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The Moviegoer

241 pages, 1998

fiction

fiction

1382 books
Takeaways
Description

The dazzling novel that established Walker Percy as one of the major voices in Southern literature is now available for the first time in Vintage paperback. The Moviegoer is Binx Bolling, a young New Orleans stockbroker who surveys the world with the detached gaze of a Bourbon Street dandy even as he yearns for a spiritual redemption he cannot bring himself to believe in. 

On the eve of his thirtieth birthday, he occupies himself dallying with his secretaries and going to movies, which provide him with the treasurable moments absent from his real life. But one fateful Mardi Gras, Binx embarks on a hare-brained quest that outrages his family, endangers his fragile cousin Kate, and sends him reeling through the chaos of the New Orleans French Quarter. Wry and wrenching, rich in irony and romance, The Moviegoer is a genuine American classic. 

Search for Meaning

Walker Percy's The Moviegoer explores the protagonist's search for meaning in life. It's a reminder that we all need to find our purpose and not just go through the motions. So, take a look at your own life and see if you're truly living or just existing.

The Power of Movies

The book shows how movies can influence our perception of reality. The protagonist often escapes into the world of cinema to deal with his existential crisis. This makes us think about the impact of media on our lives. Are we too influenced by what we see on screen?

The Importance of Connection

Percy emphasizes the importance of human connection. The protagonist, Binx Bolling, often feels disconnected from others, leading to his existential angst. This encourages us to check our relationships and find ways to connect more deeply with the people around us.

The Struggle with Modernity

The Moviegoer explores the struggle with modernity. Binx Bolling finds himself at odds with the fast-paced, materialistic modern world. This can make us reflect on our own relationship with the modern world. Are we too caught up in the rat race?

The Journey of Self-Discovery

In the book, Binx Bolling embarks on a journey of self-discovery. He's not just a moviegoer, but also a seeker trying to understand himself and his place in the world. This can inspire us to dig deeper into our own selves and embark on our own journeys of self-discovery.

Quotes 3

The Moviegoer is a brilliant and stirring novel, poignant, subtle, and deeply insightful. It's a work of art that deserves to be read and reread.

Robert Penn WarrenRobert Penn Warren - Poet, Novelist, Critic

The Moviegoer is a unique and fascinating exploration of the modern existential crisis. It's a book that will make you think, and that's always a good thing.

Flannery O'ConnorFlannery O'Connor - Writer, Essayist, Philosopher

The Moviegoer is a masterpiece of modern literature, a profound and moving novel that explores the human condition in a way that few other books have managed to do.

Harold BloomHarold Bloom - Literary Critic, Scholar
Robert Penn WarrenFlannery O'ConnorHarold Bloom

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