Status Updates From Crystal Vision (American Li...

"Pepper is unaware of how fiction works."

"Assuming I'm here, which I say I am, because where in hell else am I..."

The chapters "Arab Stew" and the following "Her Name A Star" are two of the best things I've read in a long time. Top-notch Sorrentino here. See comments below for a quote too long to fit in a paltry status update.

Often he would let fall a lemon or maybe a cucumber and spend a heavenly moment or two on hands and knees to gaze at close range at a knockout housewife's gams. Stockings with dark seams and high heels with thin straps across the top of the instep made him crunch and crush and crumble plumbs peaches and pears to a pulp in his perspirant and palpitating paws.
What? Doc Friday says. You mean nerves?
But exactly.

These two young people have drifted apart, they've put on clothes. Jobs, children, their hair is thin, teeth missing. The usual flatulence, fallen arches, myopia, indigestion, sagging breasts, grey hairs, paunches, on and on.
One thing you have to say for the Doc, Irish Billy says. He's a real romantic guy.
Push ahead, Doc, the Arab says. Push on. Your exemplary tale is so fraughtful of interest that I am aflutter.

These two young people have drifted apart, they've put on clothes. Jobs, children, their hair is thin, teeth missing. The usual flatulence, fallen arches, myopia, indigestion, sagging breasts, grey hairs, paunches, on and on.
One thing you have to say for the Doc, Irish Billy says. He's a real romantic guy.
Push ahead, Doc, the Arab says. Push on. Your exemplary tale is so fraughtful of interest that I am aflutter.

Finished with the swords, now only the Pentacles left to go. Prof. Kooba is my favorite character as he continues his work on 'The Curse.' Found a good review by Louis Mackey in Contemporary Literature, Summer 1987, p.206-222. Need to finish this by the end of the week.

Entertainment by a cast of unreliable characters who hang around a candy shop (or other places) and tell unreliable stories about other locals. Page 143: 'Pepper is unaware of how fiction works. Who isn't? Irish Billy asks. As far as I'm concerned, fiction is an effort of the will. He read that somewhere, Kooba says. Probably in a cheap novel.' Learning lots more about Tarot cards too.

Had been wishing for a list of characters, as they come and go and are obliquely referred to in this assortment of stories connected with Tarot cards. Then the list of names appears with the 13th chapter/card, Death. As the magician says, What to do with this information? "Try to treat people with a little more kindness." Slow going (because I keep referring to the Tarot book) but well worth the effort.

Off to an interesting start with The Magician, signifying the beginning of an original and creative work. I can see I'll need to refer to the Tarot guide often.