21st Century Literature discussion

For your initial thoughts...

The set-up for the book is that the author has collected hundreds of facts, quotations, ideas and comments on index cards, and then arranged those cards carefully in a particular order. This book is the result of him typing the contents of the cards out in sequence, with occasional interjections from the author himself. As you read, you will notice recurring themes. You will also discover references to a wealth of sources from art, music and literature, from classic times to the present. I hope that through this discussion we can help each other figure out what the author wants us to understand. Also, since many of the references are somewhat obscure, we can share information about them. I'm really hoping someone out there can translate some of the foreign phrases.

Gleaning odd bits of fact from here and there, it seems that Markson himself would write his notes on 3 x 5 index cards and store them in shoeboxes. Many of his other novels (or whatever you want to call This is Not a Novel) use terms similar to "Author" to describe the main character: Reader, Writer, Novelist, etc. I thought that was an interesting bit of trivia that gives some perspective on the narrative point of view.

Shoeboxes, eh? Sounds like my filing system.

Mine too!

This felt less like a novel than a commonplace book.

A contemporary version of The Book of Disquiet

- much shorter and a lot less dense!

Interesting take, Sophia! The Pessoa is one of my favorite books, if not THE favorite. I love it.

When I read the info on Vanishing Point, I said yuck because while I like history, my memory of what I've learned is not strong, so all of the historical references would blow by me and I'd be thinking the guy's a snob for including them.

The Pessoa is almost entirely internal, almost entirely about what it's like to live, so it is without the requirement of one's keen memory for history.

Will I be lost with my terrible memory, reading Vanishing Point?

No, Carl. You won't be lost. The author is setting a mood and exploring a variety of themes, but he very rarely refers directly back to something he has told you before (at least, more than a page before). There will be references you don't understand or recognize, but you don't need to recognize every entry to get the general idea. When I first started reading, I kept track of things I wanted to look up, but after a while I gave up on it. I decided it wasn't necessary.

Carl, if you don't already have a copy, it is probably too late to get one at a price that is not prohibitive. Prices for used copies have been rising steadily since this book was nominated, and are now becoming stratospheric. Amazon has used copies for $63, but other sellers are asking amounts in the $100 range.

I am curious how many people in this group bought copies of Vanishing Point in the last month or so. I assume the fact that our group is buying it is what is driving up the price of used copies. If you bought a copy for this read, please respond to this post.

My library borrowed it from the next town over.

Darn, if it were an ebook, you could highlight the phrase and click Wikipedia!

I bought a second-hand copy, which I'm going to share with another member, once I've finished. Sorry Carl, I've already offered to send it to Germany (!)

I went to Los Angeles Central Library Downtown and got it. Was worth the trip. Read it in one sitting; dipped back into it the next day. Then returned it to library. So there should be at least 1 copy available in LA.

I can't afford to fly to Germany or LA. I'm doomed in Kansas!

I am so sorry. I just know you'd love it!

Carl wrote: "I can't afford to fly to Germany or LA. I'm doomed in Kansas!"

Carl, I am the happy German receiving the book from Sophia soon, I can find out what shipping costs are and once I am finished send it to you? I am afraid it won't be in time for December though.

edit: Carl I just checked, if it's a bookshipping it isn't very expensive at all, it unfortunately just takes 2- 4 weeks. If you don't find it anywhere nearer to you, I'd be very happy to send it to you (and turn Sophia's copy into a world-travelling book, how exiting ;)

Good Morning Jenny! It's going in the post tomorrow morning :)

YAY, oh I am really looking forward to it...!

I would hope that they print second edition or better yet, do an ebook fairly soon, but I may want to take you up on it, Jenny. Thank you for your kindness.

Wow! This book came to me from the States in the first place. It WILL be a well travelled book.

Carl wrote: "I would hope that they print second edition or better yet, do an ebook fairly soon, but I may want to take you up on it, Jenny. Thank you for your kindness."

Yes please do feel free to take me up on it, it'll happily set sails and find it's way to you if you don't find a better/quicker solution. I'll let you know when I am done reading it.