Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe - Book Chat
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- čas přidán 9. 02. 2019
- Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe was originally published in 1929.
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Other Works mentioned:
Lycidas by John Milton
Rosshalde by Hermann Hesse
The Day the Sun Died by Yan Lianke
Look Homeward is the greatest novel I have ever read. The story is brilliant and the prose is hauntingly beautiful.
I agree it is so beautifully written!
Wolfe is as good as English can get..brilliant..try the sequel..
@@Charlesbaker3017 "You Can't Go Home Again" is one of the finest novels -- in my mind objectively and subjectives -- that have ever been written.
I read this when I was but 16-17...almost 60 yrs ago ....as a totally voracious reader and addicted to books at age 6 ...( no one in my family was a reader !! ) After reading hundreds and hundreds of books - this novel always stuck with me ...and I still have that copy .. ( a Bostonian by birth and life - this southern look at life was new to me ....) I got all caught up in his prose - he wrote beautifully ...yes -it was a semi-autobiographical novel of the south and Thomas Wolfe's life - which at the time I read it I was a bit aghast ! Because this Way of life was very new to me ....whatever....
It was written 'IN THE TIMES'- 1929 !!!....The Author had an absolutely wonderful grasp of 'prose'...You don't have to get too into the actual bio-story - But the words ...the language - For me it was like Wolfe was spinning a web ...Seriously - no one today even attempts to "write" like he and many others of his time - IT WAS WRITTEN IN 1929 Folks !!! So Put All Your prejudices and crap aside - IT WAS WHAT IT WAS - And If you have a true love of words and prose ...literature - you'll also learn things ...
Since my eyesight is now poor - I am going to listen to it on Audible - or any other site that has a good Narrator ....
He wrote Beautifully .......
Nice video! I read the book many years ago, and was both impressed and appalled. What I remember most,though, was being moved to tears as Eugene's brother Ben dies. Terrific writing!
My dude, just this morning I reached the passage you read from. . . and I agree, nothing prepares one for this level of cheerful abandon racism because all you hear before you read the book is what a great author Wolfe is. I guess it's a powerful thing to realize how racist people really were at their very core back then, unapologetically. For those who are "color-blind" please read this book!
I'm not sure how this video ended up in recommended for me, but it's spooky that it did: Wolfe is one of my all time favorite authors. I hope by now you've read "You Can't Go Home Again". Obviously there's no definitive "Great American Novel", but that one comes SO close. SO VERY CLOSE. Even the structural aspects -- including the rare if not altogether innovative narrative 'rondo' that he does during the party, handing off the story from one character to another -- are oddly diegetic.
My husband, who died in 1995, was the one who turned me on to Wolfe, and Look Homeward, Angel, was one of his very favorites. To that end, I included in the materials of his memorial the very last paragraph of the novel. It's still a bit of a stopper to read it.
Great review of Thomas Wolfe Look homeward Angel. Im glad you addressed the cultural issues of racism of the time, and I think its sad that Wolfe has been banished based off of this, but its vital that we appreciate Wolfe's writing and we can analyze the history of American culture and race through Wolfe's realism as a product of its time. The writing is beautifull and epic even if its antiquated by todays standards, but further along Wolfe's career he actually addresses the racism in a new light as a old form of social justice that's very profound.
I loved the beautiful use of language in this book. It's definitely reflecting a certain time and place and all that entails culturally but nevertheless a great read. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Eston! I read both Look Homeward Angel and You Can't Go Home Again many years ago, and at the time I was enthralled, but hopefully my literary knowledge has increased somewhat, and I now understand why Wolfe and his editor Maxwell Perkins used to have so many arguments over the length of his manuscripts. Perkins cut thousand of pages because he realized Wolfe had a tendency to go on and on when it added nothing to the story. As far as the racial slurs etc., I read an interesting quote once to the effect that when we read this type of book we are going back to the author's time, they are not coming to ours, thus we really can't judge their standands by present day criteria. Whatever book you read next I am looking forward to your review, and as usual, it was great to see you again.
HI Lillian - I left a comment earlier but it looks like it didn't upload. When I was doing a little research on the publication history I think that I saw that the complete unedited version was published a few years ago (called "O Lost" I think). Wolfe definitely was a writer who was not hesitant to use as many words as he thought were required in order to achieve the description that he wanted. And it worked! There is definitely some beautiful descriptive writing in the book. I meant to mention in the video how well drawn some of the characters were - specifically Eugene's brother Ben as well as his sister and mother. I was not expecting the racism and anti-semitism but the book is firmly grounded in time and place so I suppose today it adds to the description of the era although it was difficult to read.
I actually had a "parent-teacher' conference many many years ago - where the teacher said to me something about the way my daughter wrote some things ....(can't remember exact words ) But I said to him " shades of Thomas Wolfe " ...He looked at me with an Amazed look on his face ...lol...never forget it .....
Wow! Hesse will be a sunny relief after this one. Well done.
Thanks! I'm looking forward to diving into some more Hesse :)
I look forward to your comments on "Delphi". Sounds fascinating! I wish I had a time machine to go back to these places and histories.
Also, a random/strange comment: I was watching a Book Tube video from a new person. They came across as angry and condescending. I wondered why they were even making videos, if they didn't seem to like their viewers or even the process very much. (I'm not going to say the name, because I know I am probably being unfair. A first impression is rarely accurate.)
But then I saw your upload. And as I had it open, ready to play after I was doing some work, I could't help but contrast the two. You're always so genuinely pleasant. It feels like you enjoy talking to us.
Anyway, I hope that doesn't come across as creepy. I don't mean it that way.
Thanks for the kind words Yesica! Part of my philosophy in doing these book chat videos is that I'm giving the book 12-13 minutes of time to reflect on it and my experience reading it. My hope is that the viewer might enjoy hearing a bit about the book even if it might be one which they aren't that interested in actually reading. And I do enjoy making the videos so I hope that comes through. Thanks for commenting I appreciate the interaction!
You mention that the book has "fallen out of favour." Would you expound on this comment, please? Thank you.
I you sell the novel short by over-emphasizing the relatively mild racist bits and not quoting a sample of Wolfe's amazing stream-of-consciousness prose.
is tht the one from the babies point of view in the crib ?
if you thought there was beautiful writing in the book, you should have shown an example of that as well. A missed opportunity on your part to show balance.
You gave Wolfe credit for some beautiful writing, but as I expected, your review is mostly about political incorrectness. It is a great novel that is about much more than prejudices.
I live in Catawba county NC
I read it in the 20th century
I just started this yesterday after visiting his memorial and learning how much controversy the booked caused in Asheville. After learning that his dad was a stone cutter and drunk and his mom a book seller at first and a business woman you can definitely tell how this was based on his own life in a fictional way.
I hope that you enjoy the book! It is really written very beautifully and portrays the era.
Thomas Wolfe witnessed
the spider and the web ?
👋🏻
This is based on my family names have been changed.my cousin down the line
The Wokers knocked this out, because of the use of the n-word and a few other matters related to the accuracy of the times.
Bring it back!
Eston is a bit timid about this.
OF TIME AND THE RIVER ALSO
Oh yes ....beautiful words ....
What an attractive host! (And I enjoyed the book-chat, too. ;-)
awww...thanks!
Those are still the same racist stereotypes taught and that was the point I think Wolfe was trying to make. The stupid cruelty taught and encouraged in the next generation.
Twin Peaks Peyton place
Very poor review. Should focus more on it's merits and incredible achievements.
THE ACID TEST DIFFERNET GUY
you cant go home again
Who is here because Ozark series , the big sleep episode?
I am haha! And I discover his shared history/putative lineage with some of my all-time favourite writers (Wiltman, Kerouac, Roth that is).. Excellent reference apparently. Looking forward to reading Thomas Wolfe!!
WPS
Freshman year highschool
delivers news papers to n word town
This is the most asinine review of a great author I've ever encountered. Wolfe's story of the buried life is here fully dead and buried!
You never ever read out of context historical novels plays etc etc They all become strange and outdated. Of course there is a larger context that even then the author may have been reaching towards. At either rate it is disturbing.
And don’t believe everything he says