Grantblings

100 Word Book Review – Reader’s Block by David Markson

Reader’s Block by David Markson
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100 Word Book Review – From the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, people really love this book. It’s often called an ‘anti-novel’ in that it isn’t written with a traditional narrative. It’s more a list of weird facts and trivia with a little bit of story about ‘Reader’ and ‘Protagonist’ mixed in every now and then. That’s said, it just wasn’t for me. I’m all for putting a spin on traditional writing but this was not as compelling to me as some reviews make it out to be. The blurb promises us a ‘shattering’ conclusion. For me, it ended with the whimper it began with.

Quotes:

Every word she writes is a lie, including and and the.

Horseflies that keep the horse from plowing, Chekhov called critics.

When I could have used a wife, I could not support one, when I could support one, I no longer needed any.

Said Kant

There is no death and art can prove it.

According to legend, Li Po drowned when he fell out of a boat, drunk, leaning to kiss a reflection of the moon.

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music.

Even in the solemn moments of the mass, when prayer should be the purest…when I should groan for what I have done, I sigh for what I have lost.

Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Why do you always wear black?

I am in mourning for my life.