Phone Call to Holden:

For this post I decided to simply record a conversation I recently had with Holden Caufeild.  I called on him after Wednesday’s class to help hash things out about my paper.

Hey Holden it’s Brandon, I was just wondering if you still wanted to get together to help me with my Fate of the Novel Class?

Oh Brandon!  Hey of course, god it’s been years, how have you been?  Are you still with Mary?

I’m good, No, we broke up about a Year ago

Oh, sorry to hear

It’s for the best

Oh

Anyway Holden, So, I need to talk about the fate of the novel, more or less

Well, what did you have in mind.  What do you want to talk about?

I think I’m going to talk about the human condition, how there is something intangible in a novel that has the capacity to change the reader, I’ve kind of split this into three veins of thought.

Sorry, just coughed in your ear…

It’s ok

Go on,

So I think I’m going to try to describe the human condition under three modes, the idea of free will being crippling, that it is a curse and a burden and it is what seperates us from the natural world

Are you going to talk about James and Hobbes and Hume and the like?

Haven’t decided, I don’t particularly want to get into a philosophical rap session

What’s rap

Never mind it came after you, but anyway I’ll look to my peers.  Also, in talking about the human condition, I’ll engage with the idea of objective reality.  That, it of course is impossible and as thinking beings we struggle terribly with that, that without our presence, there is no reality. Do you know?

Of course I know Brandon

Thanks Holden

What else do you have?

Mostly just that, and, that a novel is an instrument of change.  With getting political or Marxist on a broad spectrum of a novel’s impact, that self reflection and appreciation, understanding or gripping even slightly our roles as people can be catalyzed uniquely by the novel.

You know, a lot has already been written on me, well about me, you know?

It’s true

—-long pause—-

I’m not really sure how I’m going to weed through millions of articles on you, about you, and find what I need to describe my own thoughts more clearly and open up my arument for further synthesis and description.

Well, I think you should have a real good grip on your own argument.  I would suggest you read me again, and without worrying too much on what the scholarly floodgates may hold, write down why it’s meant so much to you.  How you think the novel itself is cpapble of encapsulating the human condition and delivering, unlocking it, for the reader.

Wow Holden, I think that’s really going to help get me started

Anytime Brandon

You’re the best

No you’re the best

Oh!  And say hi to Franny for me

Already done, you’ve been on speakerphone

Hi Franny!

Brandon, it’s been so long, I just want you to know, I still love you

Oh Fran

Call me…

I will, but I have to go write a post

Goodluck Brandon!

I love you Brandon!

Thanks Holden…

I love you too Fran…

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