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TMR 13.9: “Pale Fire with Tom Cox Up” [ADA, OR ARDOR]

Following a long discussion about what actually happens on this podcast (spoiler: definitely not critical analysis), Chad and Brian dive into Part III of Ada, or Ardor, asking what the point of whole book is, what type of fragmented postmodernism Nabokov is playing with, the passage of time and action in this novel, and the varied responses to Ada’s cinematic appearance. There’s also a couple deaths, a lot of talk about the philosophy of time, and a number of goofy jokes.

This week’s music is “Bamboo” by Monster Rally.

If you’d prefer to watch the conversation, you can find it on YouTube along with all our past episodes. You can watch episode 10 live next Wednesday where you’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions, make comments, or correct inaccurate statements.

And be sure to get in touch if you’d like to be a guest on this season (or the next, which is on J R by William Gaddis), or if you have any critical articles on Ada that you think we should read.

Follow Open Letter, Chad Post, and Brian Wood for random thoughts and information about upcoming guests.

Be sure to order Brian’s book, Joytime Killbox, which is now officially available at better bookstores everywhere thanks to BOA Editions.

You can also support this podcast and all of Open Letter’s activities by making a tax-deductible donation through the University of Rochester.



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