Reading the Classics discussion

Welcome to our first week of reading An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. This week we will read Chapters 1-11 of Part 1. Please do not discuss past this point in the book, thank you. I look forward to our discussion!

I've read the first 4 chapters, and good lord! What a slow beginning! Have read many reviews, tho, the general thrust of which seems to be, "worth the effort". Clyde seems an interesting character, highly motivated to escape the dull thrum of his family's life, and I'm looking forward to this one picking up soon.

Clydes Parents run a unsuccessful gospel business and ruin therefore the education and the lifes of their kids. Two Chapters a day are my quote for the first two days. Read one more as in my first attempt in 1988. But I like the book, actually the american crime and punishment seems to me more promising than Dostoyewskys Original, which I read two time.

I'm finding it hard to believe this will surpass C&P, but it's a long book, and I'm only 7 chapters in, so my mind is open.

Is no one reading this but the 4 of us? I've done the first 2 weeks of reading, but very few of us seem to be involved.

I just picked up my hold from the library! Be with you soon!

Clyde has been deprived of all pleasure and self-enrichment for his entire life up until he spreads his wings and finds work outside the family 'business'. When he lands a spot at the Green-Davidson, he secures a steady and somewhat lucrative source of income, as well as a new set of friends whom he admires, which opens up all sorts of possibilities for entertainment and experience. He scarcely knows what to do with it all. Deciding he wants 'a girl of his own', he ultimately settles on the shallow and vapid Hortense, who plays several suitors off against one another in order to maximize her own pleasure, without regard for others: she lives moment to moment, and is always calculating her next 'move'. Hortense recognizes Clyde's inexperience, and while she feels mostly contempt for him, she also realizes he appears to have a steady enough income to entertain her and buy her things.

Knowing something about the premise of the book, and its ultimate direction, it's interesting to witness the dynamic between these two characters. Hortense can hardly help but to shape Clyde's psyche and even character, which would normally be mostly formed in a young man of ~18, but in Clyde's case has been stunted by a life devoid of outside stimulus. He also lacks worldly experience, and is no match for a 'player' like Hortense. It can only end badly with her, and I both dread and look forward to learning what this means for his choices in the 2nd book.

Apologies for the 'book review' format of this post, but there's little discussion so far. Am really looking forward to the back and forth, tho, as I'm very much enjoying this one after the drudgery of the first few chapters.

Book I has set up an "accident waiting to happen". As an adult I find myself looking at Clyde and thinking "selfish boy" but then I remember to when I was 18 and the world was open for exploration.

Hortense makes me anxious - I had friends like that in college and I know where her mind is 😊.

Book I was slow at first but enjoying Clyde's character development.

Erika wrote: "Book I has set up an "accident waiting to happen". As an adult I find myself looking at Clyde and thinking "selfish boy" but then I remember to when I was 18 and the world was open for exploration...."

Agree! I found the first few chapters very slow, but have also enjoyed Clyde's development since.

Sometimes I am angry why Hortense takes so much reading time, this selfish girl is robbing me as much as Clyde.

The first few chapters were slow, but for me it immediately picked up. I am also enjoying watching Clyde's development. It is interesting for me, as a parent myself, to see how Clyde's parents' heavily restrictive way of life almost directly led to Clyde's amibitions towards money and popularity. And his naivety, also the fault of his parents, will most likely get him into trouble. It is also frustrating to see that people, especially Hortense and his fellow bellhops, are obvously taking advantage of him and leading him astray.

Armin wrote: "Clydes Parents run a unsuccessful gospel business and ruin therefore the education and the lifes of their kids. Two Chapters a day are my quote for the first two days. Read one more as in my first ..."

I'd have to agree, Armin. I read Crime and Punishment years ago, and though interesting, I don't feel like we got as much character development as we are getting with Clyde in AAT. We are watching this poor boy develop into a criminal. It makes me think of famous criminals, Jeffrey Dahmer for example, and what led them on their paths.

The diiference between the (anti-)Heroes of AAT and C&P is the credibility: following the development of Clyde I would say: that could be me under similiar cirumstances, but to murder an old women to prove I am the next Napoleon and then suffer a breakdown, because I had to kill her younger sister too, which was a the wrong place at the wrong time.

Armin wrote: "The diiference between the (anti-)Heroes of AAT and C&P is the credibility: following the development of Clyde I would say: that could be me under similiar cirumstances, but to murder an old women ..."

This is an interesting take, and it makes sense to me. I too read C&P many, many years ago, and am taken by the credibility comparison, because I agree: in C&P, the themes were clear enough... but I, like you, can see something of myself in Clyde. I can imagine walking several miles in his shoes under similar circumstances. That was not [literally] the case with Raskolnikov in C&P.

Oh, gee! They say that an awful lot, don’t they?
Poor Clyde, and let’s not forget his siblings. The title is the real spoiler, but the family situation is an obvious setup for disaster.

My edition has illustrations. Pencil sketches. One of the family singing on a city street in chapter 1. Another in chapter 6 of a bellboy looking into a room with a party in progress, looking rather dark and sordid, as described from Clyde’s viewpoint. Also the parlor in chapter 10 where Clyde meets his first woman.

I'm a little late getting started, so working to catch up! Yes, it is a bit slow starting, with a huge amount of detail and explanation...but that is characteristic of books written at that time. The story is setting itself up to be one where want of money, privilege etc as a part of the American experience can lead upward mobility/bettering oneself, contributing to society or of greed and selfishness...

i finally caught up to week one! Ive wanted to read this book since my university days because its been called one of the greatest American novels of all time.I never watched the movie as movies spoil books for me.
I have read Dreisers other major work Sister Carrie twice. Its considerably shorter than this one and what i have noticed so far is that Carrie is quite a mindless dunce.my feelings about the beginning were mixed here, I found the depiction of the parents very interesting. Im listening to the book on audio and the narrator is fine but the voices he uses for women are horrible,very silly and clownish,an interpretation im not sure is fair to make for the reader\listener. I had the same problem with the bell jar and had to stop.
What fascinates me so much so far is the depiction of minor black people. They are really portrayed as the lowest of the low in terms of class,even .lower than Clyde because they have even worse jobs.
So far,only twelve chapters in,Clyde strikes me as a typical rags to riches,monster which was very common back then. Im so happy i got to start the book. I really love this period in American lit.

I'm a bit further in, having completed the first 4 weeks of reading. I won't spoil anything for you: we don't know yet whether Clyde manages the complete trip from rags to riches, but he is certainly ambitious, and lacking in self control to a certain degree. He's not stupid by any stretch. As I've said elsewhere, the title gives us some idea of where this is ultimately going... but I don't know exactly where just yet, which is why I can respond without spoiling it for you: I don't know much more than you do yet, even through B2C25!