One of the great writers of marital infidelity, tackles a curious situation. The painter Olivier Berlin has carried on a long affair with Anne, the CoOne of the great writers of marital infidelity, tackles a curious situation. The painter Olivier Berlin has carried on a long affair with Anne, the Countess de Guilleroy, who is married to a politician. Originally they fell in love while Olivier was painting her portrait. He is "faithful" to the Countess but finds himself sorely tempted years later when her daughter begins to look exactly like her mother at the time Olivier originally painted her. Yes, you guessed right, Olivier begins to fall in love with his mistress's daughter, who is, after all, an almost precise replica of his much admired painting of the younger, beautiful Countess. Of course Olivier tries to deny what is happening, and nothing much does happen except overwhelming longing. The Countess, however, sees precisely what her lover is now feeling and is both devastated and, at the same time, understanding. In a very real sense, Oliver's love for the daughter is driven by his old love for the mother, which does linger on in a somewhat more mature fashion. Anyway, no more, I don't want to issue spoiler alerts. But, it is a Maupassant novel--you really can't expect a happy ending....more
So, after struggling a bit with Paul Lynch, I turn back eighty years or so (1944) to Somerset Maughan's "The Razor's Edge." Two absolutely unforgettabSo, after struggling a bit with Paul Lynch, I turn back eighty years or so (1944) to Somerset Maughan's "The Razor's Edge." Two absolutely unforgettable characters in this novel: Elliot Templeton, a snobbish art collector and social butterfly, who for all his knowledge and energy remains entirely superficial, even empty; and his, opposite, Larry Darrell, an intense young man who has real if sometimes rather elusive values, forged in unhappy World War I experience, and cares nothing for the wealth or the attention of others. They are at the opposite ends of residents abroad, one concerned with all the right people and proper social moves, the other on his own spiritual journey, which even leads him to India. And in the middle is the character, Maughan, obviously an extension of the real author, who is friends with both of these men and narrates their adventures. Somerset Maughan is a delight to read--he writes with grace and knows well how to pace a novel. He may not be an innovator, but he has mastered the art of the novel--especially the ability to create vivid, interesting characters....more
This book just won the "Booker Prize" for 2023, so I was eager to read it. I confess to being somewhat disappointed . . . or perhaps it is more that IThis book just won the "Booker Prize" for 2023, so I was eager to read it. I confess to being somewhat disappointed . . . or perhaps it is more that I was disappointed in myself for struggling to stay with it. No doubt, Prophet Song is exquisitely written and tells of a type of tragedy we all should fear just now--the rise of an authoritarian regime that ends all pretense of equal treatment under the law. Perhaps I desired more top-down information, material that would enable me to see how this "Irish" terror had all come about, when the author's real intent, and an important one, was the view from the bottom . . . one family's desperate struggle to stay together first as opponents of the state and second as refugees, their numbers terribly diminished by violence, real and supposed. It is an intimate and harrowing story, but I began to wonder as I found myself struggling to finish this book, why I was not feeling more emotion and drive to reach the end. Perhaps, I have little faith these days that any of our world's various flirtations with authoritarianism can have a happy ending and what I was bogged down in was my own unhappy visions of what could lie ahead for all of us. ...more
Embarrassed to say that I hadn't read any Fosse until he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature just a week ago. Well, now I have, selecting for mEmbarrassed to say that I hadn't read any Fosse until he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature just a week ago. Well, now I have, selecting for my first dive into his work the three interlocking stories of "Trilogy." The raw power of his stories is astounding. A reader begins to understand what is going on "off screen" in the first of these stories and finds it both appalling and mystifying. But love can never quite look under the stones to ascertain what ugliness might be there, nor, perhaps, does love care. In the second story, we know Asle is guilty, but he moves through a strangely abbreviated nightmare towards his demise. The relentless, rhythmic movement of Fosse's stripped down language, the meandering of the narrative through time and space, and the hints at a mythic, Biblical influence make for a powerful mix. So, I've ordered "Septology" and eagerly await its arrival at my doorstep....more
Barry, as I have noted in other reviews, is an extraordinarily gifted stylist. I continue to be dazzled by his prose, but what struck me most in this Barry, as I have noted in other reviews, is an extraordinarily gifted stylist. I continue to be dazzled by his prose, but what struck me most in this novel is how deeply he empathizes with his characters and their circumstances. This story of a retired detective who is beset with painful memories and a profound sense of loss unfolds slowly and in a world of mystery where dream and reality mix, but what moved me the most is the vividness of the portrayal of the central character--his dread, his despair, and how deeply and personally he is troubled by the grave injustice that so many priests have largely escaped punishment for decades of child abuse. This is a moving novel and one with a powerful message about the crimes of the past and the horror inflicted upon so many innocent lives. Once again, despite the brilliance, this made the Booker longest, but not the shortlist. So the bar is now quite high for my future reading from the latter list!...more
Margaret Atwood’s novel, Hag-Seed, is part of a Hogarth series in which famous novelists rewrite or reinterpret Shakespeare plays, in this case The TeMargaret Atwood’s novel, Hag-Seed, is part of a Hogarth series in which famous novelists rewrite or reinterpret Shakespeare plays, in this case The Tempest. The novel, in this reader’s opinion, is a bit over-loaded. Atwood’s rewriting of Shakespeare takes place on two levels. First, a former artistic director named Felix pursues vengeance against several men who had him fired from his job imaginatively directing plays at a local drama festival. Much in his personal story parallels that of Prospero, including a daughter named Miranda, who died at the age of three but still lives on with her father as an imagined presence. Second, Felix takes a job as an instructor of literature in a local prison, where he stages plays, ultimately The Tempest, in which his prisoner-students play most of the roles. These two levels come together as Felix exacts vengeance inside the prison against his enemies, now powerful politicians, who are visiting his staging of The Tempest that day with the plan of cancelling the prison program. Yes, all this might be rather hard to follow . . . and the full story is still more complicated. But I did read on rather impulsively because I have taught literature in maximum and medium security prisons and was flabbergasted at the latitude this fictional instructor was allowed with his class. Probably Canadian prisons are more liberal than those of my state in what some have labelled “The Incarceration Nation,� but I seriously doubt an instructor would have been permitted to carry out half of the actions described in this novel. Oh well, it is a novel and, like all of Atwood’s works, gracefully written. As for throwing new light on The Tempest, well, the best part of the novel is probably the prisoners� imagined depiction of what might have happened to different characters after Shakespeare’s play ends, which includes, as we might expect in this context, a vindication of Caliban....more
Well, not really about swimming, except as a kind of metaphor, and, moreover, not a comfortable read for someone nearing eighty and worried over occasWell, not really about swimming, except as a kind of metaphor, and, moreover, not a comfortable read for someone nearing eighty and worried over occasional lapses of memory! But, still, Otsuka, one of our most imaginative writers, is still at it, and this is a powerful and affecting novel. The narrator speaks of her mother, once a compulsive amateur swimmer, who is now descending into dementia. Using a second person narrator, Otsuka nods to Buddhism, which has been a recurrent topic in her writings: "You will have attained that state of being aspired to by mindful meditators across the planet--you will be existing utterly and completely 'in the now.'" I guess that's some consolation, both for those of us who worry about dementia and for the narrator-daughter who painfully watches her mother achieve nirvana, of a sad sort....more
Not only a moving book about friendship and the trauma of tragically losing a friend, but an excellent account of growing up Chinese-American. It is oNot only a moving book about friendship and the trauma of tragically losing a friend, but an excellent account of growing up Chinese-American. It is only toward the end of this book that the author, New York Times writer Hua Hsu, grows to understand and accept the profound ways he has been influenced by his circumstances as a first-generation Chinese-American born to parents, who had immigrated from Taiwan. An excellent addition to Asian-American memoir....more
A powerful, well-written account of Matar's return to post-Qaddafi Libya in search of traces of his father, who disappeared into one of Libya's dreadfA powerful, well-written account of Matar's return to post-Qaddafi Libya in search of traces of his father, who disappeared into one of Libya's dreadful secret prisons. ...more
Yes, as my rating might indicate, I have been taken in by what some people call "a cult classic." The premise of this novel is clever--a woman wakes uYes, as my rating might indicate, I have been taken in by what some people call "a cult classic." The premise of this novel is clever--a woman wakes up in a hunting lodge in the mountains to discover that a mysterious transparent wall has isolated her from what she soon comes to believe has been a great cataclysm that has left whatever exists outside this wall in a petrified state. The cleverness of the book is a main character, more-or-less the only human character, less upon the total oddness of her situation and how it might have come about than upon simple survival and, most powerfully, her emotional attachment to her animals--a cow with a baby bull, two cats, and a dog. The story, at times, is exceedingly mundane, but it never loses interest. Of course, one knows through certain comments of the narrator that some terrible event is about to arrive, but when it finally comes about, you sense the narrator will continue go on until all manners of surviving her solitude are simply exhausted. This is a provocative book, one that deserves to be taught and discussed. Highly recommended....more
Zirin follows Zinn. Both books are very much in the same polemical and political vein. That being said, this is an enjoyable and informative read. ZirZirin follows Zinn. Both books are very much in the same polemical and political vein. That being said, this is an enjoyable and informative read. Zirin, who clearly loves sports himself and has made a living therefrom as sports editor of The Nation, chronicles the corruption and racism that has plagued sports in the U.S. from the beginning up to the present time. Within this context it is fairly easy to guess who the heroes and the villains are going to be. I won't list those, since they can mostly be guessed. I will only note that much to my surprise, a game at which I was present, the 1972 University of Washington spring football game, during which an anti-war announcement was read. Written and endorsed by the University of Washington team under the leadership of quarterback Sonny Sixkiller (my all-time favorite football name), this caused quite a shouting match between the student section, largely anti-war, and the rather right-wing "townsfolk," who were very much on the other side both politically and specially. Moments like these, rather than the most famous sporting accomplishments are stressed throughout . . . and there are plenty of such moments. ...more
In my pantheon of basketball stars, the recently deceased Bill Russell is the most noteworthy. Not only was he a complete player who always seems to hIn my pantheon of basketball stars, the recently deceased Bill Russell is the most noteworthy. Not only was he a complete player who always seems to have cared more about the team than his own "numbers," but he played a critical and, at times, uncompromising role in the integration of the game. He accomplished what he did because of unflinching pride. The small book, first written when Russell was thirty-one is full of juicy basketball tidbits, to be sure, but its importance is elsewhere. Few athletics have written so boldly and personally about the way race shaped the game and the careers of black athletes. A must read for those who care about the game of basketball and the way a single, bold personality changed it....more
A solid and, at times, interesting history of basketball, with emphasis upon the interaction of the sport and the cultural history if America. The booA solid and, at times, interesting history of basketball, with emphasis upon the interaction of the sport and the cultural history if America. The book gives due space to what I would consider the central issue in the history of basketball--race. As LeBron James said at the time of his famous "decision" to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, "There's always . . . a race factor in basketball." Aiello traces this "factor" and notes that even into the 1960's, such college teams as the University of Kentucky remained lily white. Certainly one of the great days in collegiate basketball was in 1964 when Don Haskin's Texas Western team, which consisted of five black starters, defeated Adolph Rupp's all-white UK five. Rupp, I must say, does not come off on these pages as particularly admirable. Anyway, this book is a good overview if one is looking for a discussion of "hoops" within the context of the larger culture. It is, however, a bit thin on the overall development of the game itself. And, one final stylistic criticism: it is sometimes maddening to try to figure out the year of a particular event, since there is often an assumption that the year is remembered from mention, say, often ten or so pages before some other event that might have happened in that same year....more
Sterne’s work is a kind of anti-travelogue. He is not much interested in the physical details of this or that place but rather, as his title implies, Sterne’s work is a kind of anti-travelogue. He is not much interested in the physical details of this or that place but rather, as his title implies, his reaction to various personal encounters, often encounters that seem, at first glance, trivial. To him, the value of travel is keeping a heart open to the mostly accidental moments that happen along the way. Several of these, in his case, are encounters with intriguing women. Here the reader, at least this reader, suspects he is not telling the whole truth as he tries, simultaneously. to show his incredible understanding of and appeal to sensitive women, while, at the same time, assuring the reader that these relationships stayed within proper Christian boundaries. This book is a delightful read, and one does come away convinced that Sterne was indeed an open-hearted and exceedingly good-natured traveler. I confess, in conclusion, that I am a traveler myself and am, too, more fascinated by the people I meet along the way than the sights I see....more
The rich Chinese Kin-fo is bored with life and convinced that the best course is simply to commit suicide. Meanwhile his older friend, Wang, an ex-TaiThe rich Chinese Kin-fo is bored with life and convinced that the best course is simply to commit suicide. Meanwhile his older friend, Wang, an ex-Taiping rebel now turned to philosophy, tries to convince him that the best way to find the joy of life is to seek adventures and challenges—only challenges, suffering, and even misery, he argues, can lay the foundation for true happiness. Kin-fo is not convinced and takes out a life insurance policy with an American company in Shanghai with the intention of committing suicide and leaving some of his money to a rich widow for whom he feels affection and some to his friend Wang. The company, suspicious that he might be suicidal, assigns two detectives to follow and protect him, chiefly from himself. Well, the story soon gets very complicated, quite humorous and, of course, entirely unbelievable. But, like most of Verne, it is delightful reading and is written in a fast-paced manner that keeps the reader moving along, most often with a smile on his face. I had decided to try to push myself to read twenty-five pages of the French version each day (I have limited time to spend on French), but soon found I was reading forty or fifty pages with no great difficulty and finished the book in under a week. Anyway, Verne is worth a frolic or two, as I hope my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reviews will indicate in the months and years ahead!...more
I have difficulty rating this book for a number of reasons. I read the book in response to attending a discussion of the book led by the two authors tI have difficulty rating this book for a number of reasons. I read the book in response to attending a discussion of the book led by the two authors themselves in, of all places, Quiberon, France. The authors are, as the French say, "très sympathique." Moreover, they are originally translators who did all translations in tandem and now have taken the unusual step to become fiction authors who continue to write side-by-side. On one level, this is a detective novel, using many of the conventions of that genre. On the other hand, it is a picture, quite convincing I think, of Alabama in 1963, a pivotal year in American history, particularly with regards to issues of race. Now, my judgment of books I read in French is influenced to some degree by how easy I find the reading and how successfully the story pulls me forward, thus improving my mediocre French by insuring that decent number of French pages--say thirty to sixty--pass in front of my eyes each day. In this respect, "Alabama 1963" was a complete success. Still, one can feel a little guilty for ranking this work so high. For one thing, it violates my notion of what is proper to a detective story by including a kind of deus ex machine to help solve the crime. Well, not quite a "deus" but an eccentric white woman who has strange dreams that lead to the murderer and the rescue of one of his potential victims. Moreover, the novel does recycle character types, both black and white, we have seen before. But perhaps we have seen so many stereotypes from works of this type that almost any character can be made to fit one or another. Oh well, I liked the novel, dammit . . . and it helped my French by adding some fairly informal vocabulary you just don't find in Flaubert or even Jules Verne whom I am reading just now.
This brief but powerful story concerns one of Victor Hugo's obsessions: the injustice of the death penalty, which so often executes people who are vicThis brief but powerful story concerns one of Victor Hugo's obsessions: the injustice of the death penalty, which so often executes people who are victims of arbitrary and cruel social forces. One of Hugo's great strengths as a writer is characterization, often of the judge, warden, or policeman who unthinkingly carries out what the law, or at least "the authorities," decrees. It is the human tendency "to follow the rules," even when conscience would dictate otherwise, that Hugo sees as one of our greatest weaknesses. In this respect he is a harbinger of some of the horrors of the century that follows him. This is a powerful story of a simple but charismatic man caught in a web the pushes him toward violence and, eventually, the guillotine. It is, however, a short, apparently experimental piece that points toward some of Hugo's later, more expansive writings. ...more
An overwhelming read. Certainly one should not wait until his seventy-eighth year of life to read this work, but I'm embarrassed to say that is my casAn overwhelming read. Certainly one should not wait until his seventy-eighth year of life to read this work, but I'm embarrassed to say that is my case. I had read enough of Milton's poetry to know the language would be extraordinarily rich and powerful, but I did not expect such theological and philosophical sweep, nor the imagination of Milton's portrayal of cosmic strife and warfare. I'll stop here: I can only embarrass myself further by trying to say something more about such a masterpiece. I will revisit this work frequently before I am gathered in....more
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