Structure, Form and Stuff

The thing about this book that makes it a-typical in a way is its use of outside reference through footnotes. I like this inclusion to the writing, and it's not something you see everyday as the references are fictional as well, therefore standing out stylistically. Admittedly, I know little of the mystery novel form, is this a typical thing found in this genre? I couldn't tell you, but there are those that could--they're out there.

As with Jonathan Safran Foer's novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the form adds dimension to the story. Visual inclusions such as these being included in novels recently seems rooted in a new trend of writing where visual and fictional aspects are aesthetically represented. Though Foer's work is far more bold in this respect, the parallel can be drawn between the stylistic choice, a contemporary fiction mannerism.

Personally, I find this exciting and engaging for the reader. It might come off as gimmicky to some but it's breaking some fresh ground, something which deserves respect none the less. I guess you could say it's recycling some old habits with fresh perspective. A fingerprint of writing in the literature annals for this generation . I like it, and I'd like to find some other examples; it's always interesting watching history be made.

Mundane life, Extravagent story

It was just another Friday in my Kindergarten class at Eliso Elementary in southern California. Friday was the one day of the week when we were allowed to bring something from home to show other students in class, and then gloat about it. Also known as "Show and Tell." This particular show and tell I had brought in my brand new Ninja Turtle Michelangelo action figure, proud as all hell and ready to rub it in anyone's face. As we went around the circle of smiling children, all clutching this thing or that, I began to marvel at all the interesting things everyone had brought in. There was the ubiquitous Tonka truck from the boy next to me and the sure-to-be-crowd-pleaser homemade cupcakes brought by a girl in class, but there was something else in this gathering too, something which opened my tiny little eyes to a whole other view of the world.
Across from me sat a boy my same age, a little soft around the edges, but always ready to smile and laugh at a funny joke. He didn't have very many friends, and the ones he did have were girls, which was extremely unnerving to the rest of us boys. We didn't really understand him, and I imagine he didn't really understand us, so in this way we kept to ourselves and let each other be without any fuss. But on this day, this special Show and Tell extravaganza, he shocked everyone with his submission to the circle. A bright red rose. He went on to explain how it was the most perfect rose he had ever seen, and that he felt obligated to show it to the rest of us so that we may bask in its glory. The girls in the class giggled, the boys humph-ed and crossed their arms, but I sat there and smiled a wide smile, for the first time realizing that there really were free spirits out there. He didn't conform to the standard male structure and for some reason this didn't even phase him, a completely unheard of dynamic in my five year old brain.
I'll never forget how the teacher rushed to move on to the next submission, telling the boy that his rose was indeed a pretty good one, and that he should go put it back in his cubby before it sustained damage. Show and Tell went on the same as it always had, and always would from that day on, but something in me had turned over, a new cog had begun to spin causing new formulations in my brain to emerge and from then on I was happy knowing that somewhere that young boy turned into a young man and he is probably still admiring roses and hanging out with all girls for friends.