Brain Pain discussion

This discussion covers Part I, page 3 – 77


In this fictional mash-up, we get a cat's memoir mixed seemingly randomly with a composer's biography. Throughout the book, we will find pairings of people and events; some very similar, some very different; some parts chronologically linear, other parts more circular and out of order. Fasten your seat belts!

I had just complained aloud that Hoffman is one of those tiresome people who take every aspect of feline life to be the demonstration of a superior intelligence, when I came across this line:

I thankfully acknowledged the goodness of Providence in providing my despised race with many advantages over those two-legged creatures who call themselves lords of creation.

Ah, well. At least there's the Kreisler narrative to break up the Puss In Boots II story.

Mkfs wrote: "I had just complained aloud that Hoffman is one of those tiresome people who take every aspect of feline life to be the demonstration of a superior intelligence, when I came across this line:
I tha..."

But of course, we should give credit where it's due. Murr taught himself to read and write without any direct action on Master Abraham's part.

Ha ha, I've been looking at it as at least there's Murr's story to break up the Kreisler story.

Jim wrote: "But of course, we should give credit where it's due. Murr taught himself to read and write without any direct action on Master Abraham's part. "

We have only his word for that! Who can trust what a cat says, anyways ;)

Mkfs wrote: "We have only his word for that! Who can trust what a cat says, anyways ;).."

That's true. We should probably seek independent verification...

Amy wrote: "Ha ha, I've been looking at it as at least there's Murr's story to break up the Kreisler story."

Same here!

This is my first Hoffmann, so I have no idea of what to expect.

I've read about 60 pages and so far I've enjoyed Murr's story better as the other one hasn't grabbed me at all...

Hoffmann was a crazy writer. I intend starting it at the weekend and I'm looking forward to it.

So how others are feeling about this so far? I just finished Part I and struggled a lot as I'm not enjoying it...

I wonder if I'm missing something here? Any interesting connection between the two stories... hopefully it'll pick up some steam for me in the second part.

I'm well into Part II. Part I was pretty horrible, but it gets a better.

My working hypothesis is that the Kreisler story serves as the Shandyian digression, while the Murr story provides the overindulgent literary references.

I think Murr is a darling, and Master Abraham obviously knew it, too. Eventually.

Mkfs wrote: "My working hypothesis is that the Kreisler story serves as the Shandyian digression, while the Murr story provides the overindulgent literary references."

I thought of that. But it annoyed me greatly that conveniently the two stories get mixed up by printing errors when something is about to be revealed... while with Tristram he was doing it on his own simply because that's how he tells his story. Do you know what I mean?

I kinda like it. Reminds me of the "missing reels" in Grindhouse.

I'm only about 30 pages in so far. He's certainly a confident little tomcat.

I read the intro first, which isn't something I normally do; in this case I think it has helped a little.

In the intro Jeremy Adler states that the Murr narrative is chronological and complete whereas the Kreisler narrative has a reverse chronology initially and a circular structure overall.

I was expecting the two narratives to be quite distinct so I was slightly surprised to see that there was a connection between them from the beginning.

I liked this quote, when Murr met the poodle:

We began performing that act which expresses, with significant symbolism, the closer recognition of kindred spirits, the forging of that alliance contingent upon the inmost heart, an act which base and myopic mankind describes by the low, common expression of 'sniffing each other'.

Maybe we humans are missing out on something.

Jonathan wrote: "In the intro Jeremy Adler states that the Murr narrative is chronological and complete whereas the Kreisler narrative has a reverse chronology initially and a circular structure overall.

I was exp..."

I borrowed that bit from Adler, up in post #1. It's helpful to know that before beginning the book. I was prepared for the confusing nature of the first few Kreisler sections when we're dropped into the middle of some ongoing actions which are presented without much context.

Jim wrote: "I borrowed that bit from Adler, up in post #1. It's helpful to know that before beginning the book. I was prepared for the confusing nature of the first few Kreisler sections when..."

Oh, so you did Jim.

I'm still only on about page 50 at the moment but I'm enjoying it...I'm a bit biased because I love Hoffmann's work anyway. I would say it's not as weird as some of his other works...but there's time for all that to change yet.

Jonathan wrote: "I'm still only on about page 50 at the moment but I'm enjoying it...I'm a bit biased because I love Hoffmann's work anyway. I would say it's not as weird as some of his other works...but there's time for all that to change yet...."

I'm enjoying his writing very much. He's a great storyteller and I find myself engrossed in both parts of the narrative. I'll have to read more of his work in the future.

As for me, I'm engrossed in Murr, but not engrossed in Kreisler.

I'm also a Murr fan.

Viva Kreisler!