William Gaddis's THE RECOGNITIONS, Part One: RGBIB 198

This is the post-Christmas edition of the pre-Christmas taping of a two part show on Gaddis's biggest and most famous book. THE RECOGNITIONS is NOT as good as his shorter and less famous book, but still worth filling up the ol' bathtub a few times and giving it a try.

Here's a link to my recent piece on Gaddis at the LA Times:

[davidolsen]

It’s nice to see Gaddis getting more attention again. There’s an excessive focus on how difficult he is, but that’s really only the case if you read his works like homework, trying to catch every reference, rather than allowing yourself to be swept up in their madness. Everyone in his books is a confused wreck. If you feel the same way reading it, then you are doing it right really. The only characters who seem to have clear answers are the bullshit artists who are the reason things are falling apart to begin with. Great video. Keep up the work Master Bather.

[bjwnashe]

Your LA Times article on Gaddis is excellent. I really enjoyed it and it has helped me to enjoy these amazing works of fiction. Thanks. Good job!

[ashulman]

Just finished this last week. Agree it requires attention. I had no idea what was going on yet i loved reading it. The intelligence and satire drips off every page

[lyndao]

Well, it's the perfect pick for the pitch we've reached in the States current-events-wise. I'll see what's at the library and snag a copy of Gaddis.
My attention span is dismal but I'm reading The Phoenix and the Mirror by your friend Avram Davidson and hooray! To read it is to forget we're a bunch of dimwits. The story and style is maximum refreshing, I love these characters, I know them. I'm all nostalgic after reading it for the old days before I became a curmudgeon. Chin up, everyone. Happy New Year, sincerely.

[MrKylePopovich]

Hahahahaha I would LOVE to be entitled to read great books in the bathtub. Hahaha amazing!! Thanks so much for this upload/review! You're always so entertaining when we need it most!

[zangelique]

An author I have somehow never read. Sounds wonderful. I could use both a great read and some laughs now. Thanks so much, Scott— Happy New Year!

[yusefasabiyah]

I had bought a copy of The Recognitions, used, from Amazon.com. When it came, I was saddened to see the book had been taken a public library salvage pile, a library of the Citrus County Library System. This is a pet peeve of mine. The book is clearly stamped "WITHDRAWN". This makes it a little easier...At least I don't have to contemplate I have stolen material from the Citrus County Library System in my possession. At the same time, how come I had to be involved in "privatizing" riches paid for and belonging to my fellow citizens down there in Citrus County. Want to know what makes it worse, my friends? There on that page upon which the inscription "Nihil cavum neque sine signo apud Deum" -- Irenaeus, Adversus haereses, stands alone, was the true scandal. (What is the name of such a page at the beginning of a novel? I am sure when this was imparted to me by one of my darling English professors, I was snoozing.) On a computer-printed white rectangular label were the words "Donated by the Estate of Beatrice M. Cook". I'm thinking f*&k. Beatrice didn't mean to put this book into my hands alone. She had in mind a public at large-- likely those of her friends and associates in Citrus County. I am shamed to have participated in the thwarting of Beatrice's beautiful sentiment. I would like to thank the bathtub and the people of the bathtub (it has been a long time since I've looked at that map) for helping me scrub a bit of my stain away. You now know of a beautiful woman, Beatrice M. Cook, of Citrus County, a generous woman of superb taste and sensibility. Salute Beatrice! Salute William Gaddis! Salute Scott Bradfield! Salute the bathtub!

[donaldkelly]

Sounds like a fun read! By the way you describe the plot, I'll probably tackle it the way I did Moby-Dick: skip the repetitive sections.

[aubuggy]

Gotta agree that J.R. is the funnier of the two, and come to think of it, I can't think of a book that I've laughed louder at than J.R. Just to cover myself I'll place it in my top 5 funniest ever and put The Recognitions in the top 20?

[nakshatrasengupta]

Put me, Mr. Bradfield, in your alliance.

[jungastein]

Would really like to read this but am working long hours in a Styrofoam tray factory and don't have time to read Jack shite. Nor can I review the afore-discussed book re: Luka Magnotta. Facebook disabled my acct some time ago and will not let me re-open it. No explanation.

[herbertthornton]

I'd always confused him with William Gass

[EveryoneWhoReadsitMustConverse]

Nice. I loved JR and am reading this in March, in the bathtub, of course