#48: The Difficulties of Difficult Books

After a bit of a hiatus, Tom Roberge and Chad W. Post are back to discuss what we mean when we say that a book is "difficult." They use a range of examples, from Finnegans Wake to Mrs. Dalloway to define a few different categories of reading "difficulty," such as, not being compelled, and having to read a book like a puzzle.  For a Three Percent podcast, this one is pretty serious, and even more interesting than usual. And for those who are interested, here's a list of all the books/artists discussed this week: Passion According to G.H. by Clarice LispectorMaidenhair by Mikhail ShishkinFinnegans Wake by James JoyceThe Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniClockwork Orange by Anthony BurgessMrs. Dalloway by Virginia WolffP.T. Anderson's moviesThe Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerHawthorne & Child by Keith RidgwayOnly Revolutions by Mark Z. DanielewskiLolita by Vladimir NabokovPale Fire by Vladimir NabokovCatcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerA Wilderness of Error by Errol Morris This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threepercentproblem.substack.com