Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
discussion
Will you please be quiet, please ? BR Maya, Nick & Sofia 6th Feb 2016
Nick wrote: "THEY ARE NOT YOUR HUSBAND -Fuck you, Earl.
Well, I guess what is happening here is a man has lost control of his life. He's no longer of value because of his lack of employment. He's trying to ..."
There is more than silence from her, she also stops eating. I don't know if it's something she wanted to do though, or something she did for him. I did get the feeling that she saw him though, she knows who he is.
Good morning beautiful onesSome pictures in the book are sad, so i thought I'd introduce some chocolate.
Nick wrote: "ARE YOU A DOCTOR?I think I'm too dumb for this one. I just don't get it. Maybe it's brilliant. I have no idea."
I got the impression he was living a very reclusive life. And his wife was just a drunk voice on the phone in the entire story. So just hearing someone else saying his name on the phone disturbed his balance and he realized how lonely he was.
The woman was equally lonely and maybe a little bit crazy?
Sofia wrote: "Good morning beautiful onesSome pictures in the book are sad, so i thought I'd introduce some chocolate.
"
Good morning :D
Yum!
NOBODY SAID ANYTHINGUm, I'm not sure what this one meant. Something to do with wholes and halves? What did the conversation his parents had in the kitchen in the end mean?
I'm counting on Nick to decode it. :)
Yes he'd better - maybe he's into fishing :D
NOBODY SAID ANYTHING -This one brings the others into sharper focus. I think it can only be understood in relation to the others as it continues the theme of stepping outside of your own life. The boy seems to be doing whatever he can to get out of his emotional situation - jerking off, watching T.V., reading fantasy novels, etc.
I think the cutting of the fish into two halves is interesting. Is this meant to highlight R.'s being pulled in two directions by his fighting parents?
Yeah and with the Solomon solution, getting a halve is like not having anything at all. Seperated parents would mean a different life. Maybe he is thinking also of his own seperation from the family as he grows up.
SIXTY ACRES -There is a lot of internal conflict in this one. I think that the land is equal to tradition, which he wants to break with, but he feels a lot of guilt and anxiety about that wish.
WHAT'S IN ALASKA -I loved this one. I think he's trapped in his marriage. He almost gets free with his new shoes, but then they are ruined. Good stuff!
Nick wrote: "NOBODY SAID ANYTHING -I think the cutting of the fish into two halves is interesting. Is this meant to highlight R.'s being pulled in two directions by his fighting parents?"
Yes, and also this read a lot like coming of age story. He's torn between childhood (went fishing because that's what he used to do with his dad) and adulthood.
SIXTY ACRES - agree with what you said about the land. He wants out because the responsibility is too big but at the same time he's scared what he'd do without it. No ties will remain.This was a very good story.
Sixty Acres - i keep thinking about what that landcmeant to them as an Indian family. If he gives itcup itcwoukd be like giving up what tgey had gained. Income from leasing would help them. Would love them to see that using the land this way is ok for them.
WHAT'S IN ALASKAI agree Carl and Mary are not made for each other (her facial expressions and comments are an indication enough of that, setting aside the matter of Jack.)
I wonder who will go with Mary to Alaska. Maybe it will be Jack.
It's probably better to be high rather than read about people who are high :D
WHAT'S IN ALASKAAh, yes, the old shoes were uncomfortable, the new ones ruined.
I don't think anyone's going to Alaska. That was Mary's attempt to end the affair with Jack but it didn't work.
I wonder why was Carl the only one who didn't get high? At least he seemed with pretty clear head. Does it mean he was the only one who saw what was going on?
That's an interesting take Maya. I thought he was to apart from Mary to take part in the 'party'.Why do you say it was an attempt to end it with Jack?
I just watched this http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/?...quite good - if you ever see this, we can talk about the end :)
Sofia wrote: "That's an interesting take Maya. I thought he was to apart from Mary to take part in the 'party'.Why do you say it was an attempt to end it with Jack?"
If Mary went to Alaska with her husband Carl the affair with Jack would end. But I thought at the party she changed her mind.
NIGHT SCHOOLI thought what he read in the book about the man dreaming of a man having a nightmare - that's how he felt too.
Are there stories getting more symbolic or what?
Maya wrote: "Sofia wrote: "That's an interesting take Maya. I thought he was to apart from Mary to take part in the 'party'.Why do you say it was an attempt to end it with Jack?"
If Mary went to Alaska with ..."
Hence the title. She is challenging Carl to show her what she will have, him. Hmmmm ok I get that.
Maya wrote: "NIGHT SCHOOLI thought what he read in the book about the man dreaming of a man having a nightmare - that's how he felt too.
Are there stories getting more symbolic or what?"
Yeah but I'm getting lost...as regards to meaning that is.
The man inside the dream recognizes the figure behind the window - it's his best friend. But the man having the nightmare does not recognize this person. So he remains paralyzed with fear. The way I understood it everything feels unfamiliar to the narrator. What he once knew doesn't seem to be true anymore or it doesn't matter. He's stuck, no plans for the future. He can only plan the next couple of hours before sleep ...
COLLECTORSSo, the man with the vacuum cleaner: did he take the letter because it was from collectors and he just wanted to give Mr Slater some more time to breathe? I wonder why he laughed when he entered the house and saw there was nothing in it? He could've just left, his effort was meaningless. Except maybe he saw a desperate man and wanted to make him feel a bit better.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN SAN FRANCISCO?Eh, I don't know. People assuming and speculating things about other people based on their own views ...
THE STUDENT’S WIFE
Not sure what the title means but this:
"Not in pictures she had seen nor in any book she had read had she learned a sunrise was so terrible as this." !!
She didn't have much hope, did she?
PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES
Ok, this one was hilarious. The Morgans were more upset that they were not part of Myers' books, that their stories were not appreciated than by what the Myerses have done to their house.
Because they have willingly let someone have access to their personal belongings. They were trying so hard to impress the writer with their stories. I imagined them rehearsing this conversation many times before.
Maya wrote: "WHAT DO YOU DO IN SAN FRANCISCO?Eh, I don't know. People assuming and speculating things about other people based on their own views ...
THE STUDENT’S WIFE
Not sure what the title means but t..."
Ugh. That line from the student's wife. So amazing!
Sofia wrote: "I just watched this http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/?...quite good - if you ever see this, we can talk about the end :)"
I missed this comment earlier.
yes, I've seen it and I liked it a lot. I was impressed with Brit Marling after The East that I watched all the movies she was in. She not only acts but writes.
Maya wrote: "COLLECTORSSo, the man with the vacuum cleaner: did he take the letter because it was from collectors and he just wanted to give Mr Slater some more time to breathe? I wonder why he laughed when h..."
I did not see that, in fact i was puzzled why he took the letter and why Slater let him. What you say makes sense. :)
Maya wrote: "Sofia wrote: "I just watched this http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/?...quite good - if you ever see this, we can talk about the end :)"
I missed this comment earlier.
yes, I've seen ..."
Going to look for The East.
(view spoiler)
WHAT DO YOU DO IN SAN FRANCISCO?He does seem to think of work as a barrier, as a cure to pain, life.
He has stories where the character has no wife, no work and those are despairing ones.
The Student's Wife
Why the title, is he a student still, they have children. They seemed older. I liked the closeness they had. Is she ill, pains, cannot sleep?
Put yourself in my Shoes.
I wonder how the Myers had the gall to go to the Morgans and how they the Morgans welcomed them and told stories instead as if the Myers appreciation would be enough payment. I liked this one. Reminded me of that film about two couples who met to politely discuss the child of one bullying the other's and it end up as a free for all :D
I had no doubt the Myers went through the personal belongings of the Morgans. And they didn't see any problem with invading that privacy so they didn't feel guilty. They just were not nice people. But the Morgans were so vain. I thought they were angry because they were probably telling everyone that there's a writer living in their house, someone famous, but then they were never mentioned in his work.
Sofia wrote: "Maya wrote: "Sofia wrote: "I just watched this http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/?...quite good - if you ever see this, we can talk about the end :)"
I missed this comment earlier.
ye..."
(view spoiler)
Haha a dedication in one of his books would be the favorite topic for all their parties : D
JERRY AND MOLLY AND SAM -I don't get this one at all. I do know this guy is an asshole.
Nick wrote: "JERRY AND MOLLY AND SAM -I don't get this one at all. I do know this guy is an asshole."
What I got from this one was that Al thought the dog would be the beginning of the solution of his problems. Twice. And he was wrong twice. He just fixated on something easily fixable but not in any way related to his troubles although he convinced himself it was. That's why I think the title has the names of two strangers he meets and his childhood dog.
Maya wrote: "WHY, HONEY?[spoilers removed]
THE DUCKS
[spoilers removed]"
Why, Honey?
I never thought that, Maya, but now I do! That's a very interesting take on the story.
The Ducks
I think this is the most symbolic story in the collection. Lots of hints about connection and letting go of that connection and accepting death.
WHY, HONEY?I meant that he was the mysterious man who sent a letter to the mother. Checking what info she'd reveal to a stranger. Not sure if that's clear from my comment above.
THE DUCKS
Yeah, for me the clash between symbolism and triviality was too big here. Didn't quite work for me.
Jerry and CoI agree Nick - he is an asshole. I think the dog recognised this and did not go back. With some people you cannot do anything.
I felt sorry for him when he cried "is there still a chance for me?" But he does jump from ine situation to another like a butterfly always thinkibg that this will solve things, like you said Maya. I'm sure that if the pizza girl had given him the nod he would have gone with her too.
Why HoneyI did think he or his envoy could find her with that letter. But as you say it could totally be him play cat and mouse. It would be something he would enjiy i thibk.
This one was scary. What do you do if you raise a monster, quite capable and willing to turn on you?
The DucksI don't know what he meant with that end but i liked it. In this one we had work, a home, a wife, a good relationship, still the bad bits of life came by, death. No escape from the bad but I do think that the bad bits are better if shared. Any otger symbols are lost on me I'm afraid. What is the yse of symbols i don't recognise, unless these are all subliminal : D
Been on a ferry ride, now I'm back, curled up and doing the rest :)
How about this?"We'll just have to love each other," that'sit right there girl, that's the trick regardless of work, life, in a spot, etc
I liked this too :D
I did not see he had a problem with his wife, more with himself, being content with himself, knowing himself and deciding accordingly. Why did you see that Maya?
Sofia wrote: "Been on a ferry ride, now I'm back, curled up and doing the rest :)"
Sounds great! Glad you had a nice Sunday :)
Sofia wrote: "How about this?"We'll just have to love each other," that'sit right there girl, that's the trick regardless of work, life, in a spot, etc
I liked this too :D
I did not see he had a problem with..."
Yes, he had a problem with himself imo.
His wife saying: we'll just have to stay alive, love each other - I think she sensed he was looking for a place to be alone with his thoughts, that he was a little lost, and maybe even drifting away from her.
But most of the characters in this collection have the same problem. It's like they are all stuck in a place in their lives and they don't know how they got there, they don't know if they can fix anything from the past or how to move forward.
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These two need to f***!"
Definitely. Better than ham and crackers at midnight..