blurbs

When I saw in the space of a week that both authors Elizabeth Bunce and Jenny Han consider I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith, of one of their favorite books of all time, of course I had to go looking for it myself. I loved The 101 Dalmatians as a child and still talk it up as a great family read-aloud (though I am continually dismayed at how many parents say, “No, thank you, my children have already seen the movie”; that is a whole ‘nother can of worms).

Jenny Han’s given mention to I Capture the Castle many times in her online bios and interviews, but most recently brought it up in the context of book blurbs—in particular, their value to authors and book-buyers (up to debate).

My library’s copy of I Capture the Castle has no blurb from J. K. Rowling, or from any other author, for that matter. It is a 1948 first edition, well-loved and in need of some mending tape. And it has a full-page author bio on the back jacket flap, written by Smith herself. I love this gem at its conclusion:

“I write with great misery but am even more miserable when not writing—though I do enjoy thinking about writing and thinking about having written; it is the time in between that gets me down.”

That about hits the nail on the head for me. I love the rush of a new book idea, when it’s practically effortless to fill dozens of notebook pages with fresh ideas for characters and dialogue and dilemmas. When I’m slogging through the umpteenth revision, wondering when the hamster-juggling will ever end—not so much. It is some consolation that I am in good company.

Meanwhile, ShelfTalker has a very cute post about author Linda Urban’s children’s authorial efforts. On the back of each stapled booklet are blurbs by the kids’ parents, painstakingly transcribed by the kids under the word “prase” (praise). I hope someday I’m lucky enough to have book blurbs that say “Awesome” and “Darling,” too!