Immaculate Conception: I Can't Stop Thinking About This Book
Obsession tends to be a provocative word, sometimes triggering madness in our minds. Sometimes demanding that we push, push, push beyond the boundaries of society. We push to be loved, appreciated, recognized. Push to generate spectacular work that elevates us to a realm of God-like fantasies; to be idolized, worlds above all the others.
Why do we obsess for such a spectral power?
How far will we go to appease ourselves afflicted by obsession?
Usually, I don't post reviews about books that I've read, and today's post isn't a review, either. Rather, I enjoy conversations about a book's theme, character development, syntax, tone, and structure. The usual topics that help me further my skills as a writer. I enjoy reading various genres and formats (fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, zines, poetry, graphic novels, eBooks, research papers, community magazines, etc.), with speculative fiction being my favorite. I feel a sense of freedom in spec fiction that allows me to push my characters into emotional extremes and peel back their traits, strengths, weaknesses, and resilience as they struggle to survive, evolve, or -- on more occasion than not -- wither and fail in awful and traumatic ways. I hadn't considered myself a horror writer until my editor pointed it out; for me, psychological horror is everyday life. The main reason, I'm certain, why I can't stop thinking about Ling Ling Huang's impactful novel, Immaculate Conception.
From the first page, Huang's main character lassoed me in, and the reading journey pricked at me, page after page, needling deeper into my heart, soul, and mind, especially with compelling phrases I can't help but highlight ...
Once I experienced how artists could elicit such primal emotions, communicating with something beneath and beyond language, I became obsessed with the idea of doing the same.
Artists create works of art; geniuses curate an emotional response.
Not too many women can succeed at one time ... just enough to make the rest of us hungry, to believe it's possible.
We're going to start simple, by downloading a sheep brain onto our first human volunteer's mind.
I couldn't wait to see the public's reaction when my concept came, quite literally, to life.
Yes, the narrative twists and arcs and pivots, and I feel I'm on a haywired ride ... one that opens my mind at the same time, admiring the futuristic sci-fi tech and dark fantasy and horror elements that don't overwhelm but complement the characters' and the story's overall development. It's worth a second reading and, perhaps, a film adaptation. I would be very pleased with a graphic novel of the story, too. Already, I can see the mind-boggling illustrations spilling across each page. Wow! What a ride that would be!
Every book I read is pure enjoyment, as well as a study tool to help me further my writing skills. More importantly, stories connect us, awaken us, and help us to see, feel, and love one another. Books are humanity's gracious gift, one that should never be denied.
Keep reading, keep writing, and always, always be true to yourself.
Take care my friends!
Renee
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