Ruel Johnson Responds

A close friend of mine directed me to your blog, particularly your analysis of April.  As a writer who has decided to live and work in this country [Guyana], one thing I have lacked is an in-depth and informed critical perspective on my work. The most there has been were a couple of reviews by local critic Al Creighton but I found his analysis simplistic and blind to the nuance (even the less subtle examples of it) that I tried to weave into my stories, April in particular.

For a bit of background, the story was set on the weekend starting Friday, April 13, 2001. The socio-political backdrop was the aftermath of the results of the March 2001 elections including the beating of Indian people in Georgetown, the rioting, the upheavals in Buxton and the police raids into the village which resulted in further tension. Your critical analysis of April remains by far the most in-depth and I believe successful examination of anything I've ever written - I am tired of this bullshit post-colonial critical framework into which the established academics keep packing writing about Guyana, like so much horse shit, and the complimentary production of post-colonial literary writing (horse shit, to be precise) that otherwise good writers like Fred D'Aiguar and David Dabydeen keep themselves so profitably engaged in.

There was a point in time that I believed that good writing coming out of Guyana could in itself seriously impact on our society and the outside perception of it as perpetuated by writers disconnected from the social realities of a country they continue to make the subject of their works; I learned later that this was impossible without a critical framework free of academic strictures created in England, Canada or the United States, albeit with the willing assistance of former Guyanese/Caribbean citizens.

It was refreshing to see a blog of all things capture the central theme of the ultimately redeemable wasteland which runs through April, as well as the in-story parallel of the need for redemption of the woman character in the story, herself a metaphor for the concurrent stagnation and torment which characterizes the country in which she lives and is trying to raise a child.

I was surprised that this level of analysis came from someone living outside of Guyana. For a long time I have felt that the work I put into April in particular had been wasted. Many Guyanese women who read the story loved it frankly for the sex, one woman writing and complimenting the fact that I seem to have gotten into the female central character's head to describe a woman's sexual experience so "realistically". As much as I appreciate the compliments, sex isn't really what is most important in this story. Reading your blog has been a refreshing, even revolutionary, change in my usual encounters with criticism of my work.

As to the writing process, for me it is as easy as being on the toilet or sitting down having a cup of terrible tasting coffee at a popular restaurant in Georgetown. At least initially anyway. I usually scribble my notes in various writing pads I carry around with me (I'm rarely without a pen, even in bed), after which I transcribe them to my computer, updating the respective story file that the notes relate to.

I have to admit that when my thoughts pertaining to my writing are flowing, I have a heightened awareness of things and my testosterone levels seem to go up significantly - that, I suppose, may be barely classifiable as mystical. For me writing well is a result of two main loves: a true love of language, not just the fancy words, but the whole shebang, warts and all; and a love of humanity beginning with the humanity within and immediately around you, even if that love is so unrequited and betrayed and disappointed that at times it's expressed as hate or disgust.

Comments

[c.d.valere]

Ruel, I've only just become acquainted with your writing, but I'm already a fan. I'm happy to see that despite your slightly condescending attitude towards blogs (I understand, really), you have come to realize the importance of a readership outside of Guyana.
Thanks for stopping by.
c.d.valere

[Rocky]

After reading the April story; beyond being impressed with the way Ruel was able to get inside the head of a woman; I was able to ‘get the point’. Ms. Valere’s analysis did hit on quite a few things that I missed. Keep the reading recommendations coming and I too will share any that I come across. Can’t wait to read more from Ruel

[Anna]

I liked your thoughtful review. However the Ruel Johnson review I like best is Frank Birbalsingh's. See the following link.

http://www.indocaribbeanworld.com/archives/november17/artse.html

[jrl]

On Ruel's comments on critical writing: I assume he knows the excellent work of fellow Guyanese Gordon Rohlehr (long resident in Tdad). Rohlehr has published several books on Caribbean literature, including ground-breaking work on calypso and reggae. Perhaps he could send his work to Rohlehr?
best regards
(just discovered your blog in post carifesta x browsing.)

[c.d.valere]

Thanks for stopping by, JRL. I'll pass on the information to Ruel. And, do come back again.