Lonely Loneliness

So, what are you reading these days?

Question:

Why do you apologize for quoting a great piece of insight? You asked what we were reading these days? I do a lot of parallel reading. So my current two books I absolutely enjoy are: Haruki Murakami: "Umibe no Kafuka" (That’s the Japanese title, I read it of course in German: "Kafka am Strand" (=Kafka on the Beach, but I think there is a better English translation of the title) – anyway, a very recommendable book. A bit crazy and deeply wise. Second is another favourite: A.L. Kennedy: All That You Need. Both books marginally deal with loneliness. All great art ist bound to the solitary I’ll put Douglas Coupland on my to-do list. Thanks, Paneon. Sumi "Where does loneliness come from? I’d hazard a guess that the crapshoot that is family has more than a little to do with it—father’s a drunk; mother’s an agoraphobic; single child; middle child; firstborn; mother’s a nag; father’s a golf cheat… I mean, what’s your own nature/nurture crap-shoot? You’re here. You’re reading these words. Is this a coincidence? Maybe you think fate is only for others. Maybe you’re ashamed to be reading about loneliness— maybe someone will catch you and then they’ll know your secret stain. And then maybe you’re not even sure what loneliness is— that’s common. We cripple our children for life by not telling them what loneliness is, all of its shades, and tones and implications. When it clubs us on the head, usually just after we leave home, we’re blindsided. We have no idea what hit us. We think we’re diseased, schizoid, bipolar, monstrous and lacking in dietary chromium. It takes us until thirty to figure out what it was that sucked the joy from our youth, that made our brains shriek and burn on the inside, even while our exteriors made us seem as confident and bronzed as Qantas pilots. Loneliness."    pg 9-10.

Response:

> Why do you apologize for quoting a great piece of insight?

Well… I suppose I was a bit worried that it could be misread as ‘people under 18 or over 30 don’t get lonely’. I know, I know… I’m a hopeless neurotic… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You asked what we were reading these days? > I do a lot of parallel reading. So my current > two books I absolutely enjoy are: > Haruki Murakami: "Umibe no Kafuka" (That’s the Japanese title, I read it > of course in German: "Kafka am Strand" (=Kafka on the Beach, but I > think there is a better English translation of > the title) – anyway, a very recommendable book. > A bit crazy and deeply wise. > Second is another favourite: A.L. Kennedy: All That You Need. > Both books marginally deal with loneliness. > All great art ist bound to the solitary > I’ll put Douglas Coupland on my to-do list. > Thanks, Paneon. > Sumi

Well, I’d probably describe Douglas Coupland as more focussed on writing novels that are entertaining (and crazy) rather than enlightened discussions of the human condition, even though that quote was fairly bang on the money. Kafka am Strand? I’ve heard the title – but I’ve become a bit wary of Kafka since I read ‘The Trial’. (Excellent book, just very draining to read.) I’ll try and remember to hunt this down when I’ve got a bit more time on the holidays for reading literature a little more heavy than my usual fare.

Response:

paneon on 20/09/2005 8:36 am wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Crashed with a book when I got home today – got washing to do, dinner to > cook, dog to walk, personal hygiene to maintain, sleep to… uh… sleep – > but just too wrecked to do anything much just yet. > – Book? > Douglas Coupland – ‘Eleanor Rigby’. No prizes for guessing basic content, or > why I swiped it off the shelf at the library. I haven’t read much Coupland, > but I’m starting to really enjoy his work. > – Quotable bit? > "Where does loneliness come from? I’d hazard a guess that the crapshoot that > is family has more than a little to do with it—father’s a drunk; mother’s > an agoraphobic; single child; middle child; firstborn; mother’s a nag; > father’s a golf cheat… I mean, what’s your own nature/nurture crap-shoot? > You’re here. You’re reading these words. Is this a coincidence? Maybe you > think fate is only for others. Maybe you’re ashamed to be reading about > loneliness— maybe someone will catch you and then they’ll know your secret > stain. And then maybe you’re not even sure what loneliness is— that’s > common. We cripple our children for life by not telling them what loneliness > is, all of its shades, and tones and implications. When it clubs us on the > head, usually just after we leave home, we’re blindsided. We have no idea > what hit us. We think we’re diseased, schizoid, bipolar, monstrous and > lacking in dietary chromium. It takes us until thirty to figure out what it > was that sucked the joy from our youth, that made our brains shriek and burn > on the inside, even while our exteriors made us seem as confident and > bronzed as Qantas pilots. Loneliness."    pg 9-10. > Apologies if relevant, or not, as the case may be… > – paneon

I’m reading "The Turn of the Screw" – Henry James, "Electric Universe" – David Bodanis and attempting "The Edges of Science" – Richard Morris I don’t think these are relevant though.

Response:

210905 <my_unstable_Ost…@excite.com> wrote in news:BF572DEA.3A1F% my_unstable_Ost…@excite.com: > I’m reading "The Turn of the Screw" – Henry James,

There’s no need for masochism. — "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

Te he he …

Response:

>> I’m reading "The Turn of the Screw" – Henry James, > There’s no need for masochism.

It seems to involve an impressionable governess who has the unrequited hots for her distant yet beguiling master. Meanwhile she becomes dominated by her young, manipulative charges. I’m, only so far and, already, I’m getting comma, fatigue, large. Gawd knows when this screw is going to get turned. [no offence to H James or fans of said author].

Response:

I’m reading tabloids and gossip magazines.

Response:

> I’m reading tabloids and gossip magazines.

Do these come with words these days? I thought most people just purchase them to look at the pictures. *ducks*

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"paneon" (paneon@sdf_dot_lonestar.org) writes: > Crashed with a book when I got home today – got washing to do, dinner to > cook, dog to walk, personal hygiene to maintain, sleep to… uh… sleep – > but just too wrecked to do anything much just yet. > – Book? > Douglas Coupland – ‘Eleanor Rigby’. No prizes for guessing basic content, or > why I swiped it off the shelf at the library. I haven’t read much Coupland, > but I’m starting to really enjoy his work. > – Quotable bit? > "Where does loneliness come from? I’d hazard a guess that the crapshoot that > is family has more than a little to do with it—father’s a drunk; mother’s > an agoraphobic; single child; middle child; firstborn; mother’s a nag; > father’s a golf cheat… I mean, what’s your own nature/nurture crap-shoot? > You’re here. You’re reading these words. Is this a coincidence? Maybe you > think fate is only for others. Maybe you’re ashamed to be reading about > loneliness— maybe someone will catch you and then they’ll know your secret > stain. And then maybe you’re not even sure what loneliness is— that’s > common. We cripple our children for life by not telling them what loneliness > is, all of its shades, and tones and implications. When it clubs us on the > head, usually just after we leave home, we’re blindsided. We have no idea > what hit us. We think we’re diseased, schizoid, bipolar, monstrous and > lacking in dietary chromium. It takes us until thirty to figure out what it > was that sucked the joy from our youth, that made our brains shriek and burn > on the inside, even while our exteriors made us seem as confident and > bronzed as Qantas pilots. Loneliness."    pg 9-10. > Apologies if relevant, or not, as the case may be… > – paneon

Sure sounds relevant to me!:) —

Response:

Crashed with a book when I got home today – got washing to do, dinner to cook, dog to walk, personal hygiene to maintain, sleep to… uh… sleep – but just too wrecked to do anything much just yet. – Book? Douglas Coupland – ‘Eleanor Rigby’. No prizes for guessing basic content, or why I swiped it off the shelf at the library. I haven’t read much Coupland, but I’m starting to really enjoy his work. – Quotable bit? "Where does loneliness come from? I’d hazard a guess that the crapshoot that is family has more than a little to do with it—father’s a drunk; mother’s an agoraphobic; single child; middle child; firstborn; mother’s a nag; father’s a golf cheat… I mean, what’s your own nature/nurture crap-shoot? You’re here. You’re reading these words. Is this a coincidence? Maybe you think fate is only for others. Maybe you’re ashamed to be reading about loneliness— maybe someone will catch you and then they’ll know your secret stain. And then maybe you’re not even sure what loneliness is— that’s common. We cripple our children for life by not telling them what loneliness is, all of its shades, and tones and implications. When it clubs us on the head, usually just after we leave home, we’re blindsided. We have no idea what hit us. We think we’re diseased, schizoid, bipolar, monstrous and lacking in dietary chromium. It takes us until thirty to figure out what it was that sucked the joy from our youth, that made our brains shriek and burn on the inside, even while our exteriors made us seem as confident and bronzed as Qantas pilots. Loneliness."    pg 9-10. Apologies if relevant, or not, as the case may be… – paneon

Response:

Filed under: Loneliness Lonely

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