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The Learned Disguise
Arthur Forrest is the name of the protagonist. He was but a young scholar, confined to his own skull, as his intellectual pursuits slowly drained the vibrancy of his youth. Abroad, his life appeared orderly and dignified, but soon all composure slowly withered as he sensed the presence of Veda.
Inspired by Goethe's Faust, The Learned Disguise is a literary portrait of a young man's journey of dealing with inner conflicts, falling in love, and discovering his life's calling as a writer.
Inspired by Goethe's Faust, The Learned Disguise is a literary portrait of a young man's journey of dealing with inner conflicts, falling in love, and discovering his life's calling as a writer.
162 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2019
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549 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 30, 2020
i came really hard in my pants several times while reading it. Would recommend.
April 1, 2021
No discernable talent. All I'm seeing is someone who wants to write but can't write. I'm seeing the living image of mediocrity...
May 19, 2021
“No fumes in my room!”
‘Learned Disguise’ is hard to read. It is like diary entries in the fact that it is all stiff and hardly stretches out into anything tangible, other than the image of a writer at his desk putting those fleeting ideas down. These sections should be doubly long to give meaning to the many vague sentences. A lot of unclear moments steal time when you have to go over them twice or three times and things are still left to the reader's imagination.
It is also like a diary where Waldun keeps forgetting to start a sentence so adds the start at the end, it becomes Yoda talk (the overuse of commas in all the wrong places also hinders it). I wish I had had a pencil to write an editor’s set of notes.
The story is broken up into chunks representing varying days when they are supposed to have been written on (headings of "26th of April" etc.). These chunks are often on similar things, which, again, provide the image of a guy over a diary. Would've been more engaging if these thoughts were framed inside eventful recollections (as they were a couple times), like the tramping in the wilderness, and the time when Veda steals ‘Paradise Lost.’
The essence of the book is quaintly charming. The editor was just sh*te.
It seems like every description is an attempt at being as original as possible by going into abstract territory. Calling a lamplight scattered rays instead of a beam, and an over reliance of many words - "zeal," and "rays" every other time there is a light source mentioned.
There is a moment which can be read like Arthur (MC) is carrying the love interest on his back like a mother sloth with her child along a tree trunk. That’s a funny image.
The scene in the bar (w/ jazz) was almost nice. The style of writing present in the book works best when from drunk POV? Maybe he was always drunk then fixed it from this point on? It persists.
A character says “afternoonified.” If Felix is real and I were Felix I’d be sad to be the Felix in this edition of ‘Learned Disguise.’
I found a sentence on 199 with over twenty words that doesn’t have a comma! Rare.
Yoda talk, too much.
In good fortune with Waldun’s more recent writings he has honed simplicity down to a decent point to branch back out from.
‘Learned Disguise’ is hard to read. It is like diary entries in the fact that it is all stiff and hardly stretches out into anything tangible, other than the image of a writer at his desk putting those fleeting ideas down. These sections should be doubly long to give meaning to the many vague sentences. A lot of unclear moments steal time when you have to go over them twice or three times and things are still left to the reader's imagination.
It is also like a diary where Waldun keeps forgetting to start a sentence so adds the start at the end, it becomes Yoda talk (the overuse of commas in all the wrong places also hinders it). I wish I had had a pencil to write an editor’s set of notes.
The story is broken up into chunks representing varying days when they are supposed to have been written on (headings of "26th of April" etc.). These chunks are often on similar things, which, again, provide the image of a guy over a diary. Would've been more engaging if these thoughts were framed inside eventful recollections (as they were a couple times), like the tramping in the wilderness, and the time when Veda steals ‘Paradise Lost.’
The essence of the book is quaintly charming. The editor was just sh*te.
It seems like every description is an attempt at being as original as possible by going into abstract territory. Calling a lamplight scattered rays instead of a beam, and an over reliance of many words - "zeal," and "rays" every other time there is a light source mentioned.
There is a moment which can be read like Arthur (MC) is carrying the love interest on his back like a mother sloth with her child along a tree trunk. That’s a funny image.
The scene in the bar (w/ jazz) was almost nice. The style of writing present in the book works best when from drunk POV? Maybe he was always drunk then fixed it from this point on? It persists.
A character says “afternoonified.” If Felix is real and I were Felix I’d be sad to be the Felix in this edition of ‘Learned Disguise.’
I found a sentence on 199 with over twenty words that doesn’t have a comma! Rare.
Yoda talk, too much.
In good fortune with Waldun’s more recent writings he has honed simplicity down to a decent point to branch back out from.
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April 5, 2021OK RC WALDUN YOU DID NOT REVIVE THE BEAT GENERATION WITH THIS ONE
May 1, 2021
An absolute masterpiece of high literature, coming from the avant-garde writers of Sydney (writer of this piece being Mr. Waldun), The Learned Disguise is a deep analysis of the human condition while at the same time being a beatifully written depictions of self destructive thinking, effects of romantic relationships on the human psyche and struggle of a young, nascent writer pushing himself to the limit. It's sublime prose not only enhances the captivating plot and profound protagonist, it also shows us what a good literature is capable of.
One must simply read it to understand the sheer effort put into this work by the Mr. Waldun. From the first page he arouses the reader with awe inspiring use of his big, long, thick pen(i)cil. While I was reading this great text I couldn't hold myself from releasing it, setting it free, as if there was nothing more I wanted from this life. And I did. I'm not ashamed. Here it lies, white , glue-like liquid, poured from my limb, my flesh was shaking from the shock. Nothing felt this good before. Nothing, nothing but the Waldun, and his big pen(is).
I regret nothing.
One must simply read it to understand the sheer effort put into this work by the Mr. Waldun. From the first page he arouses the reader with awe inspiring use of his big, long, thick pen(i)cil. While I was reading this great text I couldn't hold myself from releasing it, setting it free, as if there was nothing more I wanted from this life. And I did. I'm not ashamed. Here it lies, white , glue-like liquid, poured from my limb, my flesh was shaking from the shock. Nothing felt this good before. Nothing, nothing but the Waldun, and his big pen(is).
I regret nothing.
November 12, 2020
The author write as the words are coming from the ass. Broken ass english. No wonder he is taking all the copies away. Storing it with the remaining words.
All the positives reviews are from brainless npcs who watch braindead booktubers to learn how to think about books.
All the positives reviews are from brainless npcs who watch braindead booktubers to learn how to think about books.
November 8, 2020
I love how wholesome the story is and how different it is from reading a book back in the olden times and a book today because it's understandable and captivating. It feels contemporary yet classic.
If you follow the author's Youtube channel, somehow throughout reading the story, I'm pretty sure you'd feel as if there are inserts of R.C. Waldun's lessons/advocacies on youtube in the story itself. It is straight to the point and inspiring with not too many details of what is going around and somehow reading this made me resonate with the main character, Arthur in learning how to grow and still being satisfied by the littlest of things. The slow pace of this story also makes the reader feel as if they are a part of Arthur's journey.
The love story however and scenes with Veda felt too repetitive and complex.
If you follow the author's Youtube channel, somehow throughout reading the story, I'm pretty sure you'd feel as if there are inserts of R.C. Waldun's lessons/advocacies on youtube in the story itself. It is straight to the point and inspiring with not too many details of what is going around and somehow reading this made me resonate with the main character, Arthur in learning how to grow and still being satisfied by the littlest of things. The slow pace of this story also makes the reader feel as if they are a part of Arthur's journey.
The love story however and scenes with Veda felt too repetitive and complex.
July 4, 2021
I'm sad to see that 'The Learned Disguise' has received a lot of terrible reviews because it prevents so many readers from accessing such an admirable debut work.
I've really enjoyed following Waldun's YouTube videos and understanding the process behind how he created the book. As a self-published debut novel, published when Waldun was only 19, written while he was completing his HSC (how on earth he found the time and energy to write, I have no idea!), I think it's a remarkable book. While the book is in need of more careful editing, don't let that stop you from enjoying the story. The plot is clever, the characters are complex and intentionally developed. It's a heart-warming story for any lover of literature.
Such a tremendous achievement, Robin. I'm looking forward to L'academie. You're a talented author with great potential. Keep writing!
I've really enjoyed following Waldun's YouTube videos and understanding the process behind how he created the book. As a self-published debut novel, published when Waldun was only 19, written while he was completing his HSC (how on earth he found the time and energy to write, I have no idea!), I think it's a remarkable book. While the book is in need of more careful editing, don't let that stop you from enjoying the story. The plot is clever, the characters are complex and intentionally developed. It's a heart-warming story for any lover of literature.
Such a tremendous achievement, Robin. I'm looking forward to L'academie. You're a talented author with great potential. Keep writing!
December 3, 2023
The first 60-70 pages are meaningless and the love interest is redundant as well. The last 30 or so pages were nice. Timur and Felix were nice characters.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews