Read This! Reckless by Cornelia Funke

       I am so glad I stumbled upon this book. I nearly missed it. I was coming home from visiting family in London, bored and restless in a busy Heathrow terminal, when I found it browsing a WHSmith. To think that my flight was only a few minutes away! I came across the name Cornelia Funke, one of my favorite authors, with a title I didn’t recognize. The copyright date of the book was almost two years old so I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of it before! Of course, since the closure of Borders ‒rest in peace‒ I hadn’t gone to many bookstores as frequently as I used to. Anyhow, I was thrilled to find it.

        It is about Jacob Reckless, a young man who as a boy discovers a magical world through a mirror. Over troubling times at home, Jacob escapes to the mirror world and builds himself a new life and identity there. His little brother, Will, is the only thing that keeps him from staying in the mirror world forever, until Will follows him one day. But the mirror world is dangerous and soon a monstrous beast attacks Will. Infected, he will quickly turn into a beast as well… unless Jacob can find a cure for him.

        I love particularly imaginative books, especially in science fiction or fantasy which lend themselves so well to imaginative explorations. Reckless is definitely one of them. It has the flavor of a Grimm’s fairy tale, gothic, poetic and classical. It is deals with more adult themes than Cornelia Funke’s other noteworthy books Inkheart, The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider etc, which are mostly for children. I wonder if Reckless’ dark, mature style is why I never found it here in the states. I’ve heard that books, which bridge between audiences and don’t fall into one perfect category like this, aren’t always marketable. I would differ and say it is still a marvelous book deserving of the spotlight on the bookshelf, with banners and giant arrows to show it off.

       Reckless, as all of Cornelia Funke’s other works, is written with stunning beauty and picturesque language. Just look at the gorgeous first paragraph…

       The night breathed through the apartment like a dark animal. The ticking of a clock. The groan of a floorboard as he slipped out of his room. All was drowned by its silence. But Jacob loved the night. He felt it on his skin like a promise. Like a cloak woven of freedom and danger.

       The only problem I had with the book was its slightly confusing ending, but its vagueness suggests a sequel I’m anxiously awaiting.

        Yes, I can’t praise this utterly fantastic novel enough. I think it goes without saying that it’s my dream to be a writer like Cornelia Funke, especially since she illustrates as well. Reckless is truly a treasure of a read.

The Best Remedy for Writer's Block:

       It happens to everyone in every creative situation, when the brain’s reception to the Muse goes static and the imagination is full of fuzz. Of course, the days of broadcast television and wiggling aerials are long expired, but for those of you who still remember standing on top of the furniture so Dad can watch the baseball game, listen up. For those fresh, young bloods, I suggest imagining a radio or a cell phone ‒ nearly the same thing. Sometimes one needs to move around to get the best reception. Likewise, one needs to move around to unblock the flow of creative juices.

       By moving around, I mostly mean traveling. I know that some people strongly believe that exercise stimulates the brain and even profess that it makes one smarter, but I would go deeper and say that a change of scene stimulates the brain. It doesn’t have to be an enormous change of scene; you don’t have to travel to Paris or Honolulu (although that would be amazing) to refresh creativity. It could be as simple as walking in a park. I would suggest, however, to do nothing else, no ipod droning out the birdsong with Nirvana, no texting your friends about how miserable you are because you have no new ideas and life is such a bore. I would suggest putting all your personal dramas aside a moment and opening your senses to everything going on around you, filling your brain with all the facts and information being blown at you. That kid wants an ice cream but his flustered mother says to wait for lunch. Neapolitan ice cream sandwich, wood chip mud pie… ah the tastes and smells of childhood. That guy is flirting with the girl practicing soccer. Her ponytail bounces as she kicks the ball. His ears turn red as he clumsily misses her pass. I wonder what sorts of wishes were thrown into that fountain in the form of pennies and how many ever came true… You’ll be amazed by what a difference new sensations and experiences make and how they’ll churn about in your mind like a minestrone soup. You’ll be even more surprised how, after your stroll in the park, you come home to write a serial on the little blue men with trumpets for mouths prancing on the planet Neptune. How the hell did that come out of the park?

       I find it works best to really travel, travel to exotic places where you don’t understand the language or are familiar with the customs, to improve your reception with the Muse, but who has the opportunity for that? I, for one, feel like all my best writing was inspired by my travels through Italy, Switzerland and Paris. In fact, I do believe it was my first trip to England at ten years old that started me off as a writer. I’ve been fortunate enough to have these experiences, but I believe it is within anyone’s power to free themselves up to a change of scene and thus open to inspiration. There is a wealth of ideas out there waiting to be found and nurtured, the question is looking for them.

       What inspires you?