The Recognitions - Part II

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Discuss part II here

[Michael]

Started Part 2. Begins at a more staccato pace and yet still nothing is really happening. A few nee characters (or old ones I met and forgot in Part 1?) have appeared but both seem stuck in their neuroses and somewhat uninteresting. Otto made a brief drunken appearance with Ed. Esme has writers block - probably heroin induced. Ho hum...

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I just started part two as well. A different feel from part I. Basically shorter sections with anecdotes about people who were at the cocktail party in Part I. What I have started to do to stay focused is try and figure out what the specific point is of the section I am reading is (Sections being broken up when they put a gap between paragraphs). Once I have that figure out, I do my best to not let the stream of consciousness of some of the paragraphs throw me off.

[Michael]

Yeah, I noticed that too. Still, less fun than DFW or Pynchon

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

le_fino - you are definitely reading this faster than me, though! But, for now, we are pretty close!

[Michael]

I am reading Black Boy by Richard Wright in parallel.
I can't let it slide forever though as at some point I'll need to return it to the library :)

[Michael]

Oh, and you can just call me Fino :)

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

le_fino wrote: "Oh, and you can just call me Fino :)"

Sounds good, Fino! :)

le_fino wrote: "I can't let it slide forever though as at some point I'll need to return it to the library :)"

I can renew twice over the internet. Then, as long as no one else wants it, I can get it back. However, my library didn't have it so they got it from another library. If that is the case, when all my renewals run out, even if no one else wants it, they have to send it back and then that library will send it back again. Kinda silly! I actually almost had to do that with Infinite Jest!

[Michael]

LOL! I bought Infinite Jest and it sat accusingly for years neglected on my bookshelf for years before I finally read it last year.

[Jeff]

I have two copies of infinite jest lol. And I'm trying to keep up with you guys on the Recognitions but college is kinda kicking my ass lol

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

TheLongWait wrote: "I have two copies of infinite jest lol. And I'm trying to keep up with you guys on the Recognitions but college is kinda kicking my ass lol"

No excuse! The Recognitions is kicking our asses! ;)

[Jeff]

it IS a tough read

[Michael]

Part II is even harder to follow than Part I. The return of Wyatt to see Gwyon was particularly disappointing. The visit to the zoo, incomprehensible. I don't like Agnès the nosey neighbor one, very much. Argh.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

le_fino wrote: "Part II is even harder to follow than Part I. The return of Wyatt to see Gwyon was particularly disappointing. The visit to the zoo, incomprehensible. I don't like Agnès the nosey neighbor one, ver..."

You have surpassed me as I expected. I don't recognize the scenes you mentioned. However, I agree . . . I have less comprehension now then I had in part one. I would describe the part I just finished . . . but I am not sure I can. And, they still say the word "recognition" every few pages.

[Michael]

Particularly frustrating without the reward you get from Pynchon or Joyce

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

le_fino wrote: "Particularly frustrating without the reward you get from Pynchon or Joyce"

Speaking of Joyce - I am thinking of trying the notoriously unintelligible Finnegans Wake just so I can say I did it. What do you think?

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Just started on the section with Reverend Gwyon - totally lost!

[Jeff]

I love that section! I found it fun in hindsight, but definitely confusing

[Michael]

FW? Sure. Another GR friend wanted to do that in June. Will want to use a guide though. Will need to settle on one beforehand. Does June work?

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

le_fino wrote: "FW? Sure. Another GR friend wanted to do that in June. Will want to use a guide though. Will need to settle on one beforehand. Does June work?"

I could go for that - we can set it up as a buddy read on this group page so we can discuss it here easily. How does that sound?

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

So confused right now . . .

[Michael]

Finished Part II. Did not understand a fucking this except there were a bunch of parties where people got shitfaced and somehow Basil split his lip and wore the armor in Recktail's office or something and Wyatt's dad collapses and is replaced? Or something? Wtf?

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I don't DNF - but at only 50% - it is oh so tempting!

[Michael]

Keep going man!

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I pushed through 25 more pages today! At 50%!

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

The section on counterfeiting money is kinda cool

[Michael]

Kinda cool, yes. But unexciting too, no?

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Fino wrote: "Kinda cool, yes. But unexciting too, no?"

Excitement is definitely a word I have yet to associate with this book.

[Michael]

-chortles-

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Longest Christmas party ever!

[Jeff]

Right?!?!? But it's also hilarious!

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Holy cow - I think the party is finally over! Yes, amusing at points. Still very confusing, though!

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I made it to the end of part II! My favorite part of it was the last 10 pages or so . . . why did that part have to be only 10 pages while there was a 94 page rambling party I could not wait to end earlier in the section!?