This is how I feel reading it...
Yay, it’s Cosmopolis Book Club time!
Are you reading with us? If not, click here to join in.
Have you just finished the first chapter? Then go here to see our discussion on that.
You all caught up and at the half way point with us? YAY! Then keep on reading…
Whew. I’m feeling all kids of mind f*cked all over the place. Really. Mind is constantly blown. And not in a good way. In a “I really have no idea what is going on” kind of way. It probably doesn’t help that I don’t do the assigned reading until about 8 p.m. on Sunday night so I don’t give myself the time to really understand what is happening. So it’s my fault, but that’s why I have all of you!
So anyway, stop here if you have not read the 2nd chapter OR don’t want to be spoiled. The rest of you, hit that jump!
Alright, chapter 2. We don’t even begin with Eric, but with Benno Levin. I’m guessing this is the stalker. Clearly, the man is insane. Trying to follow his state of mind is difficult, but in some ways, easier then Eric. He’s angry. He’s just killed a man. He’s falling apart. He had a job and family and such, and has lost it all. From what I am gathering, it was with Eric’s company, so he has place the blame on Eric. Benno is hatching up a plan, and I am sure we will see it come to play before the end of the book. Cause really, dude is crazy.
After playing in Benno’s head a bit, we go back to Eric, who is in the limo. Still. Duh, we knew that. But they are in a new part of town, what seems to be a more seedy part of town by the sounds of it. So, of course, Eric is intrigued. He goes ti a book store to search for poetry books, since that is his thing, and sees a woman that catches his eye. He tracks her down and lo and behold, it’s his wife. Reading a book of poetry. I’m starting to think they have more in common then even they know. And my fave line so far from her… “You smell of sex.”
Eric being Eric tries to turn it on her, saying it’s hunger. But of course, he seems to be constantly trying to talk her into having sex with him. She continues to deny him, so instead he takes her to lunch at a restaurant in the seedy area. I can only imagine something greasy and dirty in my head. And it’s like they finally try to get to know each other. They talk of childhood, vacations, escaping. You see that they are trying to build something, but part of me thinks she is like something for him to conquer, which is why he is so obsessed with having sex with her.
Eric likes to get philosophical on your ass!
Then the rat protest begins. It starts in the restaurant, and it fascinates Eric. So much so, that he loses track of the wife and doesn’t even really care. At this point, Vija, the director of theory is in the limo. They have some serious discussions on capitalism that kind of make my eyes glaze over. Sorry, it’s just the truth. The whole time the talked I just kept hoping it would end. They are both clearly obsessed with numbers and theories and she pretty much thinks he’s a genius. In fact, when they talk about how he has been advised to back off the yen, she tells him to keep going. Because if he knows the pattern is there, even if he can’t see it, he should keep looking.
Then the protest finally continued in full force. People with rats charge the area, Eric’s limo, and such. The two just ride it out. They continue talking and drinking while people are rocking, spray painting and urinating on the limo. And when it seems to be kind of settling, he was watching him self on a screen and saw himself recoil in shock before a blast. Almost like the screen was predicting the future. I haven’t really figured out exactly what it means, but Vija thinks it has to do with his genius. And I think he likes Vija just for that. Because she thinks he is a genius.
What was most interesting is when the protesters get ahold of the financial tickers outside and run “A Rat Became the Unit of Currency” which is from a poem that Eric himself had been reading. It seems in that moment that he kind of understands them. And then he makes the call to buy more yen.
After he makes the call, he notes a man sitting out on the sidewalk. The man has lit himself on fire and is burning to death on the sidewalk. He imagined being that man, making the decision to kill himself and what all it entails. Once again, he is fascinated. Viji finds it unoriginal, while Eric does understand the seriousness of it. Which is surprising to me, because I would have thought he’d be on the unoriginal stance.
Torval pulls him out of the car and tells him there is a threat. Specifically aimed to Eric. And Eric pretty much says so what, I want a haircut. Then him and Viji have his talk about immortality, and how with computers and such, men can live forever in some way.
When the currency ticker that had the poem line on it is returned back to it’s original purpose, Eric gets out to look at it. He notes that it’s a sexual feeling to him. So he stands in this rain, that seems to come and wash away everything that has just happened, both with the protestors and in Eric’s life. And the chapter ends with the line, “Now he could begin the business of living.”
I am so sure I am not getting from the book what I am supposed to be getting. This chapter in particular. It was so philosophical, and I am not a philosophy type. I am so sure you all will pull much more from the chapter then I did. So you all should post in the comments. Try and help me understand, because I am struggling.
January 24th, 2011 at 1:59 am
well, i am total FAIL. i’ve only read 5 pages into the 2nd installment. and yeah i cheated and read the post. but i think i might be able to read it today.
i have a meeting for my kids school and i was told to bring a book to keep me busy. (my cousin signs me up for shit and i have no clue what for. all he says is “i need parents for a focus group meeting. be ready for 10:00 and i pick you up”) so it seems i’ll have anhour or two to kill before my meeting. the things we do for kids and family.
hopefuly i can come back here later and add my thoughts about this fucked up book.
Amber, Benno is one CRAZY mofo. got that right off the bat. also i’m trying find the audio cd at B&N this week.
January 24th, 2011 at 2:01 am
i forgot i say, i missed the weekend vids.
January 24th, 2011 at 4:13 am
Death and sex are closely connected in this book and in reality. I think the following document that explains this connection is very interesting to read:
http://www.spiritual-minds.com/easternrelgions/osho/osho%20sex%20and%20death.pdf
January 24th, 2011 at 8:35 am
Okay, so I finished the whole book. And I will say chapter 2 was def the most confusing of all four. When I first began to read chapter 2, I thought maybe we were seeing Eric in the future, destroyed and penniless. And that he had really been his own enemy all along. Yeah, crazy, I know. But it seemed plausible, seeing how the story has gone so far. lol But then I realized when we were back in the limo that Benno really was his stalker.
The rat protest was mostly annoying, but I see its importance in the book to illustrate more of Eric’s way of thinking.
January 24th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
I am glad to hear you say that. I was glazing over badly. Please let 3 and 4 be better. PLEASE.
January 24th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Yeah, it gets better. Don’t expect fanfic-level of “interesting,” (lol) but it does improve.
January 24th, 2011 at 10:19 am
I finished the book last night, and things do become clearer in the second half of the book. I went back to read through the first half, to pick up on some connections that are made later in the book.
In the second chapter Eric seems to become enlivened by the protests and chaos in the streets. I think it awakens something in him that’s been missing-in his world of privelege and money, where he can have pretty much anything he wants, he’s become bored and disillusioned.Artwork, a black-market bomber, racehorses, his tricked-out limo and apartment-all provide fleeting satisfaction.He’s looking for something to make him feel alive, and material
possessions aren’t doing it anymore.He’s fascinated by death and destruction, yet curiously unaffected by the threat against his own life. He doesn’t seem to be worried about his safety:instead it’s a catalyst to “begin the business of living.”I think he senses the inevitability of his downfall, and wants to do it in a big way, to make an impact, and it’s thrilling to him.
I don’t want to spoil anything for people who haven’t finished it, so I’ll stop there. A lot of things come together in the second half of the book.
January 24th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Like a “go out in a big ball of fire” moment? Kinda like the guy on the street. I can dig it.
January 24th, 2011 at 11:02 am
I finished the book a couple of weeks ago and, like dazzledtodeath, I’ll tell things do become clearer and easier to understand in the second half. I just think this entire book is about Eric’s search to “connect” with something, anything, in his life. Toward the very beginning of Chapter 2, it says “He was hungry, he was half starved. There were days when he wanted to eat all the time, talk to people’s faces, live in meat space.” We know he can’t really be “half starved”. He has money. Obviously, he eats. He’s not wanting for anything…except a connection. I think this is really a metaphor for wanting to take something IN to himself…to fill the emptiness he is feeling. Even though Eric spends time with advisers and doctors and bodyguards…he doesn’t really SEE them so some times he wants to “talk to people’s faces”. I would think it would be much easier to connect with someone in a meaningful way, to see them as a person, if you REALLY look at them. I’m still a bit confused to the “live in meat space” comment, except that I think that would mean in the REAL world, where people lead their lives in a very REAL way…and not in the disconnected, high tech, computerized way that Eric does. He even mentions right after those lines that he is in the diamond district and that this form of money was so obsolete that he didn’t know how to think about it. The thing is…it’s only an obsolete form to HIM. Other people, REAL people, deal with it every day. He just can’t.
So much more in this chapter. I’ll check back later to see what others have said.
January 24th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
I’m glad you also found meat space confusing. And I can see where he is struggling to make connections.
January 24th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Yes, imho a very “wtf?” chapter. I need to get back into it but really w/ all the philosophy and symbolism after the burning man … I tuned out.
He does seem very “hungry” for something “real” : love, affection?…
Hoping that when I pick it up again we get deeper into his head so I can better understand the root cause of his behavior.
January 24th, 2011 at 11:35 am
I have to get started on this book again. I started it last weekend and only got halfway through the 1st chapter. I figured I’d finish it on Monday and join in, but never got around to it. Then I was just going to read both chapters and join in today, but like you Amber, I realized at 9pm last night that I had forgotten about the book. Maybe I’ll actually have it read by the time you finish with the last chapter
I had a really hard time getting through the beginning of the book. It’s a quick read so I’ll just have to push through it.
January 24th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
I’m proud to say I did a lot of catching up this weekend, I’m almost done with this chapter. There were a few parts I was really confused about, as always you ladies are helping me work through some of my questions. I am glad to hear it picks up after this section, its definately a tough one.
January 24th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
I also realized late Sunday that I hadn’t read the entire chapter yet. After finishing yet another long fanfiction, I’ll jump into it tonight. Yes, a whole different story type with symbolism, which I love. Some good comments have been made. I see the “meat space” as an earthy reality…the muscle and blood of life without being separated from it. A connection again. When you hold raw meat, you hold a rawness of life. It recalls for me the ritual of hunters killing an animal and eating parts of it raw in an effort to take in it’s spirit, strength, etc.
Gotta read more tonite. Glad to hear that it moves on though. It’ll be a good role and timely for people who need to focus on connections with people, affection, love, all of which give life meaning. Ah…getting too deep here.
January 25th, 2011 at 7:50 am
I’m unsure if the rats are symbolic of anything…but if I was in a restaurant and some dudes started swinging rats around…I would never eat there again! Ha!
I, too, have finished the entire book…but I’ll hold off commenting about it until everyone is finished.
January 25th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Why does this still feel like homework? I can’t say I am really enjoying this book maybe it’s too deep for me. I read to relax at the end of the day not ponder deep questions. I’m not sure I like Eric right now. How do you watch someone cocness
January 26th, 2011 at 2:04 am
I finished the book last week, although a small read, it took a while to really understand what was really DeLillo’s message. I looked up his profile and saw that all his books were about standing outside of the norm, independent of the influence of modern americanization! It was written about the time of the downfall of Wallstreet (2000) and the manipulation of the almighty dollar! It seems Eric is well aware of this. The metaphor about the rats just means in my opinion that the dollar only eats up everything in it’s way leaving the little man alone and helpless!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!
January 27th, 2011 at 9:07 am
I finished it last night and I completely agree with those that say it gets better. KINDA SPOILER – you even see some redeeming value in Eric later on. I also found myself a bit out of my depth in the philosophical conversation with Vija. I could definitely visualize Rob in the role. LOVE reading all the comments–really curious to see what everyone thinks when they get to the end!
January 31st, 2011 at 12:04 pm
[...] Rob My World, has been tackling Cosmopolis as well. You can check out their discussion group: 1 | 2 | [...]
January 31st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
I agree, this definitely was a confusing chapter and the whole rats thing was weird. But the banter about the different way rats would become fair trade and apart of everyday conversation was kinda… hilariously (?)odd.. Maybe it was my finally understanding the character by that time, who knows.. It made me laugh.
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:15 am
[...] Are you a newbie to the book club? See how it works here! Just finished with the first chappy? Go discuss here! Chapter two have you super confused? Try to understand it here! [...]
February 7th, 2011 at 12:16 am
[...] finished the 1st chapter? Check out the discussion here! Does your mind feel blown by chapter 2? See what everyone else says here! Finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with chapter 3? Read more [...]