I first read Brautigan’s Trout Fishing book, and I must say, for me, it set my expectations for Brautigan’s writing pretty low. I have since read DreaI first read Brautigan’s Trout Fishing book, and I must say, for me, it set my expectations for Brautigan’s writing pretty low. I have since read Dreaming of Babylon, The Hawkline Monster, and, most recently, this book here. The previous two were very entertaining and creative books, with some really fun characters and plots. This one always gets the most praise, it seems, and I think I agree. It was something very special to read, but Im not totally sure why yet. If more comes to me, Ill add it here. But for now, Im just happy to have connected with a book in this way. ...more
Is anyone aware of Baker having had an influence on David Foster Wallace?
That incisive attention-paying, that careful dissection of the finest-grain Is anyone aware of Baker having had an influence on David Foster Wallace?
That incisive attention-paying, that careful dissection of the finest-grain qualia of the banalities of life which they have in common, has me doubt coincidence. Though, to me, Wallace’s descriptions seem of a more nit-picky and complaintive flavor, while Baker seems more curious and even at times celebratory.
I don’t recall Wallace ever having mentioned Baker in any interviews or essays, but considering the timing of Baker’s rise in the literary world, it seems likely that Dave would have come across him.
From my first review a few years ago: "Took quite a bit longer than I needed to with this one. I stretched it as much as I could, because I truly, genFrom my first review a few years ago: "Took quite a bit longer than I needed to with this one. I stretched it as much as I could, because I truly, genuinely didn’t want it to end. Give me a never-ending continuation of this, with the readers and countless books in which for them to dip, and I’d never need another."
Since then, I have generally considered this to be, if not my favorite novel, at least tied for the spot. A couple years on, I have given it a reread.
In 2004, author David Mitchell wrote for The Guardian a review of rereading If on a winter's night a traveler, sixteen years after his first read. His closing remark sums up his experience: "however breathtakingly inventive a book is, it is only breathtakingly inventive once. But once is better than never." This sentiment resonates with me; I didn't have quite the same giddy feeling that I first had. This novel was more-or-less my introduction to this sort of metafictional game playing, an exciting new phenomenon in my reading career. The book had felt like nothing short of magic. But having been through it once already, and having branched out into more complex, postmodern, metafictional, and experimental literature in the interim, I return to this performance of magic with an eye out for the misdirection and sleight of hand, the tricks of the trade. Does this ruin the trick? That's the sort of attitude Mitchell seems to have, and that's where I differ. Sure, the awestruck, childlike wonder is gone; I've learned how the trick is performed. But now I can wonder at how fluid and skilled the magician's moves are. Yes, I enjoyed the book in a different way than before. I'm sure I'll never be able to experience anything like that first read again. But unlike Mitchell, I'm not relegating the book to some dusty shelf for has-beens and curious artefacts of bygone literary movements. For me, it's still a hoot, and it's still a favorite. Maybe I'll change my mind in 16 years, but I don't think so.
For 38 months and some change, I have been going through these sixty stories, a couple here, a couple there, having them as some small palate-cleansinFor 38 months and some change, I have been going through these sixty stories, a couple here, a couple there, having them as some small palate-cleansing snacks between larger literary meals, so to speak. Intermittent as my time with these stories has been, I was consistently staggered with every little bite I took. Barthelme's postmodernistic stylings kept me always off-balance, all the more susceptible to him knocking me over when he wished to do so. So many of these stories have made me scratch my head in stupefaction, guffaw aloud, or shed tears over some poignant recognition about the human condition. Indeed, there were several stories which effected all three out of me. There is little else that I know to ask of fiction....more
I cant easily recommend this book to many people. Those who aren’t deterred by its length most likely will be from its style. The jig-saw puzzle of a I cant easily recommend this book to many people. Those who aren’t deterred by its length most likely will be from its style. The jig-saw puzzle of a narrative starts to resemble something of a story somewhere in the middle, but most of the pieces only fit after about a thousand pages (if you’ve been paying attention). Long-winded, tedious descriptions make up a good portion of the prose, and often feels as engaging to read as the phone book. When Moore breaks from this style, he does so starkly. One chapter is a rhyming poem. Another is styled as a play. Nearing the end of the book, the chapter “Round the Bend” adopts a Joycean attitude towards language and reconstructs each sentence as a bizarro phonetic mimic of english. And even in those more mundane chapters, Moore sometimes cuts through with such brilliance and poignancy that one only sees with the greatest of writers. Its almost as if he is intentionally having us mine through the pages and pages of rubble so that the joy of finding those rare gems is all the sweeter. Im not quite sure what to make of it, really. At the end of the day, despite all the alienating and frustrating aspects of this book, I really am glad to have read it.
If you find yourself attracted to Moore’s fiction, Id instead recommend his first novel, Voice of the Fire. It has all the creativity and genius of Jerusalem’s best bits, but none of the drawbacks—and may just be my favorite book, as it happens. ...more
Intelligent, imaginative, and intense. A tale of a hypothetical future wherein the singularity has changed what it means to be human as the world is rIntelligent, imaginative, and intense. A tale of a hypothetical future wherein the singularity has changed what it means to be human as the world is reshaped by an all-powerful A.I. Science fiction at its best. ...more
I may come back to write a more thorough review eventually, but for now I will just say that this is my favorite novel of all time and if youre readinI may come back to write a more thorough review eventually, but for now I will just say that this is my favorite novel of all time and if youre reading this, go find a copy as soon as you can. ...more
Lovely, lovely little collection. A unique juxtaposition of stories new and old. Some are smooth and pretty, some bizarre and grotesque. All lush and Lovely, lovely little collection. A unique juxtaposition of stories new and old. Some are smooth and pretty, some bizarre and grotesque. All lush and luscious in their prose. Every word here is to be savored....more
Loading...
