 |
I am reading the book, The Interrogative Mood by Padgett Powell. It is comprised solely of questions, thousands of them, one after another in seemingly random, stream of consciousness, run-on style. It's billed as a novel but I have yet to discover any plot. But it's fascinating, however I can't read more than a couple pages at a time. It's exhausting. One person has claimed to have written an answer to each and every question. I am skeptical.
I here offer up a random sampling of the interrogatives, roughly equivalent to one of the 164 pages of the book. I'm pretty sure Professor Powell would not object. It might even sell him a few copies.
“Do you know anything at all about the circumstances by which Leon Trotsky, in exile in Mexico City, happened to be assassinated with an ice ax? How many screwdrivers do you think is necessary for able-bodied normal household maintenance? Have you ever been catheterized? In your opinion, does the human brain receive a special benefit from chocolate? What does "it just goes to show you" mean? Why do 'making hay' and 'haymaker' have substantially different meanings? Can you recall eating crayons? Have you ever watched bats coming out of a wall? How the soft, friendly things keep pouring out of the brick? How they have focus and mission and you do not? How they will never need a colonoscopy and you will? What is the fastest you have ever gone in an automobile?
Have your forays into plumbing been successful? Do you have the patience for pick-up-sticks? How many people per hundred would you say are asses? Do you comprehend how more casualties on the battlefield can be said to render previous casualties on the battlefield not to have been in vain? Do you listen to classical music but feel you don't ever really advance past knowing it's better than it sounds? Do you take pills you are not precisely sure you can identify? Have you ever not been disappointed by a banana split? Do you have plans for long-term improvement or have you just about given up in that area? Do you know what culottes are? Can you handle honey without getting it on your fingers? Have you hunted ducks, and if so, did you use decoys, and if so, did the decoys seem to make the hunting unfair? Have you ever managed to pet a chicken? Do you travel in better underwear than you wear on a daily basis? Do you know the names of your great grandparents?
Have you ever participated in a cakewalk? Do you know much about plate tectonics? Has your experience with bankers been positive, in general? If you were to find an unopened stick of Juicy Fruit on the sidewalk, would you chew it? Have you ever heard the saying 'life is a sandwich of activity between two periods of bed-wetting'? Have you ever fished with Niblet corn? Do you care for Laurel & Hardy? Would you like more ballroom skills than you now have? Does having to call Ping-Pong "table tennis" strike you as an abomination? Are you disturbed by, amused by or indifferent to foul language on t-shirts and bumper stickers? Do you know what is meant by the term 'pipe dope'?"
"Is there trouble in Paradise?”
Copyright © 2025 Dave Hoplin
Chaos is defined as unrecognized order. If not chaotic, Professor Powell’s writings are certainly disjointed. I find it engaging - but exhausting - to read. I may have to purchase his work. He does pose questions that challenge our being and purpose. Thanks for posting this,
ReplyDeleteAre you certain this book wasn't written by ChatGPT? The publication date is too early, but otherwise it has that feel.
ReplyDeleteShit, did I blow it? Shouldn't my second sentence have been a question? And what is the fine line between a confident author and an arrogant one?
DeleteAnd why did this interface forget who I was?
DeleteIndeed. You may be right about AI involvement. Here's 10 questions Gemini came up with:
DeleteIf you could instantly become an expert in any one subject, what would it be and why? What's the most unusual skill you possess? If you had to live in a book, movie, or video game, which one would you choose and what role would you play? What's a small act of kindness you've witnessed or performed recently that stuck with you?
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it celebrate and how would people observe it? What's a piece of advice you've received that completely changed your perspective?
If animals could talk, which species do you think would be the most interesting conversationalist and why? What's a common misconception people have about something you're passionate about? If you could have any fictional creature as a pet, what would it be? What's one thing you're looking forward to this week, no matter how small?
Theology. To further embrace the meaning of a purpose driven life. Scrimshaw. “I Will Fight No More Forever.” Chief Joseph. The caring encouragement for a dementia resident. A day to celebrate the contributions of the Scandinavian people who have come to the USA. Go out not to do well but to do good. Donkey. They have a history of asking powerful questions. My passion for the arts. A Mammoth Jack with wings. I could fly upon its back and see the world from a new perspective. Oh, and I would want the Mammoth Jack to be an insightful conversationalist. A cup of coffee with my best friend.
DeleteFine answers. Just several thousand more questions waiting.
DeleteI got a headache at question 15 or so. TORTURE! 💈
ReplyDelete