Wacky names in fiction

Albert Albert. House Mother Normal.

Being positioned next to each other, am I to assume that you mean Albert Angelo? Which isn't 'wacky' at all... Also, I can't remember if the House Mother is actual meant to be called House Mother Normal... she is referred to solely as House Mother in the text.

I'm finding this thread interesting, actually, as my pet writing project now is based on nominative determinism and aptronyms.

The main character of Albert Angelo is (it is strongly implied) called Albert Albert. Actually I think in one of the later sections the narrator-as-Johnson calls himself out for trying to be clever with this?

I couldn't remember what the House Mother is actually called.

I'm finding this thread interesting, actually, as my pet writing project now is based on nominative determinism and aptronyms.

i don't understand this sentence

—Not that I am not fond of Albert, for I am, very; Albert, a slightly comic association with the name, offset today, as a name, and Albert Albert, to emphasize his Albertness, hisness, itness, uniqueness, yes, fond of him I am, very, even though I have hardly provided you with a description of him, a corporate being, I know, but he stands for me, i don't need one: Albert, who stands for me, poor fool.

Ah, you could be right on AA, the comparison with Nabokov is starting to ring a vague bell... and it is the only one of his I haven't re-read recently. I have a suspicion that he did intend for House Mother to be called House Mother Normal, but kept it out of the main text on purpose - it works for her as the author's puppet, but not as a human, and that artifice needs to be maintained until the end. (xpost, okay, you are right on Albert!)

As for the other sentence, which bit don't you understand? It is intended to convey the fact that I currently have a writing project, the main body of which is directed by the idea that one's name can have an effect on one's future (nominative determinism)... An aptronym is similar, but doesn't imply causation, merely correlation between name and e.g. occupation.

An example of nominative determinism:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=870138&cmd=showdetailview

well, now i know what those are it makes sense

first paperback eds of 'trawl' and 'albert angelo' have shown up where i work. can't really justify buying them. curious whether i still like johnson or not.

Yes, yes you do. Because otherwise you would be wrong. So very very wrong.

trawl has the most awful cover: a mixed-media picture of a mermaid, with a photo of a topless model for the top half and a painted tail. and then 'winner of the Somerset Maugham award'.

Haha, yes, I have that one. It's not great.

Nominative determinism at work

do people still do that pomo kafka thing and name their characters n or d? kinda big in the 80's. just wondering.

But those Waugh names from Sword of Honour aren't really wacky...

I'm thinking if you're a man called Evelyn, who marries a woman called Evelyn, your real life is so full of name-related unlikeliness that you can name your characters whatever you like.

Barf Latrigg