Tex

[Keira]

I love Tex. If I had never read The Outsiders, I don't know that I would have discovered Tex, however, it's safe to say that if The Outsiders did not exist, Tex would be my absolute favorite S.E. Hinton book. And quite possibly my favorite book of all time.

Funny thing is, I've never considered writing a Tex fanfic. The idea is completely foreign to me... even though I love the story. I love how Tex is misunderstood and how Mason tries so hard to hold everything together, despite the fact that he's only 17. The subtle incorporation of Mark and Cathy, the idea of 14 year old boys smoking weed and getting piss drunk, having your first love, and all while without adult supervision. It has such an adventurous, carefree feel to it as well. If I had ever wanted to be any of Susie's characters, think Tex would have been a good candidate for that (though the ending would indefinitely throw my life off course, lol). The story is as well developed as, if not more so than, The Outsiders, in my opinion.

I think it'd be a fun idea, for those of us willing to do so, to try maybe even a one-shot at this particular fandom. Or any of her others for that matter. Not only could it help us broaden our horizons, but I can see so many other benefits from it - creativity boost, help alleviate writers block, feed a desire to see something fresh and new, etc...

I think I might just try my hand at a Tex fic. Lord knows THAT could be fun

[Nittanylizard]

I love Tex, and I think it would be a great novel to base a fanfic on. I find that for some of her other novels I get stuck on what's in the book and have trouble seeing anything beyond it, but yeah, I could definitely see writing a Tex fic. In fact, now that I think about it, Tex is supposed to be appearing in My Exciting Life (when I get back to it, lol).

I say go for it, I'd love to read another story from you! And maybe after I get through all my other stories... ;D

[Keira]

Tex is appearing in My Exciting Life? YAY! Now, you must get to work on that fic... which has not been updated in how long?

Yeah I have a few stories that are in the works right now, none of which I am completely satisified with. My HP one, though still posted on FFN is soon to be scrapped and replaced by a much much MUCH better version. Yup. At least I hope it's better *Sticks foot in mouth just in case*

Keira

[Nittanylizard]

artemisrex said:

The only thing I don't love about Nittany Lizard's stories is the sometimes longish pauses between updates.

Amen! It used to be so much easier to squeeze in time to write. What I've been doing to remedy this is finish stories before posting them (and finish the stories that are already started before I post any more). I was just telling somebody last night that it's driving me crazy, thinking about my stories so much they're exploding out of my head, and I finally sit down and write two paragraphs and somebody wakes up or needs something.

I used to update at least once a week, and I hate that I've got these tremendous lags now.

[Keira]

And just think.... soon it will be summer and the kids will all be home, all day. Not to be a damper on the upcoming holidays, but I understand where you're coming from. Summer used to be my prime time to write. I couldn't wait for the day I got a laptop so I could write while I was outside (I do NOT do well with hand-scribing then transferring to the computer) and get some sunshine. Now that I have one and wifi and all that good stuff, my summers, free from school and other necessities, have been replaced by work. Alas, I've found I can no longer hide behind that excuse if I want to actually do anything. I think I have no time to write, when in all actuality I'd rather just spend said time reading, watching TV, or talking to friends, or even being out of the house and doing things with friends (what a novel idea!). Of course, it still makes me said when I glance at my ffn profile and think, "YIKES. Over a year since I last updated. Oh man..."

In any case, I agree about Jamie. She was a nicely developed character, and not all prissy and whatnot. I loved her - even after they had broken up, she was still what you'd hope for in an ex. Someone that you can still rely on if needs be. Well, sometimes. I also loved that the book spanned across more time than The Outsiders. Because of that, I felt like initially knew the characters better because we got to see them in a variety of situations and settings, not just a one week period (plus that semi-rushed month or two month period in the last few chapters) where we only saw them high on anger and fear and in the face of death. Which, of course, is also why I love The Outsiders. I love them both, for two very different reasons that just so happen to be the exact opposites of each other. Lol.

[Shadow]

Sis, I suggest you meet Taggart some time. You'd be amazed at the parallels present between his life and Tex's. Though, his father and mother have opposite fates than Tex's, but close enough. After that, you just can't enjoy the novel. You feel that Hinton's leaving out huge chunks from this life, making it seem much kinder than it was. And at the same time you wish it were the other way around and you were drawing connections to a much harsher life.

So in regard to Tex, it was my least favorite of the novels. However, when I look at the book in this light I should look at the others more closely as well. Frankly, Im afraid to. I enjoy all the others and don't need to be turned off from them.

[Keira]

I know where you're coming from, Bro. I do get that. But, I have the tendency to be oddly sadistic and find pleasure in drawing parallels and connections between stories and real life. Like when my little brother got hauled in a while back, I wanted to be there to watch ... then of course I felt ill afterwards. It some how makes me feel better when I can draw line between my life, or someone else's life and book.

For me, I can relate to all the books, with the lack of a parental figure -- not because my parents aren't around and alive and well, because they are, but because my parents have never played a strong parental role. They've always been here and loved us, but we could get away with just about ANYTHING, and you'd better believe we took advantage of that, and there's a couple of younger brothers that still do. I can't say that I've ever had to be dependant upon an older brother either, but one can relate when all she HAS are brothers, both older and younger. Makes drawing parallels very easy.

[BlindedxxFalcon]

Tex is in my third or forth favorite S.E. Hinton book. The font was kind of biggish in the copy I borrowed from the library, which for some reason bothers me. It makes the book seem childish. The ending was awesome.

[jrc]

admin said:

Like when my little brother got hauled in a while back, I wanted to be there to watch ... then of course I felt ill afterwards.
color]

That happened to me with my brother, who's six years my senior, a while back. I remember wanting to see the drug bust go down, then felt horrible for thinking about it. And, just today, a police stopped buy to talk with him and hand him a paper, when I was by my lonesome, and I talked to him for a while, and I really wanted my brother to come in so I could write down the intereaction between them.

If he's going to screw up his life, why can't I at least watch and take notes?

But, on to the original topic. I really love Tex. His character was so relatable, when I first read the book, at least. The entire idea of the book was just amazing. The idea of teenagers being on their own was just a angle for S.E. Hinton to play. I mean, who hasn't ever felt like you were completely alone? Espeacily in your teen years.

[Keira]

JRC - You're feelings on the matter are 100% legit. I actually had some correspondence with Liz on this matter, and as she so expertly put it (as she can put anything - I love you, Liz - I'm paraphrasing this, btw - authors have the desire to write down what is so real to them, what they experience, as a mark to know that they can relay that story. She also said that we want to have certain experiences because we want to live them for the purpose of our own development through writing. And those desires can be on any scale. I couldn't agree with her more. Of course, I would prefer such experiences to never happen - it's the desire that fools us, especially when it deals with negative results. Once it actually happens, we would rather it never did.

Thinking back on Tex, yet again, I think I'm going to go back and reread it soon. Not only because it's been a few years (and I used to average reading it nearly as often as The Outsiders) but because I think it'll give me a clearer insight to the life of another little brother of mine who is the same age as Tex in the book. He's a fun loving, trouble causing, mischief maker who makes me laugh on all accounts, but I have a hard time relating to. He's the best, but he's also so complicated, and yet so simple. Very Tex-ish.

[BlindedxxFalcon]

Ahh...the brothers getting hauled in stories. I have a funnny one. All though he didn't get hauled in...My brother, who's 17, was at a party with drinking. They were underage, of couse.Two cops were at the door. My brother who's drunk, opened the door. He knew the cops and he went "Hey guys! Wanna come in for a drink? The booze is over there, I been drinkin' it all night!" Alls he got was a 10 dollar fine and a summer of community service.

[Keira]

I finally got my little brother to read the book (the one who is more like Tex than anyone else I can compare him to). I don't think he has ever finished one book before in his life, and now that he's fifteen that's saying something. I bribed him to read it, telling him that he would get three things, of his choosing, for Christmas. Of course what I didn't tell him was that two of the things he told me he wanted my mom already got for him *coughcough*. So all I have really have to get him is $10.00.

Anyway, long story short he loved it. He gave me scene by scene updates every day. He was obsessed with Jamie and came up with this whole story -- before having finished it -- on how Lem wasn't really gone for good (after Tex and Mason left him that day in the city) and that he was going to save Tex and Johnny in some heroic way. I just had to laugh at that.

He wasn't such a huge fan of the ending. He wanted something more action-oriented than going fishing, but that aside, he's agreed to read more of her books. And my work is done here