Great choice, not least because it’ll finally make me read the book, which has been sitting on my shelf for much too long. Thanks. Can’t wait to see what you’ll choose next.
I was right. That the book doesn't have any inner dialogues didn't occur to me when I first read it. It seems to me, thinking about it, that inner states are as much portrayed by the overall narrative as anything else. It could be described almost as a psychological novel. Judge Holden I'd describe as a cross between the Mephistopheles of the old Faust legend, and the ancient Greek god Pan. He has Mephistopheles's erudition, wide knowledge, sinister intent and Machiavellianism, and Pan's abrupt, brutal, often sexual urges, and exaggerated body type (that Holden is hairless compared to Pan's hairiness can be seen as an exaggerated trait of the same characteristic). And both mythological characters were often portrayed as cheerful in their own excesses. Even when he's down and out he seems in control of the situation he's in, as if he's at least in on the overall cosmic plan. The final description of him dancing around naked, playing a fiddle and bragging about how he'll never die, makes me think of Pan. Like Lenny's interpretation of the epilogue. Wouldn't have occurred to me but it makes sense.
Great choice, not least because it’ll finally make me read the book, which has been sitting on my shelf for much too long. Thanks. Can’t wait to see what you’ll choose next.
This'll be good!
I was right.
That the book doesn't have any inner dialogues didn't occur to me when I first read it. It seems to me, thinking about it, that inner states are as much portrayed by the overall narrative as anything else. It could be described almost as a psychological novel.
Judge Holden I'd describe as a cross between the Mephistopheles of the old Faust legend, and the ancient Greek god Pan. He has Mephistopheles's erudition, wide knowledge, sinister intent and Machiavellianism, and Pan's abrupt, brutal, often sexual urges, and exaggerated body type (that Holden is hairless compared to Pan's hairiness can be seen as an exaggerated trait of the same characteristic). And both mythological characters were often portrayed as cheerful in their own excesses. Even when he's down and out he seems in control of the situation he's in, as if he's at least in on the overall cosmic plan. The final description of him dancing around naked, playing a fiddle and bragging about how he'll never die, makes me think of Pan.
Like Lenny's interpretation of the epilogue. Wouldn't have occurred to me but it makes sense.