tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001842297433842605.post3526105007067030826..comments2009-11-03T21:01:58.933-05:00Walt Pascoehttps://profiles.google.com/101016488549547001886noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001842297433842605.post-54773542586158896812009-11-03T20:49:53.094-05:002009-11-03T20:49:53.094-05:00Wow, this does make my brain hurt. Now I&#39;m going to reflect quietly. With a glass of wine...cynthia newberry martinhttp://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001842297433842605.post-13749579113128926372009-07-14T02:22:00.843-04:002009-07-14T02:22:00.843-04:00This almost makes my brain hurt, but it&#39;s so fantastic! It&#39;s so crazy that I decided to tackle Proust this past January. I&#39;ve gotten through the first three volumes (up next: Sodom &amp; Gomorrah -- go figure) and I see certain similarities between DFW and Proust and then I see profound differences too. The sameness (for me) comes obviously with the density of the prose, but also with the way both authors take you inside their heads to follow what is more like actual thought than you typically see in a novel. Proust seems to remain much more on the periphery, much more of an observer than a participant most of the time -- sort of being neurotic and reacting, but not being particularly proactive a lot of the time. DFW keeps a certain emotional distance from his characters, despite often sharing every disgusting aspect of their lives. <br /><br />I&#39;m really interested in your take on Hal&#39;s aphasia. I went right back to the beginning of the book as soon as I got to the end and I&#39;m still stymied by it. <br /><br />I&#39;ve noticed quite a few thematic patterns in the book too, although I&#39;m reluctant to talk about them too much until later on because I don&#39;t want to spoil anything for anybody.<br /><br />Great post Walt -- I&#39;m still thinking about that aphasia and still haven&#39;t come up with a theory.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001842297433842605.post-91478681487182377842009-07-12T20:58:56.480-04:002009-07-12T20:58:56.480-04:00Yeah, me too!<br />Many days I think drawing is the only thing standing between me and &quot;Happy Slippers&quot;.<br /><br />I&#39;m hardly qualified to rec. reading material, but IJ is what fortified me to finally tackle Proust. The Recherche kept coming up in discussions of DFW&#39;s work; even in Dave Eggars forward to the edition I have. Attending to a 19th century European voice is not intuitive for a half-educated 50yr old yank like me...but I eventually adapted to it&#39;s rhythm, and found him insightful and thought provoking.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting!Walt Pascoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07965673151127618945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7001842297433842605.post-7358719692247931592009-07-12T18:05:02.748-04:002009-07-12T18:05:02.748-04:00Madame Psychosis and Proust. Not sure whether to go and reflect quietly, or to look for a padded room...<br /><br />So, is Proust a good way to go following IJ?sarahloldfieldhttp://www.sarahbbc.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com