Parisian Literary Salon

creating community through reading and discussing literature

Parisian Literary Salon events Fall 09 London

Filed under: Upcoming Events — toby at 12:49 pm on Monday, October 5, 2009

Below you will find highlights from the Salon newsletter- if you would like to subscribe (free) or you would like to see the complete newsletter, use the ‘contact me’ form…

“Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.”
–Pablo Picasso

1. News & Next Salons announced
2. Thoughts and Nudges for reading Joyce
3. A Poem : “Water Table” by Billy Collins
I can hardly believe we are finishing up the work of Hamlet this week. Our exploration of the nature of revenge, the agony of losing trust in those you love, the grappling for meaning in a life lived amongst the corrupt and the sheer beauty of the language requires even more attention than we have given the work- but we have looked hard and deeply into the interior world of Hamlet. This study brings me back to the real joy of the Salon: together we pace each other to read slowly, to bring what we do not understand individually to the conversation and gather responses of others, and hear someone else respond to a phrase or idea or connection that we might have missed. This all adds up to a most memorable reading experience- enlightening for the first-time reader of the work, and still startling and rewarding for those on their 12th read. Many thanks to all who taught and learned together this fall. Now, onto….
1. News & Next Salons announced
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce Oct 21st- 25th November
The Odyssey by Homer December 2nd- 16th with one longer meeting TBA
DETAILS: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Wednesday, 21st October 1st meeting (2nd meeting on Wednesday 4th November) continuing each Wednesday for five meetings. Evening study meets from 8-10 PM, mostly in Kentish Town, afternoon study meets between 1-3 PM, between Hampstead and Kentish Town. Cost is 75 £.

PLEASE let me know by Monday October 12th if you are planning on participating in this Salon. I will send you opening notes, details for registering and edition recommendations.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
A Portrait … attempts to enter in to the consciousness of a boy growing to young adulthood with an acute sense of the world around him. In the narrative, the writer attempts to collapse the boundary between reader and character consciousness: there is no authorial presence or exterior perspective and each section is written as though it springs directly from the thoughts of the boy at the time. This is why the opening feels like nursery rhyme then broken thought- but each image has weight and purpose. In fact, some have argued that the opening page contains the entire meaning of the rest of the book. But you have to read the whole thing for the layers to come through.

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