CoL49 (6) The Crying of Lot 49

[Michael Bailey]

 Dave Monroe wrote:
> "The auctioneer cleared his throat. Oedipa settled back, to await the
> crying of lot 49." (Lot
> 49, Ch. 6, p. 183)
>

Dave, as usual, great stuff.  Especially that one thing that I never
noticed before
(heehee, giggling to think there was just one.)


> Much to be said about that final sentence, up to and including the way
> it serves as a sort of sticky end to a (not inappropriate in the
> least) Moebius strip with the book's title ("the open work" vs.
> closure, anyone?), but, while it's at hand ...

like Finnegans Wake, it cycles back into the beginning, so that
Oedipa's presence at the auction segues into emotion recollected in tranquility?
Cool.  Never noticed or thought that before.
Though I remember thinking that there's a certain "mingling of levels"
by having the book
entitled "The Crying of Lot 49" as if the book itself *were* said Crying...

> Q: How'd y'all feel when you first hit that final sentence?  Howzabout
> these days?  Let me know.  Thanks.  To all who've hosted,
> participated, or otherwise endured ...
>

a) pissed
b) enlightened, or at least not pissed anymore

and thank you for nice hosting experience

-- 
"My God, I am fully in favor of a little leeway or the damnable jig is
up! " - Hapworth Glass