The Schreuderspitze : Mark Helprin

Such a wonderful story. Stories such as this are what make the BASS so great. I remember reading this the first time several months ago and finding it captivating, but after the second reading, so much more. Loss, love, introspection, heartache, longing, memories, and rebirth. Perfect ingredients leading to a wonderful dish.

Solotaroff takes us to Europe once again. I need to let this obsession with Solotaroff go. I have given this guy way too much influence over my thoughts.

There are so many aspects of this story that I can connect with.

First, and the most powerful, being the death of Wallich’s family(wife and son).

I tend to think a lot about the death of my loved ones. I think hard and long on how I would deal with my wife’s sudden death. It brings me near, if not to tears, sometimes when I play out various scenarios.

I don’t know why I do this...have these thoughts. I just don’t know what I’d do without her. I have often thought about how I would live my life if she was suddenly taken from me. How would I behave? Would I retreat? Explode? Go insane?

Running away to the mountains such as the Wallich did, is something that I could easily see myself doing. My family would make every effort to keep me close, but I think that I would need this time alone. Helprin taps into a strong emotional vein and I am drawn into the story.

Second, life in a small village at the base of the mountain. Man, I’ve been there. I know how it feels to have the entire village know what you ate for dinner. I know.

Finally, the intense physical preparation that is made for Wallich’s climb up the Schreuderspitze. The past 2 years, I have spent pushing my body harder further and faster. I’ve felt the muscle soreness, the pain in my lungs. I feel that I am at the peak of my physical condition. I only plan to go further.

Beautiful quote:

“The small things, the gentle things, the good things he loved, and the flow of love itself were dead for him and would always be, unless he could liberate them in a crucible of high drama.”

Dealing with death. I am afraid...I know I will have to face it and I respect it.

In closing, I think that I have settled down into reading and writing for these reports. I am not trying to burn through the years. I’m taking the stories as they come.

Score...10 out of 10. Mr. Helprin, you produced a wonderful story. Thank you.

Verona: A Young Woman Speaks : Harold Brodkey

Harold Brodkey

1930-1996

Yet another piece presented that takes place in a country other than America.

This was a rather small selection. Filled with detail and the observations of a 7 or 8 year old girl.

I enjoyed this story, and I’m not really sure why. Perhaps it had to do with the authors ability to give me the chance to experience life as this little girl for a few minutes.

She is remarkably observant but those observations are realized by her at a late age.

Honestly, I am having trouble with this review.

I can’t seem to get much out. I also want to take the time to reassure myself, and you, whoever you are reading this that like any other piece of artwork, these writings about the stories I read are just my interpretations of the piece of art I am experiencing. I could be way off on what the author is attempting to relate. Sometimes I may not read correctly, and other times I may read too much into a story, paragraph or sentence. I think though that this is the beauty of the story. It can be read as something that is to be taken very lightly or one can look deeper into the story for meaning.

Score : 7 out of 10.

Intermission posting

 I really enjoy my work.  

Other books that I am reading which prevent me from making more regular postings.

War and Peace - Yup that one.

Infinite Jest - Think I've given up on that one.

Shroom - Just reading the chapters about Terence Mckenna.

A Good Loser : Elizabeth Cullinan

I found that I remembered more about this story than the previous two after my reread. I enjoyed it. I am also

picking up on a theme here by Solotaroff. This is the third story the collection and the third to take place in a country other than America. Not quite sure if it really has any underlying meaning but it is strange nonetheless.

I’ve been to Ireland once, and the “visit” could hardly be called that. I was there long enough to scramble off an Aeroflot flight and grab a quick Guinness at an airport bar. The bar seemed to be situated at the end of the concourse for the very purpose of dispensing beer to passengers in a manner that would allow the passengers to scramble back onto their flight in a few seconds. It was my first Guinness, and I wouldn’t know if it tasted any different in Ireland vs. the US. As a matter of fact, I think I was drunk at the time - or my sense of taste and smell had been obliterated by all the smokers on the flight.

I can’t nail down exactly what it was that appealed to me about this story, but I think that it was just “written well”. It flowed nicely, good tension in the spots that needed it, and the characters were appealing enough.

I related to the fronts put up by the characters and the acting that took place between the threesome. The courtesies and niceties exchanged all under the knowledge that each knew what was really being said. Happens too often in life and it’s too bad so many people fail to see this.

Best line in the story is the last.

–For, with all the resources it has to command, happiness remains a shaky fortress. Sorrow is the stronghold.

So true.

Score: 7 out of 10.