so-soThe pacing at the beginning matched the acceleration of it's protagonist's success. Dressler's unceasing drive toward newness is a characteristic which Millhauser rendered beautifully. The relationship between Dressler and the sisters slowed the story in unsatisfying and bewildering ways. Ultimately, the optimism of turn-of-the-century New York dissolves; and while it feels accurate it also feels anticlimactic.
"Was there then something wrong with him, that he couldn't just rest content? Must he always be dreaming up improvements? And it seemed to Martin that if only he could imagine something else, something great, something greater, something as great as the whole world, then he might rest a while."
"You're the kind of man you damn well want to make yourself," Martin said, surprised by the sharpness in his voice.
Never thought to read this book before, but it's turning out to be very good!
Found a first edition signed copy in this fabulous bookstore in New Orleans. Head to Crescent City Books the next time you find yourself in the Big Easy.
Can‘t stop won‘t stop. It‘s going to feel like -38 all day today. Yes, -38. Can‘t we all just stay inside today? #wintermornings
I walked down the aisle and picked a book at random and this is what I grabbed. Trying to broaden my genres because I so often get stuck in a rut of the same book style.
Anyone read this one? I'm excited to start it!
#jubilantjuly day 1: My #julymostanticipated are these two. Martin Dressler was suggested to me by my high school junior English teacher and eventual cooperating teacher for my student teaching. He introduced me to Gatsby and Catcher, so I'm hoping this is great as well. It's been quite a few years since then, but I recently found it for fifty cents 😎 I've never read all of Auden's works so I'm excited for that fifty cent find as well.
Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer | 
