- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Ecco; Reprint edition (Sep 27 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0061859435
- ISBN-13: 978-0061859434
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.7 x 1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 136 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #303,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"'An extraordinary book... a celebration of the human need to understand, which makes it life-affirming. Fresh and funny, it reminded me of the work of that other playful miniaturist, Nicholson Baker.' (Adrian Turpin, Financial Times) 'Lyrical, profound, heartbreaking and fantastically funny, it becomes, as the questions pile up, a compendious and intimate portrait of the questioner' (Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times)"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Playful and profound, The Interrogative Mood is a bebop solo of a book in which every sentence is a question. In it acclaimed novelist Padgett Powell—a writer once touted as the best of his generation by Saul Bellow—force us to consider our core beliefs, our most cherished memories, our final views on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In fiction as in life, there may be no easy answers—but The Interrogative Mood is an exuberant book that leaves the reader feeling more alive.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is this a novel?, Nov 27 2009
By mhpc "mhpc" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Interrogative Mood: A Novel? (Hardcover)
Whatever this book is or will be recognized to be, it is one of a kind. Literally every sentence in the book is a question. What amazed and delighted me is that it's actually a good read! Not just because it is witty, captivating, touching and beautifully written... there are more examples of all that. I was reminded more than once of Holden Caulfield. I could well believe that this is him badgering you with all these questions. (and in view of Salinger's easy access to lawyers I hasten to add that this is purely my own private impression, and in no way is the author responsible.)I believe here is a new way of storytelling, and a very interesting and rewarding one. When I got over my initial surprise (and yes, impatience) I found that instead of sort of trying to answer the questions, my brain started to go with the flow... much as I would go along with a strong, intelligent and convincing voice, not unlike those of Nabokov's Charley Kinbote or Martin Amis' John Self. But even among these giants Powell more than holds his own. The Interrogative Mood literally forces your brain to make up its own 'story', and in that sense offers a truly different and new reading experience. Much more than previous lame experiments in 'interactive' storytelling, this book needs a good reader to make it happen, to make it complete. Be that reader and you will never forget it.
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Can I ask a few questions, too?, Feb 28 2010
By Stuart Dolnick "stoooo" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Interrogative Mood: A Novel? (Hardcover)
What's the point? Is it the reader's task to somehow make sense out of a series of random questions? Is novelty enough, or should a new form justify its existence by actually accomplishing something?How did the writer know when to start a new paragraph? Isn't a paragraph supposed to have a topic sentence? Is it up to the reader to interpret the significance of the paragraph structure, too? If a paragraph on page 20 changed places with one on page 100, would you be able to tell? Can you think of any other book where you could do that and get away with it?
Amy Hempel, were you really referring to this book when you wrote that this is a "precise and beautiful novel"? In what way is this a "novel"? Do novels require characters and plot? What,exactly, did you find precise and beautiful?
Are you still interested in reading this book? Does your library have a copy? Would you really consider buying it?
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Most Thought-provoking Book I've read in Years, Oct 30 2009
By Eros Faust "erosfaust" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Interrogative Mood: A Novel? (Hardcover)
It would be tempting to think that just by experimenting with literary style, and using only questions to write an entire book, would be gimmicky and the effect of the gimmick would wear off. It doesn't. Powell has packed so many thoughts into his interrogatories that each question stimulates you to high quality thought.I recommend it.
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