Two months of absence. How about that! I know I’ve broken my own commitment and I wouldn’t make excuses for it. I was lazy, period. It’s bad, bad, bad!
What has happened for the past two months? Nothing new, I tell you. It’s just that I’m working on a new project right now and it’s not good. It’s not because I’m having trouble or anything (at least not more than what I went through for other projects), but rather because it becomes too personal for me.
Have you ever heard something about “a book that haunts you”? I never really understood what it meant. There were some books and movies and other works that disturbed me. Take Animal Farm or Confessions of an Economic Hit Man or Virus of the Mind, for example. They caused restlessness. But it didn’t last long. Time and time again I would be reminded of them and I would be upset. But that’s it.
This time around, I’m working on a bestseller book (here in my country). It’s supposed to be good, at least that’s what people say about it (ironically, I was interested in it when it just hit the bookstore, but I didn’t buy it at that time because I didn’t have enough money; however, after it became a big success, I lost my interest--I’m just that kind of person). And you know what, it is damn good! So good that, for the first time, I understand what “a book that haunts you” mean.
Largely inspired by the author’s real life, it portrays the happy and sad reality of life in this land where I live. I know such things, things that he described on his book, happen all the time here: brilliant young minds that have to quit school because they couldn’t afford it, destitute people living next door to wealthy mining companies, corruption and snobbishness. But it (the book, I mean) gives names and faces to those unknown people. And it hurts me.
And do you know what’s the most frustrating thing is? It’s this feeling of helplessness. I feel like I couldn’t anything to help. The most that I could offer is criticism, and it sucks. I wish I can be more productive. But how?
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it would be better if one doesn’t take his/her job too personal. Because doing so makes one crazy. Honest!
