Sebald Treat
The English Pen newsletter has come in with an interesting article by Will Self on W G Sebald. The Rings of Saturn is something I am saving for myself as a treat when I have eventually finished this editing.
I have gone back through the book modifying one of my characters and am now wondering about the depth of another. It is a bit like shaving the legs of a chair - a little off one, set it down, and still it wobbles - so that means a little off another... and around and around until, eventually, the chair has no legs at all, and all I am left with is a blank page.
I am on page 255 now, and think I might proceed now to the end before going back to the beginning again.
I have gone back through the book modifying one of my characters and am now wondering about the depth of another. It is a bit like shaving the legs of a chair - a little off one, set it down, and still it wobbles - so that means a little off another... and around and around until, eventually, the chair has no legs at all, and all I am left with is a blank page.
I am on page 255 now, and think I might proceed now to the end before going back to the beginning again.
Labels: character development, editing, Rings of Saturn, W.G. Sebald
posted by Clare Dudman at 7:14 pm
4 Comments:
I love W G Sebald's Rings of Saturn.
It has a really attractive melancholy quality to it - sort of brooding.
Sounds great, Anne - -especially if you recommend it!
Brilliant...the slow steady shaving of table legs.
The silence of the Blankest of Pages.
I felt a bit seasick though on reading that once you get to the end, you're going to go back to the beginning..!
I love that image of the chair legs. It reminded me of Dahl's 'The Twits' where they stick slices onto the chair legs and walking stick to make the other think they are shrinking. At least you know you are doing the shaving.
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