Quotations and Literature Forum

"I am attracted to movie stars but not for the usual reasons. I have no desire to speak to Holden or get his autograph. It is their peculiar reality that astounds me."
I've looked throughout the www for this quote, using snips of the entire phrase, keywords, and even paraphrases -- all with no luck!
Any ideas on how to even look for this?

Hmmm, did a web search and only found the Tampa Tribune's page with the quiz.

No idea, although for some reason Andy Warhol comes to mind. Just a wild guess.

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Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page

This is a wild guess, and the only way to check it would be to get a copy of the book and leaf through it, but...

It sounds to me like it might be from the novel "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy. It's the kind of meditation on movies and their influence on our lives that you'll find in that book. Also, the reference to Holden (William, I assume) puts it in the right era.

Mr. Fussbudget

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Mr. Fussbudget

True wit is nature to advantage dressed,
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.

Bravo! Superb "guess," Mr. Fussbudget. This has to be it--an episode in
The Moviegoer shows the character Binx observing people observing William Holden, on movie location in New Orleans.

I don't have a copy of the book, but this has to be it.

We have seen Binx encounter the Ash Wednesday worshiper. We see him also observing people observe William Holden, on movie location in New Orleans. Binx is interested, says Percy, in "this extraordinary phenomenon-which I am, too-the aura of reality around movie stars who are perhaps the most unreal of all people, in truth."
~ Such was Percy's recognition as he talked to the panel of French scholars about himself as a Southern, Catholic writer, and he used his first protagonist, Binx Bolling of The Moviegoer, to talk about his own "identity."
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9 ... omery.html

P.S. I think the title "QuoteMaster" is great. I have at times called myself a "QuoteHog" as well. Hmmm......"QuoteHogMaster" ....."MasterQuoteHog"....."HogQuoteMaster"...

Heh, I wasn't sure what to call it. Now that we have a couple of people with 80 posts, I'll accept nominations for what to call the next one at 120 or so... Quote Diety?

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Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page

Interesting. I read "The Moviegoer" when it was new, 40 years ago, and I still recognized the style and subject matter. I know... I'm bragging. But on the other hand, it really says lots more about Walker Percy's originality and memorability than it does about my memory.

Thanks for providing a forum for chasing down great quotes. It can be a very educational experience.

You folks are incredible, but your response was too late for the deadline -- Wednesday.
However, you might want to participate in the weekly contest as a regular contestant.
Just go to http://rail.tbo.com/ and find out what the most recent quote is being sought after. Then submit your response. Kevin Walker, the columnist for The Rail says he has folks from all over that participate each week.
And you might win the coveted "Bobo Says" T-shirt!!!
Thanks for your help

For the less adventurous, this week's quote is:
"The first thought Anderton had when he saw the young man was: I'm getting bald. Bald and fat and old. But he didn't say it aloud."
I've already found it, so it can't be that tough!
Rich J.O.y