Reading The Dark Is Rising has been both a gift and a challenge during this week. I would have preferred to read the entire thing in one day. Instead, I find myself having to wait and read each chapter like a bit of dark chocolate.
I could use a lot of words to describe Cooper’s writing: clear, creative, or full of hyphenated words like before-breakfast, crossed-circle, and, my personal favorite, snow-burdened. The word that comes to mind most often, though, is clean. There is no wasted word or scene, and many things operate on two planes of meaning. The novel is set in such a short time frame, and yet it feels incredibly rich and fully lived in by the characters. Its season and setting is winter in an English village and I can’t imagine it happening anywhere else.
As I have been reading it, I have been trying to think of other books that use the winter season so very well. Or course, one of the first ones that comes to mind is Little Women. The opening is all about Christmas and sharing what you have. Then, Narnia, obviously. I think the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can be blamed for my strange and strong desire to have a tea party in the woods every year around this time. (That gives me an idea. More to come)
Here are a few that I wish more people knew.
- A War of Gifts by Orson Scott Card- It’s set at a space academy where the children rebel…and that’s as much as I can say.
- Hogfather by Terry Pratchett- Ever wonder what Christmas would be like if Death took over? FABULOUS, OF COURSE.
- The Tenth of December by George Saunders- This is a perfect short story. The only one I like better of his is Sticks. Don’t read this if you don’t want to cry and question your entire life.
To be honest, I didn’t feel much like celebrating today. This illness has turned into a rough head cold and I have mostly sat around drinking tea and guarding against my fever. Every hour or so, I haul myself outside for sunshine and fresh air before coming back to my nest.
But, not unlike Will Stanton and our other merry heroes and heroines, I believe that there is more than one plane of existence. While outwardly I have this head cold and aching body, yet inwardly I have a great store of joy and peace. The beauty of Christ’s coming is that I do not need to accomplish everything. He has already accomplished it all.
My commemoration today will include a brief walk, followed by more rest, followed by an attempt to play some music. I might even write a story about winter. Even if it’s all just rest, though, it will be enough.
Merry Christmas!
P.S. Whatever you do, don’t ever search the trailer for The Dark Is Rising.
P. P.S. Here is a beautiful piece of improvisation as reward for not searching that trailer. If you did search the trailer, may this music wash you clean.
All Things: 