Interview: Reader Who Yesterday Finished The Recognitions
HTMLGiant: So how long did it take you to read the book?
David Fishkind: Three weeks I think. It took me about three minutes per page, so… forty-eight hours. I spent two days reading the book.
HG: Did you ever read the book in public places or leave the book out purposefully when visitors were over?
DF: It was a library copy, so really, it didn’t matter. But yes, I read it on the subway and kept it on my bedroom desk and in my backpack.
HG: How did you deal with it? Do you think you’re a big man or something?
DF: I don’t know. I thought I’d feel proud of myself. I ate seven or eight handfuls of blueberries when I finished. I didn’t cry or anything. Sometimes I looked words up in the dictionary.
HG: Have you read other Gaddis? How did this book compare?
DF: No. I guess maybe I’ll read JR in a year or a few months or so. I guess I’ll read them all if I don’t first die.
HG: Did you ever read the book while on drugs or alcohol?
DF: Once or twice I’d had a some alcohol to drink, but it didn’t really do anything. I didn’t feel drunk, though I was… I didn’t tell anyone I was drunk… so…