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Seize the Day
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Plot Summary of Seize the Day
"The day of reckoning has arrived for Tommy Wilhelm. Living in the same hotel as his successful 80 year old doctor father, Tommy is on the brink of disaster. He is separated from his wife and kids, his wife demands ever increasing amounts of money, he is at odds with his father, he's quit his salesman's job because an in-law of the firm got promoted above him, he is failed in his acting career and has just given his last $700 to a philosophising con man to speculate on lard on margin. Tommy reviews his past mistakes and spiritual malaise and at the end of the day is left weeping alone in a church at a stranger's funeral. "
John Marcel, Resident Scholar

"A man is slowy crushed by famly and internal pressure. But through his pain there may be hope."
Bill Hice, Resident Scholar

"Tommy Wilhelm once wanted to be an actor. He had a pleasing face, and went to California to audition. He was not succesful. He had the wrong angles in front of a camera--he looked like a lumbering bear. Now he pops phenobarbitals, fetching them from his crumbly pocket where they are packed in tinfoil, suppressing the resentment towards his father, who won't help him with money or love--the eminent father so admired for his distinguished medical career. Wilhelm is exasperated by the canny way his father fends off requests for cash. Tommy tries to make it on his own--a psychologist friend seems to make money in the stock market. "
Damon LaBarbera, Resident Scholar

"Tommy is confused in this novel. his changing of his name
cannot change his past or his life.He is still the same because he does nothing in reality.Tommy Wilhelm once wanted to be an actor. He had a pleasing face, and went to California to audition. He was not succesful. He had the wrong angles in front of a camera--he looked like a lumbering bear. Now he pops phenobarbitals, fetching them from his crumbly pocket where they are packed in tinfoil, suppressing the resentment towards his father, who won't help him with money or love--the eminent father so admired for his distinguished medical career. Wilhelm is exasperated by the canny way his father fends off requests for cash. Tommy tries to make it on his own--a psychologist friend seems to make money in the stock market.
"

leo, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Seize the Day
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Poverty, surviving Yes
Kind of living: - general poverty story
Family, struggle with Yes
Struggle with: - Father (or standin)
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Druggie/Wino problems? - drugs

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - thief/con artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
City? Yes
City: - New York
Misc setting - resort/hotel

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Seize the Day
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Tristessa by Jack Kerouac
The Road to Los Angeles by John Fante
The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
The Chosen by Chaim Potok


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Saul Bellow Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Damon LaBarbera  

SCHOLARS:
Joan Teague  Bill Hice  


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