Wednesday, November 8, 2006

WAKE FOR THE OCCASION


Humph is in his doge. Words weigh no no more to him than raindrips to Rethfernhim. Which we all like. Rain. When we sleep. Drops. But wait until our sleeping. Drain. Sdops.
--Finnegans Wake, 74

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought Humph was in his dotage.

Donald Brown said...

Not sure what Humph you have in mind. Here it's Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker, and, yes, the word "doge" should make you think simultaneously of "doze," "dotage," and "doge." So that Humph is a dozing Doge of Venice in his dotage.

And that's the way the Wake works. (Tip).

mrjumbo said...

Seems like as good a spot as any to note that you're going to have a busy fall: Not only is Tom Pynchon getting ready to launch a new raft of pages for the NYT Book Review to salivate over, but Mr. Thomas Waits is also about to drop a box on the waiting world, a box with 3 CDs and a 90-page booklet.

You can find all kinds of snippets online, some streaming, some downloadable. Even AOL (avant online?) is in on the act, with "Sins of My Father." And Epitaph has put three tracks on its Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards" page for free download.

That should be enough to keep you a wake.

Donald Brown said...

Yeah, I knew the Waits was due out during my fall break -- but I thought TP was holding off till closer to end of the semester. Seems it's gonna be out on 11/21 instead. Now I'm worried about being overwhelmed with riches and distracted not only from my own work, but from reading groups I attend (Joyce who?)... And if anybody can eclipse all that "Bobby buzz" from early in the fall, Mr. Waits is the man... I'm salivating over finally hearing his version of the song Johnny Cash recorded, "Down There By the Train"....

Anonymous said...

There's a first take on the new Pynchon by Adam Kirsch at:

http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=43545

feerv

Donald Brown said...

Hey thanks Feerv, but who is Adam Kirsch and is he still mad because in "Lot 49" Oedipa thinks there was "maybe a bit too much kirsch in the fondue"?

I think there's a bit too much Kirsch in the review. Precious little TP; the book may or may not be up to what TP does best, but I have no sense that AK has any idea of what it is TP does best.

bsbji ... I kid you not, Sahim, it is I, Bsbji, who says this. Bs, bj, I. Wow.