I sumbled across a book in a shop for antique books I was completely taken in by a particular book. It hovered somewhere between fact and fiction. i couldn't tell which was which. At best itseemed like one man pitting his wits against mine (and yours) daring us to controvert his claims at its worst it seemed like the disjointed thoughts returned to haunt the thinker whose lack of discipline and logic spawned them.I bought the book. Can't remember how much I paid for it. But for a 25 year old man five thousand miles away from home, on the look out for work which he hoped would change his circumstances for good (The soldiers had ruined his country), it was a lot.
I felt there was a mystery about the book which i would unravel - if I bought the book. That was 1989. 17/5/89. circa 1000hrs.
I fear to announce that the book remains a mystery to me today ten and a half years later. More of a mystery - for I'm caught wondering
"What the hell did this guy want to say?".
"Who the hell was this guy?"
"Why have I never heard of him. Ever before or ever since?"Welcome to selected quotations (for the entire book is made of quotations - whose stanza's bear no relationship in subject matter with anything else anywhere else in the book
Having said all that you probably think I do not think highly of the book. I do. It's my most prized possession - for I believe it is a collectors item (has to be) considering that other owners of that same book may have been exasperated into destroying their copies.....
I surprise myself. I have had his book for almost eleven years and have only just realised my somewhat disparaging feelings towards it.
I'm sure you would feel the same way if a book (any book) refuses to yeld iyts secret to you after eleven years.Welcome to
NOTES FROM A BOTTLE FOUND ON THE BEACH AT CARMEL
by
Evan S. Connell, Jr.I shall attempt to faithfully reproduce the first 4 pages with similar fonts and layout in order to give you an idea of this strange book. subsequent stanzas will be chosen at random from the book.