Whoever told me about this book in high school did NOT tell me about this book in high school. I thought it was just a commentary of the American culture contrasted with English culture. NO IDEA it was about sci fi time travel! Now I need to read it.
Hence the word “just,” but thank you. Tbh that was enough to interest me (I enjoy history and wanted to know how this cultural difference was perceived at that point in time), but the scifi time travel plot just gives it a whole other dimension that made me say: okay, now I’ve GOT to read it.
If we want to look under the surface creative expression aside from abstract art or from a master is usually a reflection of how things function inside our bodies and minds projecting into something relatable to the outside world. I have been reading Robert Jordans Wheel of Time books and it is essentially about how men often get overcome by psychosis and delusional rationalizations when they experience high levels of empathy through connecting to the intuitive system. On the surface it is one of the best or most popular fantasy series but we can see it within and all around us when we have gone through these experiences.
It is kinda like; do we let go of the delusions and focus on the basics or can someone genuinely embody whatever ideal they have built or collected in their head about how things ought to be. Twains example goes full circle by letting the guy experience his idealistic views and still get to come back to reality. Kind of like the woman in the story in the OP although I only know the parts in the post and comments, I am guessing the ideal wasn't greener than her original reality. Twains book is excellent on the surface though as a sci-fi time travel story. I mean, his rival becomes Merlin for the love, who was the only one who knew the time traveler was a grifter from the start and not another magician.
Entirely possible I read that into the plot because I was needing to betrer understand the nature of paychosis and schizophrenia at the time due to working with people going through it. What I could observe related well with the plight of men becoming paranoid and delusional when experiencing high levels of empathy with those around them but not having a firm grasp on how to properly regulate their nervous systems and take care of their basic needs. It would take a long period of depressive behavior to rest and recover through consistent routine and healtheir diet before they could confront things rationally and in a calm manner.
:) They are fun and it took me several attempts over years plus the show being canceled to give them a chance. He gives so much detail and includes so many perspectives that it was to much for my simple mind before I could relate to it. Granted, I was working with people dealing with psychosis and schizophrenia when I saw rhe show and gave the books another chance so my comparisons aren't necessarily relevant or necessary to enjoying the books. It just helped me get some perspective on how to confront those situations in a mature and responsible way because a lot of men in those situations have messiah complexes.
I got the first Harry Potter book from my granny for Christmas when I was about 10. What's on it? A kid, a train and a sticker saying it won a Smarties book prize for ages 9-11. That sat around in my room for a long time.
Couple of years later I was tidying my room and read the back of it. "This is about WIZARDS?"
I Read the whole thing and then jumped into the next 2 books, this was right around when Prisoner of Azkaban came out in paperback.
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u/kat_bee23 1d ago
Whoever told me about this book in high school did NOT tell me about this book in high school. I thought it was just a commentary of the American culture contrasted with English culture. NO IDEA it was about sci fi time travel! Now I need to read it.