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>I have just finished it and was generally impressed. >It is certainly more autobiographical than Barnes's >previous work., I was surprised by the confessional >tone of some of the passages. Of course, it wouldn't >be in the nature of Barnes to splurge everything about >his life in one big greasy self indulgent tell all. >What he does here is very much in character - lifting >the lid slightly to pull out choice episodes, >particularly about his family, a subject he has only >touched on in previous essays. The style is the one I >feel he does best - Flaubert's Parrot and History of >the World in 10 1/2 Chapters mode - wry, erudite, >witty essay type nuggets, drawing the reader in with >cleverly worked literary references (mainly French) >then wowing with a surprise conclusion, or >philosophical question that leaves things open for >further thought. > >Overall, an original take on concepts of death, family >and God. The weakest parts I feel are the passages >where he gets overly solipsistic and frets about dying >in the middle of the book - or a sentence, or a wo > But generally, these lapses in style and intelligence >are rare, and the book is a slim, thoughtful gem - one >to be swirled around the palatte like a good glass of >wine in several stages, rather than gulped in one go, >I feel. > > > > > > >>Okay, so due to time-management (or lack thereof) >>issues, I've only read the first 95 pages, but I'm >>loving it! >> >>Rather than viewing it as an autobiography--which >>despite JB's resistance to--was a possibility for me, >>I think (at least so far) it's more of a literary >>autobiography. That is, if you're familiar with >>Barnes's earlier works, there are a number of >>connections that emerge here and there in "Nothing". >>Also, it has the added bonus for me of being a >>meditation on mortality undertaken by a speaker who is >>at the least Agnostic. As an athiest, I find these >>issues fascinating, particularly as I view them >>without the optimism of an Other >>Force/Presence/Organising Principle at play in the >>universe. >> >>I'd love to hear what people think of the book, so >>far, or in completion! >> >>Cheers, >> >>Erica

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