storytelling

I did try to keep a writing journal once, and here's the proof: an entry from four years ago while I was writing Lake in the Clouds.

[ Tue Sep 04, 10:30:27 PM | Sara Donati]

I really did mean to write ten pages today but instead things got away from me; it felt as though I had been transported into one of those 60s novels about harried housewives: Please Don't Eat the Daisies or Eight is Enough.

I did manage to find out pretty much everything I need to know about scarlet fever. In addition to the medical sources, it turns out that my favorite late 18th century midwife, Martha Ballard, dealt with a scarlet fever epidemic one summer, although she didn't call it that, of course. A series of cases of "canker" (strep throat), infected wounds, childbed fever, all stemming from the same strep bacillus. This will suit my story line very well.

A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Vintage Books; [Reprint edition (June 1991)] ISBN: 0679733760.

There is a fantastic website which explores Martha Ballard's diary online, and provides information on everything from folk medicine and midwivery to how historians use primary sources. Have a look.

Thinking of Martha Ballard and Ulrich's study reminds me of some of the very best historical fiction I have ever read. Margaret K. Lawrence's Hearts and Bones, which is clearly based loosely on the life of Martha Ballard. There are four novels in the series, and I cannot recommend them highly enough, although I'll admit that the first and the last were my favorites.

Hearts and BonesMargaret K. Lawrence, Avon [reprinted September 1996]. ASIN: 0380973510

In spite of the running around I did manage to finish the abstract mixed media fiber piece I'm calling Constellation Blue this evening. Of course I don't like it very much right now but I'm hoping it will grow on me.

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First of all, Farscape is in fact on television tonight, on the Sci-Fi channel at midnight (east coast) and at nine (west coast). The folks at Sci-Fi seems to get great enjoyment out of frustrating the faithful, and yet we still manage to find Farscape no matter where they hide it. Tune in.

Now, something I've been wanting to say for years. Have said many times to friends. This is about The Godfather (not the novel; I'll say something about that someplace else). The movie attained cult status long ago. Men love to quote from it; whole movie plots have been built around that fact (You've Got Mail is a case in point). Poke the average Joe on the street and he spits out 'take the cannoli. leave the gun'. Italian Americans, especially men, adore this movie. I won't go into the psychology behind that, because it's exhausting.

But here's what I want to say: in two crucial cases, the movie was horrendously miscast. You know it's true. Think about it. Think about the Corleone brothers sitting around the table at a birthday party. Look at these actors. James Caan, tall and blond and curly haired, as the brother of Al Pacino and John Cazale? Uh-huh, not unless Mama Corleone had some secrets of her own.

Personally I think they would have been much better off giving Sonny's part to my great uncle Luigi Alfonso -- now that's Italian.

And what, I want to know, what Coppola thinking when he cast Diane Keaton as Kay Adams?Granted, this movie was made when Keaton was at the top of her boxoffice arc, but please. One thing I know about Italian men (and I grew up surrounded by them) -- they don't marry women who are taller than they are. Nope. No way.

The combination of James Caan and Diane Keaton are flaws that I just can't get over watching this movie. Instead of The Godfather, try Al Pacino as Lefty Ruggerio in Donnie Brasco. Now that's a well told story.

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