Richler Revisited

Old time 'Shul of Rock' readers will recall that the third post to ever go up here was a five question shoot-out I had with author Emma Richler. It was some extra material from a larger interview I conducted with her at the Random House offices for an article that was published in The Varsity.

I am currently enrolled in the final course of my undergraduate career - it is a fourth year seminar on Mordecai Richler, Emma's father. The reading material is immensely interesting, and I have decided that Mr. Richler is one of my favourite writers. If you ever get a chance to read his collections of essays, such as Belling the Cat, you may be inclined to feel the same way. I love his attitude and comfort with the English language.

I should probably get back to writing an essay. Here's an excerpt for you to criticize or ignore:

["...Rejected by his community, and uncomfortably embraced by the gentile world, Noah realizes that “Only with Miriam did he feel relaxed” (97). His emotional neediness – which is common and decidedly natural, is embodied in his desire to connect with another human being. A selfish lover, Noah abruptly disturbs the Hall’s marriage and neglects to concern himself with the social welfare of a woman ten years his senior as she faces the prospect of living off his cab fares. Noah is inconsiderate, often placing his needs before those of Miriam. This is compounded (unfairly) later when he leaves her in the countryside while he attends to his father’s funeral and shiva. ..."]