In today's internet travels I came across this essay by Saul Bellow, circa 1959. (I have lost the trail of breadcrumbs and can't say where I found it, sorry. It's been a big day for me and the internet.) Having thoroughly steeped in the very "deep reading" Bellow denounces, I find it marvelously refreshing.
Perhaps the deepest readers are those who are least sure of themselves. An even more
disturbing suspicion is that they prefer meaning to feeling. What again about the
feelings? Yes, it’s too bad. I’m sorry to have to ring in this tiresome subject, but there’s
no help for it. The reason why the schoolboy takes refuge in circles is that the wrath of
Achilles and the death of Hector are too much for him. He is doing no more than most
civilized people do when confronted with passion and death. They contrive somehow to
avoid them.
2 comments:
Hi! I just finished your book this morning and I loved it. It was a lot of fun to read and I saw myself in a lot of the pages. (Happy to say not in the "pissdrinking" pages, tho!) My son secretly like to ask me what I was reading so I could say the title and then say (Moomm, don't curse.)
I really enjoyed your process of bouncing back and forth between the spiritual life and reality. Trying to find that happy balance myself.
Congratulations on your success. I hope you have many more, selfishly, because I would love to read about it.
Good thoughts,
Sue
Thanks so much, Sue! I love that your son tells you not to curse, that's so funny-- my niece has been enjoying the heck out of saying the title out loud. Her mother is so proud. ;)
All the best!
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