michaelgruber wrote:
Well, I meant the reader to see the relationship of the three main male characters as significant. Jake is a 'successful' modern figure, but wracked by discontent arising from his own dishonesty. He's a cheater and he knows it, but feels helpless to change. He's also an unreliable narrator. Crosetti is 'unsuccessful' in terms of the world, but he's essentially happy although as an artist, he tells lies for a living, and sometimes has difficulty distinguishing life from a movie. Bracegirdle is essentially honest--he's writing his deathbed confession--and he's a pre-modern man. His main concern is his immortal soul and, unlike the other two, he's not neurotic. I thought the contrast would be interesting and say something about our modern predicament, which is what I think novels are for.
I have not yet finished the book, but my first impressions about the characters were as you had intended. However, to respond to the main discussion, I had a dislike for Jake at first. His cander about his "relationships" made me think him conceded. I also feel when he talks of his family he sees himself as above them, except his wife. He talks about her with regret in is voice, but then does the stupidest things! Talk about frustrating
StacyeJaye,
I can see how you might have felt that way about Jake- the thing about being candid is it opens you up to honest judgments, doesn't it?
Albert ... when he saved the books in the fire, I was thinking, Yay! Here's a guy who would go into a burning building for a book. You just have to love that, right?
I can see how you might have felt that way about Jake- the thing about being candid is it opens you up to honest judgments, doesn't it?
Albert ... when he saved the books in the fire, I was thinking, Yay! Here's a guy who would go into a burning building for a book. You just have to love that, right?
Al seems very young to me, maybe not physically but definately mentally. One of the moments that stands out was his reaction to his mother's "help" with the code breaking. He seemed irritated with her inviting another person in on "his secret" without his permission. It was almost as if he cared more about being the one to crack it rather than just knowing what the message said. I guess this is another difference between Al's character and Jake's, Jake is more "experienced" in life...or at least he has family that is
StacyeJaye wrote:
Al seems very young to me, maybe not physically but definately mentally. One of the moments that stands out was his reaction to his mother's "help" with the code breaking. He seemed irritated with her inviting another person in on "his secret" without his permission. It was almost as if he cared more about being the one to crack it rather than just knowing what the message said. I guess this is another difference between Al's character and Jake's, Jake is more "experienced" in life...or at least he has family that is
I see what you mean, but I think his annoyance was very shortlived and he was more than happy to have someone else do the hard parts for him. That seems to be common among grown men who live with parents!
