A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
"One reason why women are good at writing detective stories may be our feminine eye for detail; clue-making demands attention to the detail of everyday life." This quote from Phyllis James jumped out at me this morning when listening to the Writer's Almanac show. Yesterday we celebrated the life and work of author Sally Wright, a friend of my parents and author of mystery stories, who died in 2018. My Mom spoke about Sally's ability to get into the "secret garden" of my Dad's mind in this in-depth interview with my otherwise private father in 1988. Author Ashlee Cowles spoke about the work of mystery and detective novels that Sally was engaged in, which give meaning to the seeming chaos of existence. Poet James Mathew Wilson spoke of the tradition and usefulness of categorizing written works into genres, and to the responsibility of writers to follow form, as Sally followed in the tradition of great detective novel writers such as Dorothy L. Sayers.
Today we also mark a milestone for another woman writer whose work continues to confound and challenge the reader about the often-disturbing mysteries of life and suffering-- Flannery O'Connor died of lupus in Milledgeville, Georgia on this day in 1964 at the age of just 39. "Wildcat," a new film about her life was released this year (on my to-see list).
Like O'Connor, the legacy of P.D. James and Sally Wright seem to be garnering more attention with the passage of time and a deeper appreciation of the unique contribution of the feminine eye in deciphering meaning and messages that can be found in the details of daily life. In a way, that is what I am training myself to do through the discipline of researching and writing this daily blog- to be a detective working on "the case of the mystery of life"!
Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!
may I be rescued from my foes,
and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,
nor the abyss swallow me up,
nor the pit close its mouth over me.
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War; Finding of the Body of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
Human: Death of Joseph Conrad (writer) – 1924, Flannery O'Connor (author) – 1964, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) – 2006
It's the birthday of mystery author P(hyllis) D(orothy) James (books by this author), born in Oxford, England (1920). She is known for her detective novels and said, "The classical detective story affirms our belief that we live in a rational and generally benevolent universe."
She gets ideas for her novels from places she visits — communities or beaches or old houses — and begins with the setting. Her main character is Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh.
James says, "One reason why women are good at writing detective stories may be our feminine eye for detail; clue-making demands attention to the detail of everyday life."
The Writer's Almanac today.
Natural: Soak broccoli in cold water to drown (and sink) cabbage loopers.
Italian Word: The Italian Verb ‘Piacere’ and How to Use It
English Word: Parry has two basic meanings. To parry can be to defend yourself by turning away from or pushing aside a weapon, assault, etc., or to evade something, such as a question, especially by using a clever response.
Quote: "When I’m writing my novels I feel like I’m right in there with my characters, yes -- inside their heads and their souls. I probably mouth their words as I read the screen, and I bet my face changes expression depending on what’s going on. I sometimes catch a dog of ours watching me like I’m acting very peculiar while I type. But sometime in the late afternoon I get to go brush a horse (or ride if I’m lucky), or walk with a dog, or read a book, before I make dinner for my husband. I can live in parallel universes -- the fictional and the real. But then all writers do, which may be much of the appeal." --Sally Wright
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