Pale Fire

[James Spencer]

On Monday, June 16, 2003, at 01:36  PM, David Morris wrote:

>
> --- James Kyllo <jkyllo at clara.net> wrote:
>>
>> While undoubtedly I did miss a lot along the way, and will read it 
>> again
> soon, I'm glad not to have read the end in the beginning, and to have 
> let
> things become apparent more gradually
>
> Well the end is not necesarily really the end.  And having the "end" 
> in sight
> from the start may lend one to considering alternatives to Kinbote's 
> version.
> But to each his own.
>

I don't see this as an "either/or" situation.  The book is a short one 
and it is not difficult to read straight through without jumping around 
and then read again "getting" all of the connections the second, third 
or whatever times.  Personally, I think the first time reader misses 
something by jumping ahead because the main reason for doing so would 
be because someone else, someone familiar with the book and its 
structure, suggested it.  Doing so takes away some of the joy and 
adventure for the reader.   While PF is well worth discussing at 
extreme length, it is not a book that is so difficult in its 
presentation, say something like the Wake, that it a first timer is 
lost without a road map.

On the other hand, you may be about to tell me that VN left clear 
instructions somewhere of how he wanted readers to come to the book and 
he really did want folks to follow the commentary's directions to the 
letter.

Spence

James P. Spencer
Rochester, MN

jspencer78 at charter.net

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