From: rukhsanakhan <irrualli>
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 11:04:26 -0700

Boy am I glad I never read "I Am The Cheese"!!!!!

I hate books like that!

I went to a writing workshop once where Tim O'Brien was featured. He'd written a book that leaves you wondering exactly what happened to the main character who'd disappeared in the Lake of the Woods in Minnesota. He had all these plausible scenarios and then at the end, nothing. Nada. Zip. First thing I asked him when I met him was, "What happened to Kate?"

He looked taken aback and said, "Well, you're not supposed to know."

I felt incredibly frustrated. I'd spent four hours reading that book, only to be frustrated at the end. As a writer, I think that's an unforgiveable sin.

In the case of Tim O'Brien's book I think it was a cop out. A short cut. A literary device.

I'm not sure if it's a cop out with "I Am The Cheese". Sounds as though Cormier was deliberately setting out to explore what reality is. I find that fascinating.

I guess the vast majority of people are looking to be entertained when they read books. I would not call Cormier entertaining. Thought provoking, yes. But not entertaining.

Rukhsana
Received on Thu 09 Aug 2001 01:04:26 PM CDT