Outside Reading Q3

It seems to me as though , in the novel Atmospheric Disturbances, there is a theme revolving around devotion. As the novel comes to an end Dr. Liebenstein has not found Rema. This is obviously frustrating to him, and he decides to go back and live with the simulacrum. We do, however, see a possible explination as to what happened to Rema. Liebenstiens thinks: "The 49 had perceived the actual weaknesses in my marriage, that Rema and I had been targeted because the 49 wagered that given the attenuated state of our relationship, I actually might not notice, or respond to, the swap” (200). We see a little bit of Liebensteins irrational thinking as he decides to accept this. He goes back to the fake Rema and talks about how he will remain with her. Still,  he remains devoted to Rema as he says: “And though all of this will be painful- it will be like losing her all over- I will at least know then, again, that I must find her, that I can only truly love the original Rema” (240). This shows the strength of Liebenstein’s love and the extent of it. It helps us see that he could never really love another, even someone who looks and acts the same way as Rema.

 The madness comes I mentioned in my last few posts, and is evident as Liebenstein accepts things far from the truth. It seems as though Liebenstein’s distress over his “missing” wife and patient Harvey led him to craziness and irrational thinking. Also, we see a final development in Liebenstein’s character as he goes back to the simulacrum, yet remains faithful to finding Rema. This helps develop a theme that although one may move on in their lives, they will always remain devoted to the one they love, even if it leads them into irrational thinking and insanity. 

Outside Reading Q3

   As we are nearing the end of the novel we are able to see the novel come together and begin to make more sense. Leo flies to Buenos Aires to track down Rema, comes in contact with Harvey and his supposed controller at the Academy, Tzvi Gal-Chen. It becomes even more evident that his difficulty lying puts him in several sticky situations. When Rema calls while he is in Buenos Aires he ends up telling her where he is, putting himself in a pickle. Liebenstein says: “ ‘When Magda cried, I handled that so terribly.’ That was a mistake, to mention Magda by name… ‘When did you talk to my mom?’ she said with a desiccating cornsilky voice. I felt suddenly evaporated and cold, even out there in the sun” (89). As Liebenstien panics and cannot handle lying to Rema on the phone he ends up in a dilemma. He then struggles to keep his identity hidden from Rema’s mother so he can continue his investigation.

   We also learn more about the changing character of Leo Liebenstein. We see one of his character traits that can sometimes lead him into trouble. Liebenstein reflects upon his relationship with Harvey and his feelings towards him. He says: “Of course he also wanted help from me. Harvey asked if he could share my room. He said he was out of cash. Naturally I accommodated; I couldn’t imagine any unpleasant consequences, and, honestly, I felt obliged toward Harvey, as if I had abandoned him, as if it weren’t he who had taken flight , or as if it had been my failures that sent him away” (171). This shows how Liebenstein can attach himself to someone when he feels sorry for them. He especially seems to do this when he feels like he owes them something, as in the case with Harvey. This can be both a positive trait and a negative one for Liebenstein to have. It sometimes causes him to get in to trouble by not being able to say no, but it also is good because it makes him liked by others. It causes us to think about how much sympathy is a good amount, and when does it become bad.

Outside Reading Q3

As the novel continues we see more and more distress in the character of Liebenstein, especially revolving around his wife, Rema. We notice how much he truly loved the real Rema, as he often recalls memories of their past together. Here he accounts the first time they met: “The first time I actually spoke to Rema: she was sitting right in front of me at the Hungarian Pastry Shop, and I had leaned forward toward that hair, and I actually tapped that shoulder, but then what was I going to say if she turned around? I had no plan” (65). These actions show how differently Liebenstein acts when with Rema. Around all other people he always seems to have a plan. He often seems to over think his actions before he takes them, which is why he did what he did with Rema. Again we see how his love for Rema causes him to do things he normally would not. He recalls: "Normally people's conflation of psychoanalysis with psychiatry irritates me profoundly..but when Rema conflated the two,I was not irritated"(Galchen 66). This is funny, because he admits the affect Rema has on him. He realizes how he is not annoyed by her as he would be if another person did the same thing. Liebenstein acts so differently, clearly, because he is in love. These quotes help us understand as the novel goes on why Liebenstein acts the way he does when he thinks about Rema and her supposed disappearance.

        Also we begin to see the irrational steps that Liebenstein is taking in order to try and understand his uncertainties. He tries to figure out his wife and Harvey’s disappearance, and the situation regarding “ The Royal Academy of Meteorology.” He starts overanalyzing all situations and spends a large amount of time thinking of solutions. Here he explains his “logic”: “I had not, however, abandoned my faith in experimental controls. I quickly wrote three more note cards: HERONS, WOOL PROCESSING, HEMOCHROMATOSIS. Those would be my red herrings. Maybe I’d chosen herons with that obscurely in mind” (75). This method that Liebenstein comes up with does not make much sense to us. We see how he begins to become obsessed with his research and starts to lose his logic. 

Outside Reading Q3

            As we pick up where we left off in Atmospheric Disturbances I come to realize a new aspect of Dr. Leo Liebenstein character. Since the start of the novel Leo Liebenstein’s wife seems to have been replaced, one of his patients, Harvey, has gone missing, and he gets a call from "The Royal Academy of Meteorology” which supposedly does not exist. All of these things obviously, place much stress on Leo. It becomes evident that Liebenstein is one who makes up what he does not understand in order to feel better about the situation. When his wife Rema seems to have been replaced Liebenstein thinks: “Walking, finally, home, I comforted myself with the likelihood that I would very soon seen Rema, that she-the selfsame girl I’d picked up at the coffee shop years before-would be right there at home…” (35). Through Dr. Liebenstein’s thoughts we see how things he does not grasp, he makes up solutions to. In this case, his solution to his problem that the real Rema is missing, is to continue thinking she will come home.

            Also, we see a continuation in the theme that in ones efforts to help another, one can become pained and troubled themselves. To expand on this, we can see how when one is surrounded by chaos, they can begin to go mad themselves. Dr. Liebenstein thinks to himself: “But I couldn’t find my way out of the crisscrossing thought: either I tell her she’s not really Rema and she thinks I’m crazy, or I tell her she’s not really Rema and she doesn’t think im crazy, because she already knows she’s not Rema, in which case why should I let on that I know? (64). Liebenstein’s thoughts become more irrational and twisted as he strains himself thinking about his wife, Rema, and his missing patient, Harvey. As the character of Liebenstein begins to change after he is surrounded my more confusion, we see how when once is surrounded my chaos, they can begin to lose their rational thinking. 

Outside Reading Q3 Blog

As we get further into the book Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen the characters are further developed. It becomes evident that Dr. Liebenstein himself seems to be not thinking straight after dealing with so many psychiatric patients. After becoming obsessed with finding the “real” Rema and Harvey, he seems to be going a little mad himself. He says: "I walked over to Broadway, went underground, boarded the number 1 train heading downtown. Each time new passengers came on, I watched expectantly. Near the bottom of the island, I exited, ascended, crossed the street, redescended, waited, and reboarded the subway going uptown."(33). In this primary investigation of where Harvey is we already begin to see him going slightly crazy. We cannot help but wonder what he will be like as time goes on and he continues his search. This may help support a theme in ones efforts to help another, one can become pained and troubled themselves.

Continuing in the novel Liebenstein is further developed. We see how he often becomes very uncomfortable in certain situations. Rivka Galchen tells us:  "In order to avoid saying thank you, upon prompting, for things I wasn't truly thankful for,I would bury my face in my mother's skirt"(22). This memory from Liebenstein’s past helps us see how the uncomfortable feeling he gets is something that has followed him throughout his life. Galchen writes: “It was very bad, the acoustics inside of me. I wanted, suddenly, to leave. I ordered a coffee to go-“(33). The awkwardness that Liebnestein frequently feels may be something that causes his problems later in the novel. These traits are things that also seem to make it hard for him to lie easily, as mentioned in the last blog. 

Outside Reading Q3 Blog

In the book Atmospheric Disturbances  by Rivka Galchen we meet the character of Dr. Leo Liebenstein. Dr. Liebenstein is a physiatrist whose wife, Rema, seems to have been replaced by someone who looks and behaves almost exactly the same. He relies only on a notion that this new wife is not the wife he once lived with. The author writes: “It was a little uncanny, the feeling I had, looking at that look-alike. I was reminded of how I used to feel before I actually knew Rema...”(28). Liebenstein has no proof that his wife is not the same person, yet he continues to pursue that idea based solely on a feeling he has inside of him. Galchen tries tells us to trust our own gut feelings sometimes in life. It makes it clear that we often do not know what we are being led into, yet we have to continue on and trust what we believe deep down.

    Galchen further develops the character of Dr. Liebenestien as one filled with honesty. We hear the words of Liebenestien: “I don’t think of my honesty as moral value, since I think of morality as involving choices, and I’ve ever particularly chosen to be honest, have simply never been able to be otherwise, feel rather predetermined to fail at lying” (22). Through these words we see Liebenestien’s views on morals and a large part of his character. It seems as though lying will not be a good choice for him to make, as he has had little practice and seems ‘predetermined to fail.’ This may foreshadow to us his success , or lack thereof, in trying to deceive one of his psychiatric patients, Harvey. This may result in disaster or the demise of one or more of the characters in the novel. 

Outside Reading Post 6 (Q2)

By the end of the novel we have seen a complete revolution in the character of James Frey. After writing a reflection of his past, and then confessing to a priest, he is released from the clinic. As soon as he leaves, he tells his brother, Bob, and his brother’s friend Kevin, to take him to a bar. He asks his brother for forty dollars and buys a pint of whiskey. Upon receiving the whiskey Frey examines it carefully. He puts his fingers in it, smells it, and stares at his reflection in it. Ultimately, Frey tells the bartender to pour the whiskey out. Frey writes: “I touched it and I smelled it and I felt it, but I didn’t drink it. I’m done drinking. Won’t ever do it again” (430). Frey’s action, and resistance to the alcohol, shows that Frey has finally overcome  his addiction to alcohol. It reveals to us that James Frey’s strength and determination paid off.

The last page of the book gave a short list of what happened to the people mentioned throughout the book. The majority of the patients in the clinic died, including Lilly, who committed suicide, and Frey’s friend Leonard. The very last sentence of the novel tells us that James Frey has remained sober to this day. It simply states: “James has never relapsed” (432). Frey’s ability to remain clean even after all of this time since he has been at the clinic, shows us that it is possible to change our ways. Frey started off as someone who was given only a short time to live if he did not change. He ended as someone who successfully became, and remained, sober. 

Outside Reading Post 5 (Q2)

Further along James Frey's journey to recovery we see how much he has changed, and learn about his values, as he has to make a tough decision. Frey is faced with the decision of whether to leave the clinic and chase after Lilly, or stay there and focus on his own needs. Lilly has run away after hearing that she and Frey cannot see each other anymore. Frey remembers Lilly and his conversation about suicide and decides it is more important to run after her. He states "I stand at my door hoping she'll come back, hoping this is all a nightmare, hoping for the sake of hoping"(339). These words show Frey’s strong desire to help Lilly, and how much he has grown to love her. It seems now as if Frey needs Lilly in his life above everything else. Frey again states: “I love her and love is more important than Rules and Regulations” (340). These words are what empower Frey to go after Lilly. These words show that he finally has something in his life worth living for and someone he can love. By placing Lilly above all else we see that Frey has learned to accept others needs ahead of his own. Frey is faced with a tough ethical decision, to take care of his own needs, or another’s. We will all be faced with a similar decision at one point or another and we will have to make a choice just as Frey did.

  In addition to his love for Lilly, we see another change in the character of James Frey. It is something he has worked on throughout the book, but we are finally able to see a very dramatic change. Upon finding out that his Grandfather was an alcoholic he says: “If an individual is fat but wants to be thin, it is not a genetic disease. If someone is stupid, but wants to be smart, it is not a genetic disease. If a drunk is a drunk, but doesn't want to be a drunk anymore, it is not a genetic disease. Addiction is a decision” (308). This quote shows that Frey understands his mistakes, and blames no one else for them. He will not make any excuses for his actions, which shows us he has a great level of maturity. Again Frey shows his acceptance to us: “I did everything I did. I made the decisions to do it all. The only way I’m going to get better is if I accept responsibility for the decision to either be an Addict or not be an addict” (306). This shows that not only does Frey realize that where he is now is because of his own actions, but it also shows he understands what he must to do to help heal himself.