I have read this astonishing story a number of times without noticing the sentence you chose as your point of entry. I've often wondered if the story came to him in a dream; it has that jangled, disorienting narration. Either way, I think Schwartz must have paid close attention to dreams and their revelations.
I came to this as "one of the lucky few with a first reading ahead of you" and I'm now "in a state of hushed awe." How have I never known this story until now? Every piece of it amazes. Every detail carries that 'time-sickness' you so astutely zeroed in on. The wave crashing on the beach is breath taking; the best description of a breaking wave I've ever read. Thank you so much for this story and your insights!
The sentence is amazing because it makes you stop, misunderstand and then read again slowly, pulling it apart because the sentence you think exists does not.
Definitely one of those stories that shows you what a story can be.
I have read this astonishing story a number of times without noticing the sentence you chose as your point of entry. I've often wondered if the story came to him in a dream; it has that jangled, disorienting narration. Either way, I think Schwartz must have paid close attention to dreams and their revelations.
I came to this as "one of the lucky few with a first reading ahead of you" and I'm now "in a state of hushed awe." How have I never known this story until now? Every piece of it amazes. Every detail carries that 'time-sickness' you so astutely zeroed in on. The wave crashing on the beach is breath taking; the best description of a breaking wave I've ever read. Thank you so much for this story and your insights!
Oh wow, thank you Rhonda! I'm so thrilled that I got to introduce the story to at least one person. What a treat.
I agree, a wonderful, astonishing story. In the same vein, Sharon Old's poem "I go back to May 1937"
Yes, I was thinking about that poem! I wonder if she'd read Schwartz -- I guess she must have.
Hard to know.... I will see her this summer and try to remember to ask.
The sentence is amazing because it makes you stop, misunderstand and then read again slowly, pulling it apart because the sentence you think exists does not.
very well put
"Sometimes an author writes something so good that it constitutes a personal catastrophe." Gah, this is how I feel every time I read your posts here!
Ha!