2008/01/08 Lima
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A room for Kafka

Natalie

Back in 2006 at a literary festival in Croatia – there are literary festivals everywhere – I met the Irish writer Anne Enright. Well met, I cannot recall having a substantial conversation with her, but when she was speaking and reading I was captivated by her.
In my experience it is very hard to listen to other writers at festivals, especially when you know that you yourself have to go up on stage and read within ten minutes. Or that very soon you yourself have to answer the question “is there a room for Kafka in the 21st century?”
This story by Anne Enright is worth reading.
It reminded me also of Roddy Doyle’s remark that is very hard to write a realistic dialogue set in contemporary Dublin. Now I’m not a teenage-girl living in Dublin, but to me the narrator in Enright’s story "Natalie" is very convincing.


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11 comments Last_comment
I prefer Monica.
said Neria Biala 08/01/2008 19:11 • x
No offence here. The coconut sister id a beautiful analogy but it feels like a lonely bone thrown in the readers' direction. Our Monica does not pretend to be a writer, she's not that young, and she's not a Dubliner. But if it's ok to make a comparison between texts then her authenticy (she's not a writer) comes out much more alive and convincing. Somehow, without the above mentioned analogy the text could have been more credible (i hope i'm using the right adjective here) but then, i'm sorry, it would have been somewhat boring for me.
i mentioned Monica because one of the charming features of Enright's story lies in the true vicinity to happy innocence that may be related to youth. Monica, to my idea, spreads this lightness' sensation in her comments too.
said Neria Biala 09/01/2008 01:54 • x
The story is convincing imo. Teenagers things, doubts about life and friends. But also a little boring. After two pages I wanted to say to Monica live your life and don't bother about Nathalie, stop whining!
said Richard van Tol 09/01/2008 08:54 • x
Not entirely my cup of tea, but it is OK; at least, she can write.
said Jan Thys 09/01/2008 08:54 • x
Jan, you do know how to write.
said Neria Biala 09/01/2008 09:10 • x
Richard, i think you confused Monica Callens with the narrator.
said Neria Biala 09/01/2008 09:17 • x
Neria, you are right.
said Richard van Tol 09/01/2008 11:09 • x
Dear Neria,
I do not know what to say. I im flattered!
I am not as old as you think (just over twenty). There is truth in what you said about my writing.
You know? It is my (naive) ambition to become a writer. I think there is still a lot of work.
said monica callens 09/01/2008 15:43 • x
Some believe that once written, texts don't belong to anyone anymore (apart from the readers, maybe)
said Dens Powells 09/01/2008 17:03 • x
Dear Monica,
i'm not a writer so i can't give tips. Arnon and many others believe in discipline. Just don't hold yourself from letting others read what you write. Don't hide stuff and seek every opportunity to earn a living from your writing. You are interesting and fluent the way you are, just stick to it. You don't have to thank me, i really enjoy reading your stuff and i'm glad, just like Jan T once wrote, that Arnon has enabled us this opportunity to participate in this party where we can come across enjoyable stukjes like yours. It's my pleasure :)
said Neria Biala 09/01/2008 17:17 • x
I finally read the story (printed it out, though my printer isn't working that well, but I can't read on the internet/computer). It's a very intriguing story, it's something like you're at a party and someone exposes themself (emotionally) and you know that you should comfort for a while, but hey 'it's a party and there has to be a partyatmosphere'. That kind of silence I feel in the story.

And about the writing, it is -indeed- very convincing, I must say. though I wouldn't have picked Clooney (from what I hear he isn't that popular anymore with young girls) and I don't understand "see-through-features". I think this girl wouldn't have witten that in this way, but it's a nice image, that is true.

The nail-polish motive is interesting as .well. Nicely written, nice story
said Dens Powells 09/01/2008 17:27 • x
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