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Dolors's Reviews > The Last Will & Testament of Zelda McFigg
The Last Will & Testament of Zelda McFigg
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I am rather clumsy when it comes to cracking jokes or assuming an unaffected demeanor, so I will spare you the agony of trying to imitate the first-narrator voice of Zelda McFigg, the unusual heroine in Betsy Robinson's book. As a matter of fact, I don't want to give you an account of Zelda's misadventures from miserable adolescence to even more miserable adulthood, so I will also skip her phase as animal activist, her bizarre experience with Mike, the Beat poet, or her pursuit of the American Dream, for in spite of coming from a dysfunctional family, being morbidly obese and suffering from a severe problem of body odor, Zelda trusts her innate abilities to become an actress.
Life is a big joke, Zelda whispers to the reader, and I rise my eyebrows with disbelief, baffled and extremely amused by the surrealism of the galloping events that culminate with Zelda’s moderate success as an English teacher with forged credentials in Moose County, Vermont.
Life is apparently a big joke, I read between the lines of the objectionable confession of this lonely, middle-aged virgin who falls in love with one of her students. But I don't want to talk about appearances, I want to discuss what is hidden underneath, what it is that cuts to the essence of Zelda that relates to all of us, for underneath the chucklesome occurrences, absurd situations and hilarious dialogues there is a glancingly ironic story whose depth and intensity makes a surreptitious conquest of the reader.
Life is deceiving and often sad because it stabs and sparkles at the same time, mumbles the defeated voice in my head, mine or hers, I wonder. Second chances are a mirage and hope is a treacherous feeling that neither Zelda nor the reader can't afford anymore. And all of a sudden, the bantering, the pluck and the rocambulesque exploits drop ballast and Zelda's rich personality deflates like a punctured balloon.
"Zena (referring to Zelda) personifies the “every-loser�, if you will. She’s in all of us. It’s the human condition" affirms Templeton, one of Zelda's foes and her final undoing.
So, is it despondency? Corrosive self-pity? The gaping void of our own inadequacies, vulnerabilities and fears that relates us to Zelda after all?
I think it is something simpler than that. It is the realization that life is extremely painful and that our time is short, a realization that is all the more powerful because it first appears slight by Zelda's derisive stance. And that is precisely what makes her a winner instead of a loser in my eyes because it takes courage to steal an unfeigned smile while opening the gates to the darkest sorrows that afflict all human hearts, those of romantics and cynics, lovers and haters, dreamers and pessimists. It also requires talent.
Betsy Robinson's cinematic style will poke, tease and slowly grow on you. There is something inevitably disarming about her thought-provoking humor and unvarnished prose that eludes stereotyping and that radiates with a light of its own. Just below the layers of ingenious, fast paced writing, which frequently left me breathless and out of my depth, there is a tale of personal growth that mirrors the collective identity of a generation trapped in the claws of history struggling against skepticism. And further down, underneath characterization and plot devices, there is to be found the gentle, trusting and truthful beat of a tender, tender heart.
Life is a big joke, Zelda whispers to the reader, and I rise my eyebrows with disbelief, baffled and extremely amused by the surrealism of the galloping events that culminate with Zelda’s moderate success as an English teacher with forged credentials in Moose County, Vermont.
Life is apparently a big joke, I read between the lines of the objectionable confession of this lonely, middle-aged virgin who falls in love with one of her students. But I don't want to talk about appearances, I want to discuss what is hidden underneath, what it is that cuts to the essence of Zelda that relates to all of us, for underneath the chucklesome occurrences, absurd situations and hilarious dialogues there is a glancingly ironic story whose depth and intensity makes a surreptitious conquest of the reader.
Life is deceiving and often sad because it stabs and sparkles at the same time, mumbles the defeated voice in my head, mine or hers, I wonder. Second chances are a mirage and hope is a treacherous feeling that neither Zelda nor the reader can't afford anymore. And all of a sudden, the bantering, the pluck and the rocambulesque exploits drop ballast and Zelda's rich personality deflates like a punctured balloon.
"Zena (referring to Zelda) personifies the “every-loser�, if you will. She’s in all of us. It’s the human condition" affirms Templeton, one of Zelda's foes and her final undoing.
So, is it despondency? Corrosive self-pity? The gaping void of our own inadequacies, vulnerabilities and fears that relates us to Zelda after all?
I think it is something simpler than that. It is the realization that life is extremely painful and that our time is short, a realization that is all the more powerful because it first appears slight by Zelda's derisive stance. And that is precisely what makes her a winner instead of a loser in my eyes because it takes courage to steal an unfeigned smile while opening the gates to the darkest sorrows that afflict all human hearts, those of romantics and cynics, lovers and haters, dreamers and pessimists. It also requires talent.
Betsy Robinson's cinematic style will poke, tease and slowly grow on you. There is something inevitably disarming about her thought-provoking humor and unvarnished prose that eludes stereotyping and that radiates with a light of its own. Just below the layers of ingenious, fast paced writing, which frequently left me breathless and out of my depth, there is a tale of personal growth that mirrors the collective identity of a generation trapped in the claws of history struggling against skepticism. And further down, underneath characterization and plot devices, there is to be found the gentle, trusting and truthful beat of a tender, tender heart.
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Reading Progress
August 22, 2015
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August 23, 2015
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Started Reading
August 25, 2015
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Finished Reading
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Aug 26, 2015 11:38AM
Betsy Robinson's book sound absolutely splendid and engaging. You have presented a wonderful introduction to a story that sounds tender, sad, tragic, funny, and hopeful all at the same time. I love the quotation that you selected about the "every-loser." I think most of us can identify with that on any given day. Also, I think the selection of the name Zelda McFigg must be one of the most inspired name choices I have encountered a while. I love the gentle books that don't flinch from the human condition that sparkles and saddens at the same time. Excellent, heart-felt review and congratulations to Besty Robinson on her creation.
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Steve wrote: "Betsy Robinson's book sound absolutely splendid and engaging. You have presented a wonderful introduction to a story that sounds tender, sad, tragic, funny, and hopeful all at the same time. I love..."You have a discerning eye, Steve. There were many fictionalized references to real personalities (that even my foreign eye detected) that teased the reader while setting the story into context and providing a strong sense of place, which coupled with the anti-heroine and the creative writing style, reminded me of Junot DÃaz and his iconic character, Oscar Wao.
Yes, it is rather easy to walk the path of self-pity but Zelda chooses the less trodden track of courageous dignity against all odds. That attitude triggered not only heartfelt smiles but also an admiring nod from this reader. Thanks as always for reading and for spotting the unsaid in-between the lines and making it shine with your judicious words.
I love this, Dolors! It sounded like a film from the get-go, and I kept getting images of a Kathy Bates-like person. I guess we all present a kind of veneer to the outside world (even more so in our online communities) that I imagine it must be liberating to read about the woman you've described here. The mixed bag of delightful, funny, quirky, sad and hopeful really speaks to my heart, and I'm afraid I may need to add this to my out-of-control to-read list. A delight to read!
Great review, Dolors. This sounds like a very moving novel.
What a unique story to embody such pace. These stories about this trajectory called life, and all it encompasses, usually end up being good reading experiences. I enjoyed reading your carefully-worded thoughts, Dolors. By the way, humor is not my thing either :)
Magnificent review, Dolors, no surprise, in what looks like a quirky but terrific book.
Helle wrote: "I love this, Dolors! It sounded like a film from the get-go, and I kept getting images of a Kathy Bates-like person. I guess we all present a kind of veneer to the outside world (even more so in ou..."Helle, your comment makes me beam because going through the list of adjectives you enumerated confirms I managed to convey the atmosphere of the book quite successfully. Also, you are quite spot-on on deeming the story fit to adapt to the bigger screen, for some of the most surreally hilarious moments include the students performing a play directed by Zelda that cracked me up and moved me at once. My TBR pile is monstrous at the moment, so I empathize with you galore, although I trust you will be charmed by this unorthodox heroine if you ever have the time to squeeze it in and give it a try!
Kim wrote: "Great review, Dolors. This sounds like a very moving novel."Thanks for reading Kim! It was moving in an unexpected way, maybe that is why it touched me even more deeply.
Cheryl wrote: "What a unique story to embody such pace. These stories about this trajectory called life, and all it encompasses, usually end up being good reading experiences. I enjoyed reading your carefully-wor..."Heh, I was never good at being the object of or cracking jokes, my mind works too slowly to be sharp-tongued and come up with funny rebuttals. But I admire people who have the ability to blend intelligent humor with deep emotion and Betsy certainly accomplishes that in her book. It was the perfect read to put an end to my summer vacation; refreshing, fast paced and moving. Thanks for your thumbs-up, Cheryl!:)
Henry wrote: "Magnificent review, Dolors, no surprise, in what looks like a quirky but terrific book.""Quirky and terrific". That nails it to the core, Henry. It was also irreverently funny and nothing like I had read before, but then I have barely read absurdist fiction or satire. Thanks for your validating nod!
Clumsy is the last thing I'd call your reviews, Dolors. A fascinating précis!
What a wonderful new writing style! I love how the book's immanent quirks inspired the straight-shooting persona of Dolors to surface and take control of this narrative voice. But...but there's the old Dolors and her profound sympathy for the lonely, the lovelorn and the defeated coming to life in the last passage to deliver a heartwarming conclusion once again. A charmer of a review, this one.
Oooo... Someone's come back from a break with loads of playful pebbles which she is rolling with carefree wisdom and restrained grin! '...because it takes courage to steal an unfeigned smile while opening the gates to the darkest sorrows that afflict all human hearts, those of romantics and cynics, lovers and haters, dreamers and pessimists. It also requires talent.'
This book appears to be a treasure trove of sensitive realizations, magnified many fold owing to the protagonist's latent courage and visible hesitancy. You swell my TBR like crazy and I don't mind a bit!
Falling in love with your words never called for an ounce of effort but crashing in their brimming effervescence, never to recover, is a new found hobby of mine :)) Another magnificent feather in your embellished literary hat, Dolors!
Warwick wrote: "Clumsy is the last thing I'd call your reviews, Dolors. A fascinating précis!"Oh wow, thanks Warwick. That means a lot coming from a highly articulate polyglot like you! :))
Astounding review , Dolors! Your use of words imbued in ardor that made up this review of amazing intensity has moved me immensely! Excellent review as always !
Samadrita wrote: "What a wonderful new writing style! I love how the book's immanent quirks inspired the straight-shooting persona of Dolors to surface and take control of this narrative voice. But...but there's the..."LOL Sama, you know me too well! I seem to be unable to escape myself, no matter how hard I try, the old Dolors drags me down and here you have the result: what was supposed to be a matter-of-fact, light review ended up being a "Dolors' version" of a matter-of-fact review. Oh well, I am who I am and I am relieved to hear I still warm your heart instead of making you puck by an overdose of sugary me!;P
Bantering aside, Zelda's innocent, if also eccentric, romanticism (at least that is how I interpreted it) is precisely what allowed me to connect with her waggish vision of the world. Also the fact that in spite of it being a sad story, it made me laugh out loud up till the end. Thanks for reading and hugging me with your ever affirming comments, Sama.
Sidharth wrote: "Lovely review, Dolors!"Thanks for reading, Sidharth...glad you enjoyed it! :)
Marita wrote: "You certainly have a way with words, Dolors!"Thanks Marita... Funny how I often have the feeling that words get their way with me! ;P
Seemita wrote: "Oooo... Someone's come back from a break with loads of playful pebbles which she is rolling with carefree wisdom and restrained grin! '...because it takes courage to steal an unfeigned smile whil..."
Seemita, nobody had ever described my feathery hat with such poetic poise and enthusiasm!;P I wish I had Zelda's innate ability with words to properly thank you, for mine seem inadequate to express the swell of emotions that invade me whenever one of your comments pop up in my notifications to invariably lighten up my day, no matter the time, the place or my present mood.
You have a great sense of humor, so I believe you would get on fantastically well with the protagonist of this formidable "memoir", I can even envision one of your interviews face to face with the aforesaid lady and myself dissolving in mirth reading it! ;P
Ouch...and don't mention the pebbles I still have to drop, I am so far behind reviewing my favorite books for this year that I get the shivers only to think about it. My heart is beating in anticipation for pebbles from a certain shore where the waves kiss it...those 5 stars made my day and the thought of a Seemita review accelerates my pulse!
Thanks for being you and for being here! :)))
Gautam wrote: "Astounding review , Dolors! Your use of words imbued in ardor that made up this review of amazing intensity has moved me immensely! Excellent review as always !"Thanks for your enthusiastic response to my dubious review, Gautam! I didn't know exactly where I was going when I started typing it and I am glad the result resonated with you. Thanks again for dropping such a validating comment.
Dolors wrote: "LOL Sama, you know me too well! I seem to be unable to escape myself, no matter how hard I try, the old Dolors drags me down and here you have the result: what was supposed to be a matter-of-fact, light review ended up being a "Dolors' version" of a matter-of-fact review. "You seem to talk about this as if it's a bad thing, D. The way you write is unique and enchanting and tremendously moving. And it's a signature which defines you. I certainly hope I have a signature of my own in a similar way.
No matter what you write, your deep understanding of the characters' psychological framework and compassion for their individual existential predicaments come through in your lyrical arrangement of words. And your lovely, lovely endings blow me away. Seriously, no one writes as beautiful endings to reviews as you do.
I love this review because it hasn't compromised your signature and yet managed to give us a peek into another side of your writerly acuity. Write on, Dolors! :))
This seems like such a sad story and while I was reading the lines you wrote above I could relate to the fact all of us (in spite of the physical appearances) share the character's misfortune to some degree.Life is deceiving and often sad because it stabs and sparkles at the same time, mumbles the defeated voice in my head, mine or hers, I wonder. Second chances are a mirage and hope is a treacherous feeling...
I really do hope though that second chances are not mirages and no matter how cruel and unfortunate the balance between positive and negative is, we will always strive to believe in the positivity of situations/things that we encounter.
Deea wrote: "This seems like such a sad story and while I reading the lines you wrote above I could relate to the fact all of us (in spite of the physical appearances) share the character's misfortune to some d..."Thanks for your positive feedback, Deea. I have always thought that being an optimist is a much harder job than being a defeatist and so I applaud you for expressing your belief that second chances can become a reality if one has the guts to really change things.
Life is tricky, though, and sometimes things don't work out as one expects. This is what happens to Zelda and her journey is one of inner growth rather than heroic transformation, but the book is still a life-affirming and very amusing reading experience.
Love discussing life, books and other fascinating matters with you!:)
Samadrita wrote: "Dolors wrote: "LOL Sama, you know me too well! I seem to be unable to escape myself, no matter how hard I try, the old Dolors drags me down and here you have the result: what was supposed to be a m..."Oh Sama, you are a gift from heaven and I feel undeserving of your praise, but I was only half serious in mocking my own inability to step out of my skin whenever I write. I know only one way to express myself, and that is being true to what moves/prickles/stirs me and at the end of the day, I write mainly for myself and not for an audience...
But oh boy, your comment was a wisp of rejuvenating breeze that cleansed my lungs and made me feel lighter. I no longer know how to thank you for your unfailing encouragement since I first stepped on this page.
As to your writing...well, that is in another league altogether! You don't only have a signature of your own, you have a clinical eye, contrasted first rate intellect and the required je ne sais quoi that allows you to change register effortlessly without sacrificing your trademark. To say that I admire your prose is an understatement, but to avoid becoming insufferably maudlin, I will just reciprocate and urge you to continue writing, in and out of this page, in whatever fashion you deem fit, for I bet many people would agree with me that you possess real, unadulterated talent with words.
What a great review, as always, Dolors. Your writing is gorgeous and your words so thought-provoking. And I love your honesty and analysis. You use such alive verbs to describe your reactions. And thanks for the add; I had never heard of this one. I gravitate toward funny, mostly because the sucky parts of real life drag me down. Life is too short to spend it with a straight face.
The only thing that worries me is that you say that parts were out of your depth. If parts are out of your depth--such a smart cookie, you are!--I could be in trouble.
You mention you haven't had time to review some of your 5 stars. If you have time, could you list your 5 stars for this year? Mine are The Enchanted, The Small Backs of Children, Euphoria, Aquarium, The Life and Death of Sophie Stark, and Church of Marvels. Pshew, that's a bunch, and it's only August. How lucky am I?! Still, I've read many mediocre and some losers. To be expected though.
Debbie wrote: "What a great review, as always, Dolors. Your writing is gorgeous and your words so thought-provoking. And I love your honesty and analysis. You use such alive verbs to describe your reactions. An..."
Thanks so very much for such a splendid comment and for your nice words, Debbie! If you like fast paced, quirky humor and a heroine with a charismatic personality, I bet you will find it all in this novel. And actually, my formal use of verbs and my feeling out of depth at some moments in the narration are linked. It all connects to the fact that I am not a native English speaker. I basically learned my grammar at school and then on my own reading the British classics (hence my tendency to use over-long sentences and formal structures) and so I lack many of the informal idiomatic expressions or slang that native speakers use naturally. This is the sort of language that confused me a bit in Betsy's book (and also the speed at how events developed) and so I wouldn't worry about that at all in your case, Debbie!
Thanks also for listing your fav reads this year, some of the titles ring a bell and I recognize a title I already added to my monstrous TBR pile (The Enchanted). If I had to list a few of the books that blew me away this year I would pick Swann's Way, Possession, Midnight's Children, Giovanni's Room, Shroud, King Lear, Cannery Row and Heaven and Hell.
Huh, I realize there is plenty of anguish, nostalgia and heartbreak in my selection, but I truly admire your philosophy of life, Debbie! I guess I am more the reflective, musing type and I need a certain dose of sadness/pensive mood to compensate for the numbing frenzy of daily life, that's why I respond to books that pierce through my thin skin. In the end, it's a matter of finding the individual balance that works for each one of us in the maze of wishes, obligations, responsibilities, expectations and past experiences... Heh, easy to say not so easy to do... I am still working on that! ;P
Dolors wrote: "Seemita, nobody had ever described my feathery hat with such poetic poise and enthusiasm!;P I wish I had Zelda's innate ability with words to properly thank you, for mine seem inadequate to express the swell of emotions that invade me whenever one of your comments..."You deserve every bit of the praise, dearie :)) And I just happened to see your reply to Debbie and boy, oh boy! Are we in for some heavenly treat or what?!! Those books, in your hands, is like that one key to the perfection maze! I am holding my breath to be swayed incessantly for months to come :D Oh, did you miss 'The Red and The Black' somewhere in your overflowing pile? :P Can't wait! As for your breath, I will make sure you don't go breathless at my cost! :)
Seemita wrote: "Dolors wrote: "Seemita, nobody had ever described my feathery hat with such poetic poise and enthusiasm!;P I wish I had Zelda's innate ability with words to properly thank you, for mine seem inadeq..."Oh yes! I forgot Stendhal...and I soon will have to expand the list, for Calvino's "Invisible Cities" is literally blowing me away... Thanks for keeping track of my unmanageable list Seemita, you are a dear! So many wonderful books I have read this year that I swoon only to think of it, but what really makes a difference to me is to share my musings in this community and get such incredible feedback. And I am sorry to report that your words will continue leaving me breathless. I am actually short of breath right now, thinking of your upcoming Waves review... I keep checking your profile like an obsessive loony every couple of hours! ;P
Well. I've been away for a while too. And it's reviews like this that bring me roaring back. Thanks Dolors.
This was indeed an unusual book, which I enjoyed tremendously for its honesty and deeper meanings. Love your review, Dolors.
·°²¹°ù±ð²Ô· wrote: "Well. I've been away for a while too. And it's reviews like this that bring me roaring back. Thanks Dolors."Hope you had a pleasant escapade, Karen. Glad the tone of the review fitted with your mood once back home. Thank you, Karen.
Margitte wrote: "This was indeed an unusual book, which I enjoyed tremendously for its honesty and deeper meanings. Love your review, Dolors."Glad you also read and enjoyed this book, Margitte. "Honest and Deep" summon up quite efficiently the nature of this book. It was also irreverently funny for me.
I have read this one as well, and will be thrashing out a review 'ere long, but you have certainly captured the essence of the book. Well done.
Will wrote: "I have read this one as well, and will be thrashing out a review 'ere long, but you have certainly captured the essence of the book. Well done."Glad you think so, Will. I will be expectant of your intake on it. Thanks for taking the time to read and for validating me with your kind comment.
Very insightful review. Beneath self-deprecation is a lot of shame and sadness. That is why we have so many dysthymic comics. Thanks so much Dolors for introducing me to this novel.
A lovely review for what sounds like a most unusual book. At the beginning of your review, I was skeptical of my compatibility with this book, but by the end, your eloquence had completely won me over. I'm adding it to my list!
Jaidee wrote: "Very insightful review. Beneath self-deprecation is a lot of shame and sadness. That is why we have so many dysthymic comics. Thanks so much Dolors for introducing me to this novel."It is your comment that is insightful Jaidee, with which I couldn't agree more. Tragicomic characters often wear the mask of humor to conceal unbearable pain. Thanks for stopping by to read and for dropping such a spot-on comment.
Cindy wrote: "A lovely review for what sounds like a most unusual book. At the beginning of your review, I was skeptical of my compatibility with this book, but by the end, your eloquence had completely won me ..."Well Cindy, your reaction to my review mimics perfectly my own with the book. I couldn't make head or tails out of the galloping and disparate events disclosed at the beginning of the book, but I later understood that they were necessary to fully understand the scope of Zelda's journey. Thanks for your kind words and your greetings on this Sunday morning! :)
Well this sounds an excellent book Dolors.Super review too!
Lynne wrote: "Well this sounds an excellent book Dolors.Super review too!"
Thanks for reading Lynne! It was a great read in an unexpected way, for it was funny but disarmingly honest and quite profound.
I love books that balance the funny and the profound, and sounds like this novel does just that. :) So true, that life will stab and sparkle at the same time. Great review!
Lily wrote: "I love books that balance the funny and the profound, and sounds like this novel does just that. :) So true, that life will stab and sparkle at the same time. Great review!"I am not used to tragicomedies Lily, but this book was a great discovery, indeed. That line about life also describes Zelda's character very well. Thanks as always for brightening my day with your kind comment! :))
Dolors, I borrowed your "irreverent fighter" label and made a little reader questionnaire for the book: Thank you again.
Betsy wrote: "Dolors, I borrowed your "irreverent fighter" label and made a little reader questionnaire for the book: Thank you again."Hah! I did the test and go the result "Fine with Flaw"; which is absolutely perfect because I recognized a bit of myself in Zelda (great sentences to enhance the meaning of the results, btw). Thanks for coming back to share this link here, Betsy.
Dolors wrote: "Betsy wrote: "Dolors, I borrowed your "irreverent fighter" label and made a little reader questionnaire for the book: Thank you again."Hah! I did the test and go the..."
My pleasure. You contributed to it. I've done the test all different ways so that I've gotten all 3 results. Amazing how accurate this software is. Fun.
What an incredible review, Dolors. An absolute pleasure to read!!
Dolors, I enjoyed reading your beautifully written review."There is something inevitably disarming about her thought-provoking humor and unvarnished prose that eludes stereotyping and that radiates with a light of its own."
From what little I've read of Betsy's writing, I know the above description to be true.
I'm also a fan of Betsy's fast-paced prose, Dolors. And I loved this line: "...the galloping events that culminate with Zelda’s moderate success as an English teacher with forged credentials.."
Fab review!
Mike wrote: "What an incredible review, Dolors. An absolute pleasure to read!!"Thanks Mike!! And forgive me for my sooooo belated response, I missed your kind comment.
