What a great breakdown of the novel! I was feeling a little empty after I finished reading and it was great how you brought us back to Wittgenstein's words and reminded us to throw away that ladder.
Insightful review, Chris. Thanks. I enjoyed Markson's book a great deal. Having studied Wittgenstein in college, I was fascinated by the way Markson fleshed out his early philosophical ideas. It's the only Markson I've read.
Great video. Just to point out one thing: Russels paradox isn’t about recursion; it’s perfectly fine for a set to contain itself. It’s the set of all sets which *do not* contain themselves, and then the question is whether or not that set contains itself (and that’s where we reach a contradiction).
I remember giving up on this very quickly, I didn't give it enough of a chance. I was foolish enough to try before I had finished Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, so serves me right!
Although I think it can stand alone, being at least acquainted with the world Wittgenstein imagines in the TLP does better context for understanding the constraints Markson imposed on himself in this one.
Superb video, as always! I'm a bit embarrassed that I still haven't read this one. I recently reread This Is Not A Novel which was fantastic, even the second time around, and I'm hoping to get to Reader's Block soon. Have a lovely weekend!
Thanks so much! I still haven’t read Reader’s Block either. Always great to hear from you. (I’ve got a review of Twenty Days of Turin in queue, from yet another of your recommendation.) Take care and enjoy your weekend too!
Another insightful video. Loving these!! Can you consider making a video on annotating books? I'm reading 'The Corrections' by Franzen and it's the first time I'm annotating. It's been a wonderful experience. It would be interesting to hear your views on the relevance of annotating books and how you do it. Take care!
Funny--someone else commented about me talking about my approach to annotating in books. I'm a huge advocate. Check out my video on John Williams's STONER and my video ON READING BIG BOOKS. I talk about it in both of those. I also have an upcoming video where I train the camera on the pages of a short story and talk through, with a pen, my reading process, which includes me annotating in real time. Curious to see if people find it useful.
I can't remember which Markson novel I read, but I think it was ribald and funny. I appreciate your review particularly because I had a far different sense of what this particular novel was and am now more inclined to read it (once I've read My Back Pages and...)...the proviso being: did it make you laugh? I need humor lately--pre-virus mental menstruation of indefinable descentcy or descentary...
You will really like My Back Pages (among the others)--Moore is such a genuinely lover of reading; it's bleeds through every review and essay. Did WM make me laugh? Well, not really. Not the way, say, Mason & Dixon has this week! But it didn't depress me either. Does that help?
Its sounds great! I'll try to look for that and hopefully someday I can read it too (though I'll probably end up not understanding it 😅) then I can read the other book as well! Thanks for the review! 😊📚👍🏻
I had a very good time reading this about a year ago. Hopefully your video will inspire others to take a look. The short background you give on Wittgenstein the philosopher should be enough of a jumping board for some, who may quail at something like that; though I don't think a very involved familiarity with Wittgenstein is necessary to be able to enjoy this work. P.S. - Now that I think of it, the afterword (I read the same edition) may be my favorite piece of writing by David Foster Wallace, whose prose generally doesn't do much for me.
Another thing: recently I was trying to think of other feats like this: books with just one character. Do you have books you could recommend that fit this description, by chance?
You’re quite right-a familiarity with Wittgenstein is certainly not a prerequisite for enjoying the book. I should’ve made that clear. And as for the quality of that DFW piece-it’s no wonder that particular issues of Review of Contemporary Fiction is a collector’s item now. So glad it’s reprinted in this paperback.
Hmmmmm. Dostoyevsky’s Notes from Underground and Gaddis’s Agapē Agape come to mind, though they are monologues more than stories. That’s a good question. I’ll have to think on it.
Many thanks! Yeah, I agree-I abandoned the background music idea. Though I used Schubert’s unfinished symphony in one of my videos on The Man without Qualities, which I thought clever. :-)
I'm a huge fan of Markson's postcard novels but admit I struggled with this. I have started to go back for a reread, since my own recently finished novella was about solipsism too. BTW would you not say that there are 5 postcard novels? Reader's Block, + WM + This Is Not A Novel + Vanishing Point + The Last Novel. Also, seems to me Wittgenstein is the most influential philosopher across fiction authors.
Very cool! Let me know what comes of the novella. I would say those are all the products of his index-card system, yes. Also, yes, for writers of the latter twentieth-century and beyond, Wittgenstein and Nietzsche are crucial influences, I'd say.
I just finished reading a conversation in which Bill Gass and John Gardner butt heads. Among other idiotic comments, Gardner said that you "can't" have a novel with only one character. Enter Wittgenstein's Mistress. And I'm sure there are others that I can't think of at the moment. Anyway, I've been meaning to read this one for a long.
Mic drop! Another commenter on here pointed out the same thing about a single character. I could only think of Notes from Underground and Agapē Agape, though those are monologues.
What a great breakdown of the novel! I was feeling a little empty after I finished reading and it was great how you brought us back to Wittgenstein's words and reminded us to throw away that ladder.
Thanks, Emilee! Glad to hear you got something out of it. Now to ascend the next unkicked ladder. 😁
Excellent. I just started reading this book and I'm enjoying it very much.
Right on! 👊
Insightful review, Chris. Thanks. I enjoyed Markson's book a great deal. Having studied Wittgenstein in college, I was fascinated by the way Markson fleshed out his early philosophical ideas. It's the only Markson I've read.
Thanks so much! Yes, reading the Tractatus and then seeing how Markson adapted his ideas into this novel was a real treat.
Great video. Just to point out one thing: Russels paradox isn’t about recursion; it’s perfectly fine for a set to contain itself. It’s the set of all sets which *do not* contain themselves, and then the question is whether or not that set contains itself (and that’s where we reach a contradiction).
Yes! Great book! Awesome pick as ever! I'm waiting forward to the next section of your bookshelf tour!
Thanks! I'm thinking of doing the science section next. What say you?
will be ordering this asap, sounds fantastic! thanks Chris.
You're welcome! Enjoy, and do let me know what you thought!
Hmm this sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing. Love how you call it his mistress! I will keep my eyes open for this one.
Thanks! Give it a shot and let me know what you thought!
Fantastic video as always! Your insights are keeping me sane during quarantine.
Thanks so much! That means a lot. Glad I can contribute to your mental stability. Take care!
I remember giving up on this very quickly, I didn't give it enough of a chance. I was foolish enough to try before I had finished Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, so serves me right!
Although I think it can stand alone, being at least acquainted with the world Wittgenstein imagines in the TLP does better context for understanding the constraints Markson imposed on himself in this one.
I've never read Markson but I'll definitely check it out! Thank you for the video!
Super! Merci! Let me know what you thought of the book.
Superb video, as always! I'm a bit embarrassed that I still haven't read this one. I recently reread This Is Not A Novel which was fantastic, even the second time around, and I'm hoping to get to Reader's Block soon. Have a lovely weekend!
Thanks so much! I still haven’t read Reader’s Block either. Always great to hear from you. (I’ve got a review of Twenty Days of Turin in queue, from yet another of your recommendation.) Take care and enjoy your weekend too!
Leaf by Leaf Thanks! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that surreal and hauntingly eerie little gem! 😁
I just ordered this book, for several reasons. One is that in my little stories, there is (almost) always the presence of a cat.
Haruki Murakami does the same thing ;-)
Superb review
Keep up the good work☘️
Thanks so much!
Another insightful video. Loving these!!
Can you consider making a video on annotating books? I'm reading 'The Corrections' by Franzen and it's the first time I'm annotating. It's been a wonderful experience.
It would be interesting to hear your views on the relevance of annotating books and how you do it.
Take care!
Funny--someone else commented about me talking about my approach to annotating in books. I'm a huge advocate. Check out my video on John Williams's STONER and my video ON READING BIG BOOKS. I talk about it in both of those. I also have an upcoming video where I train the camera on the pages of a short story and talk through, with a pen, my reading process, which includes me annotating in real time. Curious to see if people find it useful.
Thank u so much
🙏🏼
I can't remember which Markson novel I read, but I think it was ribald and funny. I appreciate your review particularly because I had a far different sense of what this particular novel was and am now more inclined to read it (once I've read My Back Pages and...)...the proviso being: did it make you laugh? I need humor lately--pre-virus mental menstruation of indefinable descentcy or descentary...
You will really like My Back Pages (among the others)--Moore is such a genuinely lover of reading; it's bleeds through every review and essay. Did WM make me laugh? Well, not really. Not the way, say, Mason & Dixon has this week! But it didn't depress me either. Does that help?
@@LeafbyLeaf Yes. I need the Pynchon laughter. Thanks.
There are also passages in A Naked Singularity that I still laugh about when they bubble up in my mind years later.
Its sounds great! I'll try to look for that and hopefully someday I can read it too (though I'll probably end up not understanding it 😅) then I can read the other book as well! Thanks for the review! 😊📚👍🏻
Thanks and you're welcome! Markson is a very unique writer. You won't read other books quite like his.
I had a very good time reading this about a year ago. Hopefully your video will inspire others to take a look. The short background you give on Wittgenstein the philosopher should be enough of a jumping board for some, who may quail at something like that; though I don't think a very involved familiarity with Wittgenstein is necessary to be able to enjoy this work. P.S. - Now that I think of it, the afterword (I read the same edition) may be my favorite piece of writing by David Foster Wallace, whose prose generally doesn't do much for me.
Another thing: recently I was trying to think of other feats like this: books with just one character. Do you have books you could recommend that fit this description, by chance?
You’re quite right-a familiarity with Wittgenstein is certainly not a prerequisite for enjoying the book. I should’ve made that clear. And as for the quality of that DFW piece-it’s no wonder that particular issues of Review of Contemporary Fiction is a collector’s item now. So glad it’s reprinted in this paperback.
Hmmmmm. Dostoyevsky’s Notes from Underground and Gaddis’s Agapē Agape come to mind, though they are monologues more than stories. That’s a good question. I’ll have to think on it.
This is it 👌
Thanks!
Square grid bookshelf
Cons - inefficient use of building materials and space
Pros - very strong, CAN CLIMB ON IT 😎
Lovely video, as always. I have to say, though, the music in the background can be a bit distracting. It's wrestling for my attention. :)
Many thanks! Yeah, I agree-I abandoned the background music idea. Though I used Schubert’s unfinished symphony in one of my videos on The Man without Qualities, which I thought clever. :-)
I'm a huge fan of Markson's postcard novels but admit I struggled with this. I have started to go back for a reread, since my own recently finished novella was about solipsism too. BTW would you not say that there are 5 postcard novels? Reader's Block, + WM + This Is Not A Novel + Vanishing Point + The Last Novel. Also, seems to me Wittgenstein is the most influential philosopher across fiction authors.
Very cool! Let me know what comes of the novella. I would say those are all the products of his index-card system, yes. Also, yes, for writers of the latter twentieth-century and beyond, Wittgenstein and Nietzsche are crucial influences, I'd say.
I just finished reading a conversation in which Bill Gass and John Gardner butt heads. Among other idiotic comments, Gardner said that you "can't" have a novel with only one character. Enter Wittgenstein's Mistress. And I'm sure there are others that I can't think of at the moment. Anyway, I've been meaning to read this one for a long.
Mic drop! Another commenter on here pointed out the same thing about a single character. I could only think of Notes from Underground and Agapē Agape, though those are monologues.
I feel like you didn’t quite grok this book; guess I’ll have to make my own essay
ty ty
Como eu vim parar aqui Caraí?
Bem-vinda. Fique calmo. Tudo ficará bem.
is it necessary to have read Logico Philosophicus to read Wittgenstein's Mistress?
Absolutely not.
Funny... my reward for graduating with a liberal arts degree was stupidity.
XD