Still running ...

In 1978, John L. Parker Jr. found a solid niche audience for his debut novel. Who were they? Runners. His novel, "Once a Runner," which follows the life of college running star Quenton Cassidy, is considered a classic. Many of today’s marathon stars cite the book as essential to their own development. Success, however, didn’t come easy to the novelist, as Benjamin Cheever relates in a profile of Parker in the current issue of Runner’s World magazine. Parker self-published the book (he even had to set the type himself) and relentlessly peddled it everywhere, including shoe stores and races.

The occasion for Cheever’s piece is the arrival later this month of the long-awaited sequel, "Again to Carthage." Cheever explores the intimidation factor involved in writing the followup to what is now a cult classic and candidly asks Parker, why did it take so long?

Though Parker admits that his first novel’s success certainly hung over him like a "sword of Damocles the whole time," he also says the long delay was simply the result of his temperament and age. For many years, he just wasn’t at the right stage in his life to tell readers where Quenton Cassidy went next: "[T]he extra time and gnashing of teeth seems appropriate to me now. The first book is all about youth and hormones, winning and losing.... This book is a lot more poignant."

Cheever seeds his piece with interesting comments about the writing life, including glimpses of his father, a master of the short story, and insights into what writing and running have in common. Both are endurance tests, Cheever writes as he considers Parker’s career, and "like the best runners, the best novelists are a little bit insane. However self-effacing, a champion has got to believe in himself."

Nick Owchar

Dumbledore and more

It’s everywhere, in all the major publications, including Time and Newsweek, but for a smart roundup of reaction to the news that "Harry Potter's" Albus Dumbledore could be gay, see Jim Emerson’s Scanners blog.

Although Emerson does cite what some people are saying about J.K. Rowling’s revelation about the head master of Hogwarts, he also discusses at length the creative process of writers. It’s refreshing to read about the literary considerations--not the controversy--of Rowling’s fictional decisions.

"Note that Rowling did not say Dumbledore was gay," he writes. "She was explaining how she had always thought of the character she created."

Emerson goes on to argue that, in serial fiction especially, much of what happens to characters is kept "off-page or off-screen, where we are encouraged to imagine them leading lives beyond what we actually witness as readers or viewers." The best fictions, in other words, are those with layers.

A long time ago, I attended a speech in which Doris Lessing said the same thing in describing her practices as a fiction writer. Often, she said, you must imagine details about your fictional world that will never be included in the story--and yet, their presence will be indirectly felt, thus giving a richer, fuller dimension to the universe you’ve created.

That’s the literary aspect of Rowling’s disclosure, a consideration quickly eclipsed by all the social, religious and political furor of the last week. Dumbledore’s sexuality was more important to her creative process than to our reading of her books--a point, it seems, that is far too subtle for some of her critics.

Reaction this week also included references to other beloved fictional characters who are or have been under similar microscopes for being gay. Here are a few that may amuse, and quite possibly exasperate:

"Star Trek’s" Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock: There’s been speculation about the "true nature" of their relationship for some time, as Jim Emerson also relates on his blog.

Batman and Robin: Complaints and allegations have long swirled around the Dynamic Duo.

Bilbo Baggins: In a recent Guardian piece about Rowling’s announcement, Philip Hensher writes of the "Lord of the Rings" character: "[W]ith his domestic fussiness ... [he] seems a strong candidate."

Gandalf: No way, but Stephen Colbert on his TV show last week suggested that the color scheme of the wizard’s robes is cause for suspicion. "Gandalf the Gray: perfectly straight," he says. "Gandalf the White, on the other hand? We’re not sure. It’s the robe. Who wears that much white after Labor Day?"

Nick Owchar

But will she speak?

On Monday, Harper Lee, the author of the 1960 novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony. The medal, America’s highest civilian honor, will be presented to her by President Bush.

Also being honored at the ceremony will be 1992 Nobel economics prize winner Gary Becker; Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project; civil rights leader Benjamin Hooks; and former congressman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) and others. A fuller list is available from the White House.

I wonder--does the medal require any sort of acceptance speech? If it does, will we hear more than just a phrase or two from the reclusive writer? Or will Lee continue to deprive the public of any personal insights into a book that continues to stir and inspire people 47 years later?

Nick Owchar