February 03, 2006
I'm reading a biography of Shirley Jackson, author of (among many other things) "The Lottery," the terrifying story about a small town that annually stones one of its residents to death. In discussing Jackson's taste in literature, her biographer quotes her as saying that she loved eighteenth-century novels for "the preservation of and insistence on a pattern superimposed precariously on the chaos of human development."
"I think it is the combination of these two," Jackson continued, "that forms the background of everything I write--the sense which I feel of a human and not very rational order struggling inadequately to keep in check forces of great destruction, which may be the devil and may be intellectual enlightenment."
I knew there was a reason I liked her.
Unfortunately, the biography also informs me that Jackson was one year younger than I am now when she published "The Lottery," so I will never be able to think of her again without a certain amount of bitterness and envy and gall.
On the other hand, she was exactly as old as I am now when she got hooked on amphetamines, so if I can make it to January 12, 2007 without doing the same then I will be able to feel superior to her in at least one arena.
Posted by Faustus, MD at 11:04 PM
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Comments
1) g8s said (on 02/ 4/06 at 06:27 AM):
Hey, now... Bitterness? Envy? Gall, even? Betcha Shirley (Ms.) Jackson (if you're nasty) would love to hearing that, as it sounds like the makings of one of her stories.
2) Alastair said (on 02/ 4/06 at 07:53 AM):
If the excerpt is anything to go by, you also manage to exceed her writing skills quite comfortably.
3) Hanuman said (on 02/ 4/06 at 08:08 AM):
I remember having to read "The Lottery" in junior high. That story still creeps me out....
4) David said (on 02/ 4/06 at 08:55 AM):
Well, think of it this way: if you get hooked on amphetamines now, you will have beaten her to the punch by eleven months. You would win!
5) Uncle Zoloft said (on 02/ 4/06 at 09:48 AM):
... maybe you could reset her story in Charleston interweaveing your troubled youth and get on Oprah's Book Club ...
6) Adrienne said (on 02/ 4/06 at 05:13 PM):
How strange, I was just talking about that story last night...
7) tim said (on 02/ 4/06 at 07:34 PM):
I LOVE Shirley Jackson. My sophomore year highschool English report was on her. I loved loved loved loved her. I believe I got a B+. My teacher never ever gave A's or A-'s. Of course, I scored an A before I left her class. :)
8) David said (on 02/ 5/06 at 03:16 AM):
You on amphetamines would be not just a recipe for a disaster, but an entire cookbook and cable access program.
9) michael vocino said (on 02/ 5/06 at 08:43 AM):
Hi. I just wanted you to know that I finally got to your little book---Gay Haiku. Great stuff. I giggled at most but with many I laughed outloud and a few I am still thinking about... I found them quite profound! Thanks for giving me a quick but fun and even challenging read. m.
p.s. I love Shirley Jackson, too.
10) Mush said (on 02/ 7/06 at 11:14 AM):
You should totally do a little speed. You know, just every now and then, like when your apartment needs to be cleaned. REALLY, REALLY, REALLY CLEANED.
11) Gurustu said (on 02/ 8/06 at 01:11 AM):
I remember they used to show that movie every year in school. I think they were trying to tell us something.
Have you noticed that her life is about getting stoned, while yours is about getting laid? I think you're off to a much better start!
12) Molly said (on 02/10/06 at 03:00 AM):
Shirley Jackson went to my high school. It's not much of a legacy, but it's something.
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