The Silent Auto

[LARSSON at vax1.mankato.msus.edu]

P. writes:

"Although there are exceptions, autobiographies and memoirs often
are self-serving and unrealiable, They are "boring" because we do not
feel we are getting the truth.
 
But worse than boring they are often sad. We, the readers, can see
deceptions--deceptions the author is unaware of.
 
Whether any of this would apply to P., I don't know. We do have
a bit of memoir in _Slow Learner_. Speaking personally, I would have
to say it did not add to my understanding or estimation of him."


As you say, there are exceptions, particularly those that acknowledge the
slippery thing that memory is, Nabokov's SPEAK, MEMORY for example.

Where TRP would like to craft such a document is a moot point until he does it.

On the other hand, I liked the intro. to SLOW LEARNER because, even if one takes
his self-judgments with all the necessary grains of salt, it confirmed my
impression of him as a basically decent guy who is always trying to learn
from his (perceived) mistakes.

Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)