Subject
Query: Miller's Thumb & Taylor's Spasm
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In an April 1969 interview (SO 133), VN remarked:
"Artistically, the dirtier typewriters try to get, the more conventional
and corny their products become, e.g., such novels as MILLER'S THUMB and
TAILOR'S SPASM."
TAILOR'S SPASM is obviously Phillip Roth's PORTNOY's COMPLAINT since
PORTNOY is the Russian word for "tailor." The SPASM is self-explanatory,
if you know the book. It was on the Best Seller list when ADA came out
(or thereabouts).
MILLER'S THUMB presents more of a problem. MILLER is certainly Norman
Mailer + Henry Miller. But what about that title THUMB.? The parallel
to SPASM leads one to assume that it hints at a title by Miller or
Mailer. But what?
"Artistically, the dirtier typewriters try to get, the more conventional
and corny their products become, e.g., such novels as MILLER'S THUMB and
TAILOR'S SPASM."
TAILOR'S SPASM is obviously Phillip Roth's PORTNOY's COMPLAINT since
PORTNOY is the Russian word for "tailor." The SPASM is self-explanatory,
if you know the book. It was on the Best Seller list when ADA came out
(or thereabouts).
MILLER'S THUMB presents more of a problem. MILLER is certainly Norman
Mailer + Henry Miller. But what about that title THUMB.? The parallel
to SPASM leads one to assume that it hints at a title by Miller or
Mailer. But what?