tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post4288839553873613733..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James HoggBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66912561393535695052013-01-30T19:59:01.465-05:002013-01-30T19:59:01.465-05:00Hi Ryan - Indeed as the comments to this post show...Hi Ryan - Indeed as the comments to this post show, there were indeed many horror predating Frankenstein<br /><br />. I would say that this work is also very different from Shellye's creation.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34314330059754311002013-01-30T19:08:47.765-05:002013-01-30T19:08:47.765-05:00I also have never heard of this title. I often (an...I also have never heard of this title. I often (and erroneously) think that English horror begins with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I think this because I've never read anything that came before it. I'd like to smash that belief to bits and this seems like the perfect book in which to do so.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07998996750944114185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12687235004470234702013-01-28T18:06:30.101-05:002013-01-28T18:06:30.101-05:00Hi Delia - Based on your comments as well as other...Hi Delia - Based on your comments as well as others it seems like this kind of story was somewhat popular over the last several hundred years. <br /><br />I had never heard of Lewis's book but I will check it out. That one seems to be very early.<br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-13908321853728768682013-01-28T06:04:31.346-05:002013-01-28T06:04:31.346-05:00What an intriguing book! I will add it to my TBR a...What an intriguing book! I will add it to my TBR and look for it next time I go to the bookstore. The fanatical religious who turns evil reminds me of a classic Gothic novel that I've read a few years ago. It's called "The Monk: A Romance", by Matthew Gregory Lewis. It was published in 1796. Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-31004099958689066422013-01-28T05:17:21.078-05:002013-01-28T05:17:21.078-05:00Hi Tom - Thanks!
This was indeed a worthy read. I...Hi Tom - Thanks!<br /><br />This was indeed a worthy read. In terms of difficulty I found Hogg's style in some ways to be similar to Dickens's. Sometimes his sentence style was a longer and seemingly more awkward then what the twenty-first century reader is used to.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-4487858009897731612013-01-28T03:50:05.759-05:002013-01-28T03:50:05.759-05:00Very good review Brian. I read this some years ago...Very good review Brian. I read this some years ago and you have reminded me what it was all about (and also found more in it than I did). I would think it was well worth-while reading this one despite its difficultyTom Cunliffehttp://www.acommonreader.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-18101775233948151752013-01-27T17:49:01.936-05:002013-01-27T17:49:01.936-05:00Hi Parish - I have not read Candide. But indeed ta...Hi Parish - I have not read Candide. But indeed taking the idea of Predestination off a cliff is exactly what Hogg does here.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50421149860563110552013-01-27T15:26:19.180-05:002013-01-27T15:26:19.180-05:00From your post, this reminds me of Voltaire's ...From your post, this reminds me of Voltaire's Candide - where the writer takes a theological idea then takes it for a walk off a cliff ;-)@parridhlanternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793548943992250238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-6393532945738886292013-01-25T20:26:09.269-05:002013-01-25T20:26:09.269-05:00Hi Miguel - Indeed that is really a great cover.
...Hi Miguel - Indeed that is really a great cover.<br /><br />I also agree that Gil _ martin is such a well developed but at the same time horrifying character.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51269474947524103792013-01-25T18:50:43.932-05:002013-01-25T18:50:43.932-05:00I think it's a nice idea to use Blake's dr...I think it's a nice idea to use Blake's drawing for the cover.<br /><br />I read this novel a few years ago and I was astonished! It's so well-written, intelligent, creepy. Gil-Martin is one of my favourite devils in literature, that never-ceasing dark consciousness whispering evil into his victim's ears, drawing him closer and closer to the precipice.LMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538873868140070018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-54203539512750253992013-01-25T05:50:40.469-05:002013-01-25T05:50:40.469-05:00Hi Guy - I think that this is a story that bears r...Hi Guy - I think that this is a story that bears rereading. The odd and cryptic changes in points of view and the unreliability of the narration will likely lead to additional insights the second time around.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51318844152447229612013-01-25T00:35:48.636-05:002013-01-25T00:35:48.636-05:00I was lucky enough to have read this a few years a...I was lucky enough to have read this a few years ago, and I enjoyed it very much. I should probably re-read it one of these days. Sounds like Himadri made a good choice for you. Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46325857173381413122013-01-24T23:17:52.093-05:002013-01-24T23:17:52.093-05:00Thanks for the recommendations Tom! I had no idea ...Thanks for the recommendations Tom! I had no idea that there was such a strong literary tradition of this sort of stuff going back so far!<br /><br />I did also forget about Faust.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82541237019584790842013-01-24T23:13:26.557-05:002013-01-24T23:13:26.557-05:00For more demon-crazed killers of one sort or anoth...For more demon-crazed killers of one sort or another, please see Hoffmann's <i>The Devil's Elixir</i> (1815) and Maturin's <i>Melmoth the Wanderer</i> (1820), both of which are completely nuts. Hoffmann's "Mademoisells de Scuderi" (1819) is the oldest serial killer story I know, but I believe it is demon-free.<br /><br />And I guess it is not about a killer, but Jacques Cazotte's <i>The Devil in Love</i> (1772) has to be read to be believed.<br /><br />I am sure there are a lot more, mostly German, that I am forgetting or have not read, and I do not know Gothic novels well at all. Oh, Goethe, of course, <i>Faust</i> (1808 / 1832), that's close enough.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5477478373843542192013-01-24T23:07:10.419-05:002013-01-24T23:07:10.419-05:00Hi Sharon - Early in the narrative Richard does ha...Hi Sharon - Early in the narrative Richard does have the view that a person who was chosen as God's elect would not follow a life of evil As time goes by his view devolves, however.<br /><br />Interesting about the theological debates of the time! I would argue that if one follows a some of the folks on Twitter who are interested in religion, religion and politics, secularism, etc, that one would conclude that folks today are not afraid of offending each other:)<br /><br />Thanks for the great comment. Take care!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66768715847235214782013-01-24T23:01:47.038-05:002013-01-24T23:01:47.038-05:00Hi Seraillon - That it is odd coincidence that you...Hi Seraillon - That it is odd coincidence that you picked this up so recently. Perhaps it is predestined for you read it :)Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-65987613653354774372013-01-24T22:58:17.098-05:002013-01-24T22:58:17.098-05:00Hi Himadri - Indeed this was one of the best obscu...Hi Himadri - Indeed this was one of the best obscure books that I have ever read. There are some neat narrative tricks including Hogg himself as part of the narrative.<br /><br />I was not familiar with "Holy Willie's Prayer" before. I just Googled it. Perhaps after a careful reading and some thought I will blog about it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-11914572433458766952013-01-24T22:53:02.256-05:002013-01-24T22:53:02.256-05:00Hi Harvee - One interesting point is that some mod...Hi Harvee - One interesting point is that some modern physicists and science philosophers have taken up the debate. Some of these folks argue that it is actually a false choice and that both views could have truth to them.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71612089537271055942013-01-24T22:46:14.430-05:002013-01-24T22:46:14.430-05:00Hi Tom - It is avery interesting idea that the rel...Hi Tom - It is avery interesting idea that the reliable narrator might not be so reliable. However, based upon the feel of the book, as well as the fact that there are certain consistencies between the accounts, I do believe that Hogg intended to portray a universe where supernatural events were indeed occurring.<br /><br />As I am not all that familiar with the literary trends involved I was not aware that Hogg was influenced by his contemporaries.Is it just the meta — fiction aspects that you are referring to? I did find this story uncannily similar to modern "Serial Killer influenced by a demon" tales.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33703874432736183042013-01-24T22:43:03.785-05:002013-01-24T22:43:03.785-05:00Wow! What a fascinating book and what a great rev...Wow! What a fascinating book and what a great review!! <br /><br /> I've been studying the Heidelberg Catechism and Belgiac and Westminster Confessions-all Calvinist doctrine.<br /><br />People who adhere to predestination would argue that someone chosen by God wouldn't abuse his grace.<br /><br />I'm also studying Martin Luther and just finished his catechism. One thing I can tell you is they didn't worry about offending each other back then. When they believed something, such as eternal salvation (Calvinist) or losing salvation (Lutheran) there was no half ways about it with them. In some ways I find it rather refreshing.<br /><br />I need to add this book to my TBR.<br />Take care, Brian!Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-18011594220579589912013-01-24T18:56:39.252-05:002013-01-24T18:56:39.252-05:00I look forward to this very much. By sheer coincid...I look forward to this very much. By sheer coincidence, I picked it up a couple weeks ago on a whim (and because it was cheap!). seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89394769659226513842013-01-24T18:52:10.564-05:002013-01-24T18:52:10.564-05:00Glad you enjoyed this book. Andre Gide once descri...Glad you enjoyed this book. Andre Gide once described this book as "European literature's best kept secret", and I have always wondered why it isn't better known. Among the various tricks Hogg plays with narrative, I particularly like his introducing himself as a character towards the end of the novel: it s certainly not a flattering picture!<br /><br />But playful though the writing is, it s, as you say, a horror novel. The Scottish reformation was rather different from its English counterpart: the underlying theology was Calvinist in Scotland. Robert Burns had a few things to say about Calvinism as well: "Holy Willie's Prayer" is among the greatest of satirical poems, and still hits the mark. But there is something particularly demonic about this book: there seems to me definitely a whiff of hellfire and brimstone about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-614213465648461882013-01-24T12:43:19.006-05:002013-01-24T12:43:19.006-05:00I find the idea of predesthnation pretty scary. I&...I find the idea of predesthnation pretty scary. I'm all for free will and self determination.Harveehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490108303790217277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7608922530342003032013-01-24T12:28:43.853-05:002013-01-24T12:28:43.853-05:00bibliographing and I had a lot of fun with this bo...bibliographing and I had a lot of fun with this book during the Scotch Literature Challenge. It is a slippery devil. I do not think the "objective" narrator is any more reliable than the psychopath. The return of that narrator at the end of the book in effect destroys the non-fictiveness of the fiction, so to speak.<br /><br />I am not so sure that the book was particularly ahead of its time. There was a lot of meta-fictive goofing around going on then, and E. T. A. Hoffmann was Hogg's contemporary.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32585931673228593762013-01-24T10:12:02.216-05:002013-01-24T10:12:02.216-05:00Hi Rachel - Why Evil Exists really sounds like a g...Hi Rachel - Why Evil Exists really sounds like a great "Great Course" to take. <br /><br /> It would really be interesting to read or listen to something that had a more positive take on the idea of predestination in conjunction with this book.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com