help!

[starlite3781]

Ok I am not very far in the book yet, but I am confused. If someone could straighten out the basics for me that would be awesome. Where I got confused was when the footnotes got to be like pages long. I get the story confused. Is the story being written by Zampano and the courier footnotes by Lude's friend?
Thanks! images/smiles/icon_confused.gif

[MicheleVR5]

Yes, the fonts are very important in figuring out who's talking when. Zampano uses Times, Johnny uses Courier, and The Editors use Bookman.

[Sintina]

I can understand where people could get tottally messed up by this book at first. It takes a while to figure out what to do (especially if you don't read the first few footnotes on the first few pages of The Navidson Record!)

The editors tell you the whole thing about the different fonts early on in a footnote. Don't worry though, it's easy to miss.

[RandomWildwood]

I can certainly understand your confusion. As the others have already pointed out, you can tell who is speaking by the font they are using. As for who is writing the story, well that is not quite so clear. Zampano is the one telling you about the Navidson record. Johnny Truant (Lude's friend) is telling you about Zampano, the notes, and his own journey's in life as he is compiling the scraps left by Zampano. The Editor (Ed) fills in some of the missing pieces that Johnny neglected. I hope that this info helps. Just bear in mind that it is all fiction (so we are told), written by Mark Danielewski - and as convincing as Zampano's story is, there is no such place, and no such people. - Random

[jeffminter]

This topic should go back on top. For no reason whatsoever.

[Wahine]

Topics with new posts automatically go back to the top of the list. It would be way too hard to find them otherwise, especially when the older posts are revisited...

Is that what you meant, jeffminter? If not, sorry for stating the obvious.

On the subject of fonts, I've searched for info about the Johnny/Courier link but couldn't find much on it. If Johnny is acting as some kind of courier, who is he courier-ing (inventive spelling) to? Especially if "This is not for you"? If this has been covered in past threads, sorry - I did look first.

[ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: Wahine ]

[fatwoul]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jeffminter:
This topic should go back on top. For no reason whatsoever.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not for no reason - if someone adds a new post to an old thread, but immediately deletes that post, the old thread remains at the top of the list.

The front page of the website should mention the name of the person who posted, even if the post itself has gone.

[zerolous]

It is interesting though that Johnny's font is that of old mechanical typewriters. I love these things and have quite a collection of the old black cast iron jobs that way a ton. I always think of them when I read Johnny's footnotes. Do you think MZD intended for us to think about old manual type writers?

[fatwoul]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by zerolous:
...Do you think MZD intended for us to think about old manual type writers?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Personally, it always makes me think of professionalism.

Johnny's ramblings via a typewriter look "unpublished", whereas Z's Times print looks published, academic, professional.

Thats just what it makes me think...

[malakite]

i wish i had a typewriter. not to actually use(pen and paper is still the best), but just cause they are really cool looking. i would probably take it apart and put it back together, just cause. that doesn't work with a computer. and with a pen, its kinda boring.

as for the actual fonts in the book, i agree with the guy who said it made him think of levels of professionalism.(i dont remember who said it)

[fatwoul]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by malakite:
...as for the actual fonts in the book, i agree with the guy who said it made him think of levels of professionalism.(i dont remember who said it)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It was the post directly above yours, for fucks sake...

[chinawhite]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by malakite:
i wish i had a typewriter. not to actually use(pen and paper is still the best), but just cause they are really cool looking. i would probably take it apart and put it back together, just cause. that doesn't work with a computer. and with a pen, its kinda boring.
)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I used to have one, but they're a pain in the ass. If you type too fast the keys stick. But they are cool looking. I want one of those steno typewriters like they have in courts. They look cool too.

[micahmt]

my mom used to type all night on my grandmothers old ink spitting key clanking typewriters. i don't know if she ever wrote anything worth reading (she destroyed it all as soon as it was finished) but i loved the noise.

thoughts becoming permanant,
dreams hammered into parer,

makes dreamign feel worthwhile