What is exciting for me about this section is the way that we can see the efforts of writers creating political action. You know, "The pen is mightier than the sword" and all that.
I must point out the beauty of the transition on p. 26. the third paragraph ends with " 'their contributions usually summarized in obituaries' ". And the next paragraph begins, "An obituary might as well have been written for the National Cancer Institute."
It is this kind of transition-among others- that we must try to emulate.
"disease of the chest wall". Man.
Golden line: "The illness lived on the borderlands of illnesses, a pariah lurking between disciplines and departments--not unlike Farber himself." I'm trying to figure out if what we are seeing here is a Zeugma. Your opinion?
And I can't help but note the irony in the idea that Farber was successful because of his isolation.
And I am kind of wondering what the hematological riddles of other decades were.
So now we've got Lucy Wills ( a woman finally) and George Minot and Yellapragada Subbarao.
Another one of my favorite lines: "But Subbarao was a foreigner, a reclusive, nocturnal, heavily accented vegetarian who lived in a one-room apartment downtown, befriended only by other nocturnal recluses such as Farber." Hilarious that "vegetarian" is listed in the catalogue of what seem to be eccentricities. But this sentence creates some strong imagery to establish the character type.
This is pathetic entry, I know. But it is so late. And I am so tired. Especially because I saw Gatsby for the second time tonight and that is an emotionally draining experience- in a good way. But now, all I can think about is DiCaprio :)
One of my favorite lines from the Gatsby film is when Daisy says to Tom: "Why don't I make you a drink so you don't seem so stupid to yourself." And then the scene at Carraway's cottage, when Gatsby brings all of those flowers and cakes and then goes and stands in the rain? So good.
I found it very interesting how the New York Times wouldn't post the words breast and cancer, when it was such a pressing issue. It makes me wonder if those words were not acceptable at that time period, like how swear words are not acceptable now. I would have to agree with what you said about the scene at Carraway's cottage,since last years summer reading I can never look at rain the same way again.
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