The Body's Long Madness
What is The Body’s Long Madness?
It’s a book I’m writing.
How long have I been writing this book?
Sometimes I feel like I’ve been writing this book for five years and then I remember, I have, in various stages and various transformations, very off and on. What I began in June 2003 in Rome I began again—very differently—in June 2007 in Bracciano and haven’t stopped since.
When will I be finished?
By spring 2009.
What will happen to The Body’s Long Madness when it’s not being written any more?
It will be read! If you know of how mass spreading of books happens and want to publish this one or share with me some other plausible way, please contact me.
Why The Body’s Long Madness?
Read this. . . in addition to other reasons.
But what is the book about?
Somewhat autobiographical; but that does not impede the genre calling of Fiction. “A young woman in search of herself,” perhaps? “The mistakes of youth?” “The multifarious relationships to the ever changing body?” “The adventures of the adventureful: Valerie, Arianna and Elina?” or as I wrote once:
This book is a book in progress. It shall suggest movement to those who are still; it shall suggest stillness for those who are constantly moving; it shall suggest clarity and obscure depths; it shall break rules of chronology and narrative. And once it is finished I shall walk away from it with my hands cleansed. Even now I feel the finitude of the whole thing, not so much black cloud but anticipation of what I want to believe will be an empty mind. I’ve been lugging this thing around with me for some time. Amen.
The Body’s Long Madness has been a definite book in progress, of which I have chronicled on this site. For easier reading, behold! a List of Excerpts!
List of Excerpts
The Firsts
Behold! A Pantheon, Draft #1
On a Bench, Draft #1
Isaac, Draft #2
Reflections, Draft #2
SEX, Draft #2
Arianna, Draft #2
Klaus, Draft #2
Blood and Guts, Draft #2
The Train, Draft #3/4
Brittany #1111, Draft #3/4
The Tree with its Life in the Air, Draft #3/4
Eid ul-Adha, Draft #3/4
The Desert Nomad, Draft #3/4