Understanding the character of Lethe is a process that can take many directions with this unique format or medium. Sharing a life with the author puts me in an inimitable position as well in terms of analysis of The Novel of Life.
Reading these blogs has been comparable to getting to know someone for the first time. This experience caused me to struggle initially because I felt as if I knew the author too well to have a useful perspective for review purposes. Would I miss something that a fresh set of eyes would see due to my own assumptions about the character? Would my emotional response of disgust or horror taint the true beauty or aesthetic value? Would I miss some important nuance because of all of these factors?
Our relationship certainly colors my perception of this creative art, but I believe that it also offers invaluable qualities as well. With that said, I will allow the reader to identify the strengths and possible weaknesses of my subjective analysis of The Novel of Life.
The Novel of Life is not only been an archeological experience for the author, but also for the reader. The medium chosen allows the reader, or perhaps guest may be a better term, to explore the different facets of Lethe’s life as they so choose to do. The stories are threaded together in away that each corner or path can turn in different degrees or directions. This experience gives getting to know Lethe depth and distant perspective.
As the author continues to “shape and reshape these memories” of “the characters” that “follow” him throughout his life in a “non-linear” direction, the revisions and additions illustrate for the guest how the character is evolving. One of the strongest attributes of this work is the different way in which the guest learns more about Lethe and his character development.
The one avenue of the appreciation of Lethe that is glaring to me is how his perception of others changes over time in dramatic ways. This is a “non-linear” process as well, often seeming teeter-totter like at times, especially with his perception of those closest to him. It seems that those he does not know as well, the character is quick to make judgment and stick to it. As the story continues, it appears as though Lethe becomes more and more black and white in his descriptions of others, either as good or as bad. Perhaps this is due to the isolative nature that drug addiction creates.
This is also the case in how Lethe perceives himself. Throughout the stories it seems at different times in his short life he fluctuates in how he sees and feels about himself. For example his grandiose persona is splattered across much of the Vegas section, but towards the end of this heart wrenching story, the guest sees the raw vulnerability of Lethe and his horrific experiences.
I felt jolted when I read the vivid depiction of these scenes, especially those involving the reckless use of drugs. Intentional self-destruction at times interwoven with this “grand purpose” of writing The Novel of Life confuses me, but that is no way any detriment to how it is portrayed. In all actuality this confusion fuels suspense, which keeps me clicking away.
The secondary, only to character development and the author’s use of a unique medium for such an experience, is the ease and grace this author commandingly uses to illustrates a variety of settings. Vibrant and dark, contrast is once again painted before the guest. The atmosphere created evokes a sense of exotic escape and painful peril. I could compare it to experiencing a high after smoking a hit of crack to when the addict can’t find another rock, but lacking personal experience, I refer to the author.
I look forward to reading the next chapter completed.
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