Fiction seems to be a new phenomenon in the Mennonite world. There is not very much fiction by Mennonite authors in existence. I think it is in the back burner of their minds when it comes to writing. There is a much more prominent collection of poetry, essays, and other nonfiction in Mennonite writing. Even in the Mennonite fiction I have read, there seems to be a lot of nonfiction intermingled.
It is easy to use actual experiences to shape fictional stories. In fact, that is the route most fiction writers take. You will scarcely find a piece of fiction that does not have some truth or reality in it about the writer. All of Jack Dueck’s stories had some nonfiction basis in them. He is the modern day troubadour, capturing stories of the Mennonite world and writing them down, making sure they are still told in days to come. Dueck’s stories are based on experience and written for those who will listen. He writes the inside stories but they are also the everyday stories that warm people’s hearts. I do not think there is anyone who has objected to the accuracy with which he tells these stories.
Sidney King’s Pearl Diver is also sprinkled with nonfiction aspects. Through Hannah, King explores the difficult question that Mennonite writers are faced with: do they tell the stories of their community? Are they theirs to tell? In Pearl Diver, this question seems even harder to answer because, while it seems that the story of her mother’s death is definitely Hannah’s story to tell, it is also Marian’s story and her wishes and feelings are important too; especially in light of the secret she carries with her about that night. King also explores the ways that Mennonites practice being “in the world but not of it.” I believe this practice is the reason for the shortage of Mennonite fiction in the world. I think the viewpoint is something like “why spend your time making up wild stories when you should be using your time to study the word of God.” Although the story is fiction the issues it presents are very real within the Mennonite world.
Stephen Byler’s Searching for Intruders contains a lot of nonfiction in it. If one knows Byler’s biography, it becomes very obvious that Wilson Hues is the spitting image of Byler. But Byler’s story is different as it is without question his story to tell, being his life.
There are many questions to consider about fiction if the work is going to have any basis in nonfiction. Even Rudy Weibe’s Peace Shall Destroy Many, which is pure fiction but is based on the Canadian Mennonite community he was raised in, caused him some grief when the people of that community did not agree with his portrayal. The question is posed here of being culturally accurate or humanly compelling. In my mind I believe that being humanly compelling should win out. In my mind, Weibe’s community should not take offense at his writing because it is clearly labeled as a work of fiction and as such he has the right to write it however he pleases. Saying that his book is based on an actual place does not mean that it is an exact replica, it only means that parts may seem similar while other parts may not.
All of this said, I do not think the role of Mennonite fiction in the future will be very large. I think the subject will continue to be controversial and that these issues will hinder its growth. Even if this genre does continue to grow within the realm of Mennonite literature, Mennonites are such a small and specialized group that I do not think it is possible for Mennonite fiction to play an important or large role in literature as a whole.
Kim, it's true that American Mennonite fiction is scarce, but in Canada there's quite a lot of it (as should become clear during the second half of the course, which focuses on Canadian literature). You've chosen to talk about some very different kinds of stories here--the oral tale, the novel of stories, and a film. Jack Dueck seems to speak out of Mennonite culture and to a largely Mennonite audience. Byler and King are telling stories to a non-Mennonite audience. You're right that all of these stories are based on real life to some degree. I wonder whether cultural accuracy is more important to Mennonite audiences--though of course it's always best to get the details right in realistic fiction. Non-Mennonite audiences have much less at stake in how the culture is represented and can focus in on the story being told and its human values. I'd like to see you go into more depth on Byler's fiction. Finally, I agree that Mennonite literature will always be a minor literature, but perhaps its success will depend more on whether in can tell humanly compelling stories than on whether the portrait of Mennonites is "correct."
ReplyDeleteI think Ann brings up a good point that what the human-compelling-ness of a story is paired with also changes the reader's perception. For example, a fiction story can be totally emotionally developed and pull on the reader's feelings...but if this is still based on inaccuracies and manipulation of the story, the untruths will trump the emotions. In that case, the readers will care more about how their story was told "wrong" than how the development of the characters was portrayed.
ReplyDeletePSDM may have been one of those cases...because even though it was very well written and has very well-developed characters, what bothered some Mennonites about it was more of the overall picture of showing theological upset and questioning in the community.
Kim, your post made me think about why Mennonites have been diving into so much fiction, and taking advantage of fiction in all of it's forms, from oral storytelling to the novel. Certainly motives include sharing the story and portraying what one's life or community is like to others, as Ann and Becca mention. Maybe, however, creating fiction allows Mennonites to expose some of the culture's faults or point out things that the author does not like as much behind the screen of fiction. When writing something that is presumed to be "not true", does the audience take harsh or different ideas (such as challenging peace traditions or poking fun at the community) in easier?
ReplyDeleteI write Mennonite fiction. Herald Press found it hard to sell. Now I'm writing it for Barbour Publishing. I also blog about the Mennonite lifestyle. You can visit my website to learn more about my books: http://www.diannechristner.net
ReplyDeleteBlog: http://www.diannechristner.net/apps/blog/