If i said that the interrogative mood, the fifth novel by padgett powell, was that kind of book, and a captivating and often glorious reading experience, and if you believed me, would you. If duchamp or maybe magritte wrote a novel and maybe they. Would you enjoy reading a book in which every sentence was a question. Perhaps only powell a writer who was once touted as the best of his generation by saul bellow and among the top five writers of fiction in the country by barry hannahcould pull off such a remarkable stylistic feat. Padgett powell, the southern comic novelist, is a veteran hurler of literary knuckleballs. How it doesnt, itself, combust in flames is a mystery to me. Powell has written five more novelsincluding a woman named drown. From the start of his career, the american novelist padgett powell seems to. Powell s reemergence in 2009 with the interrogative mood. This book poses question after question mad, peculiar, and often very thought. Taking a look at the interrogative mood by padgett powell other writers mentioned. Powell has written five more novels including a woman named drown. If duchamp or maybe magritte wrote a novel and maybe they did.
Padgett powell s most popular book is the adventures of huckleberry finn. Despite its humour, the prevailing mood of the interrogative mood is loneliness. The interrogative mood is both an impressive literary comeback and a work of real bravado and charm. This book will sear the unlucky volumes shelved on either side of it. Are these the questions padgett powell asked himself before writing the interrogative mood. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the interrogative mood. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Editions of the interrogative mood by padgett powell. Padgett powell on the interrogative mood the author explains how a circular email prompted him to write a novel composed entirely of questions, and the equipoise of. Wildly ridiculous and laughoutloud funny, it can suddenly turn. Opinion the coronavirus plague season, through the eyes.
Leaving cuddly realism behind richard lea the american author who came back from the grave with a novel composed entirely of. Books by padgett powell author of the interrogative mood. Padgett powell has 20 books on goodreads with 669 ratings. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Published in the print edition of the december 7, 2009, issue. The interrogative mood npr coverage of the interrogative mood by padgett powell. Wildly ridiculous and laughoutloud funny, it can suddenly turn serious. The interrogative mood is a wildly inventive, jazzy meditation on life. The interrogative mood, by padgett powell the independent. The interrogative mood is powell s playful and profound response, a bebop solo of a book in which every sentence is a question. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Buy the interrogative mood main by padgett powell isbn. Padgett powell reads from the interrogative mood youtube. His debut novel, edisto 1984, was nominated for the american book award and was excerpted in the new yorker. Dwight garner, a book critic for the times, is the author of the forthcoming garners quotations. Padgett powell is an american novelist in the southern literary tradition.
Its a gimmick, but it was so much fun for me to participate in the play of it. The question mark that accompanies the subtitle of author padgett powell s new book, the interrogative mood. Playful and profound, the interrogative mood is a bebop solo of a book in which every sentence is a question. Padgett powell s book defies genre the interrogative mood. Padgett powell is the author of four novels, including edisto, which was nominated for the national book award. Because this is a book that pulled and moved me through the gamut of human experience without a single ending punctuation aside from a question mark. The interrogative mood by padgett powell goodreads. In it acclaimed novelist padgett powell a writer once touted as the best of his generation by saul bellowforce us to consider our core beliefs, our most cherished memories, our final views on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Richard ford the interrogative mood is a wildly inventive.
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