‘Tis 12:03 a.m. and I am still awake, sitting in front of my computer. I have
tried the bed this evening, but it is not very inviting at the moment. I am
tired and in need of rest, but she does not beckon me tonight. I chipped away at
several freelance projects and my own second novel today, so I must admit that I
have been removed from myself by Khaled Hosseini. I saw the
movie first, The Kite
Runner, and afterward I was compelled to read the book. As I finished the
last page just before bed last night, I cried.
I marveled at the idea that a stranger could move me and change who I am, even
if just by a tiny bit. I experienced some of the sadness and sorrow that must
have resided deep within him to allow such a beautiful yet tragic work to come
forth. Strangely, I connected pieces of the story with J. California Cooper’s Some People Some Other
Place. However, the sadness of the two stories was the only correlation I
made. Sadness all over the world, I suppose—sadness that if revealed in
literature or art, period, can inject change in humanity. Or perhaps, it is
revealed through art, but is ceaseless, which is sadness just the same.
And even through my tears in both experiences of sadness, I felt more love than
anything—I felt God. After all, he is love, right? So, I concluded that both
these authors achieved what God intended for them to do. They did not create
dramatic twists and turns of their plots to shock their readers. They applied
pieces of themselves—their lives and their pain—to change the reader. And as I
sit and ponder upon every word that I have written and will ever write, I pray
that I hear God. I pray that characters like Marcus, Mia, and Kenu from my own
IN LOVE WITH LOSERS, can
move you just as much as Hassan and Amir from Hosseini’s THE KITE RUNNER, or perhaps
as much as Ha and Lona from Cooper’s, SOME PEOPLE SOME OTHER
PLACE, moved me. I pray that my work keeps you up a second, a minute, even
hours longer at night than what is usual for you. I pray that my work offers
change. After all, literature should evoke change, who would I be to require
anything less from the power that God has given me to create it?
LaToya S. Watkins has
been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. For her, reading has
always been an escape from the sometimes harsh realities of life, while writing
offers a chance to recreate it (life). She received her B.A. in Literary Studies
from University of Texas at Dallas. She has been published in Thought
magazine as a contest winner, Work.com as a freelance writer, and TWINS
Magazine as a contributor. She currently works as an editor at the Schlager
Group Inc. in Dallas, Texas. LaToya resides in Plano, Texas with her husband,
Arnold, their three children (Jeremiah, Jordan and Dymond), and two dogs.
7 comments posted.
I have read or seen so many movies that has touched my heart. Somethings are written from the heart, it just speaks to you. I think it helps me see my life in a different way. Nice blog, thanks.
(Theresa Buckholtz 4:40pm October 9, 2009)
I have a love/hate thing going on with books and movies that move me to tears. I love them, they are so good! I hate to cry, so I hate them when they move me to tears. But, I wouldn't have passed up the opprotunity to read or see them.
(Patsy Hagen 5:25pm October 9, 2009)
Keep up with your writing, LaToya. One needs to do what they love. If we can influence and inspire people for the better while we do it, the all the better.
(Patricia Barraclough 7:46pm October 9, 2009)
I feel that the best books are those that can touch my heart, that bring tears to my eyes and heart, that make me wish I could change things. I've not yet seen or read THE KITE RUNNER, though it's been on my list for quite a while. I just feel I haven't had the necessary patience for this kind of "deeper" book in the last few years. I hope I soon will. I'll also try to find yours and the other book you mentioned. Thanks for your entry here.
(Sigrun Schulz 1:12am October 11, 2009)
I love books that come from the heart! Keep writing! I believe writing is a passion and passion usually comes from a person't heart and you seem very pasionate about writing! Keep it up girl;-)
(Jeanette Huston 2:01pm October 14, 2009)