Create a Spark Saturday - Puzzle It Out

Last week's Create A Spark Saturday challenge meant to boost creativity, was to read absurdist literature in order to force the brain to find meaning and therefore find increased creativity.

I read Alice's in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

I have never actually read the book before, but like most people, I know the story.  Of course, the story itself was pretty absurd, but what I found weirder is how strange Alice herself was.  In movie versions Alice is the "straight" character that we can relate to in a strange world.

However mad the hatter may be, in the book Alice seemed pretty strange to me.  I really found I couldn't get into the book.  Absurd is just not my thing - at least not in literature. 

Strangely enough I think my brain works in pretty absurd ways without the outside stimulus.

This week's challenge:  Do puzzles. 

According to an article on the blog Pick the Brain, "puzzles stimulate your brain to look at a problem from different angles. The easier you are able to open up your mind to new ideas and new approaches, the more likely it will be that you become more creative".

So this week try to fit in more puzzles.  I'm thinking crosswords usually help me to think of things from different angles. 

Did you read any absurdist literature this week?  Did it make you feel more creative?  Will you try puzzling out your creativity?

Comments

[Jason]

Hey!
Alice is a strange story since it is a double metaphor. Carroll basically merged his childhood anxieties with the subject of growing up creating a multi-layered puzzle for the reader. For me the whole story is about growing up and finding personal identity.

[Clare will sew]

I find China Meiville's books good for forcing the brain - try Unlondon or The City and The City.

[Paula]

Spooky that you bring up Alice in Wonderland when we are watching the DVD with Johnny Depp

[Sharon Mitchell]

I can go along with the puzzle idea too. I think it helps with abstract thinking. I've only taken to it in latter years and I do find it stimulates the side of the brain that 'puts things together'! I like Code Cracker and online card games, but struggle with sudoku.

[Kitty Babcock]

I love doing crossword puzzles. Your dad does word search puzzles all the time. It certainly helps keep words at the ready and makes you aware of very different ideas. When I find new words, I look them up to add to my lexicon.
When you were in nursery school, Ms. Prince-Shadd insisted you needed to do more puzzles. We bought all kinds of picture puzzles of your choosing. You became quite a whiz. Maybe that is why you are so creative.

[Heather M.]

I do puzzles of some type every day. Sudoku and Scrabble type ones. I hope it helps my thinking!