That “House of Mirth” struggle So I termed this the…
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That “House of Mirth” struggle
So I termed this the \*House of Mirth\* struggle because it’s the first time I remember experiencing it. You’re reading a novel you \*love\*, characters you’ve connected with, you’re engaged and enjoying the entire experience … and yet you know that it’s not going to end well. That’s what makes Wharton’s work - and all great works - brilliant and literary and successful, the fact that they’re so compelling and you’re now completely engaged.
But there’s the dread of the “bad thing” lurking, and you’re getting closer and closer to it.
Intellectually you understand that it’s part of the whole, and for a purpose, but it still gives you agita and … dread. So much so that it becomes a bit of a struggle to continue reading.
I’m feeling like this, currently, about \*The Ministry of Time\* (Kaliane Bradley); it’s fantastic and I love it. But I know something bad is on its way and it will break my heart. In the best literary way, and I know it has to happen, but I’m pausing.
This is a little momentary immaturity on my part, I know that. And it’s temporary and I’ll get over it and finish the novel - \*The House of Mirth\* is one of my favorite novels of all time - and that the overall greatness of it of course requires the complete story. I’m just having a moment and I figured I’d see if other people experience this too, even if only temporarily, like I do.
#entertainment
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So I termed this the \*House of Mirth\* struggle because it’s the first time I remember experiencing it. You’re reading a novel you \*love\*, characters you’ve connected with, you’re engaged and enjoying the entire experience … and yet you know that it’s not going to end well. That’s what makes Wharton’s work - and all great works - brilliant and literary and successful, the fact that they’re so compelling and you’re now completely engaged.
But there’s the dread of the “bad thing” lurking, and you’re getting closer and closer to it.
Intellectually you understand that it’s part of the whole, and for a purpose, but it still gives you agita and … dread. So much so that it becomes a bit of a struggle to continue reading.
I’m feeling like this, currently, about \*The Ministry of Time\* (Kaliane Bradley); it’s fantastic and I love it. But I know something bad is on its way and it will break my heart. In the best literary way, and I know it has to happen, but I’m pausing.
This is a little momentary immaturity on my part, I know that. And it’s temporary and I’ll get over it and finish the novel - \*The House of Mirth\* is one of my favorite novels of all time - and that the overall greatness of it of course requires the complete story. I’m just having a moment and I figured I’d see if other people experience this too, even if only temporarily, like I do.
#entertainment
source
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