Guest guest Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 I'm not much on reading "mystery stories" any more (too dem OLD? :-(], but I've always had a special sort of small-corner interest in remarks observations and interpretations about Jung's and Freud's visit to the U.S. Some time ("if you have nothing better to do" [oy?!]) I'd love to know a little more about who said what about Freud being "distraught" after his visit here [:-( :-)]?! Sorry for using my old Sampatron screen name, marte, but this old computer makes it a long process to jump back and forth so here's what I found online about the book. So far what I've read in the book (2 chapters), puts Jung in a rather dim light but I don't yet know if that's a convention or something the author actually sees him in. I do find it interesting that the protagonist's name is Younger, though. Hmm. Anyway, here's the reveiw: Editorial Reviews Amazon.com It has been said that a mystery novel is "about something" and a literary tale is not. The Interpretation of Murder has legitimate claims to both genres. It is most definitely about something, and also replete with allusions to and explications of Shakespeare, to the very beginnings of psychology, to the infighting between psychoanalytic giants--all written in a style that an author with literary aspirations might well envy. In 1909, Drs. Freud and Jung visit Manhattan. They no sooner arrive when a young socialite is murdered, followed by another attempted murder, bearing the same characteristics. In the second case, the victim lives. She has lost her voice and cannot remember anything. The young doctor, Stratham Younger, who has invited Freud to speak at his University, soon involves Dr. Freud in the case. Freud, saying that Nora's case will require a time committment that he does not have, turns her over to Younger. The rudiments of Nora's case are based on Freud's famous Dora, complete with sexual perversions, convoluted twists and turns and downright lies. That is just one of the myriad plot lines in the novel, all of which are intricate, interesting and plausible. All it takes for all of the incidents to be true is a great deal of bad will--and it is abundant here! There are politicians who are less than statesmen, city employees at work for themselves and not the city, doctors who will do anything to undermine Freud's theories, thereby saving the neurotics for themselves, and opportunists at every level of society, seeking psychological or material advantage. Carl Jung is portrayed by turns as secretive, mysterious, odd, and just plain nuts, while Freud remains a gentleman whose worst problem is his bladder. Not the least interesting aspect of the book is all the turn-of-the-century New York lore: bridge building, great mansions, the Astor versus Vanderbilt dustup, immigrant involvement, fabulous entertaining, auto versus carriage. Despite the tangle of tales, debut author Jed feld finishes it with writerly dexterity--and the reader is sorry to see it all end. -- --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From Publishers Weekly Turning a psychological thriller with a cast that includes Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and several important American politicians and millionaires from a rich textual experience to a gripping and exciting audio event requires a reader with many skills. Heyborne knows how to use just his voice to bring a variety of nationalities and social classes to life. He can catch the inherent smartness of a working-class detective in a phrase, and can as quickly mark a pioneering medical examiner as a dangerous crank. But where he really succeeds is in the three very different psychoanalysts who move feld's story of murder and psychosis down its distinctive road. Heyborne's Freud is an all-too-human man of obvious charm and originality; Freud's disciple Jung is cold, calculating and obviously envious; and fictional narrator Dr. Stratham Younger is a bright and admiring early Freudian who is also somewhat skeptical about some of the Viennese master's theories. This goes a long way in easing listeners through some of feld's longer monologues about life and architecture in New York in 1909—passages that readers had the option of skimming without missing any vital nuances. Copyright© American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Audio CD edition. See all Editorial Reviews ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Hi, Sam! - I've had a somewhat bone-and-spiritwearying afternoon and just " came over here (to this list) kind of " to see who's here " just now. In no shape/condition to say anything much worth anyone's time or attention, and _certainly_ not " up to " following the ins-and-outs of the various topic/themes/threads just now. [:-( :-)] I guess I was just hoping for a bit of " hey, I know 'you guys' " (at least in the ?cyberspace? meaning of ?knowing peoploe?) refreshment/a bit of energy renewal. So even though this is quite an aside to much of the main thread of discussions, I did want to thank you for this part of your recent post. I'm not much on reading " mystery stories " any more (too dem OLD? :-(], but I've always had a special sort of small-corner interest in remarks observations and interpretations about Jung's and Freud's visit to the U.S. Some time ( " if you have nothing better to do " [oy?!]) I'd love to know a little more about who said what about Freud being " distraught " after his visit here [:-( :-)]?! My earlier readings were more focussed on the Jung side of that trip than Freud's (as it bore on the tales, speculations, interpretations of the changing relationship dynamics between the two of them), but I " knew " (about, was -- to an extent -- influenced by) Freud before Jung and haven't lost a sense of personal commitment to -- and even affection for [?! :-)] him too. The only non-tedious detail I'd so far picked up about Freud's interests (before, during and after) that visit was that he wanted do see a porcupine!! Remember that one? -/-/- Greetings all and apologies for longwindedness. Seems to me to be -- for me personally, friends, family and the ongoing World Politics stuff an exceptionally (so far) long slow difficult challenging spring ... so far. But hey, like an aging and slowing worm, even I think I may be 'turning', so I'll try not to send another long ridiculous and partly gloomy post. marte > BTW, I just got a new book and haven't even read all of the first page yet > but if you like mysteries you might like this one. It's fiction but based on > the time Jung and Freud came to the US. There's apparently a murder of a young > woman and these two are involved in it or around it or something. The author > talks about how Freud went home from that visit and called Americans " savages " > and seemed distraught about something. Even his standard biographers wonder > what might have happened to him on that trip. I guess maybe this story > speculated about that. Anyway, the book is " The Interpretation of Murder " by Jed > feld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.