Brain Pain discussion

Chapter 1 – 3: ‘Bow Down’, ‘La Somnambule’, and ‘Night Watch’ p. 3 – 70

Felix Volkbein enters the world, circa 1880, just moments before his mother Hedvig departs for good. At a party in Berlin, Felix encounters an Irish doctor from the Barbary Coast. The Doctor of St. Sulpice throws water in the face of Robin Vote and Felix is moved to marry her. Wandering Robin gives birth to Felix’s son, but decides she would prefer a girlfriend, et voilà! - Nora Flood. Slipping back in time, we hear the tale of Nora and Robin.


To avoid spoilers, please restrict your comments to p. 3 – 70.

Is nobody else reading it? I hadn't noticed it in the reading schedule or I would've waited for the group read.
How are you finding it so far?
Just writing some random thoughts from memory:
The first thing that struck me was the baroque prose & how in minimal sentences it brought alive the entire history of a character- Felix's for example. The very first few pages not only gave sharp characterisation but also the theme of conformity,falsehood- of being something that you are not,more tragic in Felix's case as he is trying to live up to a legacy that was never his to begin with!

When I watched The Conformist,I thought of the Garden of Forking Paths but more than that I thought of Nightwood– remember those scenes of the beautiful Dominique Sanda & Stefania Sandrelli together,esp.the dance?
Also that movie reinforced the theme of Nightwood– Trying to live a lie but ultimately falling apart under the pressure.
Both the childbirth related details were disturbing,as if the writer had something against motherhood.
I felt that the Paris outdoor scenes were the most vibrant one in the book cause otherwise this book explores more the landscapes of the mind than actual locations. How different do you find the Paris as depicted in this book & as you see it now?
More thoughts on the characters later.
P.S.
If others are not reading cause they don't have the text,I'll gladly share the book.

Is nobody else reading it? I hadn't noticed it in the reading schedule or I would've waited for the group read.

It's on my list, but I have so many other books before it that I've put it off for a while. Besides, the one copy at my Uni. library is out and I'm not sure when it'll be back. But I'll get to it sometime! :)

Mala wrote: "Is nobody else reading it? I hadn't noticed it in the reading schedule or I would've waited for the group read.
How are you finding it so far?
Just writing some random thoughts from memory:
The fir..."

I haven't finished the book, but I must confess I'm completely surprised at how great the writing is. Nightwood is an under-appreciated and undiscovered masterpiece that I would put on par with Virginia Woolf, although Barnes is writing the NC-17 version...

I need to watch The Conformist* again to answer the rest of your questions - maybe tonight...


*IMDB description here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065571/?...

I hope i'm not too late :)

There is a section that i need a little help with. Can someone tell me what the french in this sentence means?

"A book was lying on the floor beneath her hand. The book was the memoirs of the Marquis de Sade; a line was underscored: Et lui rendit pendant sa captivité les milles services qu'un amour dévoué est seul capable de rendre, and suddenly into his mind came the question: 'What is wrong?'"

Its from ‘La Somnambule’

Mekki wrote: "I hope i'm not too late :)

There is a section that i need a little help with. Can someone tell me what the french in this sentence means?

"A book was lying on the floor beneath her hand. The book..."

Essentially it says:

And gave him during his captivity the thousand services that devoted love alone can make



hope that helps...

Jim wrote: "Mekki wrote: "I hope i'm not too late :)

There is a section that i need a little help with. Can someone tell me what the french in this sentence means?

"A book was lying on the floor beneath her ..."

Thanks, it helped.

The use of language is pretty intense in the first three chapters. I liked this bit.

"He found that his love for Robin was not in truth a selection; it was as if the weight of his life had amassed one precipitation. He had thought of making a destiny for himself, through laborious and untiring travail. Then with Robin it seemed to stand before him, without effort."

In chapter 2 ‘La Somnambule’
It looks like robin is suffering from Postpartum depression