Of mice, men and book thieves.

I remember I stole Of Mice And Men.

I was in JC at the time, and the wonderful book was left so neglected, rotting, collecting dust in a tiny classroom library in the high school section classroom.

It was a beautiful, big school and sometimes being late for class was only because the damn classroom was half a kilo away, or you got lost, even a year in. Or maybe that's just me because I am not very good at integrating into this whole world in general.

So the book, being part of some small private classroom library was unmarked and I highly doubted it had ever been seriously read (the spine was intact, and this is not a thin book). I don't steal stuff generally, but I have a special spot of moral ambiguity reserved for books and only books, especially when they're old and neglected.

I don't think anyone would miss a book they neglected, even if it got stolen.

And anyway these boys were reading Depression Economics by Paul freaking Krugman everywhere I went so I doubt they would appreciate a book about the aftermath of the Great Depression (I find this highly ironic, btw), only because that depression was obscenely outdated by 2010. And also, Of Mice And Men wasn't about whatever Paul Krugman was peddling.

It didn't even take effort. I took the book, put it in my bag and left after we were all done with the classroom like it was the most natural thing in the world. To me indeed it was - giving well written books the respect they deserve.

When you steal a book, do you only steal an object? It felt like I stole an idea, emotions and beauty - something everyone should be able to enjoy. I remember I got $140 a month as allowance a month in those days, and once I got it I would go blow like $50 on new books at Kino every month.

Don't tell my mom.

I wrote this entry to talk about how I felt reading the first twenty pages of Steinbeck's book. (As usual I got horribly sidetracked, I apologise) I never had time to finish the whole book, and I am making a note now to remember to do so.

A lot of books are written and published daily now. It has become a business of selling the best stories and most fashionable ideas. I admit myself that I have always wanted to write a novel or something but I lack the skill and commitment; but mostly because I never feel ready to use my pen in such a public way. Writing is my most valued skill and I would find it shameful if someone said something like this, "The story is ok, but the writing is mediocre."

I think that is a problem with most of the novels written today. They are written to tell a story - they are effectively, storybooks. I don't have anything against them, but thinking back to me experience of Twenty Pages of Steinbeck, (or any Dickens experience) I can't help but feel that the mindset of authors today and of the past are very different.

I was completely exhausted and overwhelmed after reading barely the intro to Of Mice and Men. The vivid, deep description of every single thing in the scene gripped my and refused to let go - that metaphorical dull, dusty hot breeze blew from the pages into my face and I swear I could feel the aftermath of the Depression - that drawl, uncertain, boring atmosphere.

It was like even that dusty sky and dry, red earth had emotion and that emotion infected me deeply. I had felt so much despair and suffocation from those pages I had to stop reading.

Actually I haven't finished and I don't know what the book is really about lol. Also, I am recounting from memory what I read close to five years ago, kindly excuse any inaccuracies as right now I don't have the book with me personally.

I think writing itself is an experience and should be disciplined and enjoyed in equal parts. Modern books sell stories and ideas but not -writing- because nobody is interested to read about lengthy descriptions of things anymore. Generally quiet, patient beauty doesn't hold charm like instantaneous gratification in this generation of instant gratification and smartphones.

I would like to learn to write with skill and discipline instead of only writing a story and selling ideas.  But as a result I only end up writing weird scenes with no backstory or reason. I only describe the place, the emotion and I lose interest.

Here's a typical sampler (written when I was 16, please have mercy) : https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2569550/1/Rail

I think it goes without saying that I love The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak very much. I was on a school trip in the UK that year (2007?) and I bought it for 8 pounds before it came out in Singapore!

At the time the rate for Pounds Sterling was really high, haha.