I tried to read the Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B once and could not figure it out at all (granted I didn’t try for too long). Then, since someone kept telling me that I’d love him because he’s such a great Irish writer (I know he was born in New York), I decided to tackle something considerably smaller, The Saddest Summer of Samuel S. I still didn’t really understand. I mean, I got the gist, but I don’t understand his style. Does anyone have any words of wisdom as to why I can’t understand him (besides me being an idiot)?
Also, I have Beastly Beatitudes and the Onion Eaters. Which one should I read?
I think I share your problem! I think I actually gave the “Beastly Beatitudes…” away - and I don’t often part with books! I seem to recall the “Onion Eaters” being a bit better, but I’d have to admit that it’s unlikely I’d bother trying Donleavy again. There was just something very irritating about the style, and I had the impression that in some schoolkid way, he was tryinng to be shocking (and failing.)
Try “Schultz” if it doesn’t bring you into the Donleavy’s world, it is at the least a hilarious and great book. In any case; by my simple taste his other titles should best be left unread for they are indeed rather tedious and demanding.
You might want to place OP’s like this in Cafe Society in the future, but I am sure that someone of close to omnipotent power will make a stronger point in that direction very soon.
The Unexpurgated Code is brilliant, but doesn’t really count as fiction. I managed to get through the Ginger Man, but found it a bit of a struggle. That was years and years ago - I’ll have to go back and have another look.
Thanks y’all. The funny thing is that I put this in Cafe Society at first and got no response, so I put it here and got moved to Cafe Society. At least I got some feedback!