Nobody writes a metaphor as well as Richard Brautigan. Thanks for this great discussion! I stumbled across Brautigan at the same time as Russell Hoban. They're always a bit twinned in my mind as a result: under appreciated but deeply loved by those who read them. You might enjoy Hoban's books, particularly The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz, which, like this one, is about a world where a group of large cats have gone missing.
I read this off the shelf in my 11th grade English class back in the 80s. My favorite book, ever! Highly recommend you read Willard and His Bowling Trophies or The Abortion next :)
Brautigan is the best, and In Watermelon Sugar is one of his best. Definitely read more of his poetry. I also recommend "The Abortion", probably my favorite of his novels.
I read it a few days ago and I felt the same. I read the translation in Persian. I thought perhaps the translation ruined the original but I felt the same way you described. That's interesting when I was 20 I got his short stories as a gift but I never read it till this year and suddenly I fell in love with him and I'm 38 now.
Oh nice! I can see how a translation might ruin his prose, because it's so deliberate and calculated. But I'm glad it didn't for you! Have you read anything else from him?
@@allfictionisfantasy I am reading Trout Fishing in America but I must confess that I do not understand it. Actually, it must have a lot to do with American culture that I don't understand as a foreigner. Of course, I enjoy similes and metaphors, and something inside me urges me to read it. I think it is in this part that literature finds a universal aspect. I have read some short stories of him. I think I must read them again in English. I wish I could understand all languages to read original books 😁 but unfortunately we miss something in translation. I also write short stories in a magazine. I envy him a lot 😁 and when I was kid I was reading Mark Twain ( he is also one of my favorites) I wish I knew english as a native.
Just finished reading it and the last time my imagination went this wild when reading a book was with Dune In Watermelon Sugar is so good, going to be a recurent read for me I think too
I haven't read this one, but THE HAWKLINE MONSTER is big fun. I've yet to work my way all the way through TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA. The passages you read sound like I'd enjoy this one.
Something to read over winter break, thanks for the rec! This means I didn't watch your video all the way through to avoid spoilers, but I will when I'm done!
Nobody writes a metaphor as well as Richard Brautigan. Thanks for this great discussion! I stumbled across Brautigan at the same time as Russell Hoban. They're always a bit twinned in my mind as a result: under appreciated but deeply loved by those who read them. You might enjoy Hoban's books, particularly The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz, which, like this one, is about a world where a group of large cats have gone missing.
Oh wow! Thanks for the recommendation. I have not heard of Hoban. I will check that book out, sounds interesting!
it was/is a wonderful read. magical realism before I even new what that meant.
My favorite and hardly ever mentioned is Dreaming of Babylon...a wonderful twist on noir detective novels...so funny and wonderful 🤟
Oh nice! I don't know that one, so I'll have to check it out. Thanks.
I read this off the shelf in my 11th grade English class back in the 80s. My favorite book, ever! Highly recommend you read Willard and His Bowling Trophies or The Abortion next :)
It’s so good! I will at some point be reading everything from him. :)
Brautigan is the best, and In Watermelon Sugar is one of his best. Definitely read more of his poetry. I also recommend "The Abortion", probably my favorite of his novels.
Never ever would've guessed you were a Richard Brautigan fan. Awesome.
He's just weird enough to garner my attention. :) And I LOVE his style. I love that kind of direct style.
@@allfictionisfantasy I'm probably telling you something that you already know, but I find both in Murakami and Cortázar a similar magic. Cheers.
I like Murakami quite a bit. I have not read Cortázar.
I read it a few days ago and I felt the same. I read the translation in Persian. I thought perhaps the translation ruined the original but I felt the same way you described. That's interesting when I was 20 I got his short stories as a gift but I never read it till this year and suddenly I fell in love with him and I'm 38 now.
Oh nice! I can see how a translation might ruin his prose, because it's so deliberate and calculated. But I'm glad it didn't for you! Have you read anything else from him?
@@allfictionisfantasy I am reading Trout Fishing in America but I must confess that I do not understand it. Actually, it must have a lot to do with American culture that I don't understand as a foreigner. Of course, I enjoy similes and metaphors, and something inside me urges me to read it. I think it is in this part that literature finds a universal aspect. I have read some short stories of him. I think I must read them again in English. I wish I could understand all languages to read original books 😁 but unfortunately we miss something in translation. I also write short stories in a magazine. I envy him a lot 😁 and when I was kid I was reading Mark Twain ( he is also one of my favorites)
I wish I knew english as a native.
@@allfictionisfantasy also have read Dreaming of Babylon
I think you're right in that he is a uniquely American author, and with that come a lot of "cultural baggage" that may be hard to penetrate.
Just finished reading it and the last time my imagination went this wild when reading a book was with Dune
In Watermelon Sugar is so good, going to be a recurent read for me I think too
Yeah. It’s pretty great.
I haven't read this one, but THE HAWKLINE MONSTER is big fun. I've yet to work my way all the way through TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA. The passages you read sound like I'd enjoy this one.
Have you read anything else?
Something to read over winter break, thanks for the rec! This means I didn't watch your video all the way through to avoid spoilers, but I will when I'm done!
Hope you enjoy it!