"The Man Who Showed Up" by Clarice Lispector. 1974. from The Complete Short Stories of Clarice Lipsector, published August, 2015, translated by Katrina Dodson, edited and introduced by Benjamin Moser)

"“You? all that matters to you is literature.” “Well you’re mistaken. Children, families, friends, come first.” He eyed me warily, somewhat askance. And asked: “You swear that literature doesn’t matter?” “I swear,” I answered with the assuredness that comes from inner truth. And added: “Any cat, any dog is worth more than literature.”  From "The Man Who Showed Up" by Clarice Lispector 

Clarice wrote all of the thirteen short stories in the 1974 collection, The Via Crucis of the Body, over the course of a single weekend. (My source for this and most all I know of the life and literary career of Clarice comes from the essential biography by Bernard Moser, Why this World:  A Biography of Clarice Lispector).  By this time she was more than thirty years into her literary career and did not care what the critics said of her work.   Some contemporary Brazilian critics called these stories "near pornogrsphy".  In one of them two women freely share the bed of one man then murder him and cut up his body to use to mulch their roses.  In a terrifying story I have posted upon, "Pig Latin" a woman avoids being raped on a Rio commuter train by acting as if she were a mentally deranged prostitute.  She knew the men wanted a virgin,  which she in fact was, thinking rightfully that would make them look for another woman The train conductor turned her into the police who kept her in jail for several days.  She learns a woman was raped and murdered on the train.  The story "Via Crucis" is about a recreation of the birth of Jesus in Rio.

"The Man Who Showed" up is an interesting story about what happens to a woman writer, who does have similarities to Clarice stops in at a bar close to her house one night when she was out doing a little shopping.  A man approaches her and tells her not to be afraid of him.  She says she is not and asks his name.  It turns out the man is a quite well known poet.  She invites him back to her place, gives him her address and leaves.  She lives with another woman who tells her the man is probably so gone into drink he won't show up as he will not be able to recall her address.  He does show up and they have a conversation revolving around the poet trying to hetbhervtomsomehow not see him as not the poet he once was.  The story has very real feel, the bars of Rio probably house many a former great poet.

Mel u

"Miss Alvarez" by Clarice Lispector. 1974 The Complete Short Stories of Clarice Lispector August, 2015, translated by Katrina Dodson, edited-and introduced by Benjamin Moser)

My Prior Posts on Clarice Lispector 

"Miss Alvarez" is a story about a red headed Irish virgin working in London who is proud of her large breasts, she is a typist in London who is seduced by an invisible being from Saturn.  It is weird, wonderful and will leave first time readers loving being stunned by Clarice.  It was written in about three hours. 

Clarice wrote all of the thirteen short stories in the 1974 collection, The Via Crucis of the Body over the course of a single weekend. (My source for this and most all I know of the life and literary career of Clarice comes from the essential biography by Bernard Moser, Why this World:  A Biography of Clarice Lispector).  By this time she was more than thirty years into her literary career and did not care what the critics said of her work.   Some contemporary Brazilian critics called these stories "near pornogrsphy".  In one of them two women freely share the bed of one man then murder him and cut up his body to use to mulch their roses.  In a terrifying story I have posted upon, "Pig Latin" a woman avoids being raped on a Rio commuter train by acting as if she were a mentally deranged prostitute.  She knew the men wanted a virgin,  which she in fact was, thinking rightfully that would make them look for another woman The train conductor turned her into the police who kept her in jail for several days.  She learns a woman was raped and murdered on the train.  The story I posted on yesterday, "Via Crucis" is about a recreation of the birth of Jesus in Rio.

Miss Alvarez finds the very idea of sex repulsive.  Couples embracing in the Piccadilly Park disgust her, she cannot imagine her parents having sex, during her weekly bath she keeps on her underwear so as not to see her naked body.  In her free time she likes to write letters to the newspaper venting her feelings about the corruption and vice of London.  She is plagued by terrible loneliness.  One night she hears something.  

"“I am an I.” “Who are you?” she asked trembling. “I came from Saturn to love you.” “But I don’t see anyone!” she cried. “What matters is that you can sense me.” And indeed she sensed him. She felt an electric frisson. “What’s your name?” she asked fearfully. “It doesn’t really matter.” “But I want to call your name!” “Call me Ixtlan.” They understood one another in Sanskrit. His touch felt cold like a lizard’s, he made her shiver. On his head Ixtlan had a crown of intertwining snakes, tame from the terror of possible death. The cloak that covered his body was the most agonizing shade of violet,"

After this night her mind set radically alters.  Unlike before, she relishes eating steak, seeing the blood.  Being overwhelmed with sexual desire, she picks up a man on tne streets and takes him home. He gives her money even though she to,d him it was not needed.  She becomes a street walker honing her sexual skills while she waits for Ixtlan to return.  

As I read this I wondered is this a story of the impact of repression on a good Irish girl, is it a fantasy created to explain her sexual desires or is it real?  Is Ixtlan a figure from the collective unconsciousness or is he real.  Nothing in her life experiences would have planted this figure in her mind.

Mel u

"Via Crucis" by Clarice Lispector 1974 (The Complete Short Stories of Clarice Lispector August, 2015, translated by Katrina Dodson, edited and introduced by Benjamin Moser)

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My Prior Posts on Clarice Lispector 

Clarice wrote all of the thirteen short stories in the 1974 collection, The Via Crucis of the Body over the course of a single weekend. (My source for this and most all I know of the life and literary career of Clarice comes from the essential biography by Bernard Moser, Why this World:  A Biography of Clarice Lispector).  By this time she was more than thirty years into her literary career and did not care what the critics said of her work.   Some contemporary Brazilian critics called these stories "near pornogrsphy".  In one of them two women freely share the bed of one man then murder him and cut up his body to use to mulch their roses.  In a terrifying story I have posted upon, "Pig Latin" a woman avoids being raped on a Rio commuter train by acting as if she were a mentally deranged prostitute.  She knew the men wanted a virgin,  which she in fact was, thinking rightfully that would make them look for another woman The train conductor turned her into the police who kept her in jail for several days.  She learns a woman was raped and murdered on the train.

In "Via Crucis" a woman is told by her doctor she is three months pregnant. The married woman says her husband has never touched her.  The doctor suggests perhaps in her sleep he has. She says no he is impotent.  When she tells her husband this he says then he must be Sainf Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary.  She begins to somehow be.ieve she will give birth to a son of God.  Her husband begins to grow his hair and beard very long just as Sainf Joseph did.  As she becomes huge with child, she seeks out and finds a manger in which to give birth. She wonders what three wise men will come bringing gifts, what star from the east will guide them.  She wonders if her son, she sine how knows the baby is a boy, will walk the way of the cross.  The story title refers to a section of the road to Golgatha. 

The profound beauty of this story for me is in the complete acceptance of the virgin birth.  The love of the husband, his acceptance.  If they are mad, then are all Christians.  Maybe she is deluded or deceiving her husband and herself but if so it is not hinted at. In an interesting segment we learn why she decides not to name her son "Jesus".  In a way Clarice is turning Rio into a kind of strange holy land.

Mel u

The Old Man and the Cat by Nils Uddenberg 2015

A post by Ambrosia Boussweau, European Director 

Mel once told me his wife used to often ask him who he loved more, her or his cat Mr. C.  I asked him  how he responded and he said sometimes you just have to lie. 

The Old Man and the Cat A Love Story by Nils Uddenberg is very moving, for cats lovers, book about how a stray Norwegian cat came to play a central part in the life of a seventy five year old man and his wife.   Anyone who has had a cat take over their life will relate well to this book.

        Not Mel u

    

Nils Uddenberg is university lecturer in Medical Psychology and a researcher of Lifeview Studies. He was made a professor in 2000. In 2003 he won the August Prize for his book Idéer om livet (Ideas About Life). In 2007, with the photographer Helene Schmitz, he published the official commemorative book of the Linneus year, System och passion (System and Passion). From the publisher's webpage 

Ambrosia Boussweau 

The Castle by Franz Kafka. (1926)

November last year I read as part of my participation in German Literature Month Franz's Kafka's The Trial which I found greatly intriguing.  Over my blogging history I have read most of his major works of short fiction.  I did not complete his unfinished novel The Castle in time for German Literature  Month this year.  It was probably me but I did not really find The Castle interesting as The Trial.  The Trial was also unfinished but the plot line was complete where that of The Castle was not. 

I am not much  inclined to repeat the plot.  The main purpose of this post is just to journalize my reading experience.  Like The Trial it can be seen as a commentary on dealing with beauracrats, and above all the absurdity of modern life.  One aspect of  Kafka most of those new to his work will be surprised to discover is how funny he can be.  

The Castle has gone through several published versions. It was put together for publication by the executor of Kafka's estate Max Bohr. 

For homework help seekers, Wikepedia has a good article.

I am glad I have at last read this book. 

Mel u

The First Nazi Erich Ludendorff, The Man Who Made Hitler Possible by Will Brownnell and Denise Drace-Brownnell (2015)

Erich Ludendorff (1865 to 1937) was, along with Hindenburg, leader of the German Army during World War I (1914 to 1918).  Will Brownell and Denise Drace-Brownnell in The First Nazi Erich Ludendorff, The Man Who Made Hitler Possible have two very interesting points to make.  

This is the basic thesis of this book:

"A case can be made that the legends in which Ludendorff played a major and blooddrenched role would kill millions of Jews and Christians and would butcher European civilization for years to come. Indeed, they would cripple Europe for the better part of the twentieth century.".

Ludendorff could not accept blame for the defeat of the Germans. He had to find some else he could blame for this.  He came up with a lie which, told over and over, became a terrible force for evil.  He claimed Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by the Jews.  They detail how this lie became widely accepted in German society and was seized upon by Hitler as part of the reason for the holocaust.  Ludendorff also kept the German army fighting long after it as obvious they could not win costing millions of lives on both sides.  

In an interesting personal note, I was taught in school long ago that W W Two was made inevitable because Germany could not pay the reparations the Allies levied on them at the end of the war.  In fact they could have paid them.  This is a lie still taught by people who believe it true.  

"The American financier Bernard Baruch was clear that they could be paid and indeed that they were not as awful as the colossal indemnities Ludendorff had demanded at Brest. But the Germans ignored Baruch, and some grumbled that the great man was a Jew and therefore unreliable. So after Ludendorff demanded the armistice, he called it a crime. From the Kaiser down, a huge segment of German society agreed with Ludendorff’s version of events. Eventually this view became nearly universal in Germany and Austria."

Walter Ratheenau, a veteran of World War One and the German finance minister was a man of great brilliance.  He was Jewish and once he publicly  stated that Germany could pay the reputations and rebuild society he, as Jew, was labeled a tool of international cabal of Jewish bankers and was assassinated. 

Ludendorff insisted over and over that the Jews back stabbed Germany and caused them to lose the war.  I think this remark below is true

"Ludendorff’s stab-in-the-back legend did not just mean that generals like Ludendorff were blameless. It also meant that men like Ludendorff were to be followed. It also meant that the leaders of the new republic, like Rathenau, were evil and should be killed. It was no great leap from this lie to the conclusion that all Jews should exterminated". 

I think anyone interested in German History, outside of experts, will enjoy and learn from this book.

The structure of the German military leadership and the path that lead to Germany's defeat are well explained.  Ludendorff is not intrinsically an interesting person, he has no friends, no hobbies or interests.  Even Hitler did not really like hm even though he seized on his big lie.

Mel u

WILL BROWNELL AND DENISE DRACE-BROWNELL

WILL BROWNELL is a scholar with both military and academic experience. Militarily, he has served as a translator and interpreter for the US Army and State Department. He was educated at Exeter, Cornell, Columbia, plus the Universities of Madrid and Paris. An expert in European military history, he is author of So Close to Greatness, the biography of Ambassador William C. Bullitt, the first U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union.

DENISE DRACE-BROWNELL is a technologist, inventor, and international business executive. She has negotiated complex, high profile multi-state and global agreements. She was educated at Columbia and Rutgers, plus the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in New York.

They are the authors of:

The First Nazi: Erich Ludendorff, the Man Who Made Hitler Possible

"Forgiving God" by Clarice Lispector (The Complete Short Stories of Clarice Lipsector, published August, 2015, translated by Katrina Dodson, edited and introduced by Benjamin Moser)

"What matters is the magnetic love she inspires in those susceptible to her. For them, reading Clarice Lispector is one of the great emotional experiences of their lives. But her glamour is dangerous. “Be careful with Clarice,” a friend told a reader decades ago, using the single name by which she is universally known. “It’s not literature. It’s witchcraft."  Benjamin Moser

The Complete Short Stories of Clarice Lipsector, published August, 2015, translated by Katrina Dodson, edited and introduced by Benjamin Moser 

With the publication of this collection, it is as if a star has exploded in the short story world.  Many will see her stories as among the greatest of their lifetime reading experiences.  Some will not feel her power.  Benjamin Moser says her work is "witchcraft, not literature".  

I think soon her stories will be heavily analyzed by post-colonial scholars, feminist readers, South American studies, and those who follow the lead of Moser and see her as in the tradition of Jewish writers.  Historians of race and social class in Brazil will find her works a gold mind.  I also strongly urge the reading of Benjamin Moser's biography.  Her works will be studied as if they are texts in an ancient religion, ones for a dark time like those we may now be entering.  I know those who have not yet entered her world or even heard of her will find my words hyperbolic.  On the other side, there will be found those who will say I am holding back, not articulating her full power.  

The Setting for "Forgiving God". Avendia Copacabana Rio de Jeniro

A while ago I was taking a stroll in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Domincan Republic.  To my great amusement a large brown rat crossed my path.  I thought it is good to be in a city where rats are right out in the open.  I enjoyed the experience. In "Forgiving God" the narrator is taking a walk down one of the most beautiful streets in the world, Avenedia Copacabana in Rio de Jeniro.  Having shared this experience with the narrator made this story all the more meaningful to me.

This is a very "philosophical story".  The narrator is imaging she is the mother of God.  She feels a deep oceanic pathesostuc bond with God.  Then a rat runs in front of her and she sees him as God's attempt to throw her into despair.  This launched her into questioning why God would find it necessary to do this to her.

"Not only do I not forget the blood inside but I allow and desire it, I am too much blood to forget blood, and for me the spiritual word has no meaning, and neither does the earthly word. There was no need to throw a rat in my bare naked face. Not right then. What could easily have been taken into account was the terror that has hounded me and made me delirious since childhood, rats have mocked me, in the past of the world rats have devoured me quickly and furiously. So that’s how it was?, with me roaming through the world not asking for a thing, not needing a thing, loving out of pure, innocent love, and God shows me his rat? God’s coarseness hurt and insulted me."

In this brief short story Lispector deals with some very deep issues.  I read it four times.

Mel u