BOOKHOUSE BOYS EP4: Heart is a Lonely Hunter Pt. 3

[Farrell]

We continue to follow our strong, true purpose and delve ever deeper into The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter on this week's episode of The Bookhouse Boys, seeking to answer questions about Biff's sordid past and his increasingly confused present, what the heck Singer sees in his sweaty Greek friend, and what exactly happened in the grass on the bank of that pond, wink wink, nudge nudge.   There's even a little dream interpretation and future forecasting in there, no doubt aided by Dave's flu-induced hallucinations.

OUTRO: "Alone, Alone, Alone" by Wilco from The Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Demos

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One and a half of us tweet

[Farrell]

Ignore me today. I've got a head-full of bad wiring goin' on. 

Tweren't nothin'.  Here's to better days. 

[Robert]

There's nothing wrong with knitting...but Jason does it smothered in FDS while wearing a peignoir.

 

 

[Robert]

Excuse me if I missed this on the podcast, I don't think I did, but . . .

is Singer's loneliness more than mere friendship?  Does he long for more than companionship from Antonapoulos?   

Also, Singer is merely a sounding board for his guests, yes?  From what he writes he clearly doesn't understand everything they say to him, not simply because the words are mumbled, but the ideas or concepts seem foreign to him, yes?

More observations soon.

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Excuse me if I missed this on the podcast, I don't think I did, but . . .

is Singer's loneliness more than mere friendship?  Does he long for more than companionship from Antonapoulos?  

Also, Singer is merely a sounding board for his guests, yes?  From what he writes he clearly doesn't understand everything they say to him, not simply because the words are mumbled, but the ideas or concepts seem foreign to him, yes?

More observations soon.

I know that the book has been assigned reading in gay literature classes at some schools. I still don't know what I make of that element.
To your second point, I thought of National Lampoon's European Vacation. Remember the cousins that the Griswolds were staying with in Germany, but they were at the wrong house? Smile, nod, and pass the sauerkraut.
Seriously, though, I think Singer comprehends most of what they said to him, but he didn't Understand their fury, passion, mode, et al, like they assumed he did.

[Robert]

Biff is STILL an enigma.   He almost considers his sexuality to be divine, if he was the embodiment of both sexes, he would be complete, the One.  He fantasizes having two (adopted?) young children, one boy and one girl, while he would serve as both mother and father, perhaps more maternal, and this would somehow complete him.   So he is neither asexual or bisexual, in fact, gender is almost removed from the equation, making him transcendental.   

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Biff is STILL an enigma.   He almost considers his sexuality to be divine, if he was the embodiment of both sexes, he would be complete, the One.  He fantasizes having two (adopted?) young children, one boy and one girl, while he would serve as both mother and father, perhaps more maternal, and this would somehow complete him.   So he is neither asexual or bisexual, in fact, gender is almost removed from the equation, making him transcendental.   

Uatu the Hermaphrodite

[Robert]

Uatu the Hermaphrodite

Hmmm, your answer is much more simple, yet effective.

I think Capote would be proud.

[Dave A]

Excuse me if I missed this on the podcast, I don't think I did, but . . .

is Singer's loneliness more than mere friendship?  Does he long for more than companionship from Antonapoulos?   

Also, Singer is merely a sounding board for his guests, yes?  From what he writes he clearly doesn't understand everything they say to him, not simply because the words are mumbled, but the ideas or concepts seem foreign to him, yes?

More observations soon.

I think we touched on it briefly... there are a few things that might point to Singer's relationship with Antonapoulos being homosexual, such as their constant touching, the intimacy with which Singer looks Antonapoulos in the eyes whenever they separate, Antonapoulos' (potentially) jealous rage when the other mute comes to their home, and the fact that Singer's lonely longing for his friend seems more like the longing of a forlorn lover.

As opposed to just about any other vaguely homosexual relationship in literature, though, I think reading this into the character completely changes him, for a lot of the reasons we've talked about... Antonapoulos is at least a bit crazy, probably mentally handicapped. If Singer had a sexual relationship with him, it would almost read as an abusive situation to me.

[Dave A]

Always gotta remind that Jason guy to post up the show on Tuesdays...   

[Farrell]

Always gotta remind that Jason guy to post up the show on Tuesdays...   

When did I ever say I would post them on Tuesday mornings? 

I'm usually at work on Tuesday (though not today).  And there's a time difference, dude.   

Anyway, description written, Dave mercilessly mocked (not really), and show processing....processing....processing.  Wanna write a forum post for it, Dave? 

[Dave A]

Wanna write a forum post for it, Dave? 

I'm not an admin. 

I'll comment in the thread once you post it, though!