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yhtgrace 's review for:
Appointment in Samarra
by John O'Hara
There's a certain thrill in knowing there's a cliff at the end of the road and speeding up anyways, a freedom in not caring, in the indulgent act of putting aside the consequences to do what you want. And in Appointment in Samarra, time and time again Julian English gives in to his worst impulses, to the reader's despair and delight.
Caroline was particularly striking to me as a character-- a female character with incredible individuality. Apparently O'Hara once wrote in a letter to his brother:
and Caroline, like all the other residents of Gibbsville, embodies this selfishness. The world she inhabits is self-absorbed and tiny, even more so in contrast to the globalized society we find ourselves part of today. It seems a great pity, but also makes her who she is.
Caroline was particularly striking to me as a character-- a female character with incredible individuality. Apparently O'Hara once wrote in a letter to his brother:
Never forget that your girl or your wife is every damn bit as much a person as you are.... She thinks the world revolves around her just as you do around yourself, just as anyone does ... and for you to attempt to dominate her, to pinch her personality, is some kind of sin.
and Caroline, like all the other residents of Gibbsville, embodies this selfishness. The world she inhabits is self-absorbed and tiny, even more so in contrast to the globalized society we find ourselves part of today. It seems a great pity, but also makes her who she is.