The book I'm reading, 33 Place Brugman, by Alice Austen, tells the story of WWII and the occupation of Belgium through the voices of the residents of the apartment building at the eponymous address in Brussels. The story is full of heroes, villains, philosophers, and artists, and explores how the horrors of war test one's humanity.
One of the characters I find most engaging is Charlotte Sauvin, a college student living with her architect father. Charlotte is colorblind, but fundamentally artistic; her colorblindness is not a shortcoming but rather shapes her perspective and finely shades her observations.
Many of the other characters spend time wondering how Charlotte sees what they are seeing; some wish she could see it the way they do, but Charlotte herself never wonders what the world looks like beyond her ability to see it. Why should she? There is beauty in her perception.
I thought of Charlotte on this bleak March day. The leaden sky, bare branches, and congregations of crows could be considered dreary. But they also create a dreamy monochrome; walking the dog is like being inside a black-and-white photograph. The unrelenting gray tones offer no promise of spring, yet they are beautiful on their own, independent of yesterday's holly in the bright snow or tomorrow's daffodils blooming in the first green grass.
Why do one challenge when you can do two? This month, I'm using the Action for Happiness Mindful March calendar as a daily prompt for action and writing.
I loved this paragraph here, "I thought of Charlotte on this bleak March day. The leaden sky, bare branches, and congregation of crows could be considered dreary. But they also create a dreamy monochrome; walking the dog is like being inside a black-and-white photograph." You captured the mood, and connection to the book, so well.
ReplyDeleteI love every descriptive detail in this post. The "congregation of crows," the allure of the monochrome despite the punctuation of daffodils and holly berries.(Shades of gray here, too, and you've helped me appreciate them.) I am looking at tomorrow's Happiness prompt about the (my) human body and thinking, yes, that would be a great idea. You've made three beautiful things sing!
ReplyDelete"Congregation of crows"- love that! The details in the last paragraph bring "color" to the dreary March day.
ReplyDeleteThe last paragraph is a poem unto itself. I feel like you wrote the first three paragraphs just to mic-drop the fourth. This line speaks to me: "walking the dog is like being inside a black-and-white photograph"
ReplyDeleteAmy J.
DeleteA brilliantly-written reminder to find beauty in these late winter days. "Charlotte herself never wonders what the world looks like beyond her ability to see it. Why should she? There is beauty in her perception."
ReplyDelete