tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post7107657947240074924..comments2023-10-20T16:03:03.157+01:00Comments on Devouring Texts: "It was unfair that the world could be so inconsiderate to a man who was so considerate to the world."Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-90679072552012670912013-10-22T00:07:07.140+01:002013-10-22T00:07:07.140+01:00I'm glad even people not taking part in the re...I'm glad even people not taking part in the readathon are enjoying these posts. Cos really, there are a lot of WTF moments that transcend having to read the book to appreciate them.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-41720921149179193012013-10-21T20:14:21.963+01:002013-10-21T20:14:21.963+01:00Also Alley's posts. Sorry Alley!Also Alley's posts. Sorry Alley!Katie Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844778170761632779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-67451378360000931492013-10-21T06:30:36.038+01:002013-10-21T06:30:36.038+01:00Ug, how did I forget to talk about the rape scene?...Ug, how did I forget to talk about the rape scene? That was fuuucked. And it extra sucks, because Enid's only sexual "move" is to lie passively while Al bangs away. Add that to the fact that Enid SO OFTEN doesn't say what she means - my actual note was "Was that rape? It was unpleasant as fuck, that's for sure." Damn you, Franzen, for making me question whether it's really rape even though she said "no" multiple times! So upsetting and gross and damn you, I say again.Kayleigh vWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889972089506839071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-56541595579894171232013-10-20T00:49:04.331+01:002013-10-20T00:49:04.331+01:00Rayna, I see alllllll your points. I guess Gary is...Rayna, I see alllllll your points. I guess Gary is kiiind of a good parent, but his constant game of one-upmanship with Caroline (both of them are definitely doing it) is TERRIBLE and can't be good for the kids and it's just baaaaad. I mean, yeah, Caroline is probably worse, but still. They're both involved, and Gary isn't some innocent bystander to her games.<br /><br />I seriously see BOTH yours and Kayleigh's points for Enid, so now I don't even know what to think! I guess, that Enid is in an abusive relationship but she doesn't only not want to get yelled at again, but she also wants to hurt him back? <br /><br />WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE SO TERRIBLE?!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-56976966477382560202013-10-20T00:43:12.307+01:002013-10-20T00:43:12.307+01:00It was loooooong and kind of stressful and then th...It was loooooong and kind of stressful and then there was a talking poo and I think we all just lost it! As well we should, because WHAT?! Ridiculous.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-91919780957005360522013-10-20T00:40:40.279+01:002013-10-20T00:40:40.279+01:00Bloggy highlights, you say?! Well, that's the ...Bloggy highlights, you say?! Well, that's the best compliment I've gotten all day! You're so welcome for me reading this for you. It's what I doooo.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-43083830667603705382013-10-19T20:32:06.560+01:002013-10-19T20:32:06.560+01:00Agreed! I have no intention of ever opening this b...Agreed! I have no intention of ever opening this book, but your readalong posts (also Sarah's) are extremely entertaining, perhaps the bloggy highlights of the moment. Seconding the thanks for reading it so that I can be informed about what I'm not missing out on.Katie Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844778170761632779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-92124347744515009902013-10-19T20:30:19.871+01:002013-10-19T20:30:19.871+01:00Oh, Ellie! :D If anyone queries your choice of sin...Oh, Ellie! :D If anyone queries your choice of singing, you can always call it advertising this book. Though it does sound pretty dreadful...Katie Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844778170761632779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-54117594724947889962013-10-19T17:32:52.004+01:002013-10-19T17:32:52.004+01:00Yes, I agree with all of this. I don't think G...Yes, I agree with all of this. I don't think Gary is the WORST parent. Look at him with Jonah. It's sweet. He's trying with the other kids just to have Caroline undermine him all the time. And I agree with your description of Enid and why she didn't interfere with Chip. It's not a good response and it doesn't make her mother of the year, but it's understandable.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-24110211332163929472013-10-19T15:14:51.957+01:002013-10-19T15:14:51.957+01:00I sort of got the feeling that the reason Enid did...I sort of got the feeling that the reason Enid didn't deal with Chip was because he was Al's favourite, so by torturing Chip she was also torturing Al. That whole section was depressing as hell though, they'd all be much better if they moved to different corners of the globe.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259549933849264277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-16863923565056789802013-10-19T13:43:14.327+01:002013-10-19T13:43:14.327+01:00Okay so I lied; I do have more to say. Re: everyo...Okay so I lied; I do have more to say. Re: everyone being bad parents, I think Gary actually isn't a terrible parent (or, at least, he's better than the rest of them). He does seem to genuinely care about his kids' well-being, and he spends quality time with them, and he actually attempts to set reasonable limits (like not allowing his eleven-year-old to set up cameras to creepily watch their kitchen [what the fuck is that??]) that are unfortunately subverted immediately by Caroline so she looks like the good guy and he looks like an asshole to his kids. <br /><br />And Enid slightly gets a pass from me for being a bad mom, because she's clearly in an abusive relationship and can't handle standing up to Alfred. In the scene with Chip at the table, I can understand why she won't interfere or make Alfred deal with it, since it was just a few hours earlier that Alfred was screaming at her and breaking glasses because she had the nerve to not put them away promptly. So even though it's shitty to not intervene in that situation for Chip, I do understand why she felt it was best for herself to ignore the whole thing and not get in the middle of Alfred's anger. Raynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536910555459674118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-24780073012068462462013-10-19T13:25:23.648+01:002013-10-19T13:25:23.648+01:00At this point I have no idea how to react to the f...At this point I have no idea how to react to the fact that we all just wrote posts about talking poop. Somewhere, Franzen is chuckling sinisterly to himself. <br /><br />That's basically all the energy I have left to talk about this section... This one was kind of exhausting. <br />Raynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536910555459674118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-34993078848243285092013-10-19T11:24:07.781+01:002013-10-19T11:24:07.781+01:001) Good plan.
2) I feel like we're summarising...1) Good plan.<br />2) I feel like we're summarising it in the best possible way, ie with a lot of shouting. Best.<br />3) Hey, what are friends for? You'd do it for me :)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-72954182064110818732013-10-19T11:21:50.927+01:002013-10-19T11:21:50.927+01:00Oh man, I'm so glad we started this. SO. GLAD....Oh man, I'm so glad we started this. SO. GLAD.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-40622343844714655142013-10-19T10:02:52.939+01:002013-10-19T10:02:52.939+01:001) I am never reading this book.
2) I AM, however,...1) I am never reading this book.<br />2) I AM, however, going to obsessively read along with your readalong, because DUDE if that isn't the best way to find out about these things I don't know what is.<br />3) Thanks for reading it for me!Elliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246472269477492583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-55570475641342644222013-10-19T10:01:44.661+01:002013-10-19T10:01:44.661+01:00FIVE MINUTES LATER: I already did it. I JUST SANG...FIVE MINUTES LATER: I already did it. I JUST SANG IT. THEN CAUGHT MYSELF. Fortunately the shop hasn't opened yet, so I didn't have to blush and hide under the desk forever and ever.Elliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246472269477492583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-6380016519836309712013-10-19T09:56:50.331+01:002013-10-19T09:56:50.331+01:00If I actually sing the words "Mr Hankey, the ...If I actually sing the words "Mr Hankey, the Christmas poo!" in the shop WITHOUT REALISING IT (because really, who doesn't sing to themselves all the time?), I blame you lot. On the plus side, it would *cough* vacate the shop nicely for a while... :PElliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246472269477492583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-79650903399431360642013-10-19T01:01:07.931+01:002013-10-19T01:01:07.931+01:00Well... SOMEONE really hates Caroline! (She is a d...Well... SOMEONE really hates Caroline! (She is a dick though, obvs. AS ARE THEY ALL)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-57043750203184625232013-10-18T21:41:33.206+01:002013-10-18T21:41:33.206+01:00Well Gary likes making his mix grill but it seemed...Well Gary likes making his mix grill but it seemed like he was doing ALL the family cooking. Caroline didn't seem to do much except for be the boys' best friend by letting them watch lots of TV and buy lots of expensive shit they would use once and never againRedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-42854828941925182222013-10-18T21:04:34.257+01:002013-10-18T21:04:34.257+01:00Haha, why thank you! If I might... Defend (?!) it ...Haha, why thank you! If I might... Defend (?!) it slightly, the first chapter is the WORST cause it's all like 'I am writing literarily, look how literary I am' whereas after that it gets a bit more messy and, you know, readable. Which is a relief!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-15119822420328550312013-10-18T21:03:23.203+01:002013-10-18T21:03:23.203+01:00They should die. All of them. Your 'Christmas ...They should die. All of them. Your 'Christmas in St Judes Massacre' is absolutely how this book should end and even if it doesn't, I'm rewriting it so that it does. Fucking fuckers.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-46745056232263810272013-10-18T21:02:21.798+01:002013-10-18T21:02:21.798+01:00Ok, SO I also don't necessarily disagree that ...Ok, SO I also don't necessarily disagree that the person who's at home more should do more around the home (because, you know, makes sense) BUT but but Gary literally says that he ENJOYS cooking mixed grills (which, btdubs he does like once a week so whatever) UNTIL his mum is like 'oh, she makes you COOK?' and then he's like 'hey yeah, I shouldn't have to do this' and GAHHHHHH. Not that Caroline isn't also terrible. Everyone is terrible.<br /><br />I can't even with Alfred. It's all like 'I love that boy!' and then it's like 'But I can't show affection in any way or I'll DIE.' Fucking fuck fuckety fuckers. Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-14576844335732478022013-10-18T20:59:30.922+01:002013-10-18T20:59:30.922+01:00If I thought of Franzen as someone who doesn't...If I thought of Franzen as someone who doesn't take himself that seriously, I think I could have accepted the talking poo and been like 'aw, he's having fun with his writing' and it would all be fine. But he's so pretentious and up his own arse that it's like 'and THIS is what you write about? REALLY?!' <br /><br />That whole situation WAS fucked up. Just... No, to it all. I'm a lot more concerned about the fact that he was RAPING HIS WIFE than the whole 'jizz over his unborn child' thing (cause... is that even a thing? I mean, I guess technically it is, but it's not a thing people worry about, right?!) But just no. NOPE.<br /><br />Ughhhh dude there are so many like words and phrases for junk and sex and whatnot in this that I'm constantly going 'ewwwwww' about, but I never have any paper around to write them down so I forget them! This... Is probably a good thing. HahahaLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-85637959637644232922013-10-18T20:53:16.050+01:002013-10-18T20:53:16.050+01:00It is indeed a quote from The Corrections... But i...It is indeed a quote from The Corrections... But it's maybe not as, um, positive as you might think. Or at least I don't think so! And non-easy reads can sometimes be good, yeah, but this isn't SO hard... And definitely not as hard as Franzen thinks it is!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-60266149250982149692013-10-18T20:50:24.226+01:002013-10-18T20:50:24.226+01:00Honestly, Ellie, I don't think any of us could...Honestly, Ellie, I don't think any of us could believe it. AT ALL. It's just... There's such an air of like superiority and high-mindedness (in the baaaad way) around him, and then he goes and WRITES ABOUT TALKING POO. It's like the least smart way to do hallucinations, ever. <br /><br />I can't even with the marital rape. I don't know if he doesn't think it exists (hopefully not...) or if he just doesn't consider what he wrote as marital rape, but it really really really was. Damn, Franzen.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.com