Mar 23 2007
James Lee Burke – A Writer Who Inspires Me
I’ve been reading “Pegasus Descending” by James Lee Burke. I love this man’s writing. He is the master of the metaphor. His words create images of such strength and beauty I forget that I am reading – he pulls you into the heart of his characters.
“People handle grief in different ways. I once looked into the eyes of a Vietnamese woman and realized that sorrow can sometimes possess a depth that goes deeper than the bottom of one’s soul. I knew that if I looked too long into this woman’s eyes, I would drown in their luminosity and silence and lose the sunlight in my own life.”
What a way to express why we can’t bear to look at the face of another’s grief.
That was a very good example you used . . . . since starting my blog, I’ve been looking for more writers to learn from. Someone like James Lee Burke seems like a good start! Thanks for the tip!
Gary: I’m glad you enjoyed the example. That’s only one stunning paragraph in a book laden with them. Mr. Burke’s use of language is powerful. I have to be in the mood for his books because I know that I’ll be taken on an emotional journey.
You gave me an idea for a post about writing. Thank you! Actually, you gave me 2 ideas! I’ve been reading your blog and you write well. I’m glad that you’re interested in learning more about writing and I assume this is because you want to improve.
I’m all for people improving their writing – the ability to convey to your thoughts and feelings, to make something clear with words, that’s a wonderful skill to have.