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氐丿 亘乇丕丿乇
氐丿 亘乇丕丿乇 卮乇賵毓 賲卮賴賵乇蹖 丿乇 乇賲丕賳 賲毓丕氐乇 丕賲乇蹖讴丕 丿丕乇丿. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘丕 丿賵 賵 賳蹖賲 氐賮丨賴 丕爻丕賲蹖 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 乇丕賵蹖 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 賳賵丿 賵 賳賴 亘乇丕丿乇 讴賴 賴乇 讴丿丕賲 亘丕 趩賳丿 讴賱賲賴鈥� 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 卮睾賱 蹖丕 賵蹖跇诏蹖鈥屬囏й� 乇賮鬲丕乇蹖 蹖丕 卮讴賱 賵 卮賲丕蹖賱鈥屫簇з� 亘賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 賲毓乇賮蹖 賲蹖鈥屸€屫促堎嗀� 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳蹖 亘蹖爻鬲 爻丕賱賴 鬲丕 賳賵丿 爻丕賱賴. 乇丕賵蹖 丿乇 賴賲丕賳 禺胤賵胤 丕亘鬲丿丕蹖蹖 乇賲丕賳 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕 鬲賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘禺丕賳賴鈥屰� 賯丿蹖賲蹖 賵 賳蹖賲賴鈥屬呚辟堏� 禺丕賳賴鈥屰� 丕噩丿丕丿蹖 噩賲毓 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 鬲丕 禺丕讴爻鬲乇 倬丿乇 賲乇丿賴鈥屫簇з� 乇丕 倬蹖丿丕 讴賳賳丿. 丕蹖賳 乇丕 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 讴賴 賮賯胤 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕 丕賲卮亘 亘蹖賳鈥屫簇з� 賳蹖爻鬲貙 丌賳 賴賲 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 丕蹖賳讴賴 倬蹖 夭賳蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 噩蹖賳 乇賮鬲賴 賵 诏賲 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 丕賵賱蹖賳 賵 丌禺乇蹖賳 亘丕乇蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 乇丕賵蹖 丕爻賲 蹖讴 夭賳 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必� 亘丕賯蹖 賴乇 趩賴 賴爻鬲 賮囟丕蹖蹖 丕爻鬲 賲乇丿丕賳賴 丿乇 丿賱 卮亘蹖 亘賱賳丿 讴賴 賴蹖趩 夭賳蹖 乇丕賴 亘賴 丌賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必� 丕夭 蹖讴 亘毓丿丕夭馗賴乇 鬲丕 氐亘丨 賮乇丿丕.
丿丕诏 蹖丕 賴賲丕賳 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賴 鬲亘丕乇卮賳丕爻蹖 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屬呝嗀� 亘賴 毓賱賲 跇賳鬲蹖讴 賲毓乇賮蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 噩丕蹖蹖 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳賴鈥屬囏й� 乇賵丕蹖鬲卮 丕丿毓丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 乇诏 賵 乇蹖卮賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴 亘賴 噩賳賵賳 倬蹖賵賳丿 禺賵乇丿賴 賵 丕蹖賳 丕夭 賳馗乇 毓賱賲蹖 賴賲 亘乇乇爻蹖 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 讴賳丕蹖賴 亘賴 鬲亘丕乇 禺丕賳丿丕賳 亘夭乇诏卮 讴賴 丕夭 賴賲丕賳 丕亘鬲丿丕 賵丨卮蹖 賵 毓丕氐蹖 賵 丨賯賴鈥屫ㄘж� 鬲賵氐蹖賮 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 鬲賲賴蹖丿蹖 丕爻鬲 亘乇丕蹖 丿爻鬲鈥屰屫ж槽屫� 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳賴鈥屭嗁嗀з� 倬乇丕賮鬲禺丕乇 丕賲乇蹖讴丕. 賴乇趩賳丿 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕賮鬲賳 禺丕讴爻鬲乇 倬丿乇卮丕賳 噩賲毓鈥� 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 丕賲丕 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屫必池� 丌賳鈥屬囏� 賴乇 讴丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 鬲丕 丕夭 倬蹖 诏乇賮鬲賳 賴丿賮鈥屫簇з� 胤賮乇賴 亘乇賵賳丿貙 亘丕丿賴鈥屸€屬嗁堌篡� 鬲丕 爻乇丨丿 賲乇诏貙 賴賵爻鈥屫ㄘж槽屸€屬囏й� 亘蹖賲丕乇诏賵賳 賵 亘丕夭蹖鈥屸€屬囏й� 禺胤乇賳丕讴 賵 乇毓亘鈥屫①堌�. 乇丕賵蹖 亘丕 鬲賲爻禺乇 乇賮鬲丕乇賴丕蹖 賲乇丿丕賳賴鈥屸€屰� 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕 亘賴 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賲匕讴乇蹖 胤毓賳賴 賲蹖鈥屫操嗀� 讴賴 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 禺丕賱蹖 丕夭 禺卮賵賳鬲貙 亘蹖鈥屫关ж臂屫� 賴乇夭诏蹖 賵 賲乇丿爻丕賱丕乇蹖 賳亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲貙鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 爻乇卮丕乇 丕夭 賲爻丕亘賯丕鬲 賮賵鬲亘丕賱貙 賯賱丿乇蹖鈥屬囏ж� 卮讴丕乇 賵 噩賳爻蹖鬲鈥屫藏�. 丿丕诏 賵乇丕蹖 鬲亘丕乇卮賳丕爻蹖 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳卮 亘賴 讴爻丕賳蹖 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 丿乇 氐丿丿 賳丕亘賵丿 讴乇丿賳 鬲賲丿賳蹖 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賴爻鬲賳丿.
丿丕诏 蹖丕 賴賲丕賳 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賴 鬲亘丕乇卮賳丕爻蹖 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屬呝嗀� 亘賴 毓賱賲 跇賳鬲蹖讴 賲毓乇賮蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 噩丕蹖蹖 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳賴鈥屬囏й� 乇賵丕蹖鬲卮 丕丿毓丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 乇诏 賵 乇蹖卮賴鈥屰� 丕蹖賳 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴 亘賴 噩賳賵賳 倬蹖賵賳丿 禺賵乇丿賴 賵 丕蹖賳 丕夭 賳馗乇 毓賱賲蹖 賴賲 亘乇乇爻蹖 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 讴賳丕蹖賴 亘賴 鬲亘丕乇 禺丕賳丿丕賳 亘夭乇诏卮 讴賴 丕夭 賴賲丕賳 丕亘鬲丿丕 賵丨卮蹖 賵 毓丕氐蹖 賵 丨賯賴鈥屫ㄘж� 鬲賵氐蹖賮 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 鬲賲賴蹖丿蹖 丕爻鬲 亘乇丕蹖 丿爻鬲鈥屰屫ж槽屫� 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳賴鈥屭嗁嗀з� 倬乇丕賮鬲禺丕乇 丕賲乇蹖讴丕. 賴乇趩賳丿 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕賮鬲賳 禺丕讴爻鬲乇 倬丿乇卮丕賳 噩賲毓鈥� 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 丕賲丕 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖鈥屫必池� 丌賳鈥屬囏� 賴乇 讴丕乇蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 鬲丕 丕夭 倬蹖 诏乇賮鬲賳 賴丿賮鈥屫簇з� 胤賮乇賴 亘乇賵賳丿貙 亘丕丿賴鈥屸€屬嗁堌篡� 鬲丕 爻乇丨丿 賲乇诏貙 賴賵爻鈥屫ㄘж槽屸€屬囏й� 亘蹖賲丕乇诏賵賳 賵 亘丕夭蹖鈥屸€屬囏й� 禺胤乇賳丕讴 賵 乇毓亘鈥屫①堌�. 乇丕賵蹖 亘丕 鬲賲爻禺乇 乇賮鬲丕乇賴丕蹖 賲乇丿丕賳賴鈥屸€屰� 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕 亘賴 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賲匕讴乇蹖 胤毓賳賴 賲蹖鈥屫操嗀� 讴賴 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 禺丕賱蹖 丕夭 禺卮賵賳鬲貙 亘蹖鈥屫关ж臂屫� 賴乇夭诏蹖 賵 賲乇丿爻丕賱丕乇蹖 賳亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲貙鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 爻乇卮丕乇 丕夭 賲爻丕亘賯丕鬲 賮賵鬲亘丕賱貙 賯賱丿乇蹖鈥屬囏ж� 卮讴丕乇 賵 噩賳爻蹖鬲鈥屫藏�. 丿丕诏 賵乇丕蹖 鬲亘丕乇卮賳丕爻蹖 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳卮 亘賴 讴爻丕賳蹖 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 丿乇 氐丿丿 賳丕亘賵丿 讴乇丿賳 鬲賲丿賳蹖 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賴爻鬲賳丿.
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1997
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About the author
Donald Antrim
19听books174听followersDonald Antrim is an American novelist. His first novel, Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World, was published in 1993. In 1999 The New Yorker named him as among the twenty best writers under the age of forty.
Antrim is a frequent contributor of fiction to The New Yorker and has written a number of critically acclaimed novels, including The Verificationist and The Hundred Brothers, which was a finalist for the 1998 PEN/Faulkner Award in fiction. He is also the author of The Afterlife, a 2006 memoir about his mother, Louanne Self. He has received grants and awards from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library.
Antrim is the brother of the artist Terry Leness and the son of Harry Antrim, a scholar of T. S. Eliot. Antrim has been associated with the writers David Foster Wallace and Jonathan Franzen, and the visual artist Christa Parravani.
He has taught prose fiction at the graduate school of New York University and was the Mary Ellen von der Heyden Fellow for Fiction at the American Academy in Berlin, Germany, for spring 2009. Antrim teaches in the MFA program at Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn.
Antrim is a frequent contributor of fiction to The New Yorker and has written a number of critically acclaimed novels, including The Verificationist and The Hundred Brothers, which was a finalist for the 1998 PEN/Faulkner Award in fiction. He is also the author of The Afterlife, a 2006 memoir about his mother, Louanne Self. He has received grants and awards from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library.
Antrim is the brother of the artist Terry Leness and the son of Harry Antrim, a scholar of T. S. Eliot. Antrim has been associated with the writers David Foster Wallace and Jonathan Franzen, and the visual artist Christa Parravani.
He has taught prose fiction at the graduate school of New York University and was the Mary Ellen von der Heyden Fellow for Fiction at the American Academy in Berlin, Germany, for spring 2009. Antrim teaches in the MFA program at Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn.
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July 16, 2023
賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 賲丕 亘賴 賱丨丕馗 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 丿賯蹖賯 賵 賲毓鬲亘乇 賳亘丕卮丿. 丕賲丕 亘丕 賵噩賵丿 丕蹖賳 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 丿乇蹖丕賮鬲鈥屬囏� 賵 毓賵丕胤賮 賲丕 乇賵 亘丕 丿賯鬲 賳爻亘蹖 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖丿賳. 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲賲賵賳 亘賴賲賵賳 賲蹖诏賳 讴賴 丨丕賱 賵 乇賵夭賲賵賳 趩蹖 亘丕卮賴! 賯亘賵賱 賳丿丕乇蹖責 賲丕 賴賲賴 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 賵 亘蹖賳卮鈥屬囏� 賵 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲賲賵賳 乇賵 乇賵蹖 賴賲 丕賳亘丕卮鬲賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屬� 賵 賲丕蹖蹖賲 讴賴 亘賴 丿賱禺賵丕賴 禺賵丿賲賵賳 丕賵賳鈥屬囏� 乇賵 賲蹖鈥屬佡囐呟屬� 賵 鬲毓亘蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屬�.
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讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 氐丿 鬲丕 亘乇丕丿乇賴 讴賴 丿乇 蹖讴 讴鬲丕亘禺丕賳賴 噩賲毓 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕爻鬲 讴賴 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴. 賲丨賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴鬲丕亘禺丕賳賴鈥屫й屬� 讴賴 亘乇丕卮賵賳 蹖丕丿丌賵乇 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 讴賴賳賴鈥屰� 讴賵丿讴蹖鈥屫池�. 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賴蹖趩 讴賳噩 丌乇賵賲蹖 賳丿丕乇賴.
乇丕賵蹖 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 賲鬲賳丕賯囟蹖 亘賴 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳卮 丿丕乇賴 賵 亘丕 賴賲蹖賳 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 丕賵賳鈥屬囏� 乇賵 鬲賵氐蹖賮 賲蹖讴賳賴. 诏丕賴蹖 丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賴 毓丕卮賯 丕賵賳鈥屬囏ж池� 賵 诏丕賴蹖 丕夭卮賵賳 鬲賳賮乇 丿丕乇賴...
賴賲蹖賳胤賵乇 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 賲鬲賳丕賯囟蹖 亘賴 禺賵丿卮 丿丕乇賴.... 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖禺賵丕丿 乇賵丕亘胤 賮乇丿蹖 賵 賲蹖丕賳 賮乇丿蹖貙 禺丕賳賵丕丿诏蹖 賵 丨爻 丕賳夭賵丕 乇賵 丿乇 賯丕賱亘 蹖讴 丿賵乇賴賲蹖 賳卮賵賳 亘丿賴. 賲毓囟賱丕鬲 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴鈥屰� 禺丕賳賵丕丿诏蹖 乇賵 賳卮賵賳 亘丿賴 讴賴 卮丕蹖丿 賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 夭禺賲鈥屬囏й� 乇賵丨蹖 賵 乇賵丕賳蹖 亘丕卮賳丿 讴賴 胤蹖 賯乇賳鈥屬囏� 賳爻賱 亘賴 賳爻賱 賲賳鬲賯賱 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀�.
丕夭 丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴鬲丕亘 噩丿蹖丿蹖 賴賲 丕賵賲丿賴 讴賴 丨鬲賲丕 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁�.
October 24, 2023
亘亘蹖賳蹖丿...賵丕賯毓丕 賳賲蹖丿賵賳賲 趩噩賵乇蹖 亘乇丕卮 乇蹖賵蹖賵 亘賳賵蹖爻賲.
丕夭 蹖賴 胤乇賮 夭蹖乇趩卮賲蹖 丕夭卮 禺賵卮賲 賲蹖丕丿 丕夭 蹖賴 胤乇賮 丨鬲蹖 丕夭 跇丕賳乇卮 賴賲 亘丿賲 賲蹖丕丿.("丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 賲毓丕氐乇")丕夭 蹖賴 胤乇賮 賲蹖禺賵丕賲 亘诏賲 丕賱丕賳 賲孬賱丕 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賮讴乇 讴乇丿賴 趩賵賳 丕爻賲賽 氐丿 鬲丕 亘乇丕丿乇 乇賵 乇丿蹖賮 讴乇丿賴 賵 郾鄹郯 氐賮丨賴 亘丿賵賳 賴蹖趩 倬賱丕鬲 賵 賴丿賮 禺丕氐蹖 賴賲蹖賳噩賵乇蹖 丕賵賳 亘丕夭丕乇 卮丕賲賽 丿賵乇賴賲蹖卮賵賳賵 鬲賵氐蹖賮 讴乇丿賴 賵 蹖讴蹖 丿賵 鬲丕 氐丨賳賴鈥屰� 毓噩蹖亘鈥屫з勜勝傎� 丕夭 噩賲賱賴 丕丿乇丕乇 乇賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賴 賳賵卮鬲賴貙 禺蹖賱蹖 卮丕賴讴丕乇 讴乇丿賴 賵 丿蹖诏賴 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賮爻讴蹖 夭賲丕賳賴 卮丿賴責
(丌禺賴 蹖噩賵乇蹖鈥屫з� 鬲賵 倬卮鬲 讴鬲丕亘賵 丕蹖賳丕 賳賵卮鬲賴 "丿賵 氐賮丨賴 丕爻賲 郾郯郯 亘乇丕丿乇" 讴賴 丕賳诏丕乇 賲孬賱丕 蹖賴 亘趩賴 鄄 爻丕賱賴 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 郾郯郯 鬲丕 丕爻賲 乇丿蹖賮 賴賲 讴賳賴)
亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 賲卮讴賱 賲賳 亘丕 賲毓丕氐乇 賴賲蹖賳賴 賵 禺亘 鬲賵噩賴 讴賳蹖丿 讴賴 賲卮讴賱 "賲賳賴". 讴賴 丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 丿丕乇賲 丕賮鬲禺丕乇 賲蹖丿賲 讴賴 亘賴 噩丕蹖 卮丕賴讴丕乇賴丕蹖 丕丿亘蹖 噩賴丕賳 讴賴 鬲賵 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賲 丿丕乇賴 禺丕讴 賲蹖禺賵乇賴 賲蹖丕賲 蹖賴 賲毓丕氐乇 丕賲鬲丨丕賳 賲蹖讴賳賲貙亘毓丿 丕蹖賳噩賵乇蹖 賳丕丕賲蹖丿賲 賲蹖讴賳賴.
賵賱蹖 禺亘 賲蹖诏賲 丿蹖诏賴 亘毓囟蹖 噩丕賴丕 賴賲 诏賵賱 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 乇賵 賲蹖禺賵乇丿賲 賵 夭蹖乇賱亘蹖 賲蹖诏賮鬲賲 "賴賴 丿賲鬲 诏乇賲 趩賴 氐丨賳賴鈥� 蹖丕 丿蹖丕賱賵诏 賮賱丕賳蹖".賵賱蹖 禺亘 讴丕賮蹖 賳亘賵丿貙 丿乇 丨丿 鄄 爻鬲丕乇賴馃し馃徏鈥嶁檧锔�
亘賳馗乇賲 丕诏乇 乇賵卮 蹖讴賲 讴丕乇 賲蹖讴乇丿 蹖丕 倬賱丕鬲 丿乇爻鬲 丨爻丕亘蹖 賲蹖丿丕丿 賯卮賳诏 倬鬲丕賳爻蹖賱 蹖賴 "诏匕卮鬲賴鈥屰� 乇丕夭丌賲蹖夭" 丿賵賲 亘賵丿賳 乇賵 丿丕卮鬲!
丕賲丕 蹖讴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘賴 卮禺氐賴 亘乇丕賲 賲賴賲 賵 丕乇乇卮賲賳丿賴 鬲賵 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵賳丿賳 賵 丕賵賳賲 亘賴 蹖丕丿 丿丕卮鬲賳賽 丕賵賳 趩賳丿 氐賮丨賴鈥屫й屬� 讴賴 匕賴賳賲 鬲賵 讴鬲丕亘 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賴.
賵 丨賯蹖賯鬲丕 賯乇丕乇賴 禺賵亘 蹖丕丿賲 亘賲賵賳鬲卮.賵 丿賵 爻鬲丕乇賴 乇賵 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 丿丕丿賲. "氐丿 鬲丕丕丕 亘乇丕丿乇 鬲賵 蹖賴 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賴鈥屰� 毓馗蹖賲鈥屫з勜団€屰� 禺丕賳賵丕丿诏蹖貙 亘丕賱 夭丿賳 禺賮丕卮鈥屬囏� 賵 丿丕禺賱 卮丿賳 亘乇賮 丕夭 倬賳噩乇賴 賵 禺丕讴爻鬲乇賽 诏賲卮丿賴鈥屰� 倬丿乇卮賵賳"
禺賱丕氐賴 讴賴 丌乇賴.鈥�.賮讴乇 讴賳賲 丕诏乇 亘禺賵丕賲 禺蹖賱蹖 乇賵卮賳鈥屬佢┴必з嗁� 乇蹖賵蹖賵 乇賵 鬲賲賵賲 讴賳賲 賵 讴賱丕爻賽 "丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 賲毓丕氐乇" 禺賵賳丿賳 乇賵 賳诏賴 丿丕乇賲貙 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賲 讴賴 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥屰� "毓噩蹖亘" 賵 睾乇蹖亘蹖 亘賵丿 賵 卮丕蹖丿 丨鬲蹖 丕诏乇 亘禺賵丕賲 亘賴 讴爻蹖 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿卮 讴賳賲 亘禺丕胤乇 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 丕賵賳賲 丕蹖賳 毓噩蹖亘 亘賵丿賳賵 鬲噩乇亘賴 讴賳賴 賵 亘卮蹖賳蹖賲 丿乇賲賵乇丿卮 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲賵 亘禺賳丿蹖賲!
賲蹖乇賲 亘亘蹖賳賲 鬲賵 爻丕蹖鬲.賴丕 賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 鬲丨賱蹖賱鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 丕夭卮 倬蹖丿丕 讴賳賲 讴賴 蹖讴賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭卮 禺賵卮賲 亘蹖丕丿 蹖丕 賳賴.
賵賱蹖(亘賳馗乇 賲賳) 丨蹖賮賽 丕爻賲賽 亘丕卮讴賵賴 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 讴賴 丿丕乇賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 爻賲鬲賽 倬賵趩 賵 毓噩蹖亘 賵 鬲賵賴賲蹖 賲蹖乇賴.
丕夭 蹖賴 胤乇賮 夭蹖乇趩卮賲蹖 丕夭卮 禺賵卮賲 賲蹖丕丿 丕夭 蹖賴 胤乇賮 丨鬲蹖 丕夭 跇丕賳乇卮 賴賲 亘丿賲 賲蹖丕丿.("丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 賲毓丕氐乇")丕夭 蹖賴 胤乇賮 賲蹖禺賵丕賲 亘诏賲 丕賱丕賳 賲孬賱丕 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賮讴乇 讴乇丿賴 趩賵賳 丕爻賲賽 氐丿 鬲丕 亘乇丕丿乇 乇賵 乇丿蹖賮 讴乇丿賴 賵 郾鄹郯 氐賮丨賴 亘丿賵賳 賴蹖趩 倬賱丕鬲 賵 賴丿賮 禺丕氐蹖 賴賲蹖賳噩賵乇蹖 丕賵賳 亘丕夭丕乇 卮丕賲賽 丿賵乇賴賲蹖卮賵賳賵 鬲賵氐蹖賮 讴乇丿賴 賵 蹖讴蹖 丿賵 鬲丕 氐丨賳賴鈥屰� 毓噩蹖亘鈥屫з勜勝傎� 丕夭 噩賲賱賴 丕丿乇丕乇 乇賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賴 賳賵卮鬲賴貙 禺蹖賱蹖 卮丕賴讴丕乇 讴乇丿賴 賵 丿蹖诏賴 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賮爻讴蹖 夭賲丕賳賴 卮丿賴責
(丌禺賴 蹖噩賵乇蹖鈥屫з� 鬲賵 倬卮鬲 讴鬲丕亘賵 丕蹖賳丕 賳賵卮鬲賴 "丿賵 氐賮丨賴 丕爻賲 郾郯郯 亘乇丕丿乇" 讴賴 丕賳诏丕乇 賲孬賱丕 蹖賴 亘趩賴 鄄 爻丕賱賴 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 郾郯郯 鬲丕 丕爻賲 乇丿蹖賮 賴賲 讴賳賴)
亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 賲卮讴賱 賲賳 亘丕 賲毓丕氐乇 賴賲蹖賳賴 賵 禺亘 鬲賵噩賴 讴賳蹖丿 讴賴 賲卮讴賱 "賲賳賴". 讴賴 丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 丿丕乇賲 丕賮鬲禺丕乇 賲蹖丿賲 讴賴 亘賴 噩丕蹖 卮丕賴讴丕乇賴丕蹖 丕丿亘蹖 噩賴丕賳 讴賴 鬲賵 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賲 丿丕乇賴 禺丕讴 賲蹖禺賵乇賴 賲蹖丕賲 蹖賴 賲毓丕氐乇 丕賲鬲丨丕賳 賲蹖讴賳賲貙亘毓丿 丕蹖賳噩賵乇蹖 賳丕丕賲蹖丿賲 賲蹖讴賳賴.
賵賱蹖 禺亘 賲蹖诏賲 丿蹖诏賴 亘毓囟蹖 噩丕賴丕 賴賲 诏賵賱 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 乇賵 賲蹖禺賵乇丿賲 賵 夭蹖乇賱亘蹖 賲蹖诏賮鬲賲 "賴賴 丿賲鬲 诏乇賲 趩賴 氐丨賳賴鈥� 蹖丕 丿蹖丕賱賵诏 賮賱丕賳蹖".賵賱蹖 禺亘 讴丕賮蹖 賳亘賵丿貙 丿乇 丨丿 鄄 爻鬲丕乇賴馃し馃徏鈥嶁檧锔�
亘賳馗乇賲 丕诏乇 乇賵卮 蹖讴賲 讴丕乇 賲蹖讴乇丿 蹖丕 倬賱丕鬲 丿乇爻鬲 丨爻丕亘蹖 賲蹖丿丕丿 賯卮賳诏 倬鬲丕賳爻蹖賱 蹖賴 "诏匕卮鬲賴鈥屰� 乇丕夭丌賲蹖夭" 丿賵賲 亘賵丿賳 乇賵 丿丕卮鬲!
丕賲丕 蹖讴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘賴 卮禺氐賴 亘乇丕賲 賲賴賲 賵 丕乇乇卮賲賳丿賴 鬲賵 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵賳丿賳 賵 丕賵賳賲 亘賴 蹖丕丿 丿丕卮鬲賳賽 丕賵賳 趩賳丿 氐賮丨賴鈥屫й屬� 讴賴 匕賴賳賲 鬲賵 讴鬲丕亘 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賴.
賵 丨賯蹖賯鬲丕 賯乇丕乇賴 禺賵亘 蹖丕丿賲 亘賲賵賳鬲卮.賵 丿賵 爻鬲丕乇賴 乇賵 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 丿丕丿賲. "氐丿 鬲丕丕丕 亘乇丕丿乇 鬲賵 蹖賴 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賴鈥屰� 毓馗蹖賲鈥屫з勜団€屰� 禺丕賳賵丕丿诏蹖貙 亘丕賱 夭丿賳 禺賮丕卮鈥屬囏� 賵 丿丕禺賱 卮丿賳 亘乇賮 丕夭 倬賳噩乇賴 賵 禺丕讴爻鬲乇賽 诏賲卮丿賴鈥屰� 倬丿乇卮賵賳"
禺賱丕氐賴 讴賴 丌乇賴.鈥�.賮讴乇 讴賳賲 丕诏乇 亘禺賵丕賲 禺蹖賱蹖 乇賵卮賳鈥屬佢┴必з嗁� 乇蹖賵蹖賵 乇賵 鬲賲賵賲 讴賳賲 賵 讴賱丕爻賽 "丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖 賲毓丕氐乇" 禺賵賳丿賳 乇賵 賳诏賴 丿丕乇賲貙 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賲 讴賴 鬲噩乇亘賴鈥屰� "毓噩蹖亘" 賵 睾乇蹖亘蹖 亘賵丿 賵 卮丕蹖丿 丨鬲蹖 丕诏乇 亘禺賵丕賲 亘賴 讴爻蹖 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿卮 讴賳賲 亘禺丕胤乇 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 丕賵賳賲 丕蹖賳 毓噩蹖亘 亘賵丿賳賵 鬲噩乇亘賴 讴賳賴 賵 亘卮蹖賳蹖賲 丿乇賲賵乇丿卮 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲賵 亘禺賳丿蹖賲!
賲蹖乇賲 亘亘蹖賳賲 鬲賵 爻丕蹖鬲.賴丕 賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 鬲丨賱蹖賱鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 丕夭卮 倬蹖丿丕 讴賳賲 讴賴 蹖讴賲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭卮 禺賵卮賲 亘蹖丕丿 蹖丕 賳賴.
賵賱蹖(亘賳馗乇 賲賳) 丨蹖賮賽 丕爻賲賽 亘丕卮讴賵賴 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 讴賴 丿丕乇賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 爻賲鬲賽 倬賵趩 賵 毓噩蹖亘 賵 鬲賵賴賲蹖 賲蹖乇賴.
May 30, 2007
If you鈥檙e like me then you find exaggeration, at least in principle, to be exceedingly funny. A certain type of absurdity is created when too much of something is introduced, when a situation builds & builds to an anticipated level, and then, as they say, goes over the top.
In Donald Antrim鈥檚 novel there are literally one hundred brothers living together in a big, sordid mansion. It is a short book without sections or chapters, and should be read, I presume, with some momentum. Within the first few pages we are introduced to each brother in the dysfunctional fraternity, through the p.o.v. of Doug, one of the brothers. The narrative takes place during a single evening, set in the estate鈥檚 library where the brothers have gathered for a ceremonial supper. Hilarious antics ensue鈥mpossible to summarize. The humor operates on the 鈥渉ow many clowns can you squeeze into the clown car鈥� kind of dynamic. It is a fun romp, and reads like a Monty Python sketch 鈥� clever, silly, a little bonkers, and something completely different.
In Donald Antrim鈥檚 novel there are literally one hundred brothers living together in a big, sordid mansion. It is a short book without sections or chapters, and should be read, I presume, with some momentum. Within the first few pages we are introduced to each brother in the dysfunctional fraternity, through the p.o.v. of Doug, one of the brothers. The narrative takes place during a single evening, set in the estate鈥檚 library where the brothers have gathered for a ceremonial supper. Hilarious antics ensue鈥mpossible to summarize. The humor operates on the 鈥渉ow many clowns can you squeeze into the clown car鈥� kind of dynamic. It is a fun romp, and reads like a Monty Python sketch 鈥� clever, silly, a little bonkers, and something completely different.
October 22, 2023
亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖乇爻賴 氐丿 亘乇丕丿乇 亘賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲蹖 賮乇丕鬲乇 丕夭 禺賵丿 丕卮丕乇賴 丿丕乇賴 亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳讴賴 賲鬲毓賴丿 亘賴 丕賵賳 丨賯蹖賯鬲蹖 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 亘賴卮 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖讴賳賴. 賲孬賱丕賸 丌蹖丕 賮乇賵倬丕卮蹖 禺丕賳賴 鬲賮爻蹖乇蹖 亘乇 爻賯賵胤 丕賯鬲丿丕乇 倬丿乇爻丕賱丕乇 丕爻鬲責 蹖丕 毓丿賲 賵噩賵丿 丕賳乇跇蹖 夭賳丕賳賴 丿乇 禺丕賳賴貙 亘丕毓孬 爻賳诏丿賱蹖 賵 丕囟胤乇丕亘 賵 讴賱丕賮诏蹖 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 卮丿賴責 卮丕蹖丿. 丕賲丕 丕蹖賳 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕鬲 趩蹖夭蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 噩夭 丕卮丕乇丕鬲蹖 賲亘賴賲 讴賴 丿乇 鬲丕乇蹖讴蹖 讴丕亘賵爻 亘蹖鈥屫必呚з嗁団€屰� 丌賳鬲乇蹖賲 卮賳丕賵乇賳丿. 鬲毓丿丕丿 讴賲蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賲毓丕氐乇 賲蹖鬲賵賳賳 亘丕 禺賱丕賯蹖鬲 丌賳鬲乇蹖賲 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 讴賳賳丿 讴賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 氐乇賮丕賸 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 賱匕鬲蹖 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 丕夭 亘丕夭蹖 丌夭丕丿 鬲禺蹖賱 丨丕氐賱 賲蹖卮賴. 丕夭 氐丿 亘乇丕丿乇 趩賴 禺賵卮鬲賵賳 亘蹖丕丿 趩賴 賳賴貙 卮乇賵毓 亘丕賲夭賴 賵 爻亘讴 乇賵丕蹖蹖 禺賱丕賯丕賳賴鈥屫ж� 鬲丕 賲丿鬲鈥屬囏� 丿乇 禺丕胤乇鬲賵賳 禺賵丕賴丿 賲丕賳丿.
丕诏乇 賯氐丿 禺賵賳丿賳卮 乇賵 丿丕乇蹖丿 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖讴賳賲 賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賴讴丕鬲賵賳禺賽卅蹖乇賽爻 蹖丕 睾賵賱鈥屬囏й� 氐丿丿爻鬲 丕爻丕胤蹖乇 蹖賵賳丕賳 乇賵 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴賳蹖丿. 賴賲蹖賳胤賵乇 賲賮賴賵賲 丕爻鬲毓丕乇蹖 鬲乇丕賳賴鈥屰� 賮賵賱讴賱賵乇 噩丕賳 亘丕乇賱蹖 讴賵乇賳 讴賴 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 趩賳丿 亘丕乇蹖 亘賴卮 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖讴賳賴 賴賲 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 丿乇 賮賴賲 亘賴鬲乇 讴鬲丕亘 讴賲讴 讴賳賳丿賴 亘丕卮賴
丕诏乇 賯氐丿 禺賵賳丿賳卮 乇賵 丿丕乇蹖丿 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 賲蹖讴賳賲 賲丕噩乇丕蹖 賴讴丕鬲賵賳禺賽卅蹖乇賽爻 蹖丕 睾賵賱鈥屬囏й� 氐丿丿爻鬲 丕爻丕胤蹖乇 蹖賵賳丕賳 乇賵 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴賳蹖丿. 賴賲蹖賳胤賵乇 賲賮賴賵賲 丕爻鬲毓丕乇蹖 鬲乇丕賳賴鈥屰� 賮賵賱讴賱賵乇 噩丕賳 亘丕乇賱蹖 讴賵乇賳 讴賴 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 趩賳丿 亘丕乇蹖 亘賴卮 丕卮丕乇賴 賲蹖讴賳賴 賴賲 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 丿乇 賮賴賲 亘賴鬲乇 讴鬲丕亘 讴賲讴 讴賳賳丿賴 亘丕卮賴
June 17, 2008
Solipsistic late-90s trash. I hate this entire genre. Imagine if a young Michael Chabon decided he'd make a better William Burroughs than Philip Roth, but just didn't have it in him to do all those hallucinogens and thought maybe a mild Vicodin binge would send him into enough of a creative fit to churn out a couple hundred pages of social criticism. No, on second thought, that would be better than this pap.
July 8, 2021
噩丕賳丕鬲丕賳 賮乇賳夭賳 丨爻丕亘蹖 鬲賵 賲賯丿賲賴 丕夭卮 鬲毓乇蹖賮 讴乇丿 賵賱蹖 丨賵氐賱賴鈥屬� 乇賵 禺蹖賱蹖 爻乇 亘乇丿.
賴賲趩賳丕賳 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 讴賱丕爻蹖讴鈥屫� 乇賵 鬲乇噩蹖丨 賲蹖丿賲.
賴賲趩賳丕賳 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 讴賱丕爻蹖讴鈥屫� 乇賵 鬲乇噩蹖丨 賲蹖丿賲.
April 7, 2024
丿乇 蹖讴 讴賱丕賲 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲鈥� :丕蹖丿賴 賳賵貙 讴卮卮 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 丕乇噩丕毓丕鬲 賵 丕卮丕乇丕鬲 噩匕丕亘
March 21, 2007
I dream like this: in fragments and loops; in absurdity and utter truth.
August 31, 2007
Surreal, poignant, and occasionally beautiful.
August 24, 2014
"You wouldn't think a bug race could be so exciting."
You wouldn't think a book by a certified would be so vapid and tiresome.
The Hundred Brothers is not plotless so much as personalityless. You can see the author trying really, really hard (including having his main character literally piss on the classics), but this book never makes the case for post-modernism, or itself.
An extra star for originality and ambition of the concept.
I recommend, instead, for droll stream-of-consciousness first-person narration, for daddy issues, and The Cabin in the Woods for intelligent deconstruction of sacrifice rites.
You wouldn't think a book by a certified would be so vapid and tiresome.
The Hundred Brothers is not plotless so much as personalityless. You can see the author trying really, really hard (including having his main character literally piss on the classics), but this book never makes the case for post-modernism, or itself.
An extra star for originality and ambition of the concept.
I recommend, instead, for droll stream-of-consciousness first-person narration, for daddy issues, and The Cabin in the Woods for intelligent deconstruction of sacrifice rites.
May 28, 2013
As far as I can tell, Donald Antrim has something of an over-active, yet alarmingly direct, imagination.
Ninety nine of one hundred brothers reunite in their family library for a dinner at which they hope to decide what to do with their father's ashes. The brothers are all individually named but very few are characterised; probably because most of them appear to have some form of personality disorder, addiction or an utterly abysmal ability to interact with other beings. There are squabbles, scuffles, and I'm fairly sure that at one point someone receives a good beating from an elderly brother with a zimmer frame.
The Hundred Brothers is, I think, best described as a series of paradoxes bound up in wit and an extremely eye-catching pink cover: the brothers love each other but hate each other, they meet to accomplish something but don't and the narrator, Doug, does a fantastic job of getting the reader on side but is entirely unreliable in his narrative. The book is brilliantly and memorably written, in a depraved kind of way. Antrim's depiction of family is close enough to reality to be alarming but also far enough away for us to laugh at how much like an amusing, hellish nightmare it all is.
I have no doubt that there are many deeper meanings and insights to be extracted from this book but, to be honest, the satiric drag of the narrative required some effort to read beyond. I got the feeling that uncomfortable social observations ran very close beneath the clever language and I didn't want to read into them. Instead, I stole some of the wittier phrases for my own use and left it at that.
Ninety nine of one hundred brothers reunite in their family library for a dinner at which they hope to decide what to do with their father's ashes. The brothers are all individually named but very few are characterised; probably because most of them appear to have some form of personality disorder, addiction or an utterly abysmal ability to interact with other beings. There are squabbles, scuffles, and I'm fairly sure that at one point someone receives a good beating from an elderly brother with a zimmer frame.
The Hundred Brothers is, I think, best described as a series of paradoxes bound up in wit and an extremely eye-catching pink cover: the brothers love each other but hate each other, they meet to accomplish something but don't and the narrator, Doug, does a fantastic job of getting the reader on side but is entirely unreliable in his narrative. The book is brilliantly and memorably written, in a depraved kind of way. Antrim's depiction of family is close enough to reality to be alarming but also far enough away for us to laugh at how much like an amusing, hellish nightmare it all is.
I have no doubt that there are many deeper meanings and insights to be extracted from this book but, to be honest, the satiric drag of the narrative required some effort to read beyond. I got the feeling that uncomfortable social observations ran very close beneath the clever language and I didn't want to read into them. Instead, I stole some of the wittier phrases for my own use and left it at that.
April 30, 2008
I fell in love with this novel when I heard Mr. Antrim read from it a the PEN/Faulkner awards eons ago. It is so quirky and frantic. I keep it by my bedside.
October 3, 2010
A simple but brilliant absurd comedy.
December 28, 2011
I had to force myself to read half of this. I can't say it was dreadful--the writing is OK, though nothing special. But I was bored. There was nothing to compel me to turn the page, or even open the book again.
It's apparently supposed to be funny. Maybe you need to be male? (though to be honest, I'm not that crazy about chick-lit either).
Maybe I'm just not hip enough to understand the obscure references.
Anyway, I didn't get it, and really, who cares?
It's apparently supposed to be funny. Maybe you need to be male? (though to be honest, I'm not that crazy about chick-lit either).
Maybe I'm just not hip enough to understand the obscure references.
Anyway, I didn't get it, and really, who cares?
September 7, 2008
THIS BOOK ROCKS, IT ROCKS A FAT MIGHTY HORSE ASS.
Read
June 6, 2023Hilarious. I recommend this novel. I enjoyed the freedom that radiates from this book.
"Getting up from the love seat was difficult. Virgil had trouble. It was a matter of leverage. The love seat was low and our knees were high."
"Doug, got a minute?"
"Sure."
"I'm having a little problem with God."
"What's up?"
"Life after death."
"Getting up from the love seat was difficult. Virgil had trouble. It was a matter of leverage. The love seat was low and our knees were high."
"Doug, got a minute?"
"Sure."
"I'm having a little problem with God."
"What's up?"
"Life after death."
July 18, 2013
I got to this one after reading and loving Antrim's other two novels. I waited years to read it because I was hoping he'd come out with another one and I wouldn't need to give up the exhilaration that comes from reading one of his novels for the first time. Eventually, I gave in.
As you might be able to tell from the description of the book, this presents the most daunting of the formal challenges of his books and, though his general thoroughness and intricacy gives way to mayhem more readily (and at the cost of letting certain facts and explanations slip aside in ways they do not in his other writing), it has the same general subdued absurdist tone of his others. I'd definitely recommend the Verificationist and Mr Robinson over this one, though it is a real corker.
My main problems with the book come from an ending that doesn't as deftly dismount from the narrative in the way that I supposed it should (based on the confidence in resolution proposed by the rest of the book) and some undelivered promises (what has become of George, the people in the fields, Barry's strange and sudden illness?). I get that it is missing the point but so much of the book works in spite of its chaos and surrealism that I felt slightly let down that only, say 98% of it was pulled off, not 100%.
Still, I greatly enjoyed it. Write another book already, Donald!
As you might be able to tell from the description of the book, this presents the most daunting of the formal challenges of his books and, though his general thoroughness and intricacy gives way to mayhem more readily (and at the cost of letting certain facts and explanations slip aside in ways they do not in his other writing), it has the same general subdued absurdist tone of his others. I'd definitely recommend the Verificationist and Mr Robinson over this one, though it is a real corker.
My main problems with the book come from an ending that doesn't as deftly dismount from the narrative in the way that I supposed it should (based on the confidence in resolution proposed by the rest of the book) and some undelivered promises (what has become of George, the people in the fields, Barry's strange and sudden illness?). I get that it is missing the point but so much of the book works in spite of its chaos and surrealism that I felt slightly let down that only, say 98% of it was pulled off, not 100%.
Still, I greatly enjoyed it. Write another book already, Donald!
August 5, 2016
This is a 200 page short story, a farce, that all takes place over the course of on evening. The characters ARE the plot, which is to say, the plot is how a family of 100 adult brothers might interact at a dinner. If it goes any deeper than that, someone needs to explain it to me. I was entertained in parts, but mostly I just wanted to finish it, so I could check it off the list and return it to the library.
June 19, 2008
This was a weird surrealist little number, fast reading, and quirky enough to keep me going throught he slow parts. Anyone discouraged by having to remember who all 100 brothers are need not; not all are central. Nor need you be troubled by the logistics of having a family of 100 brothers, you only need to enjoy it. Not a great book but okay enough.
January 25, 2008
Everyone should read this book. Here's my hook: yes, it's about a hundred brothers. They're gathered in the family library to find their father's ashes and try and achieve some kind of fraternal peace. Every brother is introduced, by name, in the first sentence. There are no chapter or line breaks.
August 6, 2009
couldn't finish. didn't care what was happening to the characters, didn't want to know what would happen.
April 12, 2010
Worst book I have ever read.
April 10, 2024
Incredibly insightful and compellingly witty, this was v enjoyable to read.
March 12, 2024
I really wanted to love this book. I LOVED the idea of it , it just wasn鈥檛 for me.
March 9, 2024
Saw a review that described this as a long Monty Python skit but with more depth and that's exactly how it read. Had laugh out loud moments, only to be bookended by nauseatingly lonely moments.
February 24, 2014
Doug, the protagonist of this wickedly delicious novel, is gathering with 98 of his brothers in the giant library of their family mansion for a night of food, drink, and hedonistic revelry. The entire book (albeit short at a mere 188 pages) takes place during the course of this night. How does someone have 99 siblings to begin with, where is anyone else in the family, and why this night of all night do they meet? Well, it's never quite explained. We do meet all hundred brothers though, and Antrim even lists everyone of them in one very long first sentence. After that things quickly jump the tracks of any normally structured novel and descend into somewhat of a mad scene that goes on and on.
After a few pages we find out at least what the narrator's hope is for the night: that they finally find out what happened to their dead father's urn and put his memory to rest. But as fights break out, alcohol and drugs are consumed, bats get in, the windows are opened, a storm approaches, and old rivalries are re-explored, bedlam breaks out and we find that each brother has a more sinister goal, with the narrator Doug at the middle of their designs.
There are definitely more questions raised than answered, and much is unclear, which makes this little book a joy of speculation. What do the hundred brothers symbolize? Why is one missing? Why is a mother never mentioned? If the house is falling apart, what's to become of everyone?
A lot of fun to read with laugh-out-loud an hour after your bedtime moments (because you just can't put it down), this imaginative work is something like the Underground Man getting drunk and gaying it up at a huge party.
After a few pages we find out at least what the narrator's hope is for the night: that they finally find out what happened to their dead father's urn and put his memory to rest. But as fights break out, alcohol and drugs are consumed, bats get in, the windows are opened, a storm approaches, and old rivalries are re-explored, bedlam breaks out and we find that each brother has a more sinister goal, with the narrator Doug at the middle of their designs.
There are definitely more questions raised than answered, and much is unclear, which makes this little book a joy of speculation. What do the hundred brothers symbolize? Why is one missing? Why is a mother never mentioned? If the house is falling apart, what's to become of everyone?
A lot of fun to read with laugh-out-loud an hour after your bedtime moments (because you just can't put it down), this imaginative work is something like the Underground Man getting drunk and gaying it up at a huge party.
August 11, 2016
Started out strong, but became tiresome for me maybe 1/3 of the way from the end. The humor is what kept me going (in general, anything that makes me laugh will not be abandoned, no matter how disengaged I am otherwise), and the narrator's voice is steeped in somewhat bleak humor rooted in the absurd, my favorite. There are countless profound observations on spirituality, ritual, family, identity, what it means to be a man and a brother, usually conveyed through lovely writing - however, I guess I'm either too old-fashioned or not smart enough to fully connect w/ a postmodern structure, which is sort of like no structure at all - anything can happen at any point, and maybe already did, and what the heck is happening? There's nothing concrete to tie me to the story, which lessens the impact of all the lovely observations - I think part of it is that the whole thing is so loose, the narrator so increasingly unreliable, you almost feel like a dupe for being moved by anything he has to say. I'd say this goes for the whole experience of reading the book - you feel almost silly for being affected by it, because in the end it's hard to tell if Antrim's just screwing around. I've never read anything quite like this, and I can see why he's so well-regarded by his peers (both George Saunders and Jonathan Franzen have written forewards for Antrim's books) because he really is a dazzlingly smart writer, and I may even seek out more of his writing in the future, but for now I need a break....
April 12, 2010
So I read most of this book in one sitting (on a flight), which I think should be recommended for future readers of this book since 1) there are no chapters and 2) the events happen in the span of a few hours and kind of snowball from normal (well.... as normal as can be with 100 brothers involved) to completely chaotic. I think if I read this only in the morning on my way to work, I would have lost the thread.
I wouldn't say nothing happened, but the book seemed to be about character development, not about plot, so it could seem slow.
I thought the ending was actually pretty compelling. I couldn't tell you what exactly happened, though I have my suspicions, but I thought the book was creative and unusual. I would be interested in seeing how Antrim's other books are designed.
I wouldn't say nothing happened, but the book seemed to be about character development, not about plot, so it could seem slow.
I thought the ending was actually pretty compelling. I couldn't tell you what exactly happened, though I have my suspicions, but I thought the book was creative and unusual. I would be interested in seeing how Antrim's other books are designed.
July 5, 2011
You have only to read the back cover of this book to know what you are getting into so do it. It comes well recommended, it's by a "hot" author who publishes stories in the New Yorker, Jonathan Franzen is a fan, I dunno what more I can say. The book is short, 200 pages, funny all the way through, and clearly meant to be taken as a "literary novel" whatever that might be. But 200 pages of funny may just well be too many pages of funny, and maybe we could say the same for the intellectual gamesmanship. Depending on your mood, you may have a good time, but I wouldn't be comparing this stuff to Dostoevsky, Nicholson Baker would be more like it.
Don't buy this book unless you've read a few pages of it. Now you've been warned.
pp
Don't buy this book unless you've read a few pages of it. Now you've been warned.
pp
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