What is perfection? When is life "good enough?" Does the drive for perfection lead to achievement? or paralysis? If we expect to attain perfection, are our disappointments especially harsh? The narrator of The Soloist by Mark Salzman seems unable to be present in the moment, except when he is lost in music. Soon that escape eludes him, when his search for perfection interferes with his cello playing.
On Sunday March 25 at 2 pm in the McManus Room, Dr. Mark Schenker will explore the dilemma of the search for perfection and how it is portrayed in The Soloist. Associate Dean at Yale College, Schenker is a frequent Library speaker known for his incisive analyses of literature.
WestportREADS discussion question:
Is perfection possible? Do unfulfilled dreams have a harsher impact on those with special gifts?