Have you ever read a book by one of your favorite writers that you were really looking forward to reading but then didn’t read for some time and then when you did finally read it, this book you so wanted to read, you are completely in love with it and wonder why you didn’t read it as soon as you bought it? I’ve been reading A Human Eye by Adrienne Rich. It is a book of essays written between 1997-2008 that have appeared other places, book reviews, book introductions, lectures, that kind of thing. I have had it for a year and a half and have been so excited about it and yearning to read it but yet every time I had the chance to pick it up I didn’t. I have no idea why. I always had an excuse. When I picked it up this time I came *this close* to putting it back and choosing a different book. But I decided I could no longer bear the guilt that had accumulated because of not reading this book that I longed to read.
And now today I have been wondering why I took so long to start reading it. I was mentally chastising myself about it all day. Now I feel a bit beat up but have decided that it is better to be grateful that something stopped me from passing it up again and got me to read it now.
I don’t usually post long quotes, but I have to post one I read today. It is from “Permeable Membrane,” and appeared in a symposium on Rich’s work in the spring 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review. The essay is Rich writing about her poetry. She revised it slightly for the book. This comes from section 2:
I’ve wanted to write subjective visions of objective conditions. But this sounds like a program. Say rather: Poems become suffused, as the existence, the inner life of the maker must, with what’s going on, the breaks in the assumed fabric. The makings of art are rooted in non-art labors–repetitive, toxic, body-breaking, minimum wage or less or none–that everywhere underlie those privileged creations. What you do and don’t see. What is seeing you. Eyes in the thicket, eyes in the street.
I need to reach beyond interior decoration, biography. Art is a way of melting out through one’s own skin. “What, who is this about?” is not the essential question. A poem is not about; it is out of and to. Passionate language in movement. The deep structure is always musical, and physical–as breath, as pulse.
She’s good.
More when I finish the book, probably next week.
Very off topic and I apologize, but I need to express my admiration for If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino. Among his many wonderful books – and some not so wonderful, to be honest – this one stands out as a book about books in complex and exciting ways that are a constant – and often funny – surprise.
Thing is, I often hoard books by authors I love, and save them up because I can’t bear to use them up too quickly or to lessen the pleasure of anticipation. And then of course they sit in the tbr for ages while I read a whole lot of other stuff. You remind me that I love Adrienne Rich too and should seek out more of her work (to hoard, of course).
Oh yes, such as Missus, which I reviewed recently. I bought it in 1988! Snake, which I reviewed recently too. I bought it in about 2004. I know there are many others in my TBR pile – including some writers essays – that I will love BUT I just have to find time…
And this book of yours does sound special. “A poem is not about; it is out of and to”. I like that.
Bob, If on a Winter’s Night is a fantastic book. It was my first Calvino and so far the book of his I love most.
Litlove, I am glad I am not the only one whodoes this with favorite authors then. But you are right, after I finish this one I won’t have anything by Rich I haven’t read. Of course there is always rereading and this books is adding numerous “new” books to my tbr list. Still, not quite the same.
OMG “I could no longer bear the guilt that had accumulated because of not reading this book that I longed to read.” that’s how i feel about my over due letters…..
I can no longer bear the guilt that accumulates because of not Writing the Letter that I longed to write….. really, i mean it! xo h
I’m glad you’re finally reading this, because Adrienne Rich is an author I’ve never learned to love, despite being a seemingly good candidate to become a Rich fan, so I look forward to more of your posts about why she’s a favorite for you. I do love “The makings of art are rooted in non-art labors.”
Your first sentence – Happens to me all the time
I am glad you are enjoying finally getting to your book. I can’t believe I’ve barely read anything by Rich. I like what you quoted and will look forward to hearing more about what you think of this book.
I know the feeling of wanting to read something and yet never quite getting to it. That’s why Emily’s TBR challenge was so useful, because putting those long-neglected books on the list made it much more likely I would get to them. I’m considering making up another list of 20 or so when I’m finished with the current list.
Wasn’t it Bette Davis who said, “Old age is not for sissies”? I feel that way about A. Rich–her work is challenging, her subject matter difficult (have you read Of Woman Born), and her life a model of pushing all the boundaries. I haven’t read anything by her in the last 10 years, a long lapse after being steeped in her poetry and prose, and now I’m going to check out A Human Eye (thank you). She’s one of those writers who scares me to death by her very *being* in the world, and when I would hear her speak or read anything of hers, I would want to be more than I was (am) being at the time. Audre Lorde was that way, too: women writing at the edge, women on the front lines creating a path where there was none before. Zowie!