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From: Karen L. Simonetti <karensue>
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 13:48:09 -0500
Technically, I think this is a brilliant book. Expounding upon what John Peters has already said, I found the offhandedness or almost a malaise in the narrative adding to the sense of what Tar & Gemma were experiencing. And ironically, I had those same pages (1494) marked off as when the subtle nightmare really begins to overtake the plot & characters. However, I also found it a difficult read. I felt distanced from the characters...although I think that they were distanced from themselves
(hence the technical brilliance in capturing that sensation).
But, John (and everyone else), I have a question: You say that your recall the growing horror you felt as the story went on, not as a reader , but as an observer. Could you explain the difference between horror from being a reader versus being an observer?
The reason I ask that question is: I think the book's weaknesses (in holding YAs' or any readers' attention) is that the plot & narrative do put the reader in a position of being an observer versus letting them in and experiencing the horrific downward spiral of a life hooked on drugs. Did anyone else have this "distance" from the storyline? Perhaps as close as the book reveals the personal horror (and I'm sorry I don't have the book with me) is towards the latter section when Gemma's narrative begins to examine what she has become and Tar's narrative is a ghost of his former self.
One thing I did note about the chapters where the other characters spoke, was that I felt like it was an intrusion into Gemma & Tar's story/life/plot. And I think this reinforces or mirrors the selfishness and self?sorption the protagonists' position.
Please excuse any excess blithering here...but I wanted to respond to what John said before the day got away from me...
Karen Sue...
Karen L. Simonetti email: karensue at mcs.net phone: 312.337.7114
"Language is not truth. It is the way we exist in the world."
?Paul Auster, The Invention of Solitude?
Received on Tue 02 Jun 1998 01:48:09 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 13:48:09 -0500
Technically, I think this is a brilliant book. Expounding upon what John Peters has already said, I found the offhandedness or almost a malaise in the narrative adding to the sense of what Tar & Gemma were experiencing. And ironically, I had those same pages (1494) marked off as when the subtle nightmare really begins to overtake the plot & characters. However, I also found it a difficult read. I felt distanced from the characters...although I think that they were distanced from themselves
(hence the technical brilliance in capturing that sensation).
But, John (and everyone else), I have a question: You say that your recall the growing horror you felt as the story went on, not as a reader , but as an observer. Could you explain the difference between horror from being a reader versus being an observer?
The reason I ask that question is: I think the book's weaknesses (in holding YAs' or any readers' attention) is that the plot & narrative do put the reader in a position of being an observer versus letting them in and experiencing the horrific downward spiral of a life hooked on drugs. Did anyone else have this "distance" from the storyline? Perhaps as close as the book reveals the personal horror (and I'm sorry I don't have the book with me) is towards the latter section when Gemma's narrative begins to examine what she has become and Tar's narrative is a ghost of his former self.
One thing I did note about the chapters where the other characters spoke, was that I felt like it was an intrusion into Gemma & Tar's story/life/plot. And I think this reinforces or mirrors the selfishness and self?sorption the protagonists' position.
Please excuse any excess blithering here...but I wanted to respond to what John said before the day got away from me...
Karen Sue...
Karen L. Simonetti email: karensue at mcs.net phone: 312.337.7114
"Language is not truth. It is the way we exist in the world."
?Paul Auster, The Invention of Solitude?
Received on Tue 02 Jun 1998 01:48:09 PM CDT
