Answers I began two hundred hours of continuous reading in…
““Answers I began two hundred hours of continuous reading in the twelve hours that remained before examinations. Melvin Bloom my roommate flipped the pages of his textbook in a sweet continuous trance. Reviewing the term's work was his pleasure. He went to sleep early. While he slept I bent into the night reading eating Benzedrine smoking cigarettes. Shrieking dwarfs charged across my notes. Crabs asked me questions. Melvin flipped a page blinked flipped another. He effected the same flipping and blinking with no textbook during examinations. For every question answers marched down his optical nerve neck arm and out onto his paper where they stopped in impeccable parade. I'd look at my paper oily scratched by ratlike misery and I'd think of Melvin Bloom. I would think Oh God what is going to happen to me.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes a frantic, drug‑fueled study session contrasted with a roommate’s calm, methodical preparation.
In simple terms: Intense cramming versus steady study.
Key Takeaway
Find a balanced study approach.
Themes
stress
study habits
comparison
Mood
anxious
introspective
Type
narrative
cautionary
When to use this quote
- exam preparation
- night study
- peer comparison
Key Concepts
cramming
pharmacology
mental fatigue
Questions to Reflect On
- What sustainable study habits could replace this?
- How does peer behavior influence your own?
A Different Perspective
Such extreme methods can harm health and retention.