The novelist, playwright, and critic SheilaHeti reflects on the many sources of inspiration that led to to her latest novel, 'Pure Color.'
, playwright, and critic, approaches the soul as though it were a matter of public consideration. A social activity. A thousand-piece puzzle. Her characters – willful, seeking, funny – compete as though the winner is whoever can find the most meaning, unfazed by the possibility of ordinarinessThey’re obsessed with genius, tentative about success, innocent of major experience, determined to dissuade themselves. Mostly, they are modern spiritualists.
I thought, “Well, maybe I’ll write a book about art criticism,” and I began reading one of my favorite books,. It’s a book that I always come back to. That was one of the seeds. The idea of the first and second draft also came very early.
VIGIER: The deepest relationship in the novel is the one between Mira and her father, and it’s very intense. There’s a constant push and pull between them, between their closeness and Mira’s desire to be free of him. When he dies and his spirit enters her, it’s described the universe is “ejaculating his spirit” into her. That’s a….specific word.
VIGIER: The other image that stayed with me while reading was Manet’s asparagus painting described in the Critics School. I remember the narrator instanding in front of that painting, and then it appears here, like an inside joke with yourself, or something that comes full circle.so it wasn’t a joke. I guess it must be my favorite painting, if you can have one. I just find it so moving. If I could have one painting with me here, that would be the one.