Before I let you look a the pretty pictures, I have a request. It's come to my attention that my main characters are women who are pretty good at hiding their feelings. In fact, they seem to have some issues with admitting they have them at all. When I started thinking about writing a character who is more open, I realized how pervasive this attitude is in our American culture (and British too, I think). So here's what I'm looking for: books with main characters who are unafraid to have and express their feelings. Whatever the heck that looks like.
Okay, leave your suggestions in the comments, and enjoy the photos. Oh, and to see what I mean about my books, head over to the Smashwords sale and nab my books before the prices go up more!
Last weekend the "Land of Way Too Hot" (as I called Chico last week) was too much, and I headed up to Lassen with one of my sons for an overnight backpack trip. The scenic highlight was the comet, though we weren't able to get any photos of that. I have a few pictures from the hike, which was a good chance to refresh my son's skills (it's been several years since he backpacked with us), and to see how it felt. I missed my husband fiercely, but proved to myself that the wilderness is still where I need to be.
I'll start the photos this time with an abstract. The Impressionists would be proud of the lake's artistry.
Our trip was a rather modest hike in Lassen National Park, from the Juniper Lake trailhead to Snag Lake and back. Since we got a rather late start, the 3 1/2 to 4 mile hike in was about perfect.
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| A brief hunt along the shore found us a site well away from other hikers--of which there were quite a few on this beautiful weekend. |
The main feature of Snag Lake (besides water that wasn't half bad for a swim) is a view of the Cinder Cone. We'd thought to climb it, but didn't want to hike that far, especially as we ended up finding a camp on the opposite side of the lake! Below are a few views of the cone and the Fantastic Lava Beds (yes, that's the real official name).
It was breezy in the afternoon and evening--good for keeping bugs away--but very calm in the morning, good for reflections, even as the breeze picked up again.
On the way out we took a detour and visited Horseshoe Lake, which offered a hint of a peek at the peak. Mt. Lassen was just visible over the ridge there, unlike at Snag Lake.
As we climbed the ridge between Horseshoe Lake and Juniper, we got further glimpses of the volcano, but never a clear view.
When we drove down from Seattle a couple of weeks ago we got views of all the Cascade volcanoes from Rainier south (well, we weren't sure we saw St. Helens. It has gotten rather short and hard to sort out from the other hills). Lassen is the last of the Cascade range, and being both well south and not very tall, it had the least snow, on this southeast face anyway.
We enjoyed our 24-hour trip, and I hope you enjoyed the photos!
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All images and text ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2020, unless otherwise indicated.
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!
Hiding our feelings from everyone, or just men/strangers? And there's a difference between hmm 'loving' feelings and daily ones e.g. work frustrations, too. Not sure I can name any books where the subject is open with their feelings, I mean, even Elizabeth Bennet confided in Jane... then again, if nothing is secret, then misunderstandings never occur, so what's the plot going to do?
ReplyDeleteI think maybe ones where they don't hide them from themselves, or try to deny they have them (um, kind of like JJ pretending she isn't upset by corpses?). Hiding feelings from men in a romance is of course key (actually kind of in real life, too). But I'm thinking about some books where the implication is that feeling anything strongly is just plain bad or weak.
DeleteCome to think of it, the most open character I know is Anne Shirley, but... maybe only in her childhood? Later it becomes an issue that she "isn't good at hiding her feelings."
Men were taught to hide their emotions, as well. OK, maybe not their anger, but they couldn't cry, for god's sake. Is lust a feeling? Porn prose is full of lusty women. Since men write most of that, men must be OK with it. Personally, I hate guessing games. Tell me, or show me, what it is my partner wants me to know. Be obvious. Hints don't really work all that well either. It has been a long time since I read any Joan of Arc biography, but it seems to me she showed her feelings rather well.
ReplyDeleteOh, men have been taught even more fiercely to hide emotions, especially any "soft" feelings. Part of what goes on with me is reading too many books about tough male heroes (maybe that diet of Louis L'Amour in my formative years wasn't brilliant).
DeleteI’m reading Cynthia Bourgeault’s book on Mary Magdalene where she also refers to the woman in the Song of Songs who she describes as spunky and mouthy as is Martha of Bethany. Just saying. And rereading Jane Austen recently you’ve got Elizabeth Bennett and Emma, of course.
ReplyDeleteNow reading Olive, Again and she periodically let’s fly with exactly what she thinks.
Kate! Good to see you here :) I am definitely thinking about re-reading Austen, if I can pull up an attention span adequate to anything besides short stories.
DeleteLove the pix and glad your out backpacking again! I'll have to noodle on your question, considering it seems that most folks who choose to be writers tend to be introspective (and not mind spending a lot of time alone writing). Gregarious extroverts probably wouldn't like that lifestyle... Lila's a good example! :-)
ReplyDeleteHeading to the Sierra this week, with family, for dayhiking and backpacking next week.
DeleteNot sure one needs to be an extrovert to own their feelings... but I guess it might help one show them.