tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post1958838633397223202..comments2023-11-05T10:11:31.578+00:00Comments on Just William's Luck: 'the reverse of a shadow'William Rycrofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-49108036542791841502011-12-05T09:14:57.669+00:002011-12-05T09:14:57.669+00:00Thank you for the comments everyone. As Tom says t...Thank you for the comments everyone. As Tom says the essay by James Woods is great (only available online to LRB subscribers but I think it will be the intro to the paperback edition). The trilogy comment came from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2000/jan/20/wgsebald" rel="nofollow">here</a> Max, although in what way they are a trilogy I'm not sure. Thematic, stylistic...? I'm always confused about where to go next with Sebald but the mention of Rings of Saturn from both you and <i>dovegreyreader</i> encourages me in that direction. Go on Max, I will if you will...William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-24754846952339747162011-12-05T08:11:54.579+00:002011-12-05T08:11:54.579+00:00Ooooh I love Sebald and this is definitely not the...Ooooh I love Sebald and this is definitely not the best book to start with as you say. There is an excellent piece on Austerlitz by Diana Athill in the Winter 2010 edition of Slightly Foxed and she talks about the need to make an act of trust with Sebald, to put yourself in his hands and follow where he leads. I read and instinctively learnt that when I read Rings of Saturn, my first Sebald, and have never looked back. Austerlitz and that lack of punctuation made me feel as if I was on that train and just couldn't get off and every time I read the word Austerlitz my mind kept seeing the word Auschwitz. Definitely read Rings of Saturn very soon because I think it gives a perspective to all his other books and how clever the use of the random photo is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-28010437441247184802011-12-04T16:32:55.118+00:002011-12-04T16:32:55.118+00:00I have Rings of Saturn at home as yet unread, so t...I have Rings of Saturn at home as yet unread, so tempting as you make this sound it'll have to wait at least until I've tried that. <br /><br />That said, from your comments about the final third it doesn't sound like the best first Sebald anyway. <br /><br />The question of reality within the book is fascinating. That this feels real, is not real, but is composed in part of things which are real. <br /><br />What's this about a trilogy? I wasn't aware of that.Max Cairnduffhttp://www.pechorinsjournal.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-40240170966043142682011-12-03T21:15:54.324+00:002011-12-03T21:15:54.324+00:00A very good article and thanks for the mention of ...A very good article and thanks for the mention of mine. <br /><br />I think its a remarkable and enigmatic book but I totally understand why many people would hate it. <br /><br />The article in LRB was superb - perhaps the definitive statement, but then the author knew Sebald and was familiar with his work in the University of East Anglia, which must have helped.Tom Cunliffehttp://www.acommonreader.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-36382185386952843842011-11-30T15:49:56.526+00:002011-11-30T15:49:56.526+00:00Thanks Shona. The debate as to where to start with...Thanks Shona. The debate as to where to start with Sebald has no definitive answer, as I have discovered on Twitter. I began with The Emigrants by chance rather than design; others have suggested The Rjngs of Saturn, although Vertigo was published before those other two books, the three together functioning as some kind of trilogy apparently. All of that makes this perhaps the least helpful comment ever! Good luck!William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-70126242432205018612011-11-30T04:38:56.325+00:002011-11-30T04:38:56.325+00:00Will, I have never read Sebald but once again your...Will, I have never read Sebald but once again your wonderful review convinces me I have to read this writer. <br /><br />Start here or with The Emigrants?Shona Cookhttp://twitter.com/#!/wayfaringreadernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-41239196324249057062011-11-29T11:26:54.546+00:002011-11-29T11:26:54.546+00:00Harriet - reading your comment makes me very happy...Harriet - reading your comment makes me very happy. If a blog like this serves any kind of purpose it is to enthuse people about certain books or writers so I'm pleased to hear you'll give Sebald another go. Nobody seems to agree on what his best book is so maybe it would be good for you to try Austerlitz again. Not easy, but stimulating and worthwhile.<br /><br />Tony - I reckon they're probably all tricky in some way or other but I certainly aim to read all of them eventually. Good luck!William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-63753501901086974202011-11-29T11:07:54.073+00:002011-11-29T11:07:54.073+00:00Phew! That does sound... weighty :) I have yet t...Phew! That does sound... weighty :) I have yet to try Sebald, but I do now have a copy of 'Die Ringe des Saturns' to try. It sounds like it might be a bit tricky though!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546287562521628467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-33491790932823816362011-11-29T09:40:39.287+00:002011-11-29T09:40:39.287+00:00I tried to read this book a couple of years ago, a...I tried to read this book a couple of years ago, as my daughter had told me it was wonderful, and could not get on with it -- I just got bogged down in the architecture. You have made it sound really fascinating and I think I'd better give it another go. Thanks for this review.harriethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04470091985662379182noreply@blogger.com