The Interrogative Mood: A Novel?

by Padgett Powell

Book Overview

"If Duchamp or maybe Magritte wrote a novel (and maybe they did. Did they?) it might look something like this remarkable little book of Padgett Powell's."--Richard FordThe Interrogative Mood is a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061859419
• ISBN13: 9780061859410
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Is this a novel?

Whatever this book is or will be recognized to be, it is one of a kind. Literally every sentence in the book is a question. What amazed and delighted me is that it's actually a good read! Not just because it is witty, captivating, touching and beautifully written... there are more examples of all that. I was reminded more than once of Holden Caulfield. I could well believe that this is him badgering you with all these questions. (and in view of Salinger's easy access to lawyers I hasten to add that this is purely my own private impression, and in no way is the author responsible.) I believe here is a new way of storytelling, and a very interesting and rewarding one. When I got over my initial surprise (and yes, impatience) I found that instead of sort of trying to answer the questions, my brain started to go with the flow... much as I would go along with a strong, intelligent and convincing voice, not unlike those of Nabokov's Charley Kinbote or Martin Amis' John Self. But even among these giants Powell more than holds his own. The Interrogative Mood literally forces your brain to make up its own 'story', and in that sense offers a truly different and new reading experience. Much more than previous lame experiments in 'interactive' storytelling, this book needs a good reader to make it happen, to make it complete. Be that reader and you will never forget it.

:-)

I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading this book. Witty, ridiculous, droll, disarming, laugh-out-loud, original. A peek inside the author's mind: Ye gods, fella! I really loved it.

No Need to Ever Read Another Book

Better, much better than the Bible. Contains more education than a Ph.d. Become smarter than your friends by reading this. The only book you ever need shipwrecked on a desert island. Answer all the questions and win the Dumbel prize for literature. Read some of these questions every day and become enlightend. Instead of the invocation at the beginning of congressional sessions have them read and discuss some of the questions. My dog loved it. My aquarium fish are still pondering one of the hard ones I gave them. I want a scrolling screensaver with the questions. I want wall paper with the questions. Issue one to every one serving a life sentence, give an autographed one to Bernie Madoff, maybe not, its too good for him. Send one to Obama as he ponders Afghanistan and Health Care reform. Give one to your ex-wives, only if you still like them. Home school your kids with only one book. Write your own.

The Most Thought-provoking Book I've read in Years

I would be tempting to think that just by experimenting with literary style, and using only questions to write an entire book, would be gimmicky and the effect of the gimmick would wear off. It doesn't. Powell has packed so many thoughts into his interrogatories that it each question stimulates you to high quality thought. I recommend it.

amazing

Wow. This was, like, one of the most wonderfully strange books I have ever read. And I have read a lot of books, many of them wonderful, many of them strange, a few even wonderfully strange. Telling you any more would ruin it. Just dive in, and read and wonder in amazement! Oh and I read the Kindle edition, and it was nicely formatted there. I had never heard of the author before, until reading an article about him the other day which piqued my curiosity, especially about this, his newest (and probably strangest) book to date (October 2009).