Voices from the Ether: Erica Jong and Beck

I'm still in hibernation, but I read an article the other day with this quote and liked it:

“There is absolutely no point in sitting down to write a book unless you feel you must write that book, or else go mad, or die.”

It was actually Robert Davies who first said it, but Erica Jong re-said it about her great book, Fear of Flying.

They were supposed to make it into a film in the 70's, but it fell through because of alleged disagreements between the hollywood execs and Erica. I just can't see her letting them do a Russ Meyers, like they did to Valley of the Dolls. Then there were rumours that a screenplay was being worked on two years ago, and it was either to star Kate Winslett or Maggie Gyllenhall, and that's gone quiet.

Whatever happens to it next, no book ever looks as good as it does in your mind's eye.

As well as getting off on Erica Jong (How To Save Your Own Life, to be precise), I've been listening to lots of Beck and remembering the good old times of 1997 and 2003. And here they are again.