I find myself thinking are people (young women, usually) in comtemporary literature (or real life) having sex because they are confused, or are they confused because they are having sex? The latter will be harder to demonstrate but more bold a claim to make, thus more interesting.
"As a young woman, I often find myself grappling with the question “How should a life be?” and as a writer with the question “How should a novel be?” What makes a life and a novel meaningful?
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Thanks for sharing all your fine grapplings with the things that matter most, Ramya. The dialectic between wild desire and a safe(r) more cloistered life is one we must all engage with throughout our lives.
This is an interesting discussion and comparison, Ramya. Even though these books are completely different in genre—one being existential, the other romantic—they can be seen as targeting the same section of the reading audience. I wouldn't actually pick up either of these books. They represent two polarities of womanhood, and I find myself... I don't know where. I don't think I'm on this spectrum. But perhaps I'm floating somewhere in the vicinity of this constellation. I'm liberal and a feminist and I'm sex neutral, not positive. To me it seems that the existential protagonist of Acts of Service has found meaning in her previously empty existence by adopting hedonism as a philosophy. Good for her. I won't judge, as long as everyone is safe. The other protagonist is living a life that would suffocate me. But plenty of people would see this as the ideal life. I'm looking for alternatives... other books... other stories. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these novels, Ramya. The essays is written beautifully!
I find myself thinking are people (young women, usually) in comtemporary literature (or real life) having sex because they are confused, or are they confused because they are having sex? The latter will be harder to demonstrate but more bold a claim to make, thus more interesting.
"As a young woman, I often find myself grappling with the question “How should a life be?” and as a writer with the question “How should a novel be?” What makes a life and a novel meaningful?
-
Thanks for sharing all your fine grapplings with the things that matter most, Ramya. The dialectic between wild desire and a safe(r) more cloistered life is one we must all engage with throughout our lives.
This is an interesting discussion and comparison, Ramya. Even though these books are completely different in genre—one being existential, the other romantic—they can be seen as targeting the same section of the reading audience. I wouldn't actually pick up either of these books. They represent two polarities of womanhood, and I find myself... I don't know where. I don't think I'm on this spectrum. But perhaps I'm floating somewhere in the vicinity of this constellation. I'm liberal and a feminist and I'm sex neutral, not positive. To me it seems that the existential protagonist of Acts of Service has found meaning in her previously empty existence by adopting hedonism as a philosophy. Good for her. I won't judge, as long as everyone is safe. The other protagonist is living a life that would suffocate me. But plenty of people would see this as the ideal life. I'm looking for alternatives... other books... other stories. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these novels, Ramya. The essays is written beautifully!
Great comment, Conny!