Although I have already read Gore Vidal’s, Myra Breckinridge, I have to admit it never gets old. When reading the second time I found myself seeing new hints and foreshadows of what was to come, as well as major plot points I didn’t understand when reading the first time through. In looking this time at Myra through the form of the novel, it seems to break or atleast alter so many traditional elements that I’m used to, although maybe it’s the content alone that is throwing me off. The opening of the second chapter alone with the statement, “The novel being dead, there is no point to writing made-up stories” sets a tone for the rest of the novel (2). Time in the form of the novel is expressed through the statement, “I shall not begin at the beginning since there is no beginning, only a middle into which you, fortunate reader, have just strayed, still uncertain as to what will be done to you in the course of our common voyage to the interior” (4). The use of detail is also very important in this novel, although at times it seems way too graphic or explanatory, it is a signigicant part in understanding the over-the-top “New Woman” of Myra Breckinridge. The Buck Loner reports with no type of proper punctuation is another strange element to the novel, but the further into the novel, the more important they become. Overall, I’m looking forward to reading this novel again because it was so complex the first time, hopefully I’ll gain new meanings with another read.
February 23, 2009
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I like that Myra doesn’t want to write a made up story, she wants to get across that her story is real and that it should be taken seriously because in the true form of narrative, Myra Breckinridge is telling us the story through her most arrogant and egoistical thoughts and diary writings. I like it so far even though she is a bit confusing.
Comment by elphingirl — February 23, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
I am with you on the fact that this novel is very different in the themes it brings up, and the way Vidal is writing the novel. I really do enjoy the Buck Loner sections because I think it’s important to get both sides of the story, because Myra can be pretty persuasive with her arguments, and it is important to remember that Buck is intelligent and is trying to bring down Myra just the same.
Comment by jpilch86 — February 23, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
I have to give you credit, I don’t know if I would read it again, not because I don’t like it, but just because. Anyway, its good to know that the Buck Loner reports are necessary to the reading because they are a bit difficult to get through. The point you brought up about Myra’s comment about the novel being dead, I thought this was so strange, especially at the very beginning of a chapter like that. However, after the class discussion the statement makes much more sense now. Vidal is commenting on the ridiculousness of the novveou roman (or whatever) and how the novel will change to being written as things happen. He makes his point when the car crash happens outside Myra’s window. Nobody can write while things are happening, and it wouldn’t be interesting if they did. In my opinion, anyway.
Comment by kelseycarmela — February 24, 2009 @ 11:34 pm