21st Century Literature discussion

For those who want a little taste of Bob Thurber's writing before digging into his novel, here is an entry in the "25 words or less" category:

“Shipwrecked,” by Bob Thurber.

After we buried the captain, we salvaged the Victrola. It worked, though the mahogany was ruined. Half of us put on dresses. And we danced.

(Grabbed from this review: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs...)

Thurber has won numerous awards and accolades for his very short fiction. This novel is written with the same sort of sparse tightness. Did you find this flavored the content?

Yes! It reminded me of reading novels by poets. They bring an altogether different mindset, introducing something sensuous and ephemeral to the experience. In the same way, Thurber brings something unique with his mastery of the short fiction format. There's an intensity and focus unlike anything I've read before.

"Shipwrecked" is also 140 characters, so it could have been a tweet! Daniel, good comparison of novels by poets. Has that feeling.

I just wanted to give a quick note about how I intend to approach discussion of this book.

I don't think I want to break it up into sections. My plan is to start by discussing the writing rather than theme, event or subject and become more story specific as the month progresses. However, that is not a constraint I am extending to all of you. I invite whatever thoughts you may have as you have them.

The thing that has stuck with me since my first reading is that in spite of the author's assurance that everything was going to hell I kept hoping for these characters. Did the book's warning influence your read?

Robyn, I agree. I think that spare style is powerful. I love lyrical writing, but this compelling and I think, as artistic.

Paperboy in some way reminds me of Because It Is Bitter and Because It Is My Heart. I'm not equating them thematically or even in terms of the prose. But there is something about the way setting and period are depicted that paints a landscape that holds similar flavors. Has anyone else read both? Is there anything to it?

It's a little unrelated, but I loved how the setting and period were hammered home with little more than the space race and a busted console television.

I have just finished this book and I cannot believe how good it is. Who would've thought...? (Note to Deborah: how very right you were!)

Yes, the period details aid and abet the telling of Thurber's masterful storytelling, but what shines through for me is how Jack feels, and his responses. Thurber has perfectly captured the confusion of a child immersed in events way beyond his control; and how the symbiotic relationship he has with Kellie works. The character Kellie is all too real. I have had the misfortune to encounter several girls like this.

Deborah wrote: "Did the book's warning influence your read?”

I didn't see it! How did I miss it?

Actually, I very rarely read the blurb on the back of the book – or elsewhere – because I want to approach a book without any preconceptions. And I am glad I did this one. I honestly thought it was going to be just a story about a paper boy... Which explains why I resisted it for such a long time.

I too felt that the apartment was absolutely immediate, right down to the quality of the light.

Is it time to talk about Jack's mother?

A few months ago, another group read Bastard Out of Carolina. In the discussion, people mused, "How could her mother behave that way?" Anney looks like mother of the year in some ways when you compare her to Jack's mother. And yet, Rita is completely believable. Many of us have had an easier time of it than Jack. At least I hope so. Most of us have done better in the mother lottery. And yet. I completely believed this character. She was not improbable.

As though I was watching a freight train wreck in super slow motion..Unable to stop it. Unable to look away. Not wanting Jacks story to resonate with me, but being utterly powerless to stop it from doing so. Seeing every sentence as though looking inside every assorted box car going off a cliff. Helpless and impossibly hopeful at the same time. Disturbing attractions almost causing retreat Each lyrical paragraph a tiny vision unfolding into the epic story of an unforgettable boys life

It's not an easy book all the way through, but definitely worthwhile all the way.
Beautifully, put, Mike.

Deborah wrote: "A few months ago, another group read Bastard Out of Carolina. In the discussion, people mused, "How could her mother behave that way?" Anney looks like mother of the year in some ways when you compare her to Jack's mother. And yet, Rita is completely believable."

Anney at least cared about her daughter. Rita effectively abandons her children - when she gets the chance.

Rita was far from improbable. I found her entirely believable, and I'm a tough one to please in that respect. Her children are a burden of responsibility stemming from some injudicious life choices. She does seem to love them in some abstract sense of the word, but she hasn't developed enough—socially, emotionally, psychologically—to know how to translate that abstract ideal into action. Worse, she doesn't realize how her actions are harming her kids. Totally believable, and totally heartbreaking.

When I walked away from Paperboy, my reactions were a mix of appreciation for the writing, how it was written, the way it was both restrained and powerful, and an emotional jolt. For me the book resonated in a way that's hard to articulate. There's no oohing and boohooing over the fact that life is hard. It's just stated.

But my question today is, did Thurber's dry humor resonate for you?

Deborah wrote: "When I walked away from Paperboy, my reactions were a mix of appreciation for the writing, how it was written, the way it was both restrained and powerful, and an emotional jolt.

I agree with your reactions completely. Question about humor is interesting. For me, it was on the edge of too much, but by the end, it was just about right.

I also found Rita to be a true character to the point that I was not sure if I was reading memoir or fiction.

Apart from the obvious, (or even including if you wish) what were your thoughts on Kelly and on Jack's relationship with Kelly?

I thought one of the most articulated facets of Jacks relationship with Kelly was that they were allies. In many ways I think everything else flows from that.

I think you're right about the idea that they are a team, which siblings need to be in a dysfunctional home. I think the sickness in their relationship is further demonstration of the consequences of a broken home.

I appreciated the angle of what becomes normal when your own experience is so out of sync with the society around you. Ostracism certainly lends an added dimension to the discussion. I can't imagine Kelly being widely accepted into many social circles, if only because of her mother's history. Although unjust and unfair, Jack has more advantages in being male. And yet, his character is so strong that he still cares for his family, and accepts them as his "normal".

As much as I felt for Jack, I really pitied Kelly. You get the feeling that Jack has some optimistic streak or inner strength that will allow him to overcome anything the world throws at him. Kelly, on the other hand, has been beaten before life really began. I think she tries to be strong for Jack in her own way. I imagine she is using her mother (or playground stories about her mother) as a guiding principle. It's not as if she's really been given much else to work with...

Carl wrote: "I think you're right about the idea that they are a team, which siblings need to be in a dysfunctional home. I think the sickness in their relationship is further demonstration of the consequences ..."

I think this is beautifully illustrated in the section about Jack's model of their home.

I'm closing up a day late. What did you think of the structure of the book? The author calls the effect he wanted stroboscopic fiction.

How does this affect the reader and play with mood?

"Stroboscopic" is the perfect word to describe the structure, even if the effect is lost on me. I immediately (and wrongly) associate strobes with fast-paced, high-energy entertainment. When considered in a more functional perspective, though, it's hard to see otherwise.

I particularly liked this line (from Wikipedia) in relation to our discussion here: "Stroboscopes play an important role in the study of stresses on machinery in motion." Using machinery as a metaphor for Jack, I think this adds a new layer of interpretation that I hadn't considered before now.

The author was extremely successful on those terms. I think I dropped out of science class too soon.

I wanted to note that Thurber has a novella and a collection of short stories available in paperback now. I recommend both.
Nickel Fictions
Cinderella She Was Not

I'm coming a bit late probably, but I just wanted to share my impressions :)
I've read the novel and though I didn't really dislike it, I can't say I was impressed - and I can't help but looking at it as at a not-fully-realized piece of fiction.

The structure, for example, seems to me to be way too weak in relation to the topic. The way the events are recollected, as basically just a series of disturbing images, appears to me simply as the easiest way possible, a way which doesn't require too much effort, too much work - both on a human and on a merely literary level.
Robyn wrote: "Overall I found the structure of Paperboy to be really effective in keeping me engaged but not allowing the subject matter to overwhelm, which it could easily have done if explained in too much more detail. "
The structure surely is engaging. There's no time to get bored in Paperboy because there's hardly any time to get into the events as much as needed to fully relate on them.
This very reason prevents them from getting "overwhelming"; problem is, when you write a book about a kid who has sex with his sister, and who lives in an incredibly problematic family, surrounded by awful human beings, and you give all the details of some quite disturbing scenes, well - should you really preoccupy not to overwhelm your reader? I totally prefer extreme authors when they really are loyal to their extremism. Bret Easton Ellis, on a lower scale Palahniuk too.

Here's my full review, by the way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVXMJ...

Do you think the fact that you have a preference for classic lit informs your opinion here?

Ack. Sorry. Had you momentarily confused with another member. Sorry! As you were.

Way late to the party...but I finished this book today. I liked the way it was written, liked the way he described images of some things, but I can say I was uncomfortable during certain scenes. I think we can all guess which ones they were. :-) My feeling at this point is that some of those scenes would have been better if there were less details of action and instead gave the reader more insight into why Kelly did what she did. And how Jack really felt about it. He seemed to be ok with it, but then there were occasional hints otherwise.

So does everyone think Kelly is right about who her father is?

Today this appeared in Bob Thurber's updates:
Bob Thurber made a comment on Paperboy: A Dysfunctional Novel — Going out of print
10335948 " "Paperboy: A Dysfunctional Novel" is scheduled to go out of print at the end of April.

The publisher recently informed me that they won't be exercising their option to continue publication. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy should do so while they are still available. "

I find this news disappointing. I think Bob Thurber's publisher let him down in many ways, and is doing so again.

It's an odd book and not one written for popular appeal. But we've read things that have won prizes and acclaim that are not nearly as good. This book was never listed in the world catalog or sent out to libraries. It was just sort of left to languish. And that makes me sad. This news that it is going out of print makes me sadder still.

I hope Bob Thurber's next novels are given more nuturing than this one received, because I believe his work deserves it.

Absolutely. How very sad.

Deborah wrote: "...But we've read things that have won prizes and acclaim that are not nearly as good...."

A tough book. But what you say is so true!

Sad and disappointing indeed...

That is terrible. I hope it is a sign that people are more interested in ebooks rather than a sign that people don't like good literature anymore.

If this happens to this kind of writer, millions of good writers need to give up now!

Paperboy is being reissued by Bob Thurber's new publisher. It will be interesting to see if it gets better distribution.