A few weeks back, we wrapped “The Gravity’s Rainbow Deathmarch,” in which some 13 or 14 of us went screaming across Pynchon’s notoriously challenging uber-book.
Mark yer calendars. Two weeks from today — on May 31st — tanned, rested, and ready, we’ll be starting up Deathmarch 2. This time out, we’re tackling something a wee bit lighter and a whole lot shorter. By its rep, Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire is a wild, one-of-a-kind read. Anthony Burgess says it’s a “brilliant confection.” Mary McCarthy, never one to be out done by Anthony Burgess, says: “This centaur work, half-poem, half-prose . . . is a creation of perfect beauty, symmetry, strangeness, originality and moral truth. Pretending to be a curio, it cannot disguise the fact that it is one of the great works of art of this century.” And various folks I know who’ve already read it say: “Great stuff!”
Here’s how the PFDM works: every Tuesday, I’ll leave a short post here on the site. If you’re reading along, drop by and post a comment — something insightful or erudite, random blather, or just a quick “hey now!” That’s it — that’s the whole deal. The book looks like a great ride. And the whole adventure should take around 7 weeks or so.
All are welcome — good friends, new acquaintances, and outright strangers. And yes, my old enemy, my nemesis: The Man with Five Hands: you are welcome too. The Big Idear is to use the momentum of the pack to get into books we might otherwise miss.
There are two main bargain editions online — The Everyman’s Library edition (an inexpensive hardcover) and the Vintage paperback. Either will work — I’ll include page references for both when we set our weekly targets.
And say, if you’re thinking of marching along, why not be here now and practice commenting at this very moment, by leaving one on this very thread. As an added bonus, it’ll help us get a rough head count so we know how much food and water to pack in. Metaphorically speaking.
See you out on that winding road…. -CV
“The Pale Fire Deathmarch” Exhortation!
Comments
22 responses to ““The Pale Fire Deathmarch” Exhortation!”
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I presume the reading targets will be as discussed—a section of poem along with relevant commentary?
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that was the original plan, but I’ve talked with some folks who’ve already read the book who argued convincingly that it’s better to just tackle it front to back, so I think we’ll just go in sequence….
also: you are like the fastest commenter in the west. or is that the midwest? -
i am so in! i already bought the book, a first edition that contains a lock of nabokov’s hair, and finger nail clippings.
seriously, i’m in. although, i have to say that i read the first few lines to my one-year old son, my wife, and our nannie, and only our son logan had any idea what they meant. he seemed intrigued, but it could have been gas.
is there a saturday morning cartoon or movie version that i could see first? -
I’m always looking forward to a good deathmarch particularly when I’ve spent too much time in Los Angeles. We’ve only got the botox-riddled deathmotorcruise here, which is fine so long as you don’t mind being shot at.
Stellasauce
a/k/a Roxana -
Just heard “The Police’”‘s version of “Don’t stand so close to me” on my Fm Radio yesterday, crusing in my brand new ’81 Buick LeSabre, sipping on Gin and Juice (wait that is out of context with the era)…sipping on Stewarts root beer and bubble yum with Spider eggs, and thinking back on those lyrics, by Sting, “in that book by nabokov”.. Ah I yearn for the old days of Snoop dog and cd players, corded phones and Gulf wars..I’m in!
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Did the GRDM solo. Looking for company this time round. Have always talked myself out of Nabokov ’til now. I’m psyched, Vladimir! See you soon.
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I am so totally the shadow of the waxwing slain by the false azure of the windowpane!
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I’m always up for a little escapism! Count me in.
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i’ll be there.
i’ll bring the freeze-dried ice cream and transistor radio. -
More than a little terrified, but count me in!
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pale fire lures me where no rainbow could–I’m in!
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Perfect timing, as I’m just now recovering from the first deathmarch. Assuming I survive this one, it will be interesting to see what the third book in the “Twisted Authors from Cornell” series will be.
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Consider me exhorted. I’m in.
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Oh, goody, an excuse to go to the bookstore. And some surreal escapism to distract me from my political pessimism. Thank you, CecilVortex.com!
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I simply can not pass up the chance to read Pale Fire with its glimpses of Zembla – “a paradise whose skies were the color of hell-flames”.
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To the extent that I have a religion, I guess it’s rastacontrarian. So just to be contrary, I found a QPB edition. Last numbered page is 315 (the “Zembla” index entry). So now I can ask “Who is John Shade?” with the best of them. And with Cecil.
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i too will have fun being out of step. my last page is 214–and it’s a “berkly books” edition, printed in ’81. the pages have a pleasant old-paper caramelly smell and look like they might disintegrate if exposed to sunlight. good thing i never leave my cave.
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i believe that the police mis-pronounce nabocov’s name in that song.
i’m not buying the book until may 31st, so there. -
Not sure if i said i was in earlier. if not, “In.”
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I found a Putnam 1962 edition which has an Index listing. Beginning with; A., Baron, Oswin Affenpin, last Baron of Aff, a puny traitor, 286. I am armed and ready.
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I’m in. I guess I will have to satisfy myself with this one until you have the courage to propose “The Magic Mountain Deathmarch.”
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wippeezoozie, I’m looking forward to the trek. I have an everyman’s library edition with no less and no more than 315 pages in it.
(the wippeezoozie thing is a bit of a nervous tic. I’ll be prefacing all my comments with it)
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