I reviewed Cynthia Swanson’s remarkable debut novel, The Bookseller, on March 21. She took the
time to write a guest post for us. It’s my pleasure to welcome Cynthia to the blog.
Blog Post: The Butterfly Effect: How Chaos Theory Provided
Inspiration for the Bookseller
Inspiration for the Bookseller
By Cynthia Swanson, Author of the Bookseller (Harper, March 2015)
In real life, we don’t get to experience
“the butterfly effect.” We can’t know what might have been, had a
single small circumstance been altered. While this theory is generally applied
to science and math, potential outcomes are also intriguing when the idea is
associated with human interaction.
“the butterfly effect.” We can’t know what might have been, had a
single small circumstance been altered. While this theory is generally applied
to science and math, potential outcomes are also intriguing when the idea is
associated with human interaction.
It’s impossible to know truthfully what our parallel
universe might be like. We may speculate on where we’d be now if we’d majored
in Biology instead of English. We might wonder what would have happened if only
we’d answered that one particular email, instead of sending it to our Trash
folder. If we’ve faced anything like the determining moment for Helen Quilley
(Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in the 1998 movie Sliding Doors), we may think about how differently things would
have gone for us if the subway doors had remained open, allowing us passage,
instead of closing just before we got on.
universe might be like. We may speculate on where we’d be now if we’d majored
in Biology instead of English. We might wonder what would have happened if only
we’d answered that one particular email, instead of sending it to our Trash
folder. If we’ve faced anything like the determining moment for Helen Quilley
(Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in the 1998 movie Sliding Doors), we may think about how differently things would
have gone for us if the subway doors had remained open, allowing us passage,
instead of closing just before we got on.
The mere suggestion is irresistible. Those simple
“what if?” questions haunt us, and can make for compelling hypotheses within
our minds.
“what if?” questions haunt us, and can make for compelling hypotheses within
our minds.
The protagonist of my novel The Bookseller experiences firsthand her own personal “what
if?”
if?”
parallel universe. It’s 1962, and Kitty Miller is in her 30s and has never
married. Kitty owns Sisters’ Bookshop in Denver with her best friend Frieda,
and enjoys complete autonomy over her day-to-day existence. Other than fretting
over the lack of business at their city-centered bookstore (because suburban
shopping malls are taking away customers), Frieda and Kitty have relatively
carefree lives.
And then Kitty begins to dream. In her dream-world, she
goes by her given name, Katharyn. She drives a station wagon and has a devoted
husband named Lars, young children, and an elegant home. She wears expensive
clothes, gets her hair done regularly, and has a maid who cleans her house
three times a week.
goes by her given name, Katharyn. She drives a station wagon and has a devoted
husband named Lars, young children, and an elegant home. She wears expensive
clothes, gets her hair done regularly, and has a maid who cleans her house
three times a week.
But in Katharyn’s world, there is no Sisters’
Bookshop. Frieda is no longer speaking to her. And Kitty/Katharyn has no idea
why.
Bookshop. Frieda is no longer speaking to her. And Kitty/Katharyn has no idea
why.
Back in her Kitty-world, the bookseller does a little
investigation – and this is where chaos theory, or
the butterfly effect, comes into play. She learns that one small act,
years ago, triggered events that led her on the path to living Kitty’s life
instead of Katharyn’s.
investigation – and this is where chaos theory, or
the butterfly effect, comes into play. She learns that one small act,
years ago, triggered events that led her on the path to living Kitty’s life
instead of Katharyn’s.
So what would you do? If you’re Kitty – with
bemused acknowledgement that it’s all a bit absurd – you’d simply accept the
situation. You’d pour yourself a shot of whiskey at bedtime, eager to get to
sleep and see where your parallel-reality dreams might take you this time.
bemused acknowledgement that it’s all a bit absurd – you’d simply accept the
situation. You’d pour yourself a shot of whiskey at bedtime, eager to get to
sleep and see where your parallel-reality dreams might take you this time.
But over time, Kitty’s dream-life as Katharyn begins
to feel more and more real. And less and less ideal.
to feel more and more real. And less and less ideal.
The Bookseller is
about many things, but ultimately it’s about our options in life. It’s a story
about how life takes unexpected twists and turns, and we might not end up
exactly where we thought we would. Instead – no matter what our destinies – we
must learn to take the bad with the good. The unexpected with the expected.
about many things, but ultimately it’s about our options in life. It’s a story
about how life takes unexpected twists and turns, and we might not end up
exactly where we thought we would. Instead – no matter what our destinies – we
must learn to take the bad with the good. The unexpected with the expected.
Readers often tell me that while turning the pages
of The Bookseller, they find
themselves cheering for both potential outcomes. They want Kitty to be able to
maintain her carefree but tranquil Kitty-life. By the same token, they truly
hope that Katharyn, despite some setbacks, will eventually find serenity in her
Katharyn-life.
of The Bookseller, they find
themselves cheering for both potential outcomes. They want Kitty to be able to
maintain her carefree but tranquil Kitty-life. By the same token, they truly
hope that Katharyn, despite some setbacks, will eventually find serenity in her
Katharyn-life.
For this bookseller, we simply want the same thing we
want for ourselves.
want for ourselves.
We want contentment. We want the hand we’re dealt to
be the one in which we find the greatest joy.
be the one in which we find the greatest joy.
*****
Thank you, Cynthia.
The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson. HarperCollins. 2015. ISBN 9780062333001 (hardcover), 352p.
