tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.comments2010-05-31T19:48:27.629+03:00The PoMo Circus in Crete. The Lavender Way in FeliaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10696910021125004214noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-1439480905119502522010-05-31T19:48:27.629+03:002010-05-31T19:48:27.629+03:00Thanx for taking the time to respond Anthony. We a...Thanx for taking the time to respond Anthony. We are all entitled to our opinions and I hope I made mine clear. Unlike so many of the IJ reviews I have read I tried to review the work and not the author. <br /><br />To summarise I think it was a brave effort but one that was misconceived and ultimately one that fails at what it attempts. That is not to say that I would not recommend it to others.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10696910021125004214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-76599770529295253022010-05-31T06:19:58.823+03:002010-05-31T06:19:58.823+03:00I'm not totally clear on what your objection i...I'm not totally clear on what your objection is.<br /><br />Obviously it's not never-ending: it does spiral out in so many directions as to point to an infinite end. And just because the title suggests it's funny, and it uses slapstick school-boy humour doesn't mean it's a funny book. DFW, the man himself, has said way more than once that he never set out to be amusing -- he set out to write a sad, unhappy book. <br /><br />I'm glad you made that connection to Beckett -- not too many folks point out the DFW-SB coincidence of thought. Thing is: DFW's is like Beckett and neither is a nihilist. <br /><br />DFW's culture is sad and lonely and self-defeating in a lot of ways; by writing a book like IJ he accepts himself as part of that culture; and he uses the tools and methods and language of that culture he's diagnosed to try and find a way out. The alternative would've been to write a book transcending all the bleakness he's lived and observed, which isn't an alternative in the same way quitting a game isn't an option.<br /><br />Comparing DFW to JJ is a bit confusing, too. Just because both books (IJ and say FW) have the same weight in kgs, doesn't mean they're out to do the same things. FW is dense and inward-looking, playfully contracting the language to perform impossible (or near-impossible) feats. IJ works so hard to make a connection to the reader, nearly collapses from exhaustion in order to make the world it comprises empathetic. It's about failure in the way Beckett's work is -- the complete inability to overcome darkness (in this case, mediocrity, addiction, and the striving for impossible perfection) and yet the courage to still go on and write about it, to continue living on when everything's been extinguished.<br /><br />Each story in the book is equal parts ridiculous and desperate. You might laugh at them, mock how goofy it all really is, or recognize the struggle of each: not just the struggle to find a new language in order to express seemingly foolhardy or quotidian problems, but the struggle to live out very simple and common ambitions -- coming clean from drugs, achieve excellence, stay focussed and true to oneself (whatever that is) while living in a world of noise and folly.<br /><br />It's a brave thing to take on a book like this for review. It's kind of a low blow to suggest the image of a rope with which the author can go and hang both himself and his narrative by. (Don't you read the papers?)<br /><br />A critic should show what is new and beautiful in a work; never tear it apart to show how it works; and definitely never point out what the work isn't. FW's isn't a lot of things, but that doesn't stop anyone who really pays attention from appreciating what it does do well. Same thing here. <br /><br />IJ is peculiar and head-throbbingly difficult (it took me nearly 8 months to get through my first reading of it) and upsetting: any reader of a review of IJ deserves to understand how strange and powerful a book it is, even if all the formal stuff and meta-gags seem old hat by the 666th page.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14448374101386551246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-4647687940903545562010-01-29T00:32:20.325+02:002010-01-29T00:32:20.325+02:00I'd buy you one if I could, just for that :) R...I'd buy you one if I could, just for that :) Really I would!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11678435062101501908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-12846383073611328312009-07-22T12:05:41.653+03:002009-07-22T12:05:41.653+03:00I found O'Flynn's ‘What Was Lost’ very int...I found O'Flynn's ‘What Was Lost’ very interesting and original in many ways. <br /><br />The inner lives and sensations, the social interactions and patterns, and the ordinary humdrum life mix and split in the book in original ways. The characters are well crafted: they're ordinary people, but the representation of their lives, decisions and thoughts is not dull, but insightful.<br /><br />The multifaceted title of the book encourage the reader to complement the thematical spheres. Also the letters of anonymous members of the community emphasize the human and social agenda, so that we’re not dealing with a mere superficial crime novel.<br /><br />I liked the themes that I found on my reading in the book: one's loyalty to one's self vs. habitual conformity, superficial level of acts vs. mental structures we share, how we face changes this consumer society is leading us into. <br /><br />The way the story closes makes it a credible and fully developed plot. I'd have liked to see it left open, to leave the reader with various choices - as if to leave it open whether Kate was a girl of blood and flesh or if she was an angel or a conceptual primus motor behind the lives of the characters of the events, or even behind the converging epicentre the Green Oaks shopping centre was. <br /><br />The discourse is both fluent and natural, and yet has some faltering in it. The style and structure that the author has decided to write is fluent and natural for most of the book. Still, the ways the character’s personalities are present or hidden in the narrator’s discourse do falter a bit. The decision to put in the anonymous letters (in italics), and still mix character’s personal style into the narrator’s part (like Kate’s in the beginning) would have needed some further revision.<br /><br />I agree with you that this is a great little story. It makes me await for more from Katherine O’Flynn.Esko Liushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11405621780442485136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-43303098628687027752009-05-27T20:42:25.697+03:002009-05-27T20:42:25.697+03:00Shia - I did - you like it or do you think it over...Shia - I did - you like it or do you think it oversly sentimental?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10696910021125004214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-43402335576377417502009-05-27T20:11:12.686+03:002009-05-27T20:11:12.686+03:00You wrote that? ...You wrote that? ...Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-84572402551784933552009-05-05T21:02:00.000+03:002009-05-05T21:02:00.000+03:00LOL this made me smile :-) Greek system ... someti...LOL this made me smile :-) Greek system ... sometimes is the best thing that can happen to you :-)Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-28028558178348104362009-04-20T18:55:00.000+03:002009-04-20T18:55:00.000+03:00I love this account and especially the bit about t...I love this account and especially the bit about the elephant. Sometimes things are glaringly obvious in hind site. I wish you good harvests!<br />RayeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109676698817583404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-60291499997066799012009-03-14T22:41:00.000+02:002009-03-14T22:41:00.000+02:00With apologies for the typo in 'staking': it shoul...With apologies for the typo in 'staking': it should, of course, be 'stacking' but the average graduate won't realise that!Liam O'Cionnfhaolaidhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317353275160197409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-28596678755607696622009-03-14T22:39:00.000+02:002009-03-14T22:39:00.000+02:00How dare you, sir. I happen to live in a particula...How dare you, sir. <BR/><BR/>I happen to live in a particularly choice catchment area, and my house price owes at least 50% of its spurious value to the choice of superior schools available to children of resident parents.<BR/><BR/>Besides, in the Dark Ages, when I lived in that modern utopia known as Scotia, those of us who did well in 'the qualifying exam' - which Sassenachs (a term which ignorant Scots think is a synonym for 'The English', as if they knew what a synonym was), insist on calling 'the 11 plus', those of us who did well were able to enter the school of our choice anywhere within the local education area, whilst the dunces were consigned to the dumps that handed out the 'school leaving certificate' at age 12 or so to those who passed through their dreary portals.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, I believe that those who merit advancement should achieve it, and the rest should be consigned to stack shelves in the local supermarket chain, but our dear esteemed leader, Gordy Broon, thinks that at least half the population of this sceptered isle merits going to univeristy and being granted a degree (with pass mark of 40%) in some entirely useless subject such as 'media studies' (or how gripping and true to life Coronation Street really is, guffaw).<BR/><BR/>Oops, I've just realised the flaw in my argument: if those who merit advancement actually do merit it, then Gordy Broon and his gang of incompentent swindlers and soi-disant socialists would still be staking shelves in the local Nettto or asking customers, "Would you like fries with that?" in the MacSporran GreasePits that would have employed them. Unfortunately for the rest of us, these scum rose to the top, like shit in a swimming pool, and now dare tell the rest of us how to live our lives.<BR/><BR/>Long live anarchy is what I say.<BR/><BR/>Bakunin for King!Liam O'Cionnfhaolaidhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317353275160197409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-72804525436502266022009-01-26T00:46:00.000+02:002009-01-26T00:46:00.000+02:00Ciao Derek,For me the inauguration was a moving sp...Ciao Derek,<BR/><BR/>For me the inauguration was a moving spectacle, though I voted for Cynthia McKinney (who didn't have a prayer, naturally). I think Obama's election has potent symbolic significance, but from what I've seen so far, his administration will be at best a browner shade of Clinton.<BR/><BR/>Amazingly there are still rabid right-wingers here calling Obama a "radical Marxist". I just have to laugh! He's beholden to the rich who got him elected; add to that the Sword of Damocles - the threat of assassination - and the Elite need not worry about Obama stepping out of line.<BR/><BR/>The remarkable thing is that he appears genuinely glad to have the job! Must be a complete nutter!<BR/><BR/>Ciao,<BR/>WayneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-65849627447911292352009-01-19T14:07:00.000+02:002009-01-19T14:07:00.000+02:00Thanks for the review mate. This is book 3 and its...Thanks for the review mate. This is book 3 and its the last in the trilogy. I dont know if you read book 1 as I dont know if Bloomsday will make a lot of sense if you havent. (you can safely skip book 2) <BR/><BR/>The italic j is nothing to do with me, just a simple typo that eventually (I hope) will be corrected.<BR/><BR/>The beginning of book 2 might send you for the sick big as well as it starts "Dawn over the turquoise shore of Africa and here under the fractured light of a street lamp, brought to earth like some hurricaned palm, I woke before the supine ocean admist a sea of glass and upturned bus-stands and the wreck of cars and looted stores. The streets of Playa de las Americas were flowing with beer and black sewage and blood." <BR/><BR/>Book 1 (Dead I Well May Be) should however keep your healthy Cretean lunch safely in your stomach. It begins "No one was dead." <BR/><BR/>Ciao or as Patrick Fermor would say "see you later old chap." <BR/><BR/>A...adrian mckintyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03349942973907386269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-46705698317997162962009-01-06T23:01:00.000+02:002009-01-06T23:01:00.000+02:00I agreeeee! I love books!!!! Buy them ... been the...I agreeeee! I love books!!!! Buy them ... been there done that. Give them away ... been there, done that. Read them ... been there, done that. Write them ... Getting there :-)))Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13412919141907126406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-18186562665686274962008-11-11T00:30:00.000+02:002008-11-11T00:30:00.000+02:00http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b196/MissChaos81...http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b196/MissChaos81/rothko.jpg<BR/><BR/>For you :-)Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-84616824109024782852008-11-11T00:17:00.000+02:002008-11-11T00:17:00.000+02:00Double Auch! You can't eat any of these for 20 day...Double Auch! You can't eat any of these for 20 days? Wow, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :-) I think I could do it all except chocolate :-)Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-30836822654772192332008-11-11T00:15:00.000+02:002008-11-11T00:15:00.000+02:00:-( no ... I can't believe this ... Poor puppy ......:-( no ... I can't believe this ... Poor puppy ... Well my dear friend, the cultural differences are bigger than we all are aware I think ... I'm coping with one of them too lately. And the more I learn about it, the less I understand. What can we do ...Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-78141569946109584572008-10-31T19:31:00.000+02:002008-10-31T19:31:00.000+02:00This is a hoax that's been circulating the web for...This is a hoax that's been circulating the web for some time now. You can actually change the sign to read whatever you like. Here's the link:<BR/>http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/<BR/>-DebE.D. Coutavashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650989151005738166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-56152374552742302532008-10-21T00:43:00.000+03:002008-10-21T00:43:00.000+03:00LoL this sign exsist for real?? :-) How fuuuuunny ...LoL this sign exsist for real?? :-) How fuuuuunny :-) I am a little surprised I must admit, that greek orthodox church is for Obama. He's quite open about certain things that church doesn't necesarily agree with.<BR/>Anyway, the sign is hilarious and yes, McCain is nothing but MALAKA :-P<BR/><BR/>hugs to greek paradise from 'almost winter like' Ljubljana*Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-22649149640939211942008-09-19T23:53:00.000+03:002008-09-19T23:53:00.000+03:00Bravo Gil :-) Wish I was there!!Bravo Gil :-) Wish I was there!!Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-6301118777507611702008-09-16T00:51:00.000+03:002008-09-16T00:51:00.000+03:00It's funny, how I usualy judge the book by it's 1s...It's funny, how I usualy judge the book by it's 1st few pages too ... It gets my attention at the beginning or it doesn't at all. I actually never went back and took the book I once couldn't read. maybe I should change that :-) War and Peace would be the 1st one then :-)Shia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-57383199668643289212008-08-17T23:23:00.000+03:002008-08-17T23:23:00.000+03:00sorry - the use of the word tomorrow here refers t...sorry - the use of the word tomorrow here refers to nothing more precise than "not today" - very similar to the Spanish "manana" - I promise it'll be with you all soonishAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10696910021125004214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-25022319984770443232008-08-17T21:24:00.000+03:002008-08-17T21:24:00.000+03:00So, where's Part II? Yesterday has long been and g...So, where's Part II? Yesterday has long been and gone, and some of us don't have much longer to hang around until the muse strikes you again.Liam O'Cionnfhaolaidhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317353275160197409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-27310316015344538572008-08-16T21:02:00.000+03:002008-08-16T21:02:00.000+03:00It's funny how sometimes our own advices work the ...It's funny how sometimes our own advices work the best even for ourselves ;-)<BR/><BR/>Great blog! Reading it through slowly and enjoying every bit of it!<BR/><BR/>hugs*<BR/><BR/>MojcaShia JeZeBelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09870109127349094043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-89390553964763926952008-08-08T23:48:00.000+03:002008-08-08T23:48:00.000+03:00The outsider is not always gifted, and frequently ...The outsider is not always gifted, and frequently isn't, but they always hold up a candle to what is considered to be the norm - as if the norm had any existence in existential reality without its antithesis. However, not a lot of people realise that. Unfortunately, in most circumstances, force majeur is sufficient,so the voice of true individualism is overwhelmed by the clamouring of the collective masses. <BR/><BR/>If I have used words of more than one syllable to express this insight, or have confused my readers with my complex vocabulary, I apologise unreservedly for offending your undemanding sensibilities.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately I know that Papaplazarou is of like mind.<BR/><BR/>As for Kafka being funny, yes, indeed he was, just as Hasek was being serious when he wrote his excoriating and excruciatingly funny expose of the role of the outsider in circumventing the desire of those who wish to control us. That is why he was banned in his native country for many years and had to be circulated by the underground press.<BR/><BR/>Long live the outsider.Liam O'Cionnfhaolaidhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317353275160197409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16843005.post-87318451434944658542008-08-08T21:00:00.000+03:002008-08-08T21:00:00.000+03:00I will have to take your advice about Kafka - was ...I will have to take your advice about Kafka - was I too full of youthful angst the first time round?<BR/><BR/>Sounds an interesting book and one I will look out for.<BR/><BR/>Sarah/tigerUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02603022237125079300noreply@blogger.com