I just got through reading Erica Jong’s new book, "Seducing the Demon." I wish I hadn’t finished it. I wish I hadn’t finished it because now I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss reading it and thinking, "ME TOO!" As if a lowly one-small-book writer like myself can even begin to compare myself to the likes of what she wrote in this book.
I feel like I’ve been schooled by the older, feminist, mentor writer I always wished I had and never knew I really craved until I picked this book up from the library after hearing her speak on my NECN morning show. I don’t particularly remember what she said in that interview, but I added it to my Boston Public Library "wish list" on line during the interview.
I’ve never read another Jong book. I’m the one feminist in the world to have never read "Fear of Flying" and in fact, I can’t even give you a brief idea of what it’s about. I barely know Jong beyond her name.
Being a library book, I couldn’t turn down the pages of my favorite passages or highlight the bits of text that called to me most. And considering that I read the book over the past three weeks or so (it’s soooo overdue) while sitting in a parking lot eating my lunch… laying in bed after two prescription sleeping pills waiting for night to come and/or sitting on the end of my couch while endless reality tv shows played in the background… I can’t even transcribe any of those passages for you.
But what I took away from it is… It’s ok to take a long time to write another book. It’s ok to take big leaps of faith… it’s ok to live, to write, to do things, to not write, to walk the dogs, to rail against George Bush and his misguided policies on everything, to have a family, to have a good dinner and to travel to Italy.
I’d like to go to Italy.
ps. Check out her tips for writers I just discovered. Love me some internet.
