Different fragrances dance in my nostrils when I run in the warmer weather. The aroma of lilac, honeysuckle, lavender, peony, and roses is intoxicating. I literally stop my run just for an extra whiff--nature's perfume. On many days, the ocean also smells salty and clean as the tide beats against the shore-- unless it's low tide. On those hazy, hot, humid days when the sun bakes the mussels and seaweed-- that's a whole different kind of smell. Another aroma of the season that runners face is skunks. They seem to leave their stale eau de cologne everywhere--it permeates the air and even burns your eyes at times. BUT believe it or not, there is a smell that makes the skunk smell like a rose--GARBAGE. Running by overflowing garbage cans on garbage day is bad-- even worse though is getting stuck running behind the garbage truck --it is a fate worse than death in the summer. Ooooh, the woes of a runner! God Bless the sanitation workers--I don't know how they do it.
Speaking of garbage, Juan Diego, the main character of John Irving's new book The Avenue of Mysteries, grew up in a garbage dump in Oaxaco, Mexico, in the 1970's. I should probably let you know that John Irving is one of my favorite writers but he's not for the casual reader. His writing style is reminiscent of Charles Dickens because Dickens was his favorite writer as a kid and he made the decision to be a writer like Dickens when he was all of 9 years old. Imagine that! Irving writes very quirky stories with strange characters and funny situations. As a reader, you have to just let Irving take you into his strange world--it might not seem to make sense--but every quirk, character, scene--however odd--will fall into place by the end of the story. He is a wonderful writer. Anyways, back to Juan Diego. He is an aging writer who seems to live more in the past than the present. He is on his way to the Philippines to fulfill a promise he made back in his years as the "dump reader" of Mexico. While traveling, he reminisces about his childhood. While living in the dump, Juan Diego collected books and taught himself to read and write in Spanish and English--a feat--for an orphan living in a dump. His sister, Lupe, is also gifted but in another way--she can read minds. We learn all about his life and the people who helped shape it while he lived in the-- dump--orphanage--circus and finally the United States with his adopted family--a very odd but loving couple. It is a strange but wonderful story reminiscent of Irving's characters from other books; especially, Garp and Owen Meany. It is also a thought provoking, empathetic story about fate and the importance of memory, childhood and the people and experiences that shape our lives. Although it's only 440 pages, it is a commitment to a degree--a 10 mile run--but enjoy it because there is only one John Irving.
Ahh, the joys of running behind the garbage truck! The smells of summer are very powerful - good and bad. Another smell that is unpleasant to me is running by people wearing perfume or cologne. In the winter these smells stay at their source and never fully assault the nostrils. I also love John Irving, so this goes on my list, too.
ReplyDeleteI really need to start a list of all the books you have recommended, Marsha. I didn't know John Irving has released a new book. Thanks for the info. And thanks for the smiles this post brought to my face. I, too, have run behind a garbage truck and been forced into an unplanned speed session in order to pass the beast.
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