Sobriquet 52.19

Here's an odd thing: although I am on my sixth or seventh reading of Disgrace, I am still finding new things to think about. It's pretty crazy, really. No matter how simple the book seems, I just keep finding more stuff to ponder. And that's what I'll be doing a bit more of before bed tonight.

For tomorrow: Plot out a bit more of the chapter and, if possible, write some of the damn thing.

Comments

From Minxy:

I think it makes sense that you continue to find more things to ponder, especially when reading it just to read it again (without looking for specific material relevant to your disseratation). When you read it for dissertation material, it's possible that you read it with a blind eye toward themes and passages that wouldn't work into your discussion. Those themes are probably popping forward now that you're reading it just to refresh yourself on the book itself, not just your discussion material. :)
Anonymous said…
You can never step into the same river twice.

There's books I have read ten times, sometimes more, and every time I have completely different interpretations of the same scenes written on the side of the page or between lines. I am sure for the writer this is either a thrilling or terrifying aspect that is applied to any type of text; the fact it can be a different story everytime it is read depending on the readers mindset.

That may make writing a dissertation more relaxing or infuriating, I hope for you it is the former.
So very true, Anonymous Reader. I do rather enjoy the dynamic you describe, especially as it pertains to Disgrace. As Ron Charles so aptly puts it, "the novel's title begins to refract meaning in a dozen directions" the moment one begins to think about it. And that's just one aspect of the text. The book is just so richly layered that the emotional and intellectual meaning of it is never exhausted; it's awesome.

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