March Of The Mammoths Wrap - The Recognitions by William Gaddis

A discussion of William Gaddis' 1952 debut maximalist novel "The Recognitions" which was a buddy read with the following Booktubers
Noah @ Everyone Who Reads Must Converse • The Recognitions by Wi...
Dennis @ Intellectual Reads / @intellectualreads5696
Cathie @ The Grimm Reader / @thegrimmreader3649

[@zamiadams4343]

Another great episode Marc, I've just ordered this book, cheers man.

[@thegrimmreader3649]

Absolutely brilliant review, Thank you Marc!!

[@BookishTexan]

I own a Gaddis book and tried to read it, but couldnt get into it. I forget the title, not _The Recognitions_ , but I may give it another shot later this year.

[@MarcNash]

He's not an easy read fo' sure

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Marc Your video makes me less afraid of mammoths. Aloha

[@MarcNash]

Hi thanks Marilyn and Aloha to you too! I have to see this was my third mammoth and so far, the only year I've actually completed the book

[@kmwwrench]

Hmmmm. I got about halfway through this and gave up. I was annoyed by the foreign language bits. One of my writing (rrading?) pet peeves is authors who randomly (at least random to me) insert foreign language text in books written in English. It just seems pretentious and "look how much smarter than you I am". I did enjoy a lot of the humor, but it was all just too much of a slog for me. Wish I'd made it to the death by church, though. That I can appreciate.

[@MarcNash]

I know what you mean about the use of untranslated foreign languages, but I also think it reflects badly on my own lack of ability to read any other language than in English.

[@jakmerriman4499]

it’s interesting with The Recognitions, however, because, although I generally agree with your sentiments, Gaddis’ use of foreign languages is very purposeful and actually reveals a lot about characters-particularly in the way they often speak the foreign languages poorly (Otto’s Spanish is hilarious). It’s also funny to laugh at Gaddis himself, because his Spanish is very clearly Francified/Frenchified, in the sense that he’s clearly picked up on it by word-of-mouth and transposed the language to paper from the position of a French speaker (because the spellings, grammar, syntax all can’t be much different, right?)

[@SpringboardThought]

I really need to get to this one. I am not sure how this will land with me. Humour and satire is very hard to tow for me. For instance I absolutely hated Catch 22.

[@MarcNash]

It's a challenge this book no doubt about it

[@CourtneyFerriter]

I'm intrigued by this dichotomy of reproduction vs. creation in art. Never read Gaddis before. Also, Rectal Brown 🤣🤣🤣

[@HardcoverHearts]

You all have piqued my interest so much about this book. And knowing there is a “study guide” makes me less apprehensive. I do love this cover so much more than the one Cathie has.

[@MarcNash]

ha that's funny, because I actually prefer Cathy's cover!

[@HardcoverHearts]

@@MarcNash Vive le difference! 😉

[@MarcNash]

@@HardcoverHearts Absolutely :-)

[@thegrimmreader3649]

@@MarcNash I like both! (I got the Dalkey Archive one for my Kindle) and I might even get a book copy of it as well! Waiting to watch all the way through Marc, till I’ve finished. It’s going well but slowly.

[@ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣΚΑΝΑΒΟΣ-β9π]

I wait for the translation in greek, I want to read it but my english is not enough to read it.

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

Mammoth is right on this one. WOW! It's always such an accomplishment to finish a book this huge. Even better if it's well written and enjoyable. This one sounds interesting to me. 😊💙

[@MarcNash]

Do let me know what you think of it if you do pick it up

[@siljeblomst1]

Great video 🤗 I’m so intrigued by this book, and will read it this year. Have a lovely day, Marc 😊

[@MarcNash]

You too Silje!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

Congratulations on your mammoth success. I am resisting being tempted by any of these books though. I don't need more long long novels on my wishlist to read. Unfortunately I can't resist watching your videos. Good thing I am made of stern stuff as made this one really intriguing.

[@MarcNash]

3 down, 7 more to go for me this year, although I only have 100 pages to go on the next one. Finish that tomorrow and it will enable me to read some other stuff for the rest of April.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

@@MarcNash sounds like a holiday.

[@MarcNash]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 It kinda is!

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Sounds an intriguing read, about identity.

[@MarcNash]

It is intriguing but not for every reader for sure. Thanks Jim.

[@EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

This was fantastic Marc. The buddy-read and the exploration 😎🙏 you will love JR! After you read that, maybe we team up again for A Frolic of His Own?

[@MarcNash]

Definitely Noah! Though we are opposite in that I tend not to read the same author within the year but I think you like to read an entire oeuvre?