Noir Classics

[Paul Mackin]

On Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 2:38 PM, David Morris<fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> Lew is an example of one of AtD's flaws:  It was filled with secondary
> characters who added little but distraction from whatever my have been the
> main point of this novel.
>
> GR had a cast of thousands, but most of the secondary characters existed for
> only a single, memorable event.  Those that had repeat performances fit into
> a larger cohesive web of meaning/message, and their contributions were
> usually in very dramatic interactions.
>
> It's hard to think of Lew, and many of the other AtD 2nd and 3rd level
> characters as contributing on such a level.
>
> David Morris

Lew was an essential bridge to the post war period.

The theme of coming home to America and settling in the Urban west
required more than just the Traverses to pound it through.

Lew connects us with Merle who reincarnates Dally and assorted
Traverses and spouses.

His appearance in the early pages and migration to Europe seemed at
first a little forced probably because I don't dig Buddhism that much
if that was what it was.

But he makes important connections abroad with members of the extended family.

For what it's worth.

P






>
> On Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 11:12 AM, Henry Musikar <scuffling at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Lew was a secondary character in ATD, but one of the sweetest of OBA's
>> characters.