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What Members Thought
to wound the autumnal city ... I have come to
Dhalgren is the
Overall I found it engaging, for reasons I cannot express; I was compelled to get back to reading, as compelled, perhaps as The Kid was to writing.
I read Dhalgren fr ...more
Dhalgren is the
Unreal CityThis is a difficult book to review, difficult to put one's thought's and feelings into words, the written word is perhaps insufficient to the task (a meme of this novel, I think). Following are some random thoughts.
Under the brown fog of a winter noon
—TS Elliot
Overall I found it engaging, for reasons I cannot express; I was compelled to get back to reading, as compelled, perhaps as The Kid was to writing.
I read Dhalgren fr ...more
How many times have a read this book now? Nine? Ten? It seems as though every time I read it I distinctly remember events or phrases happening in chapters in which they don’t happen.
In my view there are so many approaches one can take to reading this book. This time around I focused on considering whether I should rely on the unreliable narrator (or is there a narrator? I’m still not entirely convinced that The Kid is the narrator until the notebook section). And who is The Kid? Is he just a cha ...more
In my view there are so many approaches one can take to reading this book. This time around I focused on considering whether I should rely on the unreliable narrator (or is there a narrator? I’m still not entirely convinced that The Kid is the narrator until the notebook section). And who is The Kid? Is he just a cha ...more
Re-read.
Check out those one-star reviews! Hilarious.
Check out those one-star reviews! Hilarious.
"to wound the autmnal city."
Thus begins the discussion on society, sexuality, violence, civilization, rebuilding, individuality, identity, love, media, creation, destruction .... A must read for anyone who considers themself a writer.
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Second reading notes:
There is still much to be had in this book. I found it a little easier to read (for the most part) and almost easier to understand (much like someone watching Inception does). The second reading allows for a more in-depth stu ...more
Thus begins the discussion on society, sexuality, violence, civilization, rebuilding, individuality, identity, love, media, creation, destruction .... A must read for anyone who considers themself a writer.
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Second reading notes:
There is still much to be had in this book. I found it a little easier to read (for the most part) and almost easier to understand (much like someone watching Inception does). The second reading allows for a more in-depth stu ...more
The 2020 reread was ... tough. Not just because of the way Delany plays with language to tell the story of a disjointed time and space, but because of how true it rang amidst a pandemic with wild protests and violence in the streets (mainly perpetrated by cops, but also by rioters). There are times I feel like I'm in Bellona which was why I wanted to reread and also why it was hard to reread.
Also, I forgot how much sex there was, especially at the start of the book.
Even so, I'm still in awe of t ...more
Also, I forgot how much sex there was, especially at the start of the book.
Even so, I'm still in awe of t ...more
Just finished a re-read. After 30 some years. Still tremendously powerful. I don't 'understand' it all but I love it. Funny how some moments had stayed with me all this time, and other parts I'd completely forgotten - the end, for example - perhaps I didn't actually finish the 2nd read through?
Wish I could discuss this with people, but imagine I would be thrown out of book group if I suggested this one!
Not sure how modern sensibilities view it, with Denny being only 15, but I love that triangle ...more
Wish I could discuss this with people, but imagine I would be thrown out of book group if I suggested this one!
Not sure how modern sensibilities view it, with Denny being only 15, but I love that triangle ...more
My first Samuel Delany book, a swirling and beautiful world about a utopia full of the excitement and fright of youthful wonder and sexuality. I've read many of his books from novels to sci fi to criticism to autobiography and he stands as one of the most skilled and intelligent writers I've ever encountered...and a nice person to boot! Always recommended.
...more
Peroidic re-read inspired by Amazon ebook version sale.
What do you say about the experience of reading this book?
Jul 28, 2009
E
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Samirah
marked it as to-read
