The book covers 1988 to the present, from Berlin to London to NYC, and honorable mention of other European cities. Each section includes Maurice, who is aspiring to become a towering, celebrity author and distinguished literary prizewinner. It doesn’t take long to conclude that this ambitious writer is a textbook narcissist. He is also a physically beautiful creature, which works in his favor to manipulate the men and women he encounters and becomes involved with throughout the story.
I think of the narrative anatomy as resembling a fully open circle of a folding fan. In the rivet pin is Maurice Swift, with the cast of characters assembled around him like the connecting leaves. The story pivots around Maurice. The titled chapters and sections cover the core people in Swift’s life chronologically, and whatever happened earlier or offstage is nimbly incorporated into the story.
One of my favorite scenes starts in the first hundred pages. It’s almost a meta- interlude of writers on writing, with some casual celebrity name-dropping that Boyne must have winked while he wrote! Maurice’s character is still in the infant stages of success. He’s invited with an author-benefactor to the Amalfi Coast to visit Gore Vidal, who, as written by Boyne, does a scintillating cameo. It is soon apparent to Gore that he may have met the younger version of himself. The barbed dialogue between Gore and Swift drolly exhibits their competition, but Gore has wisdom and experience on his side. At one point, after besting Maurice, Gore relished the response on the young man’s face, but was unable to interpret it precisely. “Why, he thought, he could write a thousand words on that expression alone.�
This juicy and dazzling novel gripped me right at hello, but candidly speaking, the middle section began to trouble me at times. After such a nuanced opening, it became too predictable and on the nose. Maurice’s cunning became familiar, permitting me to anticipate his stealthy moves, especially with the aid of some heavy-handed foreshadowing. It seemed below Boyne’s refinement as a writer. But I’m not complaining anymore, and I can’t tell you why. But, if you feel that happening to you while reading, just go with it--you won’t be disappointed. Boyne is ultimately wise and wily.
A LADDER TO THE SKY is a tightly focused, well plotted, page-turning story and cautionary morality tale that demonstrates that Boyne is not limited as a writer. Invisible Furies had a consummately winning Irish setting and expanding number of characters (despite some key departures to Europe and the US), but it kept its parochial color, even as the backdrop became more sophisticated. Ladder, however, is almost entirely urbane, cinematic, tailored for American film. No complaints, however. I’m already casting the characters and selecting the director of my choice. This book will please popular and literary audiences alike. 4.5 rounded up...more
switterbug (Betsey)
>
Books:
next-up
(1)
Loading...
