Re: JCO: Missing Mom

Hi Christa

To be fair, the reviewer, who is a very fine writer herself, was referring
to a point JCO was making in an article that was published in a poetry
journal and reprinted in her collection Faith of the Writer. JCO made the
connection herself that writing provides a kind of psychological solace
because when we feel pain it�s a comfort to retreat into the imagination (or
something approximately like that). Equally, one could ask of readers, �Why
do you read so much?� No answer is necessary, but it�s interesting to
contemplate.

However, I share your justified sentiments about the annoying (and probably
envy-driven) statement made in many reviews that JCO produces too much too
quickly.

Eric

>From: NotEnoughKittens@aol.com
>Reply-To: jco@usfca.edu
>To: jco@usfca.edu
>Subject: Re: JCO: Missing Mom
>Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 23:17:39 EDT
>
>Steve, that is so true about the cliche comment, "Gosh, JCO has written a
>lot of books." I also found irritating that the reviewer pointed out, "No
>one
>has ever asked WHY JCO writes so much" (I'm paraphrasing a little here).
>She
>left me with the impression that the reason behind the high production
>MUST
>be something negative.
>
>Imagine asking a writer "Why do you write a lot of books instead of just
>one
>or two?" How dumb a question is that?
>
>Also, not ALL of JCO's books run with blood......but presumably it's more
>fun in a review to imply they do, rather than trying to discuss the subtle
>nuances that are present in even JCO's most "violent" works.....
>
>Best
>Christa

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