Saturday, July 3, 2010

C

I choose "Correspondence."

I picked up Amy Krouse Rosenthal's book (the whole basis for this challenge, I daresay THE BEST CHALLENGE EVER) at the library today, and while I've just begun it, I'm already charmed.

In the beginning of the book, there's a chapter called "The Evolution of this Moment," which explains how The Encyclopedia of Ordinary Life came to be published. Rosenthal gives some examples of correspondence she's had and kept over the years: correspondence with writers she's admired, rejection letters, and just numerous exchanges large and small with various people who influenced her work. Awesome people like Ira Glass.

When I was in ninth grade, I, like Rosenthal, was compelled to write to an author I loved, Jon Hassler. Guess what? He wrote back to me on yellow legal paper in long hand. I loved that letter, and I showed it to my teacher and she hung it on the bulletin board.

It didn't even occur to me to be embarrassed by the extent of my dorkitude.

I continue to love correspondence. I love emailing people and getting emails. I loved writing letters to my grandmothers. Of course, I love commenting on people's blogs and getting comments. And txting, obvi.

I'll probably continue to correspond for the foreseeable future.

5 comments:

Gina Marie said...

OMG Jon Hassler. I think I read the book Jemmy about thirty times as an adolescent. I never thought of writing to JH but as a fellow dork, I'm mad jealous that you got a handwritten letter back.

What a classy guy!

jdoc said...

I love this entry and your dorkitude. I, too, put the Rosenthal book on hold a few days ago. I'm looking forward to picking it up this week!

Also, would you like to get coffee sometime?

LH said...

I always think about writing to authors and then I never do. But one time I did and I got returning correspondence and that was one of my favorite days I ever had.

kc said...

YES to coffee, Jessie! How about the week after this week? I really want to hear about the diss and all other things.

Gina, the book I loved was Staggerford! I still love that book, and have in fact read most of Hassler's other books.

LH, who was the author you wrote to?

Jill said...

Staggerford! There was a scene in that book that made me laugh so hard I cried.

That is awesome.