I have lots of weaknesses, unfortunately. Diet Coke. Sugary
cereal with cartoon mascots. A certain baking show set in Britain. Hell, baked goods in general. Skin care
products that promise dewy complexions. Puppies. The list goes on and on and
isn’t devoid of some literary ones as well. Here are a few bookish weaknesses
that I just can’t shake:
Magical realism- I read House of the Spirits by Isabel
Allende when I was a sophomore in high school and was instantly hooked. There
are so, so many that I haven’t gotten to, but I’ve loved seeing how the genre
is represented in different countries by different authors (man, that sounds
like the makings of a great class to teach, or take). I’m a pretty realistic
girl, so I’ve always steered clear of fantasy. Magical realism offers a tiny
sprinkling of imagination in a probable plot, which makes it so attractive to
me.
Medical memoirs- Once upon a time I was going to be a
doctor. In fact, in my eighth grade yearbook career goal quote I claimed I was
on track to be a pediatric cardiologist. I’ve always been a fan of medical
shows, worked for a vascular surgeon for my entire undergraduate career, and
even studied for and passed the test to earn my biology credential. Since my
pursuit of this interest never actually came to full fruition (as I stare at
papers to grade… womp womp womp), reading about real-live doctors who lived and
breathe medicine is the next best thing.
The quirky protagonist- At the end of the day, I fully
acknowledge that I can be lean a little towards the eclectic side, especially in my interests, so I
guess these are the type of people I most find myself identifying with. I also
find more depth in characters who are written from this perspective as well,
since perfect cookie-cutter people can be a bit boring (or perhaps I’m
projecting).
Anything about running- I have been a runner for over a decade,
and while I’m not fast, I am consistent. I also have a deep appreciation for
people who have spent their lives training to be great at my hobby, as well as
those who have overcome great odds to fulfill their dreams. I also find reading
about running to be incredibly motivating- I’m quite positive that there is a
direct correlation in my mileage ticking up the weeks I read these types of
books.
Interconnected short stories- I am such a sucker for short
story collections that have interwoven threads between the narratives. Perhaps
there are just little Easter eggs here or there, a minor character showing up
multiple times or the same even occurring in the background. Or maybe it ends
up being a larger factor, like in Tommy Orange’s There There. This concept, the
interconnected short story collection, is actually something I am exploring in
my own writing right now (it’s heard, guys… more later).
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