A German thing I forgot: Baron Munchausen. Saw a movie tonight where a guy is tempted by gambling on payday and he pulls himself by the shirt as if he could drag himself away from the temptation.
Disagree with lamp about the details obfuscating. The way things are told is pretty opaque, but I think the effect is supposed to allow you to see behind it. Like when instead of describing Klara's funeral Erpenbeck describes typical funeral rites. I thinking you can get an idea of what Klara's funeral could be like, all the permutations of it, the irregularities, the observances and oversights and interruptions. This branching of paths seems appropriate in contrast with the seemingly fatalistic attitude she had toward life. I think you're supposed to be thinking about all the could bes when you read all the details. Whatever has come to me during the landscaping or architectural passages has seemed right so far, even if I drift off sometimes and wonder what this or that flower looks like.
― bamcquern, Thursday, 17 February 2011 04:46 (thirteen years ago) link