September 12: Forster Reading

[kinetic_elaboration]

I did a lot of reading on the train today. Still working through Forster’s Aspects of the Novel. I’m still getting stuff out of it, but the mood that lead me to start it has basically passed. Also, at first I was reading it pretty casually, no expectations, to see what I would learn. Now I feel like I’m more serious about it, trying harder–so it’s less fun. I started thinking about how much I have left, how many train trips it would take to finish and at what pace, and probably obsessed too much about that as I tried to get through more pages. I really would like to finish soon.

Anyway, what I read was the lecture on Fantasy and part of the one on Prophecy. They were good… in general, I think I’m taking 1-2 big ideas per lecture, but I do reference them often in my own head. From this one, I liked the idea of fantasy being the ‘something extra’ required from the reader. And it’s interesting that he’s moving into more… style (?) based elements, the 'extras’ past the building blocks. I got to the part where he discusses Ulysses (lol) and am looking forward to Moby Dick.

I do hope I read a lot on the way back. I won’t finish, but I’d like to get close… Hopefully haven’t cursed myself by saying this.