The Moviegoer by Walker Percy

My synopsis: In this novel, we watch as characters evolve (some may argue they devolve) independent of physical location but in direct relation to their quest for the meaning of life during a certain time period. In The Moviegoer, the main character, Binx, appears to live a life driven by money, lust and a constant running from past memories. While Binx searches out truth, amidst the shadows of modern everydayness, he finds solace in his moviegoing. A book most anyone can relate to ~ Who doesn’t sit down to a movie at one time or another to escape?

A local book club member noted how she felt about this book, “I didn’t feel like I was invited into the book.” Well blog readers, please consider yourself invited in and my guest.

At first, I read this novel and found it rather sad. Then, I explored the hundreds of resources at OCFPL. From the comfort of your home, I suggest you utilize the online resources @ oceancitylibrary.org. I guarantee you will find information that makes you feel welcomed within the pages of this and other novels. With such resources one will uncover opinions, truths and/or hidden intentions of the novel. Article by article, I gained appreciation for the author and his writing. This leads to my database of the month:

Lacy, Robert. "The Moviegoer," Fifty Years After." Southern Review 47.1 (2011): 49-54. Literary Reference Center. Web. 9 Feb. 2012.

Osborne, V. (2009). The Most Ordinary Life Imaginable": Cold War Culture in Walker Percy's "The Moviegoer. Southern Literary Journal, 41(2), 106-125.

Comments

Marlene Detierro said…

The Moviegoer is a mapping of existential malaise. It's a look at what some would term depression. It's a look at a man caught between belief systems, and all the uncertainty and inaction therein. Like all great books, it's a mirror, reflecting and refracting reality.

Marlene
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January 22, 2016 at 9:53 AM

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