The Object Lesson by Edward Gorey

I’m crazy for Bookmooch today. I had four requests this week, and given that I only had about twenty books on my “inventory” list, that’s a lot. I wrapped and sent three of them this morning, and poked around playing with the “Mooch” button I added to my browser. I love getting mooch requests. Happiness comes from sending books you don’t want to people who want them—and then being allowed to pick something for yourself. So far, however, I haven’t mooched anything yet. I’m hoarding my points for who knows what.

The fourth book that I will be sending out tomorrow is Edward Gorey’s The Object Lesson. Like most book lovers, I enjoy Edward Gorey’s art and dark humor. But I must admit that I just don’t understand this book. I want so badly to understand it, but every time I look at it, I feel like I’m the butt of the joke. It’s a short picture book with only one sentence or phrase on each illustrated page. It’s written as if it was a story, but the story doesn’t make sense. Here’s a typical excerpt, apropos of nothing before or after it:

“He descended, destroying the letter unread, and stepped backwards into the water for a better view. Heavens, how dashing! Cried the people in the dinghy, and Echo answered: Count the spoons!”

I suspect I may simply be too dumb to understand the deep symbolism and allegory of Gorey’s seemingly nonsensical and non sequitur ramblings. And what of the title: The Object Lesson? I don’t understand how the title relates to the story within. What is the lesson? Am I missing some key idea or clue? Is this a puzzle to be solved? Are there visual puns or other such figurative play on words and illustrations? Every time I look at this book, I feel stupid.

I have got to get this book out of the house. It’s destroying my self-esteem.

The Object Lesson by Edward Gorey

Tags: book reviews illustrated literary stupidity Edward Gorey