Comments on: B.S. Johnson: The Unfortunates

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:49:37 +0000

Found it! I’d lost my note of this one. I’ve placed an order today Trevor, so thanks again for bringing it to my attention.

By: The Unfortunates, by B.S. Johnson « ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

The Unfortunates, by B.S. Johnson « ANZ LitLovers LitBlog — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:10:37 +0000

[...] Unfortunates, by B.S. Johnson It was Trevor in Canada who alerted me to this intriguing book and it wasn’t very long before I succumbed and bought a [...]

By: Lisa Hill

Lisa Hill — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:58:38 +0000

I weakened! Yes, I’m supposed to be buying Xmas presents for other people not for me, but your post kept resonating and in the end I ordered it – and it arrived tonight.
I can’t decide what to do. Shall I read it in the random order as sent, or rearrange it into a new random order? Shall I skulk around on the net for some guidance about what order seems best? I keep picking up the set of sections, still held together by their red wrapper, and fidgeting with the package. It’s such nice paper too, and the box is gorgeous.
What fun!
Lisa

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:19:14 +0000

Fascinating’s the word. I had no interest in this, and now I do.

I wonder to what extent he was influenced by William Burrough’s experiments with cut-up techniques.

Anyway, I loved your analyis, particularly how you bring out how the physical structure reflects the book’s themes (Catch-22 does this, less ambitiously, with its chapter structure which reflect Yossarian’s psychological crisis interestingly). It’s useful to hear how that structure relates to those themes, and why it’s not mere gimmick.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:44:52 +0000

Hi Paul, sorry it took me so long to respond! Thanks for your comments about Johnson. Before reading this, I knew next to nothing about him, but now I really want to get to know his work — particularly Albert Angelo. Also, thanks for the link! I haven’t watched it yet, but I’m on my way to do that just now!

By: PaulSaxton

PaulSaxton — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:44:32 +0000

Johnson was also an interesting filmmaker. This, Fat Man On a Beach, was made just before he killed himself. It’s a great little film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKvtcJk2fU

By: PaulSaxton

PaulSaxton — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:41:21 +0000

Good review. And I’m pleased you focused a bit on Johnson’s skills as a writer – so often his brilliance with words gets lost with the attention paid to what his detractors (of which there were many) referred to as gimmicks. Interesting also that you reflected on the nature of memory: Johnson himself was well aware that the book didn’t completely match it but resigned himself to it being the closest approximation he could reasonably create.

I love all of Johnson’s writings and consider him to be a genuine literary hero. Oh, if there were only more around like him – writers who are prepared to do something different and put themselves out there. Albert Angelo is my favourite. And if you can find a copy I’d also recommend his collection of short pieces, Aren’t You Rather Young To Be Writing Your Memoirs? Oh, and Jonathan Coe’s biography of Johnson is just masterful.

By: Lisa Hill

Lisa Hill — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:52:24 +0000

Fascinating! It’s on my wishlist, but I’m going to finish reading If On A Winter’s Night first…