November 9, 2004

Last line

No doubt all of this is not true remembrance but the ruinous work of nostalgia, which obliterates the past, and no doubt, as usual, I have exaggerated everything.

Posted by sheila
Comments

David Copperfield?

Posted by: David at November 9, 2004 4:13 PM

Excellent guess, but no.

This book was actually compared to David Copperfield ... I don't know if anyone will get it - I just LOVE this guy's writing.

This was his first novel - which came out when he was 22. And it was very successful. He then didn't publish another book for 7 or 8 years ...

Since then, his books just keep getting better and better.

But I have a soft spot in my heart for his first novel.

I mean - read that writing. A 22 year old wrote that??

Posted by: red at November 9, 2004 4:16 PM

Oho. Mysteries of Pittsburgh, then, by Michael Chabon. I might have gotten it without your comment -- "ruinous work of nostalgia" rang pretty clear in memory -- but you've cinched it.

Unless I'm wrong, in which case now I'm mighty embarrassed.

Posted by: Linus at November 9, 2004 5:27 PM

Yes - Mysteries of Pittsburgh.

I posted this one for you, Linus - I seem to recall you saying at one point that you loved this book.

Posted by: red at November 9, 2004 5:28 PM

I did say that. And it's been ages since I read it - what a fantastic last line. Must dig it out of the past, now.

Thanks, Sheila. These are HARD!

Posted by: Linus at November 9, 2004 5:55 PM