Finally broke down and forked over the dough for this book. I’ve always had an odd interest in it, simply because it takes place in a fictionalized version of the town where I lived for about 7 years, and Wally Lamb was my first husband’s English teacher. At any rate, I’m finding it a good read so far; although one thing nags at me. He keeps repeating himself. I like the narrative style of the book, it flows nicely, etc., and I’m guessing that the fact that he repeats certain facts as if it’s the first time he’s mentioned them is just in keeping with this Everyday Joe type narration? But sometimes it bugs me - especially when the second time a conversation comes around, it takes up another page and a half. And we’ve already been there! Anyway, I am enjoying the book, but I came across something that has me confused.
Dominick (oh, and that spelling is driving me batty) is talking to Dr. Patel, reviewing the tape of her and Thomas’ session. She, of course, is trying to get his insight into what Thomas has been saying, reviewing his life history. This passage:
What the hell is the “More tea… Mrs. Calabash thing about”? It’s just right there in the middle of the passage, making absolutely no sense to me. The only thing that indicates that it probably is there on purpose is the fact that Dr. Patel prompted him. Is this something that will make sense further on in the book? Did I miss something earlier in the book that would have made it may sense? If it’s something that will make sense later, just let me know, and I’ll patiently keep on reading… Thanks!
Don’t worry you’ll find out what all that’s about and it will make sense.
I really enjoyed the book. I hope you do too. It’s a good read. I don’t remember whole passages of verbatim repetition though but maybe I’m just not that observant.
Thanks, I had a feeling that must be the case… So on I read
Oh, and the repetition isn’t verbatim. Just repetitive Not like he revisits the same exact conversation twice - that the characters actually have the same basic conversation twice - on two different occasions; neither of them giving any indication that they’ve discussed all this before. Ugh. I’ll have to see if I can find passages to illustrate.
I just finished this one last week, as a matter of fact. I did notice what you mean by repitition, although I took it more as the colloquial style of the book - it seemed like he was reminding you of what he’d told you last time, or like he wasn’t sure if he’d said it earlier. (Honestly, I admit I kinda took it as "Okay, Oprah viewers, I know it took you three months to get this far, and there’s a few hundred more pages to go, so do you all remember what happened? Shall I remind you?) So some of the book is in that conversational “remember that?” style, and some is more personal to the character, so you get the occaisional current-thought (one hates to say stream-of-consciousness) break-in like that Mrs. Floon/Mrs. Calabash thing. It’s explained later.
Fantastic book, though. I really enjoyed it, yellow O notwithstanding.