February '11 Reading: The Adventures of Augie March

[Scheherazade]

In February we will be reading The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow.

Please post your comments and questions in this thread.

[Sancho]

Hey! I get to comment first, even though I don’t really know what I’m talking about.

I read this book six or seven years ago and I don’t have a copy close at hand, so this is a paraphrase rather than a direct quote, but I use this idea all the time, particularly in a tough neighborhood:

Even if I don’t know what I’m doing, I act like I do.

Sorry about savaging Augie’s words, but they are words to live by.

[papayahed]

After I voted I remembered that I have already read a short story by Saul Bellow so this won't count in the challenge. Dang. I'm still in though.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Are you reading it in February or March?

[kasie]

Are you deliberately trying to confuse us all? Yes, of course you are!

Pity DQ lost the toss - I have a copy of that but will have to aquire the Bellow, first I will have read of his for some forty years. Didn't care for him way back then, but I'll give him another go.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Are you deliberately trying to confuse us all? Yes, of course you are!

No. The OP originally said:

In March we will be reading The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow.

Please post your comments and questions in this thread.

I was a bit befuddled. Scher has obviously changed it .

[Sancho]

This is getting confusing. Augie March in February and then in March something else. Also confusing is DQ. The man from La Mancha is Don Quixote. DQ is the place where I get a Country Basket and an ice-cream treat called The Blizzard - Mmmm, with M&Ms and little chocolate sprinkles. Wait! And sometimes Heath Bar Crunchies. Wait – wait – wait, also some Oreo Cookie Crumbles. Yummy.

Explanation: In certain parts of the USA (including every single wide spot in the road in Texas), The DQ is The Dairy Queen. It’s usually a red and white, barn-shaped building and is a happy little burger joint and soda fountain.

Dang it. Off topic again.

[papayahed]

Explanation: In certain parts of the USA (including every single wide spot in the road in Texas), The DQ is The Dairy Queen. It’s usually a red and white, barn-shaped building and is a happy little burger joint and soda fountain.

Doh, I loved to get a chocolate dipped vanilla cone with, of course, sprinkles. Then we moved closer to a Baskin Robbins which seemed a little more high brow and I graduated to the double scoop -1 scoop chocolate chip 1 scoop mint chocolate chip.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

This is getting confusing. Augie March in February and then in March something else. Also confusing is DQ. The man from La Mancha is Don Quixote. DQ is the place where I get a Country Basket and an ice-cream treat called The Blizzard - Mmmm, with M&Ms and little chocolate sprinkles. Wait! And sometimes Heath Bar Crunchies. Wait – wait – wait, also some Oreo Cookie Crumbles. Yummy.

Explanation: In certain parts of the USA (including every single wide spot in the road in Texas), The DQ is The Dairy Queen. It’s usually a red and white, barn-shaped building and is a happy little burger joint and soda fountain.

Dang it. Off topic again.

[Sancho]

Doh, I loved to get a chocolate dipped vanilla cone with, of course, sprinkles. Then we moved closer to a Baskin Robbins which seemed a little more high brow and I graduated to the double scoop -1 scoop chocolate chip 1 scoop mint chocolate chip.

Mmm-hmm, and let’s don’t forget Dunkin Donuts. They’ve got good coffee and donuts. I can get all hopped up on sugar and caffeine there.

Oh yes, Augie,

I am an American, Chicago born—Chicago, that somber city—

Chicago, now I’m really getting hungry. Mutatis-Mutandi, you're from Illinois, help me out, I need an Uno’s pizza.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Chicago, now I’m really getting hungry. Mutatis-Mutandi, you're from Illinois, help me out, I need an Uno’s pizza.

I live by two .

[Dark Muse]

The book started out slowly for me. There was something about the narration of the story which I found at first a bit awkward to read difficult to follow and track what was happening and the time frame in which it was happening, but I think I am getting more into the rhythm of it now and the story is starting to pick up pace a bit more for me and becoming more clear. I am still not entirely sure just how I feel about the narrative voice. I have really enjoyed thus far reading all about Einhorn.

[caspian]

For those who can't find a copy. Here's the link you can read it online http://www.onread.com/reader/1414481

I've only read 10 pages, so far I like it.
Grandma is from Odessa -the city I know. And occasionally you need to understand her Russian talking to get the funny touch.

[iamnobody]

Thanks for that! I ordered my copy, but it hasn't arrived yet.

[Dark Muse]

I find that Mrs. Renling's realtionship with Augie is a bit disconcerting at times. She seems to be over involved in his sex life in a way that at times seems to border a bit upon the perverse. She somewhat reminds me of those mothers that become so protective of thier children, that relationship almost borders upon the erotic, and crosses a boundary that is not natural. She is somewhat obsessed with the idea that every woman who he gets involved with is some kind of whore. She even offers him to give him money for prostitutes as a way to protect him from becoming involved in some floozy girlfriend becasue she seems to view every woman that comes near him as having some sort of design to set out to get knocked up by him and ruin his life.