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.
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David Copperfield?
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??
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.
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.
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!