Good day, readers. Today is January 7th, the 7th day of the year 2024, with 359 days remaining.
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
Socrates
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1985, Japanese author Haruki Murakami began writing his novel Norwegian Wood. This novel later became a significant turning point in his career, skyrocketing him to international fame. The title, inspired by the Beatles song of the same name, evokes a sense of nostalgic melancholy and highlights Murakami’s unique blend of the surreal with the everyday.
Notable Birthdays:
Zora Neale Hurston, an influential African-American writer and anthropologist, was born on this day in 1891. Her works, including Their Eyes Were Watching God, offer vivid portrayals of racial struggles in the early 20th century South and are celebrated for their profound emotional depth and cultural insight.
Today’s Readings:
From Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami: “I was always hungry for love. Just once, I wanted to know what it was like to get my fill of it—to be fed so much love I couldn’t take any more. Just once.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On January 7, 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois. While known for their basketball artistry, the team also played a significant role in the desegregation of sports in America and has been referenced in various cultural and sports histories.
Poem of the Day:
“Next, Please” by Philip Larkin:
Always too eager for the future, we
Pick up bad habits of expectancy.
Something is always approaching; every day
Till then we say,
Watching from a bluff the tiny, clear
Sparkling armada of promises draw near.
How slow they are! And how much time they waste,
Refusing to make haste!
Yet still they leave us holding wretched stalks
Of disappointment, for, though nothing balks
Each big approach, leaning with brasswork prinked,
Each rope distinct,
Flagged, and the figurehead with golden tits
Arching our way, it never anchors; it’s
No sooner present than it turns to past.
Right to the last
We think each one will heave to and unload
All good into our lives, all we are owed
For waiting so devoutly and so long.
But we are wrong:
Only one ship is seeking us, a black-
Sailed unfamiliar, towing at her back
A huge and birdless silence. In her wake
No waters breed or break.
This thought-provoking poem by Philip Larkin reflects on the human tendency to constantly anticipate the future, often leading to a perpetual state of waiting and disappointment. It challenges readers to consider the reality of their expectations and the elusive nature of fulfillment.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by Zora Neale Hurston’s richly descriptive and insightful storytelling, think about how you can weave together the personal and the cultural in your narratives. Her ability to capture the essence of a time, place, and people provides a powerful model for writing deeply resonant stories.
Have an insightful and reflective day, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your explorations in writing deepen your understanding of both the past and the present.