I read a novel and I didn't care for it. And I'm going to name the novel, because its author has won two Booker Prizes and he doesn't need my approval to feel good about himself. :-) I'm going to use this example to tell you about tin man novels, but I want to make this caveat beforehand. Taste in novels is highly subjective. Some of you may read a novel I call a tin man novel and think it's the best thing you've ever read. And it well may be. My tin man novel is another reader's work of genius.
But for the sake of this discussion, my tin man novel is Oscar and Lucinda, by Peter Carey. And as you might expect from my comparison, my problem with this novel is that it's all head and sheen, but it has no heart. At least, according to my taste.
I most often encounter tin man novels in literary fiction. They are written in beautiful, stylish prose, and filled with interesting ideas or allusions. Their characters are offbeat.
But tin man novels are too clever and too conscious of their own artistic merit. They're written from the head, and it shows. The elemental moral passion of the artist does not drive these novels. Tin man novels impress me very much with the talent and intellect of their authors. But in the end, they seem to proclaim "I am a good writer" more than anything about the human condition, God, or the world we live in. Tin man novels overwhelm their own stories with their heavy themes and their painstakingly-constructed designs. They can't come to life without heart. They can't feel real. They will never make me cry.
And then there are the scarecrow novels. Scarecrow novels are full of feeling, and easy to get to know. But they don't have any "brain," so they're often poorly-written and may include stereotypes. Still, a scarecrow novel is more likely to be commercially-successful than a tin man novel, because its passion can overcome its flaws, for readers who don't care too much about prose style. As a result, we find more scarecrow novels on bestseller lists, and more tin man novels on short lists for literary prizes.
And you and I may completely disagree as to which novels might earn these descriptions. I love those friendly, private book debates with my best friends in which we laugh a lot as we defend the merits of our chosen authors.
It's possible that I may someday write a tin man novel or a scarecrow novel. I hope not! I hope that by using these two extremes as a reminder, I can steer between their dangers and remember to temper passion with mind, and to infuse design with feeling.
How does the balance between heart and head work in your own writing?
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26 comments:
I'm not sure. I don't write novels. Can heart come through in nonfiction? I hope so.
I lke our distinctions here. I can certainly think of some novels in both categories. I want to read this book just to get a perspective on what you regard as tin man.
Wondering how you like Charles Dickens? I think he does a great job of blending head and heart.
Last week it was Alice in Wonderland and this week Wizard of Oz. I love it! I hope to write in between those two extremes as well!
If I had to read one type over the other, I'd probably choose scare crow. As beautifully written as many tin man books can be, I read because I want to be moved.
Now it's just getting funny.
I compare the writers to statues today. We've got the David vs. Caesar Augustus.
I know exactly what you mean and can often discern where the writer is writing from.
~ Wendy
How to balance head and heart? I am not sure that I always manage to pull that off, although I certainly try.
I guess I would describe it as trying to be both "fair and full" - fair from an intellectual standpoint, and fully formed from an emotional standpoint. Tricky stuff.
A really good post, Rosslyn. Thank you. Thank you. ...Marsha
Such good food for thought, Rosslyn. I try to blend a bit of tin and straw but err on the side of scarecrow,I think. I've almost finished reading a book in the general market by a bestselling author. Her writing is exceptional - witty, lyrical, riveting, well paced - but I just never connected with the characters. They seemed to lack soul. I think in the CBA we have the added edge of reaching our readers at the heart level and not just the head.
That got me wondering about the rest of the cast of W of Oz. Are the Lion novels the ones that hold back. The authors who are afraid to speak their truth. Sometimes, I'm the Lion before he gets his courage. But, when I do, it's both scary and successful. How about Dorothy? What are her novels? Coming of age? The Journey? How do you describe the novels that hit the spot?
What a great analogy. I hope I have a good balance in my own writing. I don't like books without heart, either.
Rosslyn, what an interesting way to view novels! I'm a big fan of novels that have heart, but it seems like I too often look in the wrong places for them (i.e., among Tin Man authors). I also appreciate that you list these as extremes. Though I'd rather write a book that has more heart, I still want it to reach a wide group of readers.
Hi Rosslyn -
You always get me thinking. :)
I've read some scarecrow novels, but can't recall reading a tin man story. By learning the craft and marrying it to creativity, I hope I'll avoid these extremes.
Blessings,
Susan
What a fabulous analogy! I really hope I can achieve a balance. I'm going to remember this post as I write.
Warren, I LOVE Dickens. he is one of my very favorites, in part because he is so passionate but also very observant and satirical about human nature.
Katie, I wondered if anyone would notice. I didn't do it on purpose, but it made me smile. :-)
Wendy, I liked your statues post!
Marsha, that's a good way to describe it too. I like "fair and full."
Laura - Absolutely. I do think CBA novels have a fundamental advantage. They begin on the premise that they are meant to appeal on all levels, all the way down to the deepest, the spirit.
Mary - Great additions! I do think Lion novels may be ones in which the author just needs to take that little extra step of faith to make it truly resonant. And I think Dorothy novels may be the ones that find the balance, because of what you point out: they take us on a journey, they change us, and they show us what it means to find home, on many levels.
Cindy - So true about looking for heart in all the wrong novels. I'm guilty of that as well. I'll read rave reviews of literary fiction and think "Oh, those reviewers can't possibly say such terrific things about a novel without a heart. I'm going to read it." And then there's no heart. :-)
Thanks so much for all your contributions and comments! It's a great discussion so far.
I wish I could write more like a tin man!! I love some literary works and want that style but I also think that style won't work too. Still trying to find it:)
Hi Rossyln,
I don't know if you made it through the entire novel, but I don't think I would last long in a book that has little or no heart. The tin man novel as you say.
I think the Scarecrow novel would be something I might actually finish reading based on my state of mind. :) And that's probably why they end up on bestseller lists sometimes.
That balance between heart and head in my own writing is something I don't think about it while I write.
I have a feeling (there's your clue)that one book may lean more one way and then a different one just the opposite but I hope for a nice balance when it's all done.
I think this post is genius by the way.:)
I want to read books with heart. I want to care so deeply about the characters that I can't put the book down. One of the commenters here--the awesome Laura Frantz (yeah, I have a girl crush!) did that for me recently with Courting Morrow Little. I love to get swept into a good book.
I recently read a "tin man" novel.. and I stopped halfway through. It was beautifully written and the characters were quirky but I just couldn't get into it. I think I'd choose Scare Crow.
Jillian - (was going to call you Jill, then Jill K., then realized we have two Jill K. comments! How did that happen?) I did not make it through the novel. That is, I made it through, but very skimmingly. :-) And you are too kind! Hope the writing is going well as we near that big debut month.
And Jill - I'm looking forward to checking out Courting Morrow Little. I've heard a lot of good things!
Erin - We're all on the "did not finish tin man" bandwagon.
Terri - Hang in there on the quest! We're all pulling for you. It helps that you have one of the most likeable blogs on the planet. :-)
I love this analogy too. It is easy sometimes to get caught up in the fun of using beautiful words and forget about the heart of the story. As a reader, though, I'd have to say my experience has included more scarecrow novels. I've read several books - Christian fiction, some of them - that had good storylines, but I couldn't help wishing that author could have fixed all the things that were wrong with the writing and ended up with a truly wonderful book.
I love that you kick 'tin' and are taking names! I've read darn right terrible books that could have exploded into greatness if only I could have felt those magic emotions. And trust me, I wanted to. I've hung on for dear life in some novels just hoping for a sliver of what I was looking for. I hope my readers never say the same thing about my books.
Rosslyn, I love it that you use Wizard of Oz 'speak' to describe an Australian writer's novel! Only I, (as a Dorothy), could read this post and laugh at all the connections ;)
I absolutely love this analogy, Rosslyn! I've definitely read both types of novels and am always amazed at the acclaim they receive. Nothing gets me so overly excited as a book with both heart and brains! One that makes me think about my own life, but cry for the characters I'm falling in love with.
Rosslyn, this is a great analogy, and makes me wonder if I have been careful enough to be the Dorothy I've always admired. She's a little flighty perhaps, but I think that's a cover. She's got a lot of heart, spunk and passion. And she does think things through as well as possible. I played Dorothy once, so I'm kind of partial to her. :) Maybe she could be my muse! :
Anyway, aside from the silliness, very nice job as always of explaining yourself in a way that is helpful to us. I have no doubt you manage a nice balance between Scarecrow and Tinman, and I can't wait to read your novel to see how it all plays out in your work!
That's an interesting way to describe your taste perspective. I prefer the Scarecrows. I'll always take the books with characters and situations that make me think.
Hope you've been well! Sorry it's been so long since I've stopped by. Your site is GORGEOUS!
Elisabeth - I know what you mean! So often I'm intrigued by the concept and left wishing for better execution.
Tana -Still chuckling about kicking tin. Now please tell me you are coming to ACFW this year.
Dorothy - Or should I say - Dor-thee, speaking of ACFW memories. LOL!
Heather, if you run across any with both, I am all ears for your recommendation.
Rozane, having heard you sing, I can just imagine you in the Wizard of Oz! A neat detail to know about your youth. :-)
Kat, this is me running towards you with arms wide open. SO GLAD to see you again! I'm heading over to see if you have any recent posts.
Oops, Roxane, you know I know who you are, even if I'm not proof-reading well tonight, and too lazy to retype that whole comment. Ha!
I agree with you about novels that feel like they were written to show off the author's writerly skills. The last one I read like that was Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier - pure literary historical fiction, beautiful writing, great premise, but not much heart. Now I see why it's called tin man (he was missing a heart, the scarecrow was missing a brain. A ha! lightbulb! (embarrassed now)
Excellent thoughts here. Good writing involves both the head and the heart. I love the tin man and scarecrow analogy.
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