Re: The Way of a Pilgrim and such
Graham Preston (ac109@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca)
Thu, 15 Jan 1998 20:16:20 -0600 (CST)
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> I felt the same way about <italic>Underworld</italic>. DeLillo seems
> to be hinting at all that is buried in our culture as History marches
> forward. I, too, felt that <italic>Mason & Dixon</italic> was better
> than <italic>Underworld</italic>, though they are both in that literary
> stratosphere that contains the orbits of Salinger, Pynchon, DeLillo, et
> al. You read novels like these and a sense of awe (much like when I
> first read <italic>The Catcher in the Rye</italic>) hits me that makes me
> inspired and want to write more and better, too. Anyone else feel this
> way?
I have a different feeling after reading these awe-inspiring novels. I
feel as if I was paralysed, and could not write better than these literary
giants. When, I first read through CITR, I was inspired, yet after
re-reading and re-reading, I feel I can do no better, than why try? Alas,
I try and fail, but there always seems to be another novel, lurking in a
box in a Used Book store, or some writer's typewriter, or a forgotten,
unpraised novel, waiting for my touch.
Also, after, and while, reading DeLillo's "Underworld", I had some odd
thoughts. The way he writes dialogue is as if he has made a mariage of
Mamet and Salinger. (It has always been a passion of mine to write a
story by combining Salinger's descriptive touch, Mamet's fantastic
dialogue, and Shakespeare's sense of telling a tale, especially an epic
one. Call me crazy, but I have dreams of someday reading an epic tale
of Seymour's military career, as he serves with Salemen, and struggles
with his religion...) The steccata, the repeated dialogue, the eloquence,
the simplicity, the wit, all there. But Salinger tells more of his story
in description (or lack there of as in "teddy") and is far bette at it
than anyone living. Anybody else feel this way?
Graham
Go Oil!
> > > Cheers!
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