When it came to reading The Moviegoer, I can safely say that I struggled. I had initially read it once, but then went back and skimmed through it again when we spent more time on A Streetcar Named Desire than originally planned. Both times, I really struggled reading through this book, and after Tuesday’s class, I was partially able to identify why that was the case.
Binx, to me, is a very boring character despite his own inner complexities. It was difficult to follow the story along because of the fact that he came off as depressing and seemingly emotionally turned off from his surroundings. Since he didn’t seem to bother expressing interest in his world, I didn’t feel the need or draw to do the same. I had no excitement to continue reading as I got further into the novel, simply due to his own lack of excitement.
In addition, several aspects about Binx put me off as well. His relationships with his secretaries over the years was very uncomfortable to read, even when you take into account the time that this novel was written and based in. His relationships with his family, as well, is just vert disjointed and choppy, not making it necessarily unpleasant to ready, but certainly difficult. It was mainly his internal relationship with himself and that internal monologue that was the hardest part to read because of how disconnected it was.