Let’s Take a Moment to Reflect on Rachel Donadio’s Non Fiction Moment
A few weeks have passed since Rachel Donadio’s article about the state of fiction appeared in the NYT. She commented that we “live in a non-fiction moment”, offering the explanation that fiction these days lacks opacity. To extrapolate a bit I think she meant that if a novel could be stretched across current events like a hide, it would offer the condolence of insight or a kick in the seat so that events in the real world might be better understood.
A random sampling of recent events reveals a serious challenge for novelists. The president is talking to God, who told him to invade Iraq. Bush clarified by saying he did not mean that literally. Two Supreme Court nominees named Rita and Katrina moved the court to the right by several yards. Lots of material here, but the caution flag is out. A novelist might be able to have a character, a president, talking to God. That’s okay. The tricky part is having God talk back. God said to Abraham, kill me a son. Your character is hitchhiking on Highway Sixty One. Hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are devices that a novelist should use sparingly, but in non-fiction, feel free to load the wagon. Sink an entire city. Throw in lava, and, in the film version, make sure the tires of the getaway car erupt in flame. Good moment for the main characters to realize that, dammit, they’re in love, they don’t want to be, but there’s molten lava, and even though her face is streaked with volcanic ash, well, she is more beautiful than ever. No, no, don’t stop for that hitchhiker. He set the volcano off in the first place, with a well paced block of C4. Bitter about his best friend’s issues with the Patent Office, he’s proven to be both an unreliable narrator and indifferent to human life. Remember, the tires are on fire.
Rachel, we can’t work with material like this. We have to turn inward, I’m afraid, as the non-fiction moment needs serious rewrites. We’re going to cut the second hurricane, delete all references to gasoline and distillate fuels. No discourse with Supreme Beings. As long as Martin Sheen is President, we’re fine. Even Rob Lowe is behaving himself. We’ll get the Patent Office situation straightened out. All that’s needed is a little scene blocking. Cameron Diaz as a Supreme Court nominee who just can’t find a guy. My people are calling her people; can she work with lava?