VN makes much of the lack of spontaneity in his "interviews", in which
questions are submitted and VN's (written) responses are prepared
beforehand. Sometimes he has a bit of fun with this by inserting faux
spontaneity to create the illusion of an actual interview, e.g. Interviewer:
"Have you ever been psychoanalyzed?", VN: "Have I ever been what?" (in
Strong Opinions). I believe I once came across a comparable instance in
which VN, in the midst of answering a literary question, pretends to be
accosted by his dog (did he ever own a dog, btw?) and interjects "Down,
Fido" (or something like that...), but now I'm unable to locate that
passage. I think it was in Strong Opinions, but a cursory skim missed it.
Anyone know the passage? Perhaps I remember it all wrong...

Petter Naess

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