Deep Underground Book Club
melissa_hosters said:My favorite book is infinite jest by David Foster Wallace, has anyone read it?
The untrained reader, having skimmed the key points of Wallace's biography, will (probably) be very surprised to see the suicide note at the very end. Indeed, a short retelling of the life of the Far Eastern Federal University looks as if we are talking about the most successful writer of the twentieth century.
A child from a professorial family (Father is a philosopher, professor at the University of Illinois. Mother is an English teacher, professor at Parkland College in Champaign), who grew up within the walls of a house with a huge library. A boy whose parents read Joyce's Ulysses before going to bed (!). It is difficult to think of more suitable conditions for a future genius. And then - everything is in the same spirit: an excellent student, a medalist, but not just a bespectacled man with books at the ready, no, he is also a successful, promising tennis player.
Then - the university, and again the surname "Wallace" is invariably in the first line of the grades lists. An expert on Wittgenstein, he writes his thesis, which (under the influence of Pynchon's books) gradually develops into the first novel The broom of the system.
Thank you for your contribution, Melissa, I appreciate it! Maybe you’d like to nominate Infinite Jest during our next nomination phase?
The untrained reader, having skimmed the key points of Wallace's biography, will (probably) be very surprised to see the suicide note at the very end. Indeed, a short retelling of the life of the Far Eastern Federal University looks as if we are talking about the most successful writer of the twentieth century.
A child from a professorial family (Father is a philosopher, professor at the University of Illinois. Mother is an English teacher, professor at Parkland College in Champaign), who grew up within the walls of a house with a huge library. A boy whose parents read Joyce's Ulysses before going to bed (!). It is difficult to think of more suitable conditions for a future genius. And then - everything is in the same spirit: an excellent student, a medalist, but not just a bespectacled man with books at the ready, no, he is also a successful, promising tennis player.
Then - the university, and again the surname "Wallace" is invariably in the first line of the grades lists. An expert on Wittgenstein, he writes his thesis, which (under the influence of Pynchon's books) gradually develops into the first novel The broom of the system.
Thank you for your contribution, Melissa, I appreciate it! Maybe you’d like to nominate Infinite Jest during our next nomination phase?
I’ve read a chunk of Evidence today, playing catch-up what with work and college study, and have reached the point in the story where Freddie and Daphne’s American courtship and marriage is detailed.
I can’t remember a single line of dialogue Daphne’s spoken so far. Is this a fault of the author’s in not characterising her enough, or a deliberate representation of how Freddie sees her? He will, after all, go on to leave her and their child to the mercy of a Spanish gangster.
Or is it something else altogether? I’m really enjoying the novel so far. It’s a great example of style and story coming together, in my opinion. On the one hand you have the dense and lyrical writing, but that’s supported by an intriguing plot where you want to know what happens to the characters.
I can’t remember a single line of dialogue Daphne’s spoken so far. Is this a fault of the author’s in not characterising her enough, or a deliberate representation of how Freddie sees her? He will, after all, go on to leave her and their child to the mercy of a Spanish gangster.
Or is it something else altogether? I’m really enjoying the novel so far. It’s a great example of style and story coming together, in my opinion. On the one hand you have the dense and lyrical writing, but that’s supported by an intriguing plot where you want to know what happens to the characters.
chapter six
the murder fever is ramping up, tempered by the slow pace of the funeral. he is teasing the audience, increasing the tension by interspersing it with the comparably mundane. at this point, the reader cares little for the funeral, very like Freddie himself. it is an opportunity to further define the flat stilted edges of his character we are already familiar with. plot wise she’s no longer available as a witness. he doesn’t even say what she died of- truly, he doesn’t care.
i am intrigued by his continued appeals to judge and jury in regard to his dubious purchases in the hardware shop . he seems to be inferring insanity, which he said (or implied) earlier he would refuse to do. this strikes me as a clever manipulation. after all, you can’t be crazy if you are aware you’re crazy, as that shows presence of mind (catch 22).
he begins to refer to “other people” inside of him- the mysterious, sinister sounding bunter/ one letter away from hunter- and his neglected inner child. psychologically, that’s something i strongly identify with and it unsettles me.
i was struck by the line “it is the executioner who eats a hearty breakfast.”
i wonder now he finds himself on the other side of that bargain, has he lost some of his appetite? or will he always consider himself the aggressor?
the murder fever is ramping up, tempered by the slow pace of the funeral. he is teasing the audience, increasing the tension by interspersing it with the comparably mundane. at this point, the reader cares little for the funeral, very like Freddie himself. it is an opportunity to further define the flat stilted edges of his character we are already familiar with. plot wise she’s no longer available as a witness. he doesn’t even say what she died of- truly, he doesn’t care.
i am intrigued by his continued appeals to judge and jury in regard to his dubious purchases in the hardware shop . he seems to be inferring insanity, which he said (or implied) earlier he would refuse to do. this strikes me as a clever manipulation. after all, you can’t be crazy if you are aware you’re crazy, as that shows presence of mind (catch 22).
he begins to refer to “other people” inside of him- the mysterious, sinister sounding bunter/ one letter away from hunter- and his neglected inner child. psychologically, that’s something i strongly identify with and it unsettles me.
i was struck by the line “it is the executioner who eats a hearty breakfast.”
i wonder now he finds himself on the other side of that bargain, has he lost some of his appetite? or will he always consider himself the aggressor?
The_Silly_Sibyl said:
By the way, if anyone’s interested, The Book of Evidence is the first in a somewhat loose trilogy (or triptych, in the author’s description) of novels continuing with Ghosts and ending with Athena.
Ghosts is a slightly more abstract story about a group of travellers shipwrecked on an island in the Irish Sea, where they meet a professor, his assistant, and a character referred to only as “Little God” but who is in fact Freddie Montgomery, antihero of Evidence. Freddie recounts his life after prison.
Athena dives into fantasy territory with a plot involving a woman stepping out of a painting, references to Greek mythology, and a serial killer.
honestly neither of those sound quite as good conceptually, to me anyway
By the way, if anyone’s interested, The Book of Evidence is the first in a somewhat loose trilogy (or triptych, in the author’s description) of novels continuing with Ghosts and ending with Athena.
Ghosts is a slightly more abstract story about a group of travellers shipwrecked on an island in the Irish Sea, where they meet a professor, his assistant, and a character referred to only as “Little God” but who is in fact Freddie Montgomery, antihero of Evidence. Freddie recounts his life after prison.
Athena dives into fantasy territory with a plot involving a woman stepping out of a painting, references to Greek mythology, and a serial killer.
honestly neither of those sound quite as good conceptually, to me anyway
anna_grin said:you never know though they might actually be good
I really like the idea of them, but then I like abstract storytelling.
Regarding Book of Evidence, I think it’s interesting that his victim was a woman. I’m hesitant to refer to him as a misogynist because he doesn’t seem to hold men in any higher regard, it’s just that women seem more like props in his life than humans with agency. The female characters are well-drawn and observed, but in Freddie’s narration they either don’t have much of a voice (very little dialogue) or are “bitches” (his mother) and obstructions (the maid). Though he does what he does essentially to save his wife and child, he doesn’t refer to them very much, especially the child. He comes across as an intelligent observer of everyone but himself. And in that sense reminds me of a famous line from another murder story, The Silence of the Lambs:
You see a lot, Doctor. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don't you - why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you're afraid to.
I really like the idea of them, but then I like abstract storytelling.
Regarding Book of Evidence, I think it’s interesting that his victim was a woman. I’m hesitant to refer to him as a misogynist because he doesn’t seem to hold men in any higher regard, it’s just that women seem more like props in his life than humans with agency. The female characters are well-drawn and observed, but in Freddie’s narration they either don’t have much of a voice (very little dialogue) or are “bitches” (his mother) and obstructions (the maid). Though he does what he does essentially to save his wife and child, he doesn’t refer to them very much, especially the child. He comes across as an intelligent observer of everyone but himself. And in that sense reminds me of a famous line from another murder story, The Silence of the Lambs:
You see a lot, Doctor. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don't you - why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you're afraid to.
I just finished The Dresden Files for maybe the 20th time. Anyone who lpves urban fantasy, (fantasy that takes place in modern time and setting) should really check these books out. I nominate all 18 Dresden Files novels by Jim Butcher.
Thanks for your input, Hades! Come the next book club nominations (I’ll give each book 3 months, unless anyone would prefer a different time-frame?) feel free to nominate a Dresden book. If you can’t think of one in particular, maybe nominate the first?
The_Silly_Sibyl said:
I really like the idea of them, but then I like abstract storytelling.
Regarding Book of Evidence, I think it’s interesting that his victim was a woman. I’m hesitant to refer to him as a misogynist because he doesn’t seem to hold men in any higher regard, it’s just that women seem more like props in his life than humans with agency. The female characters are well-drawn and observed, but in Freddie’s narration they either don’t have much of a voice (very little dialogue) or are “bitches” (his mother) and obstructions (the maid). Though he does what he does essentially to save his wife and child, he doesn’t refer to them very much, especially the child. He comes across as an intelligent observer of everyone but himself. And in that sense reminds me of a famous line from another murder story, The Silence of the Lambs:
You see a lot, Doctor. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don't you - why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you're afraid to.
fantastic quote. i don’t think he’s truly misogynistic as that would require he held a value system which i don’t believe he does, but he is aware of the advantages he can take of women which he can’t of men. i think all people are props is his life and the misogyny he displays is just light cultural influence
I really like the idea of them, but then I like abstract storytelling.
Regarding Book of Evidence, I think it’s interesting that his victim was a woman. I’m hesitant to refer to him as a misogynist because he doesn’t seem to hold men in any higher regard, it’s just that women seem more like props in his life than humans with agency. The female characters are well-drawn and observed, but in Freddie’s narration they either don’t have much of a voice (very little dialogue) or are “bitches” (his mother) and obstructions (the maid). Though he does what he does essentially to save his wife and child, he doesn’t refer to them very much, especially the child. He comes across as an intelligent observer of everyone but himself. And in that sense reminds me of a famous line from another murder story, The Silence of the Lambs:
You see a lot, Doctor. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don't you - why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you're afraid to.
fantastic quote. i don’t think he’s truly misogynistic as that would require he held a value system which i don’t believe he does, but he is aware of the advantages he can take of women which he can’t of men. i think all people are props is his life and the misogyny he displays is just light cultural influence
I think you’re right, yes. He doesn’t dislike women particularly, he just knows the different ways of using them.
What did you think of the murder scene? I thought it was sad and shocking and even darkly funny (him shouting at the old woman on the sidewalk to step back in an indignant voice). An emotional rollercoaster.
What did you think of the murder scene? I thought it was sad and shocking and even darkly funny (him shouting at the old woman on the sidewalk to step back in an indignant voice). An emotional rollercoaster.
The_Silly_Sibyl said:I think you’re right, yes. He doesn’t dislike women particularly, he just knows the different ways of using them.
What did you think of the murder scene? I thought it was sad and shocking and even darkly funny (him shouting at the old woman on the sidewalk to step back in an indignant voice). An emotional rollercoaster.
not there yet
What did you think of the murder scene? I thought it was sad and shocking and even darkly funny (him shouting at the old woman on the sidewalk to step back in an indignant voice). An emotional rollercoaster.
not there yet
The_Silly_Sibyl said:Thanks for your input, Hades! Come the next book club nominations (I’ll give each book 3 months, unless anyone would prefer a different time-frame?) feel free to nominate a Dresden book. If you can’t think of one in particular, maybe nominate the first?
Of course. You are right. I nominate Storm Front by Jim Butcher.
Of course. You are right. I nominate Storm Front by Jim Butcher.
