Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich (Harper Collins, 2010)
A quick-reading narrative cocktail of omniscience, epistolary dairy-entry and manipulated first & third person, this 14th novel by prolific Minnesota author Louise Erdrich features a family of five on the ugly verge of emotional breakdown. Gil and Irene have a long-disturbed, mean-spirited marriage based in game-playing, illusion and deception and fueled by alcohol and addiction. Theirs is an artistic and narcissistic union where “all the rules are broken,” which creates a tumultuous family life where the children are ever-anxious and angry. With all the child abuse, endless analysis of instinct, vicious fighting, failure and dependence, the inevitable result is a very depressing crash and burn (7/10).
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
RollnSmoke Reviews: TOO MUCH HAPPINESS
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro (Knopf, 2009)
Once again, Alice Munro presents a collection of short stories that captures common people who manage to transform and transcend their regular lives. All of the stories take place in Munro’s native and contemporary Canada except for the final title story, a historical fiction piece, which features a female mathematician and novelist who journeys through 19th century Europe and Russia. A true master of the craft of writing short stories, Munro plots in such a way that the reader cannot help but read on, often compelled by a shocking bombshell or an unexpected and fascinating hook which reveals the subtleties of the characters’ lives and invests them with meaning. In spite of suicide, mental illness, death and murder, as they confront physical illness and pain, addiction, philandering and homelessness -- all varieties of personal anguish – Munro's characters push forward, driven, most often, towards the heart of humanity: The desire to love and be loved. 9/10
Once again, Alice Munro presents a collection of short stories that captures common people who manage to transform and transcend their regular lives. All of the stories take place in Munro’s native and contemporary Canada except for the final title story, a historical fiction piece, which features a female mathematician and novelist who journeys through 19th century Europe and Russia. A true master of the craft of writing short stories, Munro plots in such a way that the reader cannot help but read on, often compelled by a shocking bombshell or an unexpected and fascinating hook which reveals the subtleties of the characters’ lives and invests them with meaning. In spite of suicide, mental illness, death and murder, as they confront physical illness and pain, addiction, philandering and homelessness -- all varieties of personal anguish – Munro's characters push forward, driven, most often, towards the heart of humanity: The desire to love and be loved. 9/10
Friday, April 9, 2010
RollnSmoke Reviews: ZEITOUN
ZEITOUN by Dave Eggers (McSweeney’s Books, 2009)
Young, trailblazing writer and publisher Dave Eggers tackles this nonfiction story about a Syrian-born U.S. citizen who waits out Hurricane Katrina to terrible effect. Zeitoun is a hard-working contract painter, landlord and devout Muslim who lives with his wife and children in New Orleans. His wife, Kathy, who converts to Islam when she marries Zeitoun, leaves the city as the hurricane approaches while Zeitoun stays behind to look after their properties. After the storm Zeitoun is seized by an sense of “urgency and purpose” and takes to the flooded streets in his metal canoe to assist the stranded and suffering but, to his deep dismay, what he encounters is “apocalyptic and surreal” as the entire city devolves into “an animalistic state.” Clearly written and well-paced, Eggers recreates the harrowing and shocking post-Katrina turns in the life of this innocent immigrant in the Land of the Free (9/10).
Young, trailblazing writer and publisher Dave Eggers tackles this nonfiction story about a Syrian-born U.S. citizen who waits out Hurricane Katrina to terrible effect. Zeitoun is a hard-working contract painter, landlord and devout Muslim who lives with his wife and children in New Orleans. His wife, Kathy, who converts to Islam when she marries Zeitoun, leaves the city as the hurricane approaches while Zeitoun stays behind to look after their properties. After the storm Zeitoun is seized by an sense of “urgency and purpose” and takes to the flooded streets in his metal canoe to assist the stranded and suffering but, to his deep dismay, what he encounters is “apocalyptic and surreal” as the entire city devolves into “an animalistic state.” Clearly written and well-paced, Eggers recreates the harrowing and shocking post-Katrina turns in the life of this innocent immigrant in the Land of the Free (9/10).
Friday, April 2, 2010
RollnSmoke Reviews: MAN GONE DOWN
MAN GONE DONE by Michael Thomas (Grove Atlantic, 2007)
In this debut novel a broke, educated black writer crashes at a wealthy friend’s house in NYC, while his white wife and bi-racial children stay with his wealthy mother-in-law outside of Boston. Ever conscious of race, gentrification and his own poverty, the narrator laments not teaching, not writing and his inability to land a job to pay the rent and tuition. Depressed, often bitter and in a funk, he ends up working temporary construction while resisting the temptations of drink and sexual seduction. Via a series of flashbacks to his broken, bi-racial childhood in Boston, he wonders if he is “too damaged” to achieve happiness and success. He is cynical and hostile, edgy and self-conscious – not terribly likeable. Brimming with introspection and moments of intensely rendered detail – New York City especially comes to life – in the end, this story lacks real, compelling action (7/10).
In this debut novel a broke, educated black writer crashes at a wealthy friend’s house in NYC, while his white wife and bi-racial children stay with his wealthy mother-in-law outside of Boston. Ever conscious of race, gentrification and his own poverty, the narrator laments not teaching, not writing and his inability to land a job to pay the rent and tuition. Depressed, often bitter and in a funk, he ends up working temporary construction while resisting the temptations of drink and sexual seduction. Via a series of flashbacks to his broken, bi-racial childhood in Boston, he wonders if he is “too damaged” to achieve happiness and success. He is cynical and hostile, edgy and self-conscious – not terribly likeable. Brimming with introspection and moments of intensely rendered detail – New York City especially comes to life – in the end, this story lacks real, compelling action (7/10).