Dear Kafka

Just a quick note to say, I admire your willingness to devote yourself to your craft. I admire your writing, your brilliant handful of bestselling stories, and your vision of not just writing literature, but of being a part of literature. I would like to read this new book I have heard so much about. Private letters are always intriguing to read. They hold the distinctive voice of a writer that is ultimately different from that of the writer’s fiction or poetry. Or, maybe not. Either way, please send me a copy asap.

Yours sincerely,
Tracy

ps–the cheque is in the mail.

Some Questions

…asked by the prof of a class this morning. (We’re still on DeLillo’s The Body Artist). After reading “The Strange, Sad Case of H.M.” last night, I wasn’t surprised to see the lecture reflect my overnight thinking. Questions, such as what does it mean to have a body? What is the relationship between the mind and the body? What does it mean to be imbedded in language? At what point does the mind become imbedded with the body? Essentially, what can words do to the body, even if the body moves without narrative? Or does it? Maybe these are simple questions and at 8:30 in the morning I’m just not caffeinated enough to comprehend them. Or maybe I still don’t have any answers because I’m rereading notes from 8:30 in the morning and just don’t get it/them. Granted, the body and the brain are connected, but… . What does it really mean to be imbedded in language?