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Great observations, Chris. I thought that this is a story about a man departing life and transitioning toward the next world, and as he does so, the reality of this world seems to slip away as new reality takes place. I tried to put my finger on the point where that happens, but I couldn't. Did it happens when he started to see the light? Did he really leave his car? Did he even got to the forest? So hard to tell. This book is a great reading.
I really need to read this book now. I am writing a book with some similar themes. I've also been reading Schulz's "The Street of Crocodiles" and tracking the theme of boredom. It seems very central to the book, and I'm theorizing that it's what Schulz must have faced a lot in his life since he's one of the most profoundly creative fiction writers I've read.
just returned from London....up with jet jag, the arrival and the departure of winter, time, life....what else do we travel toward, our entire life, but the arrival at our departure....shining is gorgeous....and yes, it is Dante with Beckett and Bergman, the maze in the dark wood of our lives, Nicholson freezing in the snow, too.....lovely job Chris
Ive been reading septology a little bit and i get why fosse invites such favorable comparisons to beckett but man, beckett even at his most dense and black still has a kind of trace of hilarity and mirth i find is missing from fosse. Beckett without the lols
But there's a lot of humour in Septology, I'm surprised that the bickering between Asle and his closest friend Åsleik isn't laugh out loud funny to you. Those passages are very Beckett-like and mademe lol many many times.
Predictably excellent video! I'm making my way through Fosse's Septology and thoroughly enjoying it. Looking forward to checking out some of his shorter works afterward!
Hemingway, of course, said he could tell an emotionally moving story in 6 words: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." (Though, to be fair, the attribution to Hem might be apocryphal, the meaning still stands.)
My copy is on the way. My favourite living author along with Delilo and Laszlo. Cannot wait to read this! You should put Morning and Evening on your list! Reread it recently and it is truly beautiful.
I _almost_ did a video on _Morning and Evening_ but I wanted to promote the new book for Transit. Don't be surprised if you see a video on the former in the near future. ;)
Here’s to quiet truths! I loved this little book-Fosse seems to accomplish in such short compass things that other great writers, like DeLillo, can sometimes fail to do at this level of compression. I was stoked to hear you suss out (or at least adumbrate) the connection between A Shining and the Commedia-but also that you drew the connection with The Pale King, which may be the greatest book ever written on boredom, and which I think may ultimately emerge as the richest of his fictions, unfinished torso as it is. The chapter on being “called to account” is a thread between that unfinished work, Fosse’s novella, Dante’s eschaton (and Wallace’s own). Why do I suspect that a deep dive into Fosse’s Septology is somewhere in the works? Cheers, Chris!
I really need to get a video of Pale King out here. It stunned me. And when I recently reread it (last year), I thought: this is the first third of a true masterpiece. As for septology-well, you know. 😉
I was on the cusp of doing a video on _Morning and Evening_ , but decided to highlight his latest book since it just came out from a press I love: Transit Books. But I think a video on the former book is in order soon!
I think his journey could represent addiction unto daeth. I agree that boredom started his journey, as it often does with addiction... also with similar outcomes.
Thank You for this review. I know that Fosse converted himself into catholicism after reading and studying the phylosophy of Meister Ekhart (Carl Jung, Jakob Böhme and Hegel were a big fans of M.Ekhart). I have ordered "Septology" of Fosse, and now I can't wait to read it. Somehow the style of Fosse reminds me about Dimitris Lyacos. p.s.- what do you think about such authors as John Cowper Powys, Lawrence Durrell, Hans Henny Jahnn, Alfred Doblin, Reinhard Jirgl? I think that those authors are unique with a unique writing style. But I wonder about your thought and opinion.
I have being asking people this question but I am not getting any answers. At all. Please help. I have read Septology and I rather enjoyed it. Not so much the christian parts. My question is: are the other books by Fosse so full of christian parts as Septology is ?
I just happened to finish "Morning and Evening" this week. Your description of this book reads fits that one to a tee as well. I couldn't have said it any better - and I was trying. I really look forward to reading more Fosse.
Absolutely! Though I admire minimalists like Sherwood Anderson, Hemingway, carver, et al., I’ve always been more drawn to and dazzled by the Faulkners.
