I am the translator of the three early books you mention and specifically of this one. Thank you for the very complimentary comments on the translation and thank you too for the intelligent and passionate partisanship of the book. I don't comment on interpretations since that is the province of each individual reader and I don't think there is any right and wrong in it, only in that some interpretations may be far fetched beyond the bounds of likelihood.. I do recommend Béla Tarr's film version of both Melancholy and Satantango (a film of over 7 hours length). Tarr, like Krasznahorkai, is a genius sui generis. He and Krasznahorkai were close collaborators on these films and others. The film, Werckmeister Harmonies omits the Mrs Plauf story and begins with the scene you describe in the pub where Valuska gets the drunks to enact a total eclipse (they agree because it delays closing time). It is a comic scene in its own dreamlike way, as is the scene where Eszter is trying to board up his windows (a page and a half on a man trying to hammer in a nail is wonderfully comic - and indeed there is comedy running right through the book.
It was a pleasure to wake up to your comment George, thank you very much for taking the time to drop me a line. As I've already made abundantly clear, I'm incredibly grateful for your work on these novels and look forward to exploring your poetry work as well. I have watched the opening scene of Werckmeister Harmonies and indeed saw it began with the scene your described above. Viewing Tarr's films is the next project I have to undertake, one which I'm sure will offer plenty of thought provoking material to consider in their own right. Take care, Seth (WASTE Mailing List)
Awesome to hear your opinion. I'm currently going thru all of Tarr's work and just learning about the awesome work of Laszlo as well. Congrats and Thanks
Exceedingly kind of you to mention me, Seth. But more importantly-this is a fantastic analysis. I just bought Krasznahorkai’s The Manhattan Project; really looking forward to it. And really looking forward to your future videos. Count me as your newest subscriber!
Thank you so much for your encouragement and support Chris. Your channel was one of the formative influences in my desire to offer my own perspective in the RU-vid space. It means a lot to me knowing you'll be around as I find my niche in the community. Keep up the fantastic content! I'm looking to chase down a copy of The Manhattan Project myself. I'll let you know what I think when I do.
Man, you’re a natural! This already looks like it was done by someone with at least 10k subs. Your discussion never tires, it’s always engaging; it didn’t feel like a 42 min video. I love your eloquence and wit. Do I see a little Better Than Food influence? Absolutely welcomed! I should really pick up this book-this author in general! You described it magnificently, and the passages you read hyped it up for me! From someone who’s never read him, it always feels like there’s more in his books than the number of pages can hold. Can’t wait to love him like you do. And I’m looking forward to more videos from you!
That's means a ton Robert, thank you so much. I definitely am taking a page out of the book of Cliff Sergeant and Chris Via. Trying to find a middle ground between the two while maintaining my own voice. But absolutely major influences
Really looking forward to this channel - your Instagram posts are always incisive and thought-provoking. And what a book to start with! Krasznahorkai is one of the absolute greats.
I saw your tackled The Last Wolf in one of your videos! I'm glad I'm not alone in my admiration for his work. Looking forward to more of your content as well - I've got Nadas part 1 queued up as we speak!
This is incredible. Better than the other book tubers because you really get into the meat and bones of it. This is not some short basic review video, this is great analysis. I am on the same Krasznahorkai journey as you and I just started War & War. I can’t wait to see you post about this one. So far it’s just as good and as powerful as Melancholy. War and War is broken up into short numbered sections and reminds me of how 2666(my favorite novel) is structured. It makes it easier to read than Santantango or Melancholy and gives you a pause to reflect on the beauty of what you’ve just read. Excited for you to get into it and I hope you can do a video on it. Keep up the good work!
Great review! Glad to see you’re doing them here now, yours is one of my favorite Instagram pages to follow. I just finished Melancholy of Resistance today and was so down to watch a 40 minute analysis of it - so, thanks! That ending, man… I’ve never cried from a book, but this one brought a tear to my eye - the line “but not one atom was lost” (or something like that) specifically. Mr. Eszter nailing the boards around his house to protect himself finally from getting out and taking part and caring comes to mind when you mention Krasznahorkai’s insistence that he isn’t political. The novel doesn’t seem to subscribe to any particular political ideology, but it’s certainly affected by them. There’s a weariness on one hand and a frenzy on the other that transcends specifics.
Appreciate your response Ronald! Melancholy is quickly becoming my favourite LK novel, although I still have plenty to go. More content coming on him down the track (y)
Thank you so much, Tavia! If you saw the outtakes (and some of the bumbles that made it in), you'd know it's a clumsy and awkward process, but we're getting there!
Great to see this, Seth! I’ll be looking forward to more of what you share about books. Everything seemed to flow well in this first video you made. In terms of Melancholy Resistance, its nice to see folks digging into earlier works from Krasznahorkai after Baron Wenkcheim’s Homecoming has been making the rounds. Hope you’re having a great week! Cheers, Jack
And I hope YOU'RE having an excellent weekend too, Jack. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch. I want to tackle less read books with this channel and quite frankly I think this novel doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves.
Apologies everyone for the inconsistent volume levels. It was a bug I couldn't find an easy solution for, and I had a hell of a time trying to render the video as is, so I'll do my best to correct that in the next video.
Thank you so much for these kind words! It's a very popular space to enter so I'm trying to make the best with the resources I have at my disposal. Im glad you enjoyed it!
This was a cool intro to Laszlo, thanks for breaking it all down. I come here via Tarr; have seen Werckmeister Harmonies, Man from London, and skipped thru unsubtitled version of Santatango, and seeing Turin Horse soon. Also seen short interviews of Lazslo, very cool. Great job and your description of his 'apocalypse' seems spot on. I view Tarr as kind of pre-history realism - like the 1960s brought the new wave and realism to movies, well Tarr goes even older school than that, as in the drudgery and grime of existence, the kind which we may all return to if we are not collectively careful. Peace
Bravo. I was enraptured throughout. Your introductory entry into the pantheon of great booktubers already in my mind, has you rubbing shoulders with the best. Subscribed - keep 'em coming!
Brilliant work Seth, especially considering it was your first crack. Plus, I immediately hunted down a copy of Satantango to cue up based on your infectious enthusiasm for Krasznahorkai.
That is EXACTLY the place I recommend you start. I hope you find it to be a rewarding experience Thomas. Fire me off a DM here or on Instagram when you're reading it if you want to chat it out (y)
@@wastemailinglist726 Five months passed and I have read Satantango and completed The Melancholy of Resistance, this morning, immediately circling back to enjoy the remaining, previously unwatched 80% of this video. And again, brilliant work. Thank you.
@@thomashayes4342 Your generous feedback is always appreciated Thomas! I've actually refined my perspective on Melancholy since discussing it a few months back, and plan to return to it in a different way down the track. Stay tuned
Hi. I've just found your channel, and there is a great deal of overlap in taste concerning prose between you and I. Krasznahoraki is one of the first modern writers in translation I fell in love with, and it was Satantango. It was the same month I discovered Roberto Bolano, both Murakamis, Caser Aira, Lispecter, Calvino, Borges, Knausgaard, Pavic, and so many others when I first became really excited by literature fifteen years ago - half a lifetime ago. I found your channel wondering if anybody was paying any attention to Krasznahorkai's writing. Thankfully, I found my answer to be yes: at least a few people are. W.A.S. indeed. What was which could have been is the "what was" which can still be. We do await in silence rather than for silence. More people need to talk about books like Krasznahorkai's on here. Not because we love it, or doing it, which of course we do on both accounts, but because it is important. In so many words: I love tupperware parties as much as the next socially-displaced housewife, but who wants to be launched in pursuit of an incoming silent empire, really?
Love the way you've structured this video and all the different aspects you cover, like your attention to form. Saw the Werckmeister Harmonies movie about a year ago, havn't got the book yet but looking forward to it even more now. Might need to move it up the pipeline, or some Krasznahorkai at the least. Chasing Homer is pretty short so might read this week I think. Will have to check out your instagram now too haha, and the book community there, didn't think about using instagram for that.
Hi Harry, good to hear from you. "Bookstagram" is where I found my roots in the online literary discourse and I've since fostered a ton of meaningful connections with other readers there. We'd love to have you. As for your own reading of Krasznahorkai, Chasing Homer is good but it is a small work that passes the reader by fairly quickly and without the same guttural impact something like Satantango or Melancholy does. I recommend most people start with Satantango as the narrative is fairly clear and it's extremely well-paced (and structured). I hope you give his work a shot and message me anytime if you want to chat about your experience reading him.
Damnit, Seth. I knew this would be dangerous watching this video - another book I need to buy! 😂 also love this format for you! The talking at the camera thing is kind of scary for me but you are honestly a natural! - juliemichellereads
And you think I wouldn't recognise the inevitable Julie! Thank you again, all this support has been wonderful in response. Hope to see you around these parts more yourself!
Love The Melancholy of Resistance!!! You are definitely a natural booktuber, you should !!!REVIEW DUNE BY FRANK HERBERT!!!! Specially since there is a pt2 movie coming out!!
Im not musician but as I understood Eszter tried for decades to play Bach by using Pythagorean tuning. Which is futile cause Bach wrote his works keeping in mind different tune. It's like playing on untuned piano. I think it adds another layer on top of Eszter's madness.
