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The revelations of Dr. Modesto
Book by Harrington, Alan
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 2, 2013
Your personality is annoying to other people. Get rid of it. This is what Hal Hingham, the protagonist with a name a little too close with that of his author/creator, a loser at life until discovering the "revelations," is taught by Dr. Modesto--a name simultaneously showy & modest.
I read this book ages ago. I picked up a remaindered copy from some bin, consuming it with a displeasure that made me continue to the end. I wanted to be told to be myself and was instead instructed that that was the last person I should be. Why, then, was I compelled to revisit this title today?
I don't know, but a power like that shouldn't be denied. I discovered that the author wrote 2 other books I'd never heard of before dying at the age of 79. And now, so have you. What we will do with this knowledge remains to be seen.
I rated it a 3 in keeping with the dictates of Centralism. Not too high, not too low.
I read this book ages ago. I picked up a remaindered copy from some bin, consuming it with a displeasure that made me continue to the end. I wanted to be told to be myself and was instead instructed that that was the last person I should be. Why, then, was I compelled to revisit this title today?
I don't know, but a power like that shouldn't be denied. I discovered that the author wrote 2 other books I'd never heard of before dying at the age of 79. And now, so have you. What we will do with this knowledge remains to be seen.
I rated it a 3 in keeping with the dictates of Centralism. Not too high, not too low.
September 2, 2008
Stop! Why are you unhappy? Because you're a FAILURE. Come join centralism, be like everyone else. This book had many ups and downs as far as keeping my interest. I loved the notion of joining some pseudo-cult through mail-order pamphlets. Also, the characters of Merko and Joan were totally enjoyable; throwing himself off a mountain, breaking all the bones in his body, crawling to the road for help, and then refusing to get on the first car simply out of spite. That's willpower.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2009
This is one of my favorite books. My first novel is a combination of lessons learned here with lessons learned in John Fante's "The Road to Los Angeles." Like John Clellon Holmes, the author was a Beat intimate in New York, but is unknown to the mass of people since he never acheived rock star fame like they did.
September 25, 2013
Told husband this was "weird and stupid" , but that seemed a little harsh so I'm upgrading it to merely weird. The best thing I can say about it is that it's original, and it's not very long.
January 30, 2008
Someone recommended this to me. So far, it reminds me of Nathanael West. We shall see...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews