While reading "Witness To An Extreme Century" I started to pick up on
two phrases that kept showing up again and again. One of them was
"indelible". Though he uses it (only) three times throughout the novel,
it is a word that sticks when you've read it more than once.
Furthermore, I think the "(of ink or a pen) making marks
that cannot be removed" is an excessively apt way to describe Lifton's
experiences and encounters. He uses the phrase "gallows humor" on nine
occasions throughout the book. This too feels excessively apt.
What I found particularly interesting Lifton's "Witness to an
Extreme Century" was the evolution of the book, his research, and also
his self. He was living in two worlds. The notions of the evolving
self, identity, influence, perspective and a shared experience are what
seemed like the largest factors to grapple with and come to terms with.
Lifton was documenting not only the evolution of a person (himself,
through various lenses), but also of a people. Lifton has made his
mark in exposing and preserving the truths. That need and job is
something that he must come to terms with; "Witness to an Extreme
Century" I think is the process of accepting and exploring this.
Also, I found the process of and translations as a whole to be a
really interesting thread throughout this memoir. In every sense of the
word there was a constant translating. Be it in literal language (to
English) or the act of translating one persons's experience into
Lifton's words...or other witnesses (those reading about/viewing various
retellings of history). The fact that everything must filter through a
layer of translation further adds to the creation of a "witness" and
again, the various layers of that term.
Fun fact: Lifton lived in Woodbridge, CT for a while.
That's where my high school is--it's the town next to my hometown.
Despite unnecessarily long Googling I couldn't find where in Woodbridge
he lived, though I have a good idea based on his descriptions. It's a
really small town.
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