Todd Shimoda's Writer's Blog
ENTRY
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
April 30, 2014
The great writer died a few days ago. His legacy is firmly in place as one of the world's greatest novelists, so I don't need to go into that. But on a personal level, before I became entranced by Japanese writers I was inspired by him and other Latin American writers. I wrote one of my first novels (unpublished, thankfully) set partially in Mexico with a Mexican main character. I even spent part of a summer in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial Mexican town for research.
I suppose what drew me to them was a difference from the British and Anglo-American classics I read in my literature classes. Growing up where I did and when I did, there weren't many opportunities for exposure to the literature of other cultures, so I had to search it out.
I think the main difference is the richness of the settings, characters, and prose. The Latin American writers' works were more ... fiery. I tried to emulate that style but couldn't pull it off, no doubt because it wasn't my life. I don't think it's a case of write what you know, it's more like write what you deeply feel. And that's what I didn't have in me.
But that's okay, I found my own voice, and I still enjoy reading the Latin American writers as much today.
April 30, 2014
The great writer died a few days ago. His legacy is firmly in place as one of the world's greatest novelists, so I don't need to go into that. But on a personal level, before I became entranced by Japanese writers I was inspired by him and other Latin American writers. I wrote one of my first novels (unpublished, thankfully) set partially in Mexico with a Mexican main character. I even spent part of a summer in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial Mexican town for research.
I suppose what drew me to them was a difference from the British and Anglo-American classics I read in my literature classes. Growing up where I did and when I did, there weren't many opportunities for exposure to the literature of other cultures, so I had to search it out.
I think the main difference is the richness of the settings, characters, and prose. The Latin American writers' works were more ... fiery. I tried to emulate that style but couldn't pull it off, no doubt because it wasn't my life. I don't think it's a case of write what you know, it's more like write what you deeply feel. And that's what I didn't have in me.
But that's okay, I found my own voice, and I still enjoy reading the Latin American writers as much today.
COMMENTS
Number of comments: 2
click here to add a comment
Lee Witte
Yes! "100 years of Solitude" - read it three times. Think I'll read it again.
Lot
Well said...
click here to add a comment
Lee Witte
Yes! "100 years of Solitude" - read it three times. Think I'll read it again.
Lot
Well said...
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April 13, 2017 (2)
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September 1, 2016 (2)
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April 13, 2016 (0)
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April 4, 2016 (1)
Review: The Translation of Love
February 14, 2016 (1)
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October 7, 2015 (1)
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September 25, 2015 (1)
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August 28, 2015 (1)
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July 7, 2015 (2)
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March 31, 2015 (1)
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October 30, 2014 (1)
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July 30, 2014 (2)
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June 30, 2014 (1)
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April 30, 2014 (2)
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March 30, 2014 (5)
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February 28, 2014 (2)
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December 30, 2013 (6)
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November 30, 2013 (1)
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September 30, 2013 (2)
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July 15, 2012 (3)
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November 29, 2011 (2)
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July 30, 2011 (3)
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June 28, 2011 (2)
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June 24, 2011 (2)
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May 18, 2011 (1)
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February 17, 2011 (2)
2010 review
December 17, 2010 (6)
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May 18, 2009 (3)
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April 24, 2009 (2)
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March 2, 2009 (2)
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February 7, 2009 (3)
John Updike
January 27, 2009 (2)
2008 misc. (good news, bad news)
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Publishing woes and query letters
December 13, 2008 (4)
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November 16, 2008 (3)
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October 10, 2008 (2)
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September 14, 2008 (2)
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September 12, 2008 (2)
The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries
August 29, 2008 (3)
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August 20, 2008 (3)
"What kind of books do you write?"
August 8, 2008 (2)
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Show and tell
July 14, 2008 (3)
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June 10, 2008 (6)
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Virtual unreality
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