Desperate Characters by Paula Fox
In this third episode of the second season, Alex and Steven delve into Paula Fox's captivating novel, Desperate Characters. They explore the intricacies of the characters and their interactions with the world around them, as well as the socioeconomic conditions of New York at the time. Topics discussed include:
- In what sense are the characters desperate?
- To what extent are the characters' sense of being vulnerable/under attack due to their affluence, the socioeconomic conditions of New York at that time, or alternatively, is it more due to their particular individual flaws/neuroses?
- How does one consider their future relationship prospects?
- Is the depiction of poorer people at that time grimly realistic or misanthropic and/or somewhat prejudicial?
- What constitutes the value of this novel - either in terms of its literary qualities or its psychological acumen?
Further Resources:
- Paula Fox's novel can be found at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desperate-Characters-Paula-Fox/dp/0007150385/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683207347&refinements=p_28%3Adesperate+characters&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
- To learn more about Paula Fox and her writing, this New York Times article provides a comprehensive look into her life and work: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/books/paula-fox-dead.html
- For a broader understanding of New York's socioeconomic conditions during the time period in which Desperate Characters is set, you might enjoy this book by Jonathan Mahler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Gentlemen-Bronx-Burning-Baseball/dp/0312424302/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683207606&refinements=p_27%3Ajonathan+mahler%2Cp_28%3Aladies&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
- Although focused on the horror genre, this book gives an insightful analysis of how art can reflect cultural anxieties (in this case, those of American culture): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Projected-Fears-Horror-American-Culture/dp/0275983536/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1683208004&refinements=p_28%3Aprojected+fears&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
- Karen Horney's book "The Neurotic Personality of Our Time" characteristically gives an insightful analysis of the mid-twentieth century psyche: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neurotic-Personality-International-Library-Psychology-ebook/dp/B00GHJERSY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29QXB6GRVB4SO&keywords=horney+the+neurotic+personality&qid=1683208168&s=books&sprefix=horney+the+neurotic+personality%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-1
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