A book with no changes

topic posted Tue, February 12, 2008 - 11:51 PM by  JM
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Can anyone think of a book that ends exactly where it began for all the characters?
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JM
offline JM
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  • Re: A book with no changes

    Wed, February 13, 2008 - 1:00 AM
    For all the characters, probably not, but in terms of plot it's practically a leitmotif of Raymond Queneau's work. Several of his novels, Witchgrass, The Sunday of Life, Pierrot Mon Ami, etc. end up pretty much where they began, and one is hardpressed to explain what they're about exactly, or even what occurred between the covers.
  • Re: A book with no changes

    Wed, February 13, 2008 - 8:08 AM
    there is a chapter in Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter - with the tortoise and the hare - that illustrates this brilliantly....they end up where they started, though change happens within.

    somehow there is a Cormac McCarthy book that seems to feel this way too, though MUCH happens cover to cover - The Sunset Limited - I think it is called.
  • Re: A book with no changes

    Wed, February 13, 2008 - 10:42 PM
    I have heard Finnigans Wake does just that and looking at just the last and first page it seems it could be true.
    • Re: A book with no changes

      Fri, February 15, 2008 - 12:03 AM
      Most of PG Wodehouse's Jeeves novels leave Bertie exactly as before, if a bit shaken by a close brush with marriage and light a few bob as reward to his quick-witted butler.

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