If you were to pick a metaphor or symbol for lonely, what would it be?
- The sound of a bagpiper marching into the distance
- A vulture flying over a barren desert
- The smell of diesel exhaust at a bus terminal
- The sound of a train whistle on a foggy day
- The flapping of a window screen on an abandoned house
- The hoot of an owl calling its mate
The game of Solitaire as a metaphor in fiction
After several rewrites of my novel, Between Now and Forever, the game of Solitaire emerged as a physical symbol of my protagonist’s decision to go solo in life.
Marjorie Veil’s game of choice is Solitaire, a game of concentration needing a minimum of skill.
She likes dealing her cards according to a pattern, arranging them in a predetermined order and competing with herself for her own best score. This affords her some control, at least, in a game otherwise known as Patience, a game of luck and chance.
But when Marjorie takes on a class of thirteen-year-olds with psychic abilities that surpass her own, she realizes that playing solo isn’t the only game in town. She can get a lot more creative with the cards she’s dealt by putting a little heart into the game.
The game of Solitaire as a metaphor in song
Solitaire, written by Neil Sedaka and sung by Andy Williams, presents Solitaire as a metaphor for loneliness in song.
Two other haunting renditions of Solitaire are:
The Solitaire/lonely connection in Between Now and Forever has me thinking about changing the novel’s title to Between An Ace and A King.
What do you think?
As always, thanks for stopping by,
Hi Margaret,
I like the current title much better: It opens the door to my imagination in ways the alternate title doesn’t.
There is nothing between an ace and a king in cards, so for me, the opportunity to imagine is gone. When you offer me the opportunity to explore the infinite possibilities of what is NOW and what FOREVER brings, I’m hooked!
I loved when you said this ‘She can get a lot more creative with the cards she’s dealt by putting a little heart into the game.’
I am so looking forward to reading your novel. It has such a strong thematic statement, and I love how music expresses it, too!
Your second title option is more unique and intriguing.
Thanks, Shawn, for your comment about keeping my current title. It helps a lot to get an outside opinion when making such an important decision as the title of one’s novel.
Hi Jodine. Okay, now we’re 50/50 on the choice of title. That makes the decision a bit harder. I’m looking forward to getting this novel (and my three others) published soon. My goal is one per year starting 2013!
I vote for Between Now and Forever, it sounds much more intriguing. I would want to know what is ‘between’ the two words (i.e. the book) and those pages might be interesting.
Between An Ace and A King – I would fly by uninterested. That’s my opinion.
Thanks, Bernadine. I happen to like Between Now and Forever best, too. And I like that you picked up on the “between” as being where the story is.