So good
Nicholson Baker
A Box of Matches
Just finished this one again — read it a few months ago, then recently lent it to my mom. After she was done with it and it came time to discuss, I found I couldn’t remember what was in it. But I had enjoyed it so much! It was strange how little I remembered of it, even considering my sketchy memory. So I read it again, and it was just so good.
I honestly don’t know how Mr. Baker did what he did. Between him and Ms. Halliday I think I could learn a thing or two about how to write a book.
For starters, though, I need to get in the habit of writing at the moment the idea occurs. Otherwise I forget what it was I was going to put down. (See sketchy memory.) And then I just get mad, and that’s not good for anyone.