A Fine Pancake, It Is O’Brien, Flann. (1967) The Third Policeman. Champaigne, Ill.: Dalkey Archive (209pp) This strange tale is strongly reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. An unnamed narrator in 19th century Ireland tells his first-person story of stumbling into … Continue reading
Postmodern Nihilism Antrim, Donald (1997). The Hundred Brothers. New York: Picador, 188 pp. Ninety-nine brothers convene at their dead father’s estate to find his ashes and bury him (one brother couldn’t make it). They meet in a vast library that … Continue reading
Proof that Sentimental Claptrap Sells Audrey Niffenegger (2003). The Time Traveler’s Wife. 534 pp. I bought this book on a whim, succumbing to marketing hype, and because I do enjoy time travel stories. But it was a huge disappointment. It’s basically … Continue reading
Dream or Reality? Murakami, Haruki (1994/1998). The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. New York: Vintage, 607 pp. This novel is writing for the sake of writing. There is a nominal plot, but it’s weak. A Japanese woman and her sister are abused … Continue reading
A Joke Disguised as a Rant Irving, John (1989). A Prayer for Owen Meany. 617 pp. Secondary character John Wheelwright narrates the story of growing up with his friend, main character Owen Meany, a small boy who only grew to … Continue reading
Some Ideas Hinted At McCarthy, Cormac (2006). The Road. New York: Knopf (306 pp). The planet has been stricken by something like nuclear winter. The skies are perpetually dark and the sun is not visible. Black soot falls from the … Continue reading
Arboreal Fairy Tale Calvino, Italo (1959). The Baron in the Trees. New York: Random (217 pp). In 1767, a 12-year-old Italian boy climbs a tree and vows never to come down. And he never does. Living the rest of his … Continue reading
Coruscation Beats Content Eagan, Jennifer. (2011). A Visit From the Goon Squad. New York: Anchor. One of Elmore Leonard’s famous ten rules of writing is: “If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.” Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From the Goon Squad is painfully … Continue reading
Cricket is Foreign to New York O’Neill, Joseph (2008). Netherland. New York: Vintage It’s possible to compare this novel to The Great Gatsby. The first person, highly reflective and articulate narrator, Hans, describes the ambitious economic and social climbing and … Continue reading
A Good Place to Meet Joyce Joyce, James. (1914) Dubliners. New York: Dover. I’ve tried twice to read Ulysses, and was defeated both times, so I thought I’d start with a simpler Joyce work, and picked up Dubliners. I can … Continue reading