intentions for the reader

Remember D M Thomas? The White Hotel? You do, don’t you. No worries: I’m vaguely embarrassed too. He’s interviewed over here.

During a module studying Transgressive Literature, we examined a passage from The White Hotel as a study of taboo - in this case, the intimacy developed with the characters and the unflinching descriptionts of events. There was such a powerful response to this that we ceased the reading of it sooner than expected and spent a long time discussing our unease and the effectiveness of the piece. What were your intentions for the reader when writing The White Hotel, in so much as a writer can have intentions for their audience?

My reaction was surprise! I didn’t expect it to have such an emotional effect. I was told by one reader that she vomited on reading ‘Don Giovanni’, and by two other women that they masturbated to it. I’m surprised by both reactions –though I prefer the second!

via.Thomas the Wank Engine, still going strong.

Incidentally, the idea of Transgressive Literature Modules gets the leftist fogey in me harrumphing away. In my day we just went ahead and transgressed. We didn’t expect the state to sponsor our transgression or to pay for it. We expected it to pay for the medical treatment afterwards. In those days, socialism rewarded initiative.

Comments

[chris y]

I remember The White Hotel vividly. There was a lively debate over whether its publication constituted actionable plagiarism or barely fair use. I had no idea it was soft porn on top of all that.

[Dan Hardie]

I too remember the White Hotel vividly; in fact, I was present at the final pre-publication marketing meeting, at which, to my great sorrow, the book acquired its present title, rather than my preferred option of 'Debbie Does the Holocaust'. (There was also strong support for 'Emanuelle in Barbi Yar'.)

[jamie]

What got me about it wasn't so much the sex n slaughter mix but that Benny Hill-ish obsession with lingerie. Now that really was a creepy counterpoint to the Babi Yar episodes.

[Chris Williams]

Surely 'Debbie does Dachau'? Missed a trick there mate.