2008 Woodie Awards
Author of "Parrot in the Oven" speaks
Karyn Gilbert
Issue date: 3/17/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
About 300 students, teachers and others filed into Atherton Auditorium, Thursday, March 9, to listen to Martinez speak about writing novels, poetry and much more.
Yamilethl Flores, of the Puente program/club introduced Martinez.
Martinez gave an introduction to his book, then read some excerpts to give the audience a view of his writing.
"It's just like you go through life," he said after reading.
He went on to talk about how some people do their research. Some go on the Internet; some take thousands of notes or read books.
"That's a good approach, but I do the opposite," he said. "I sit there and write. After a while it starts to flow."
He went on to mention the Iliad, written by Homer, and how the women of the story "had a face that launched a thousand ships." Also a painting by Friday, of which he couldn't recall the name, but depicted a murder. The painting was of a stabbing, where the male was stabbed "1,000" times and the "blood" was all over the painting, including on the frame outside the painting.
"I always loved that painting by her," he said.
After expressing his thoughts of some examples of literature, Martinez went on to discuss life.
"Life is a society of conflict," he said. "Life is a series of confects that you have to overcome."
Then he led a discussion of papers for school.
"Treat it with all the respect that you have-do a good job-no all-nighters," said Martinez.
Back to life, he said that everyone has his or her "own story." He said sometimes some people have certain things written out for their life like the military-"to get killed."
"It's a good story-'be all you can be,'. . .(They are) forcing a story on you that you say yes to. They are seductive," he said. "My story was to make my family proud of me."
After reading some poetry he said that to be a poet people don't really have to attend school.