Dennett had three significant points to make regarding how we should lead our lives. The essence of spirituality, contrary to popular belief, has no connection to the soul or anything supernatural. It lies in simply letting go of the self. If one can approach the world's intricacies, both its splendors and its terrors, with an attitude of humble curiosity, realizing that no matter how deeply one has delved, there is always more to discover, one will encounter worlds within worlds and beauties beyond imagination. Consequently, one's own mundane concerns will diminish to their proper scale, losing their significance in the grand scheme of things. Maintaining this awe-inspiring vision of the world while handling the demands of daily life is no easy feat, but it is most definitely worth the effort. For if one can remain centered and engaged, difficult choices will become easier, the right words will come when needed, and one will truly become a better person.

From "The Age of Atheists" by Peter Watson

Could Frank Bascombe be The Great American Existentialist character? I have never before encountered such powerful and profound descriptions that resonate so strongly with my personal feelings when I漫步 through the suburban landscapes of Middle America. The orderly arrangement of stores along the highway, the clusters of houses that form a "town", the expanding empty spaces between activity centers, the deafening silence in the middle of the afternoon, the erosion of community, and the quiet existential despair that can almost be heard in poorer neighborhoods and vacant parking lots bathed in sunlight.

And here arrives Frank Bascombe, the extraordinary realtor, dealing with the typical prostate cancer scare and the impending upheavals of Thanksgiving celebrations. Three days spent in and around the beach town of Sea Clift feel like a Joycean and Camusian stroll along the New Jersey shore, with a hint of Bruce Springsteen's angst and the quiet desperation of "About Schmidt". Frank Bascombe is just an ordinary guy trying to cope with the demands of daily life and stay centered and engaged in the process.

However, Frank Bascombe is anything but ordinary. He is an astonishingly perceptive, incredibly funny, stubbornly eager, and repeatedly awestruck American man, a father, twice a husband, once divorced, once abandoned. His musings on women and men, politics, Democrats and Republicans, fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, work, real estate, the philosophical stages of life, the inevitability of death, immigration, self-actualization, and the various "delights" of aging will leave you weak in the knees at every turn.

If you haven't yet met Frank, I highly recommend starting with "The Sportswriter" and "Independence Day". These melancholy and anger-fueled works of art will introduce you to a character who will secure a permanent place in your heart and in your pantheon of unforgettable characters.

Lay of the Land was a truly remarkable book that was filled with contradictions.

On one hand, it was incredibly insightful, offering deep and thought-provoking perspectives on various aspects of life. However, on the other hand, it seemed to drag on and on, making it a bit of a challenge to get through at times.

There were certain parts of the book where I found myself thinking, "enough already," feeling that the author could have made their point more succinctly. But then, there were other moments where I was simply amazed at the beauty and complexity of the language and structure.

The story was set at the very beginning of the new millennium, right after the highly controversial Gore/Bush election. It did an excellent job of showing both the bad and the best of America and her people.

It delved into the social, political, and economic issues that were plaguing the nation at that time, while also highlighting the resilience and strength of the American spirit. Overall, despite its flaws, Lay of the Land was a book that left a lasting impression on me.

I had a great affection for The Sportswriter and was truly in love with Independence Day. However, at present, I have set aside The Lay of the Land. I managed to reach page 60 and could have easily continued, but there are numerous other books that I am eager to read at this moment. Moreover, I wasn't deriving sufficient enjoyment from it to justify postponing those other reads for this one.

The issue is that in this particular installment, Frank Bascombe seemed rather unlikable. I mean more so than in the previous books. One aspect that intrigued me in the first two novels was his perspectives on race and politics. But in the year 2000, his views appeared less captivating and more wearisome. Generally speaking, many of the characteristics of his character seemed to have become fixed, much like I suppose all of us do as we age.

Nonetheless, I truly adore Richard Ford's writing and I am determined to stay connected with dear old Frank, considering all that we have endured together. Therefore, I am certain that I will return... perhaps around next Thanksgiving.

Okay, this is supposed to be a must-read author, but I am having trouble getting into this. It is really hard for me to identify with a 50-something divorced real estate agent from New Jersey. The story just doesn't work for me. However, it's interesting to note that others in my book club absolutely love it. I guess it just goes to show that different people have different tastes when it comes to literature. Maybe you should see for yourself. After all, this book was on the NY Times' must-read list for 2006. There must be something about it that吸引了 so many readers. It could be the unique perspective of the author, the engaging plot, or the well-developed characters. Who knows? But it might be worth giving it a try to see if you can discover what makes it so special.

Frank Bascombe is now older. He has been diagnosed with cancer, and after Independence Day, he seems to have lost his former luster.

To be honest, this book just isn't as interesting as I expected. I borrowed it from the library, but I couldn't finish it within three weeks, so I had to return it.

However, I eventually got it back and managed to finish reading it. But mainly, it was out of a sense of duty to the other two books in the series.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a terrible book. But if you're interested in this series, I would highly recommend reading Independence Day and The Sportswriter first. They are more engaging and offer a better understanding of the character and the story arc.

Overall, while this book has its moments, it doesn't quite live up to the standards set by the previous two installments.

This is an extremely long book.

It is a very long book with minuscule print.

The book is about a real estate salesman in New Jersey who is in his 60s and is rambling on about his life.

Certain parts of it are rather humorous.

As my friend Becky aptly put it, "The audacity that the author would think anyone would want to read all this...."

Well, that just about sums it up.

It seems that the length and the small print might be a deterrent for some readers.

However, the humorous parts could potentially attract those who are looking for a light-hearted read.

Overall, it's a book that might have its own charm, but it also has its challenges due to its length and print size.

Whether or not it will appeal to a wide audience remains to be seen.

This is the third installment of the Frank Bascome series. I'm reading them out of order for no particular good reason.

The first one I read was The Sportswriter, then I picked up the fourth book, Let Me Be Frank With You, and now I've completed The Lay of the Land.

Among these three, this was my least favorite. I do enjoy spending time with Frank. This time, it's Thanksgiving, as every book in the series has a holiday theme. Frank is now a middle-aged real estate agent. He's recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. His second wife has left him to be with her first husband, who was thought to be dead but has now reappeared. His son is coming for a visit with his girlfriend, and his daughter is back to dating a guy after living with a woman. Frank much prefers the old girlfriend to the new bad-boy guy. Oh, and there's the Buddhist cum Capitalist who works for Frank as a real estate agent.

Ford's Bascombe books are like experiencing a three to four day episodic dream. He does stream of consciousness better than anyone else, even Joyce.

In this third installment, I felt the ending was a bit too much due to several over-the-top events that seemed preposterous. Also, the long strings of detail were at times distracting as they didn't contribute much to the story.

However, I still love spending time with Frank Bascombe. Now I need to read Independence Day, which is the second book in the series, to catch up.

The statement "Con desmasiadas páginas prescindibles" can be rewritten and expanded as follows:

In many cases, we encounter documents or websites that are filled with an excessive number of pages that seem to be completely unnecessary.

These pages often do not contribute any significant value or relevant information to the overall content.

It can be frustrating for the user who has to navigate through these numerous prescindible pages in order to find what they are actually looking for.

This not only wastes time but also makes the whole experience less efficient and enjoyable.

Perhaps there needs to be a better editorial process or a more critical evaluation of the content to ensure that only the essential pages are included and that the user's time and attention are respected.

By reducing the number of prescindible pages, we can make the information more accessible and user-friendly, leading to a better overall experience for everyone.

So we reach the third and seemingly final installment of Richard Ford's remarkable portrayal of contemporary American adult life, as witnessed through the eyes of Ford's contemplative everyman, Frank Bascombe.

I have dedicated a significant amount of time to Mr. Bascombe over the past several years, and within the fictional timeline, we have spent nearly two decades together. Here, I effortlessly slipped back into reading Frank's narrative, as if I were spending time with an old college friend - someone I know well but only see every few years. As in all three of the Bascombe novels, Frank's voice is simply captivating, and it's difficult to envision perceiving the ever-expanding New Jersey suburban scenery through any other perspective. Frank truly knows this place, and his authority is never in question. Sometimes, he is so familiar with his surroundings that you find yourself thinking, "ok, Frank, move on. We know that cafeteria offers delicious meatloaf, but there's more to the story." He is also an excellent observer of character; Frank has the ability to precisely identify what makes someone unique in a recognizable, American way (such as "he looked like an old Division III linebacker"). If Frank Bascombe were a character in every book I read, I would be content. Despite his inclination towards extensive self-analysis, he is comforting. He is confident in himself and aware of the impact he has on those around him.

Now, my critiques are closely related to situating "The Lay of the Land" within the context of the other novels in this trilogy. In my opinion, the story here is the least engaging of the three. Frank has entered what he terms the "Permanent Period" of his life (which seems a bit limiting, considering we have already spent 450 pages with him in his "Existence Period" in Independence Day). He broadly defines the Permanent Period as life following a steady course until death intervenes. However, Frank experiences such significant upheavals in these pages that it was challenging for me to reconcile his having a "permanent" self-view - his second wife leaves him, he develops cancer, his first wife expresses a desire to revive their decades-old marriage, and all the while he is attempting to understand the strange adults his two children are becoming. At times, Frank acknowledges the precariousness of the Permanent Period, but he never abandons it. In the end, I didn't embrace it as I did the Existence Period.

My other major concern is that Frank is still working as a New Jersey real estate agent. Granted, he has relocated to the Shore, away from the dull suburban life of Haddam, so the environment is somewhat different, but the volume of observations on real estate, housing, finance, etc. did not deviate far enough from the previous book to prevent my interest from waning at times. The book is structured around Frank driving throughout the state, so there are occasions when he doesn't reach his destinations quickly enough. This was particularly true at the beginning of the novel, which I found rather dull. The story gains momentum when he reconnects with his family (especially when wife 1 reappears and we learn the backstory of wife 2's departure), and for the most part, it maintains that pace until the end. The pacing, in some places, felt off. The Bascombe novels have increasingly become more substantial, which may mirror the complexities of real life but does not serve the fictional purpose as ideally as I would like.

Overall, though, I enjoy spending time with this character and listening to his commentary on contemporary American family life. He is wise without being overbearing, emotional without being insincere, and he is aware of his place in history, along with many of his fellow Americans, striving to hold things together in the face of life's continuous adversities, waiting for those moments of happiness that make it all worthwhile.

This particular work by Ford is not on par with the other Frank Bascombe stories.

In my opinion, the best one among them is Independence Day.

In this book, it seems that both the author and the character are running out of steam.

The plot doesn't have the same level of excitement and engagement as the previous ones.

The character development also feels a bit stagnant.

It's as if they have reached a point where they are struggling to come up with new and interesting ideas.

However, it's important to note that even a less-than-perfect work by a talented author like Ford still has its merits.

The writing is still of a high quality, and there are certain passages that are quite thought-provoking.

Overall, while this book may not be the best in the series, it's still worth reading for fans of Frank Bascombe and Ford's work in general.

Third in the Frank Bascombe series (trilogy?), this book is truly a gem that is well worth reading. Richard Ford has an uncanny ability to make the writing process seem effortless. Bascombe is an incredibly complex and fascinating character. Through his somewhat unreliable narration, we feel an odd sense of familiarity with him. It's as if we really know him, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that the stories are filtered through his subjective lens.

At times, this book does seem to stretch the boundaries a little. For example, the inclusion of the Tibetan Buddhist real estate agent and the episode in the lesbian bar might seem a bit out of the ordinary. However, these elements also add to the overall charm and quirkiness of the story.

All in all, this is an entertaining read that offers a poignant commentary on various aspects of life. It delves into the themes of aging and masculinity, exploring them with a depth and sensitivity that is truly remarkable. Whether you're a fan of Richard Ford or simply looking for a thought-provoking and engaging novel, this book is definitely one to check out.

I liked this book

because it is set in NJ. However, it is not as strong as the other books in this trilogy.

Perhaps it leans a little too much into the man-in-midlife-crisis mode.

Nonetheless, it is still an enjoyable read.

The story has its moments that keep the reader engaged.

The characters are somewhat relatable, especially for those who can identify with the midlife struggles.

The setting in NJ adds a certain charm and authenticity to the narrative.

Although it may not be the best in the trilogy, it still has its own merits and is worth picking up for those who are fans of the series or interested in stories about personal growth and self-discovery.

Overall, it's a decent read that provides some entertainment and food for thought.