Hence the need for parenthetical asides, interpolations, and bifurcations. By and large his approach works well, the divergent, far-flung story making for a coherent whole. Obviously deeply loved and much missed, she is tenderly handled throughout the book. His approaches are often unusual, but no less effective for that. Elsewhere he offers more straightforward remembrances and analysis.
Books are also of great importance.
He is a Homo lisens , and can go nowhere without a book. Occasionally it bogs down in the writing about writing, but on the whole it is a very enjoyable read. He has been a member of Oulipo since 1966. He is a professor of mathematics, and has published both poetry and fiction.