29 December 2008

Franny and Zooey - J.D. Salinger



An artist, in this case an author, often only needs one work to propel them to fame. For J.D. Salinger that work was Catcher in the Rye. When I was younger, I pictured the Catcher as Gary Carter, and the Rye as a box of Special K; how they went together, don't ask me. After I read the book, things made a lot more sense. And by making sense I mean, they made no sense at all.

Given this one work of fiction, Salinger's future prospects were all but assured. For whatever reason - most likely due to his strength in this area - good old J.D. switch to the short story forum, and began writing about the Glass family, publishing works in the New Yorker (so right away, you know its gotta be good right - no comment). Franny and Zooey introduces us to the youngest eponymous siblings. In the first part, Franny meets her boyfriend Lane and proceeds to have a breakdown over what ostensibly seems to be a lack of onion on her cheeseburger, or some other mundane reason. Perplexed, the reader moves onto the second part, where we learn of the wit and genius of Zooey, who ultimately attempts to succour Franny from her meltdown.

Most likely, the story requires the context of Nine Stories, Salinger's other short fiction work on the Glass family, to be fully appreciated. What is not in doubt, is Salinger's undertone of writhing antipathy for 1950s culture, and his dry wit and humour, which ultimately comes out through outstanding character dialogue. Still, I would strongly recommend the Gary Carter and Special K book before this nonetheless well written work.

To me, everything is beautiful. Show me a pink sunset and I'm limp, by God. Anything. 'Peter Pan.' Even before the curtain goes up at 'Peter Pan', I'm a goddam puddle of tears.

19 December 2008

The tale of the Unknown Island - Jose Saramago


A traveler comes to the door of the castle to make a request of the king. He is met by the cleaning lady, who, given the depth of bureaucracy, is left to make the important decisions of the kingdom. The traveler requests a boat and refuses to leave until his wish is granted. Upon hearing of such obstinacy, the king comes to see the traveler. With force of reason, the traveler's wish is grated. With a royal note in hand, the man travels to the dock to find his boat. With this, a wonderfully short, yet magical tale of travel commences.

Saramgo, much like his contemporary Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee, is a master story teller, whose fables' political overtones mirror the world in which we live. Saramago's genius is in the ugliness his mirrors often reveal.

A man went to knock at the King's door and said, Give me a boat.

a complicated kindness - Miriam Toews


As I attach the cover photo above, I just spotted the ax in the top right corner - akin to the sword of Damocles hanging above Nomi's despondent story of adolescent life in the small Mennonite community of East Village, Manitoba. Her story, although particular to the specifics of growing up in a highly insular town of orthodox folk, is a story of universal frustration that the swarms of adolescents dolefully live out across the world (or perhaps to be more specific, throughout the Western world, I don't know if Papua New Guinean teenagers get frustrated at having to complete their homework before being allowed to go chew taro roots and not being aloud to listen to loud music in their huts). Many reviews would classify the book as darkly humorous - granted it is funny, but I'm pretty sure Toews intent was one of light shining through darkness? But then again, it has been a while since I was a teenager so I may have had trouble relating, so to speak.

To be honest, I don't know how I feel about the book. Having spoken to a couple of friends who hated the book, and having at least ostensibly enjoyed the writing style, I am left at a crossroads. In the beginning there may have been nothing - how biblical - but in the end, there was not much either. In between, there is a outpouring of Nomi's filial love that is tainted by doubt and confusion. The lyricism of Toew's prose- similar to Salinger's Catcher in the Rye - is wonderfully effective at putting the reader into Nomi's shoes - so to speak - as one can almost grasp at the tangible aspect of her emotions. For such an achievement, Toews' is to be praised. But the very art that allows her to succeeds, also frustrates the reader, as there is very little substance beneath these feelings. I haven't decided whether Toews pushes the teenage angst button too far, or I simply became bored with the repetitive, even if wonderful, writing style. Maybe that was the point?

Is it wrong to trust in a beautiful lie if it helps you get through life.

07 December 2008

The Crying of Lot 49, Thomas Pynchon


What has been generally a dull year for my reading fancies, is now becoming, at the end, a series of great books. I decided to embark on the Ozzy Osbourne mode of transportation, and simply dive into the surrealistic world of a fellow alumni - Thomas Pynchon. The thought came to me as I was simply walking through the library to grab a book on Kenya, when suddenly I had a very strong desire to meet Sir Isaac Newton and a Leprechaun (by which I mean Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow, for those of you wishing the more direct route to grandma's house). As it was out, I decided - a step up on the sanity ladder most likely - to take out the Crying of Lot 49, and to consider it as an initiation of sorts into Pynchon's world. More like baptism by fire.

Complex. Convoluted. Post-modern. Surreal. Tangential. These are not usually words that one wishes associated with one's writing style. Pynchon, if he could be located for comment, would most likely bask in the warming glow of such wormy flaws. Imagine, if you will, a 6 year old telling you a story. Now imagine that story being filled with socially relevant yet obscure allusions. Ok are you still with me? Now imagine that 6 year old having a vocabulary, whose breadth and depth would surpass even the most high scoring GRE applicant. You are now starting to get the picture of Pynchon's work.

As for the Crying of Lot 49, I thought it brilliant. I honestly admit that I enjoy such reading challenges and in fact am somewhat of a self centered snob when it comes to such things, but I don't think my lower lip has gotten too fat to say when I'm simply confused by a book. Although at times frustrating, I guarantee you'll be smiling and laughing through these frustrations. It is not unaccessible - the way I suspect his other works are - and it is highly amusing. The plot, if one can justifiably call it that, involves one Oedipa Maas, who is named the executor of her late lover's will. In so being named, she is plunged into a world of international postal devivery conspiracies, Californian subcultural madness, thermodynamic inconsistencies, and general mayhem personified in the myriad characters she finds along the way.

I liken the comedic aspect of the book to A Confederacy of Dunces; the plotline to Tibor Fischer's The Thought Gang; and the brilliance of Midnight's Children. However, as all these works followed The Crying of Lot 49, it is easy to see the influence that Pynchon has had on writers of the last half century. Now if he would only make more appearances on The Simpsons.

http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/inthemix/pynchon_house.jpg

Or a plot has been mouted against you, so expensive and elaborate, involving items like the forging of stamps and ancient books, constant surveillance of your movements, planting of post horn images all over San Francisco, bribing of librarians, hiring of professional actors and Pierce Inverarity only knows what-all besides, all financed out of the estate in a way either too secret or too involved for your non-legal mind to know about even though you are co-executor, so labyrinthine that it must have meaning beyond just a practical joke.

03 December 2008

MEDIA COUP!!!!!!!

In a historical move, 3 of the television networks have banded together to form a coalition media empire. This reporter has learned that as we speak, CBC has joined forces with CanWest Global, and along with the support of Radio Canada, have formed a coalition media empire to fight the growing audacity and power of CTV.

Stemmed by the loss of the Olympic Games, CBC's seems to have have their "rightful" position as Canada's media network. The recent loss of the Hockey Night in Canada theme has been the final blow. CTV, although not supported by a majority of Canadians, has been acting as the de facto media mogul of the Canadian's broadcasting theme. This has not sat well with the remaining viewership; CBC, CanWest, and Radio Canada, representing nearly 65% of the market share (compared to CTV's 35% market share) may represent a majority of Canadian's broadcast views, but none have the numbers of CTV.

Now comes the historical decision by the heads of CBC and Global to form a coalition of broadcasts. We learn that they will consolidate their schedule and form a strengthened choice of shows - one may even call it a "Cabinet" of choices. Expected to remain will be George Strombolombolobmaodkhypotheneus in the driver's seat of this - as some have described it - clownish merger of once incompatible approaches.

To muddy the waters even further, this coalition of CBC and Global will be propped up by Radio Canada. Canadians will be asking themselves, what is next, bilingual broadcasts? Many CTV supporters, especially local affiliates in the West such as CFCN in Calgary, are furious. Says one viewer : "if these eastern bastards start showing my news in French, I'm just going to have to sepearate myself from Canadian television and start watching American television exclusively." Many have in fact blamed CTV's American style approach to broadcast, with their reliance on American shows such as ER, Ghost Whisperer, Law & Order, Grey's Anatomy, CSI and Lost.

The coalition has in fact blamed CTV CEO Ivan Fecan for his American style approach and his utter inability to work with the remainder of Canadian broadcasters. Says CBC spokeman Ron Maclean : "CTV's utter disregard for the views of Canadians borders on the totalitarian. I mean, when Canadians think of hockey they think of CBC, not TSN. If this broadcaster cannot bring Canadians the shows they want, we have every legal right to ban together with Global to bring Canadians the television stability they deserve."

Truly historic times. One wonders if this situation is in any way related to the historically low voter turnout in the federal elections just 6 weeks ago; could this coalition of broadcasters be a simple ploy to rejuvenate Canadians interests in the broadcasting consortium? One wonders. This reporter is just hoping that the mayhem does not result in too many broken television sets on behalf of frustrated watchers, or, God forbid, a prorogation until digital cable is available in the new year!