Love Salter. There are few writers whose prose I dwell on longer or feel more. Every sentence is a beautiful little tragedy. It’s good the books aren’t terribly long. I don’t think I could take it.
Light Years is an all time favorite. It became a sort of roadmap for me when my own family split up. The final, elegiac chapter always inspires awe. (The inscribed tortoise, that ancient watchful presence.)
I forgot that he said that. When I heard that the first time I felt legitimately validated. I presume you've read Dyer's "Paris Trance" which was inspired, in many ways, by "A Sport and a Pastime."
Great post, but did we just read an entire post on Salter without mention of A Sport and a Pastime? Whatever its controversies, definitely a must read if we’re gonna talk about Salter.
A Sport & A Pastime remains one of my all-time favorite reading experiences. I was struck by its overpowering portrait of loneliness, so much that I kind of forgot how much of the book is sex. In that mindset, I lent my copy to a close female friend who was rather scandalized that I recommended it in the first place.
That's not an uncommon experience, Eric. My dad gave me A Sport and a Pastime and there were moments when I raised and eyebrow, and then moments when I raised both eyebrows.
Ha! My copy boldly proclaims itself an “erotic novel”. And so whenever I revisit it—or any Salter—my wife regards me with the skepticism reserved for someone that proclaims they are reading an “adult magazine” “for the articles”.
Love Salter. There are few writers whose prose I dwell on longer or feel more. Every sentence is a beautiful little tragedy. It’s good the books aren’t terribly long. I don’t think I could take it.
It's all true. When he edited he would sit down and re-write the entire book by hand.
Light Years is an all time favorite. It became a sort of roadmap for me when my own family split up. The final, elegiac chapter always inspires awe. (The inscribed tortoise, that ancient watchful presence.)
The tortoise!
Solo Faces is also a great Salter pick for this time of year!
Love it, but need to revisit.
Thanks again for keeping the lights on Salter. I’ll have to check my collection to see what I have missed.
Ha! Tedious is the most generous understatement ever in regards to Salters protagonists names. Such a 🖕to us fans of his work.
Ha! I agree, but fear we're in the minority on that.
The most irritatinly named characters in modern fiction according to Geoff Dyer
I forgot that he said that. When I heard that the first time I felt legitimately validated. I presume you've read Dyer's "Paris Trance" which was inspired, in many ways, by "A Sport and a Pastime."
Terrific book
Alright you got me - ordered Light Years through my local.
Nice! There are a lot of good editions.
Great post, but did we just read an entire post on Salter without mention of A Sport and a Pastime? Whatever its controversies, definitely a must read if we’re gonna talk about Salter.
Oh it’s a classic. I presume all Contender readers are intimately aware with that book and have followed the itinerary throughout France!
*should have mentioned it.
A Sport & A Pastime remains one of my all-time favorite reading experiences. I was struck by its overpowering portrait of loneliness, so much that I kind of forgot how much of the book is sex. In that mindset, I lent my copy to a close female friend who was rather scandalized that I recommended it in the first place.
That's not an uncommon experience, Eric. My dad gave me A Sport and a Pastime and there were moments when I raised and eyebrow, and then moments when I raised both eyebrows.
Ha! My copy boldly proclaims itself an “erotic novel”. And so whenever I revisit it—or any Salter—my wife regards me with the skepticism reserved for someone that proclaims they are reading an “adult magazine” “for the articles”.