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I had compressed my reading of the last chapters into the previous post, but I realize that I need to add to the ideas expressed there.
In class, I burst out in sympathy around details of what David was saying. This might be better recognized as a response to his narrative and one that as writer one hopes to achieve. (Not my outburst in class, but the fact that I felt so moved to share.) It is a wonderful thing to evoke recognition and empathy in the reader. In David’s work, there is a moment when the specific voice moves past the singular, personal narrative and moves into the realm of the universal. I believe it comes from a truthful voice, because it is the safety of authenticity that gives one the confidence to trust the writer. With this trust come the opportunity to try on the experiences that are being shared.
After the visit and in the wake of starting “On Austrian Soil,” I began to think more about the ethics of his narrative. I like the lack of hubris, which let David tackle some challenging material. Only a voice that is free of a certain type of pride could tell his story.
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