Posted by guillermo maynez
on 28/11/2011, 12:36:18, in reply to "Re: Omensetter's Luck by William H. Gass"
189.178.234.130
I have read some very long and difficult novels, and I have immensely enjoyed some of them (Joyce's "Ulysses" or Broch's "The Death of Virgil" come to my mind). With this book, I traversed a deep valley: I started enthusiastical about the structure and narrative point of view (Isrobestis Tott), remained interested in the "story" (Henry Pimber), and then struggled through the excruciating 80+ pages of Jethro Furber's first chapter. I confess I was close to giving up, but fortunately a long experience as a reader has taught me that, with works of literature well established in reputation after some time, it is usually worth it to persevere (not always, of course). So I did, and I am glad about it.
I hadn't, of course, thought about "Amadeus", but the comparison is illuminating. Throughout the book, I was constantly reminded of Faulkner, especially the latest book I have read by him, "The Hamlet" first published in 1940. I am also convinced that Henry committed suicide; I see no reason for Omensetter to having killed him, but I'm not sure there was an affair between Pimber's wife and him. By the way, am I right to think that both wives (Pimber's and Omensetter's) are called Lucy?
Now, of course the central character is Furber, and I don't think anyone could call him a likable character. Obviously the man has serious sexual frustrations and fixations. Is he a Catholic priest or a Protestant minister? All the imagery (and celibacy, of course) indicates to me that he's Catholic, although I've never thought of Ohio as a very Catholic place, except for Italian or Polish immigrants. And obviously, he's a bad man that has a "change of heart" at the end of the book, accompanied by a severe nervous collapse.
--Previous Message--
: I think this book--it's hard to call it a novel--would
: appeal to those who like David Markson, John Barth,
: Harry Mathews, or Robert Coover. It's quite different
: from, but in a way supportive of, Omensetter's Luck
: It was first published in 1968.
:
:
: It sounds very interesting. I don't know who Harry
: Mathews is, but I used to love John Barth. I haven't
: read any of his work written since the 1980s. I have
: read only one work each by Coover ( The Public Burning
: ) and Markson ( WM ) but both were terrific. I
: definitely plan to read more Gass.
:
: I hope others will be joining the two of us in this
: discussion.
:
:
: Yes, I wish that we had a broader discussion of
: Omensetter's Luck , too. Guillermo said that he
: planned to read it, and I seem to recall that Lale
: might join you in reading The Tunnel . I hope they
: and some of the other less active members (joffre, for
: instance?) will read this difficult but glorious
: novel.
:
:
:
: --Previous Message--
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