal following depending on their motivations, aspirations, personal philosophies, religious beliefs, and overall understanding of life. That is why each of us chooses the newspaper (s) that we subscribe to and prioritize the channels that we watch on TV. When we Google something, don’t we use the keywords that sum up our slant?
Basically, we look for stuff that reaffirms our own likes and dislikes, our political ideologies, our prejudices and so on. As for whether writing, art and the media should set the standards and become pall bearers of change, who’s to say? I remember reading an article by Nicholos Christoff titled “The daily Me”, which very lucidly spoke of this phenomenon.
We do get influenced by what we read even if the contents may not coalesce with the mental programming that has already become part of what we are. The cryptic codes in our mental meshes can be rewired and that is where effective writing comes into play. If I examine my own patterns, I would say that I have been more taken in by ideas presented in a straightforward language that speaks to me in the same way that I would articulate internally. Prose which purposely puts on a pose and is prodded by the desire to sound erudite rather than the sharing of ideas, do not click with me.
I tend to think that that is the case with most people. Beauty of expressions is not necessarily bombarding the readers with strings of high sounding words which compel you to reach for the dictionary every now and then. It is more about the magic of the images created by the words. Good writing is always effortless or at least, it should come across as effortless. It should excite our mental faculties, and at the same time, appeal to our emotions. It should actually speak to you in a way that will make you listen.
I wonder if we can really convince someone of something without first having a steadfast belief in what we are saying. The strength of our convictions in what we are trying to put across is what really makes a lasting effect.
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