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The Big Book Project
The Big Book Project is a multi-venue reading experience for bibliophiles fascinated by long or dense works of fiction and interested in discussing them with others, one novel at a time.
The works selected will be capacious novels from the mid-nineteenth century through today that possess an abundant writing style or complexity in structure and themes.
The notion that reading need not be a solitary activity has special resonance with these novels given that there is much to discuss, elaborate upon and question in the authors’ expression of ideas. I like to think of these novels as abundant because I appreciate their richness and volume, characteristics bestow a sort of grace to luxuriate with the text.
The critic and scholar Alexander Nehamas writes that when a work of art beckons, it is because we do not fully understand it but feel the strong desire to do so. And it is this deliberative process, the journey, of trying to understand why a novel is extraordinary that I want to explore with fellow readers at The Big Book Project.
We discuss books like Roberto Bolaño’s 2666
The Big Book Project
Legacy, Silence, and Symbolism in Agaat: What the Maps and Diaries Really Mean
https://substack.com/@thebigbookproject
In this solo episode of The Big Book Project, host Lori Feathers returns to reflect on the latest section of Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk—around page 300—and dives into the nuanced layers of communication, legacy, and emotional power that define this extraordinary novel.
As Milla’s physical condition deteriorates due to ALS, her only form of communication is her eyes. Yet even in silence, she attempts to convey one last urgent desire: to see the maps of the farm. What do these maps represent for Milla? And why does Agaat—seemingly out of both tenderness and quiet resistance—refuse to bring them to her?
📌 Lori explores:
- The mysterious and symbolic role of the farm maps
- Agaat’s complex motivations and silent power dynamics
- Mila’s longing for legacy and meaning in her final days
- The unspoken tension around the third bundle of diaries
- How sensory memory, ritual, and resentment play out through objects
This episode is rich in literary analysis and character interpretation, inviting listeners to reflect on the novel’s recurring themes: miscommunication, psychological control, and the slow unraveling of past choices.
📖 Whether you're deep into Agaat or just joining the read-along, this episode offers powerful insight into the emotional core of the book—and leaves you wondering: What do we really leave behind?
🔹 The Big Book Project is a guided reading journey through literary masterpieces. Subscribe for weekly deep dives into complex narratives and their cultural significance.
Links and Resources:
The Big Book Project on Substack
Agaat: Purchase the Book
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