Library With Two R's

I went to the prison library (that's right, upon much investigation it has become apparent that the word "library" does have two "R's" in it. Just as I suspected. Much to the dismay of nearly every one of my cohabitants in here). I was in search of inspiration and guidance. I am beginning to think about writing my first full length novel. The story has already taken shape in my mind. But I want to write it in third person, which I have yet to do with a story of any significant length.

So I perused the meager selection of the Oaks correctional facility (ECF). Not quite sure what I was looking for, but that I would know it when I saw it. We are only allowed to check out two books at a time. As I made my way to the end of the waist high book shelves, I had a collection of short stories by Hemingway and an ancient book about careers in writing.

The last shelf was marked "new to ECF" the shelf was sparse. Spaces between the groups of books huddled together reminded me of a Carney's smile. 

The third book was "Slaughterhouse Five" by Kurt Vonnegut. The forth book was "Jail Bird" also by Vonnegut. I immediately grabbed them both and put my other choices back. I flipped through the pages hoping desperately that one would be written in the third person. Jail Bird wasn’t. Slaughterhouse five was. 

I made my way back to my cell last night and put the books away for the morning, when I could really give them the attention they deserved. The subtle excitement of anticipation bubbled in the back of my mind like club soda.

Vonnegut has been one of those authors that I’ve been aware of for some time, and has been at the top of my "need to read" list. Especially since I read a review of Chuck Palahniuk that called him the "modern day Vonnegut”. I have his name scribbled on several of my to-do lists.

Anyway, I started reading Slaughterhouse Five, and by the time I was done with the intro I decided that I was, and had always been, a Kurt Vonnegut fan! I was a fan before I ever read him! And thank God that I had started writing before I read him because the idea of being heavily influenced by his style could have been leveled at me. Same as with Palahniuk, which has been an influence on me, in the same way that everything you love is.

I feel so inspired and invigorated. Like finding someone in a foreign land that speaks the same language as you. I gotta get back to reading, I just couldn't do so until I purged some of this energy...