Subject: Re: hapworth/Updike
From: Cecilia Baader (ceciliaann@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Apr 07 2000 - 18:19:28 EDT
Will,
You asked what people like about Hapworth, and I've been thinking on it. I
think that I've decided that what I like about Hapworth is what everyone
else complains about: Seymour's too-mature voice.
There's a certain suspension of disbelief that you need to have from the
very first moment, that is, when Buddy claims that he is about to "type up
an exact copy of the letter, word for word, comma for comma. Beginning
here." I mean, come now. You're supposed to believe a self-proclaimed liar
that he's going to leave his brother's prose completely intact? Oh, no. I
don't believe that at all, at all. Impossible. Methinks thou protest too
much, Buddy Glass.
So I look at this Seymour-Buddy chap, earnestly trying to convince his
family of certain things that so many of us complain are well beyond the ken
of your average seven-year-old.
And then the seven-year-old feelings are peeking out every so often, drowned
in forty-five year old prose. Like, for instance, when he tries to convince
himself that he doesn't need the gratitude of his family for his letter:
"I am utterly convinced that if A's hat blows of while he is sauntering down
the street, it is the charming duty of B to pick it up and hand it to A
without examining A's face or combing it for gratitude!"
Right, Buddy. Comma for comma. I don't hear your voice in here at all, at
all.
There are many who will disagree with me, but I'm convinced that Buddy has
engineered this letter, so figuring out how much of this letter is Buddy and
how much of it is Seymour is what I like best.
(And I like the book list, too. It amuses me.)
Well, it's Friday evening and I must away. Best wishes to everyone for a
fine weekend.
Regards,
Cecilia.
(will, I wondered before when you mentioned that you'd interviewed Updike if
you ever stopped yourself in the midst of the interview and thought, "How
cool. I'm talking to Updike." I found myself thinking it again today. What
a neat opportunity.)
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