What did you all think Emerence and the main character as you were reading The Door? I felt like it was instantly obvious the narrator was an annoying bitch and that Emerence was a good hearted woman. Honestly, I felt really sad for Emerence and really annoyed with the narrator the more I read the book. What do you think Emerence’s biggest mistake in life was? It might be easy to say her mistake was being too secretive, but every time she opened up to someone in her life she always got punished for it hard (except with that police captain). I am honestly not sure, I feel like my life is vaguely following Emerence’s trajectory and I’m not sure how to pivot out of it.

Bump
I guess this thread is an example as to what I’m hinting at: that there’s nobody to share my deeper thoughts and ideas which leads to self-imposed isolation. My friends are all men who play vidya and jerk off if they aren’t in a relationship, and they have no interest in the shit I read. I look for book clubs and for whatever reason they’re women only. Strangers only do small talk, depth makes them uncomfortable. On one hand, I do genuinely desire to connect with people, on the other hand, it seems untenable, ergo I tend to keep to myself for long periods of time. I wonder if Emerence felt the same way in her life, and that at some point, just gave up on trying to find someone that can understand her depth. The glimmer of hope she saw with the narrator was just that, a glimmer, ultimately leading to her death. As I keep my house immaculate, as I polish myself through life, am I just building my crypt as Emerence was doing? What was the root mistake of Emerence, or did she not make a mistake other than being born unlucky?

its been some years since I read the book so forgive me for being vague on details...

I recall being struck by how materialized the idea of miscommunication and inability to truly understand another person was in the book. not a novel concept but I thought it was presented in a very concrete and relatable way

I don't think Magda or emerence were either good or bad people...ultimately what each wanted out of the relationship was just entirely different even though at various points both of them grew so close that they thought they understood each other

and I think that was perhaps the most chilling part - that even if we intellectually understand we cant truly be in the minds of another, society and relationships and time all work to eat away at that belief until we delude ourselves into thinking otherwise

Magda finally entering emerences room at the end reverses that - the room behind the door was a heavy metaphor for emerences inner thoughts but it turns out even when it was physically opened up, it doesn't solve anything for Magda and in fact leads to death. so there is no way to ever truly enter/approach ?

>>24561615
Thanks for the reply!
>I recall being struck by how materialized the idea of miscommunication and inability to truly understand another person was in the book
Agreed, it was a sad read for me because of this fact.
>I don't think Magda or emerence were either good or bad people
Also agreed, though I personally hated Magda and what she represented. That is to say, she represented the “societal” lens when describing Emerence and her actions.
>that even if we intellectually understand we cant truly be in the minds of another
While true and ultimately a cliché, I think an issue is framing understanding as purely “intellectual”.
>so there is no way to ever truly enter/approach ?
Yes, I can never truly be inside your mind, but I claim that people can meet and understand one another’s depth through non-intellectual means. There were two instances in my life where I felt deeply understood by someone. Once was with an eye surgeon, we were sitting next to each other on the beach sitting quietly for hours, deeply understanding one another. It’s vague and borderline “woo woo”, but it was a deeply connected feeling that we both could attest to. I could “feel” her being and I understood her, at least in the moment, and vice versa…it was quite lovely. The last time was with a philosophy professor. We ran into each other randomly while I was on vacation, but we connected so deeply in terms of “how” we live. We walked around the city holding hands, saying nothing to each other. The moment was closed with a soft, bittersweet kiss, knowing we’ll never see each other again but also thanking each other for showing ourselves that, yes, someone *can* approach our depth, though it’s almost never the case.

u into doors bro? did u see that scene in severance season 2 where the fat nerdy dude interviews for a job at a door store or sth that shit was funny

>>24562085
peep this kino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ru45frgSI

i love this very specific genre of books where the narrator wants someone to like them but the person is an inscrutable jerk for no apparent reason and it drives them crazy and we come to realise that actually maybe the narrator is the jerk
see also:
rachel cusk - second place
i swear there are more, when i read the door i remember thinking that this is one of those, and that was before i had read second place, but i can't bring them to mind right now, anyone got any others?

>>24561386
I feel you, but it's been so long since I read that book that I have no decent answers off the top of my head. We like to imagine that human connections have deteriorated in our online present but I have to think that communication and understanding were just as much of a slog back in the day.

>>24562104
Claw of the Conciliator, Gene Wolfe

this thread has femcel vibes

>>24562111
>but I have to think that communication and understanding were just as much of a slog back in the day
For sure, I mean The Door was set in post-WW2 Hungary and you have a character that was thoroughly misunderstood by everyone from her birth up until her death. Through history, there’s been many famous cases of people so thoroughly misunderstood that they’re murdered for that fact. With Emerence, she ultimately wanted a private, quiet life, but was constantly handed the opposite. Even where she carved out a little hearth for herself in this world, people would constantly try to barge in and harm her, directly or indirectly. What did she do wrong?

Final bump
Pic related is where I read

>>24560290 (OP)
I knew the title looked familiar. Unfortunately I haven't read the book, but I did see the movie with Helen Mirren as Emerance.

The thing is OP, The Door seems more like a niche book, you'll seldom find people who have read it and are willing to have a conversation around it, so don't feel too bad about it.

As for the movie, yeah it tries to convey what the book was about, with Magda trying to pry open the door and glimpse inside Emerance's life and it actually ends with opening the door and uncovering her. But what made Emerance, at least in the movie, as a compeling character was exactly the mystery surrounding her. Once we, the viewer, find out about her life, the mystique is gone forever.

Overall the movie is just ok, not great, not terrible. Also, Helen Mirren is a little bit autistic throughout. I don't know how her character is portrayed in the novel.