As I lay reading, waiting for my nausea of the morning to go away, that authors can, if they choose to do so, leave things out of a story to make it more enjoyable to read. They also use bigger words than I have used, but this is not a novel. I will save "dissipate - go away" and "palatable - enjoyable to read" for my novel that I am to attempt next month for NaNo (National Novel Writing Month: I will write about this before November first). Anyways... A certain passage from the book I am reading struck my attention...
"Arabella closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of hay tinged with the fresh smell of new-fallen snow."
This paragraph, from A Belated Bride by Karen Hawkins, is a prime example of the choices that an author can make to spin a wonderful yarn. A little back story may be in line to help you to understand what I truly mean. For one, it is morning... one thing that was listed in a previous paragraph. No, I did not give that paragraph above because I am sure that you will want to read the book yourself. Another tidbit that is helpful is the fact that Arabella takes it upon herself to muck out the stalls each day when the servants that she is able to afford are busy with private matters or other duties. This was part of a previous chapter that I thoroughly enjoyed, for as she was mucking on that particular day the Duke, Lucien, comes in and very cleverly forces her to give over the chore to him to do. It also describes his luscious muscles, dripping with sweat and moving so deliciously beneath his golden skin... Need I go on? So, what we have are the facts that it is morning and the stalls have not been mucked since the day before. Do you get where I am going with this?
Ms. Hawkins has chosen to leave out the smell of the hay that is most definitely giving off the smell of the shit mixed with it from the day prior. Why? It is evident from the passage that something is bothering poor Arabella. How would the smell of shit make her feel better? True, it is a sign that her horse is healthy. Yay! It is also a sign that there is work to be done and some, including Arabella, take pleasure in working hard. It can afford clarity through the thought process by removing oneself from the situation and allowing yourself to think through the details. It can also allow for the taking out of frustrations in a more constructive way rather than punching someone in the throat or smacking them in and about the head and shoulders with a rotten trout. I, myself, would prefer to do the work and then the punching or smacking later. One warning, clarity in the thought process may also allow a person to plan revenge to a more stategic, effective level. Obviously, the author has not created the character as a revengeful person such as I. I would have reveled in the smell of the shit in the hopes that I could find some way to work it into my revenge scheme. Arabella, on the other had, does not need the smell of shit for any purpose, so the author has left it out. Bravo!
This is one of the great things about being an author. You can include or not include facts that we KNOW are there, simply to create a less-smelly, calming atmosphere. So, I bid you thus... The next time you are curled up with a good book or an eReader read between the lines. "See" what is there that the author hasn't told you. You may just get a good laugh! After all, isn't the point of reading to enjoy it? I do and hope you do as well! Happy Reading!!! :)
