There is a part in the 2019 South Korena drama "Hotel de Luna" that has stuck with me in the six years since I watched the drama with Rebekah during COVID in early 2020.
In fact, I went down a rabbit hole looking for the exact passage online when I recently wrote this blog post and then decided it should be its own separate post.
"Hotel de Luna" is a hotel that caters to ghosts, a place for them to stay on their way to heaven or hell while they address unfinished business.
But the hotel must have one human manager - and young Goo Chang-Sung (for reasons of the plot) is recruited for the job by the owner Man-wol, who is also stuck between heavena and hell and has her own unfinished business.
Man-wol pursues Goo Chang-Sung for a while and gives him the ability to see ghosts, which terrifies him, enough for him to dodge her and the summons for as long as he's able.
My favorite scene in the entire drama is when he's standing in the lobby and wondering why he should stay. And he's told he will see things few will ever see.
And then his lights go on, and he's sees the lavishness of the venue, and the hundreds of souls milling around.
One can find posts galore on the internet about stepping outside of one's comfort zone. And I even added to the noise with this Faith-inspired post.
And it's true the view is often breathtaking outside of that zone.
That brings me to local authors.
And I am not talking about my BryonySeries books (although we could be). I'm talking about the many self-published novels I've read over the years (and the one I'm currently reading).
The products of local, independent, and/or self-published authors are often dismissed as amateurly-produced slush (at best).
But most of us will admit (even if only to ourselves) that plenty of badly crafted material is commerically published, too.
And yet...
By taking a chance on an unknown book and author, you will see (and read) something few will ever see and read and experience.
True, the road is uncharted.
You won't find thousands of starred reviews, social media reels, and buzz around town to guide you.
Rather, you will step off the noisy crowded reading road onto a quieter, dustier, perhaps lonelier path that leads into,,,where?
Could be a field of weeds and insects, which sends you scuttling back to the familiar, vowing never to pick up any book that isn't influencer-approved ever again.
But you might miss the rare wildflower beckoning you in the breeze.
Or you might embark on a reading adventure the likes of which you've never experienced.
Fortunately, you don't need to look far to find your first out-of-the-ordinary read.
Many libraries (including the Joliet Public Library) have local author sections.
Many independent bookstores (including The Book Market in Crest Hill) have local author sections,
In fact, The Book Market has one moving set of shelves dedicated to published authors belonging to WriteOn Joliet. Ask owner Janet Staley if you can't find it. She can also help you find just the right book to read, too.
Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shorewood is having a local author fair on Saturday.
So, again...
By taking a chance on an unknown book and author, you will see (and read) something few will ever see and read and experience.
Ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment