I began reading Reader’s Block by David Markson today. I didn’t know what to expect other than the book was written in fragments. I thought a fragmented book would be great to read on my daily commute when reading can be interrupted by all kinds of surprises.
So far, I am liking the book very much. It is funny. It is also very sad. A little weird too. And full of fantastic trivia about writers and artists. The sad is because Reader, the narrator, is obviously very lonely. He repeats at intervals variations of “Nobody came. Nobody called.” And when he is talking about Protagonist, the protagonist of the book he is writing, and how lonely the character is it is never clear if he is referring to Protagonist or himself.
For the weird part. Again at intervals, is repeated the sentence “[X] was an anti-Semite” with X my shorthand way of marking that the name changes every time – Alexander Pushkin, Kant, William Butler Yeats. I’m not sure of the veracity of the statement and I have no idea why names are named regularly. So for now it is tucked into the “weird” label.
As for funny, this made me snort on the train, not one of those loud snorty snorts but one of those quiet all air puffy snorts:
Petrarch sometimes wrote letters to long-dead authors. He was also a dedicated hunter of classic manuscripts. Once, after discovering some previously unknown works of Cicero, he wrote Cicero the news.
If that doesn’t elicit at least a “ha!” from you then your sense of humor may be in need of a tune up. All this and I have only read 48 pages. This book and I are definitely getting along. Going forward will be the test of whether this newly formed friendship can be maintained. Wish me luck!
On a side note, I found the best spam comment in my spam filter. It said something like “Help! I am being held hostage by the Russian mafia. They are making me send spam comments. If you don’t reply to this they are going to kill me!” And then there was a link for the enlargement of a certain male body part. This one gets an A for creativity.
Ha! I had the same spam and thought the same – there’s a person with a sense of humour at the other end of this spam.
I’ll have to dig out Reader’s Block from my library; it has been there for ages, but I’ve never been tempted to do more than skim the pages occasionally. You make it sound worth more of my attention.
Love the spam comment; too funny. Sometimes they are so funny. I always wonder: what is the point?
This book sounds fun, if kind of weird. Sometimes weird is good.
Love weird. Also love funny & sad. Maybe I should give this book a try?
I think Rebecca of Rebecca Reads got that same comment – so funny! It sounds like the nefarious scheme of a Disney-fied Russian mafia in a kids’ movie from the 70s.
That comment seems to be around on a lot of blogs.
The book sounds weird but very interesting. And the passage on Petrarch made me laugh. I’m interested to hear what you think of the rest of the book. It sounds like a book I might need to read.
Creative spam – so much better than the ordinary sort. I’m really glad you are enjoying Reader’s Block. It IS weird and yet it works so much better than one fears. And I remember laughing a lot – the trivia is just brilliant.
Anthony, spam needs more humor
Even if by the end of it I don’t like it, Reader’s Block would have been worth it for the trivia alone.
Daphne, spam is great for spreading viruses and some money gets made off it believe it or not. Sometimes weird books are good. They shake things up a bit.
Emily, I can imagine you liking Reader’s Block. Heh, this particular spam comment must be making the blog rounds. I wonder if the Russian mafia has shown the poor guy any compassion?
Iris, I wonder if we will next be getting spam from the Italian mafia? The book npt quite like anything I have ever read before. I’ll be sure to post about the whole of it when I’m done.
Litlove, I suppose even spammers struggle to be noticed so the more creative they get the more attention. You are right about the book working well. It is odd how that can be because even though it is fragmented it doesn’t feel that way. It also zips right along so with luck I’ll be to the end by next week sometime.
Haha Stefanie thank you so much for the laugh- the spam made me snort (and yes, one of those loud ones!)
Reader’s Block sounds like a very original, interesting book, I’ll definitely check it out. I like books that are sad, weird and witty!
I like weird and funny and sad. Might have to check this one out.
Who wouldn’t go check out that spam comment. Hilarious.
Glad you are enjoying the book. It does sound a bit quirky but quirky is good!
Lua, glad you had a good laugh
I am finding Reader’s Block to be very original. Though I am beginning to worry about how it is going to end.
Juanita, if you don’t need a regular narrative then you might really like this.
Iliana, I know! I hope the mafia lets the poor guy go
Quirky can be very good.
In my top ten books is Markson’s “Wittgenstein’s Mistress.” It’s written in the same style as “Reader’s Block.” WM looks into the mind of a woman who believes herself to be the last woman on Earth. It’s humorous, it’s desolate, and ultimately, it’s mercilessly heartbreaking. Definitely a masterpiece.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I wonder if they’ll cut it off if no one replies (sorry, not funny really, makes me wince a little).
Somehow this does sound like perfect bus reading material! I could use a funny book right now, so I may have to check it out. And I’m tired of Viagra spam emails, I want something more creative like what you get!