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Vipassana's Reviews > Miss Lonelyhearts
Miss Lonelyhearts
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I had a really weird laugh at the end of this one. Something that might be born if 'huh?' and 'haha!' were to copulate.
Miss Lonelyhearts, a man known only by the name of his agony aunt style column, is deeply affected by the letters from his readers. At the beginning of the tale he appears to be on the fence with his ideas on faith and slowly tumbles into a full blown messiah complex. Along the way, Nathanael West's astute observations and sharp wit keep us entertained.
Man has a tropism for order. Keys in one pocket, change in the other. Mandolins are tuned G D A E. Man against nature... the battle of the centuries. Keys yearn to mix with the change
The overtly tragic comic tone of this tale is what makes it a win.
Prodded by his conscience, he began to generalize. Men have always fought their misery with dreams. Although dreams were once powerful, the have been made puerile by the movies, radio and newspapers.
And soon after this, he begins his descent down loony land. You'd think this is strange, but from what I have observed in the world, this is exactly how some people cope. Creating a strange alternate reality, with no space for these truths. Absurd. However, when you are not particularly affected by it, you can laugh it all off and Miss Lonelyhearts gives one plenty of opportunity for that.
Miss Lonelyhearts, a man known only by the name of his agony aunt style column, is deeply affected by the letters from his readers. At the beginning of the tale he appears to be on the fence with his ideas on faith and slowly tumbles into a full blown messiah complex. Along the way, Nathanael West's astute observations and sharp wit keep us entertained.
Man has a tropism for order. Keys in one pocket, change in the other. Mandolins are tuned G D A E. Man against nature... the battle of the centuries. Keys yearn to mix with the change
The overtly tragic comic tone of this tale is what makes it a win.
Prodded by his conscience, he began to generalize. Men have always fought their misery with dreams. Although dreams were once powerful, the have been made puerile by the movies, radio and newspapers.
And soon after this, he begins his descent down loony land. You'd think this is strange, but from what I have observed in the world, this is exactly how some people cope. Creating a strange alternate reality, with no space for these truths. Absurd. However, when you are not particularly affected by it, you can laugh it all off and Miss Lonelyhearts gives one plenty of opportunity for that.
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Quotes Vipassana Liked
“He read it for the same reason an animal tears at a wounded foot: to hurt the pain.”
― Miss Lonelyhearts
― Miss Lonelyhearts
Reading Progress
March 13, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read-soon
March 13, 2015
– Shelved
March 15, 2015
–
Started Reading
March 15, 2015
–
61.0%
March 16, 2015
–
63.0%
"She seemed to think that if he never talked about these things, his body would get well, that is his body got well, everything would be well
I remembered every single person in the world who has told me that I think too much. Most of the time I want to stop thinking and throw something at these people. Good for them, I continued to think."
I remembered every single person in the world who has told me that I think too much. Most of the time I want to stop thinking and throw something at these people. Good for them, I continued to think."
March 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
fiction
March 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
humour
March 16, 2015
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-3 of 3 (3 new)
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s.penkevich
(new)
Mar 16, 2015 11:04AM
Ha no way, I just read this last night! Great review! I agree though, I loved the darkly comical absurdities but it feels very authentic for how people cope. Great work!
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@spenk Oh wow! What are the odds of that happening? Glad you liked it, Steve :)
Right? And we both just read Sleepless Nights, I'd say we are on a good reading streak ha
