Stbalbach's reviews from LibraryThing

In the Ravine: And Other Short Stories (Classic Fiction) by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:25:31 -0500

Stbalbach's review: "Eleven short stories and one novella (In the Ravine) by Anton Chekhov, as read by British actor Kenneth Branagh in 2002. The stories are: The Trousseau (1883) Fat and Thin (1883) Oh! the Public! (1885) Misery (1886) An Actor's End (1886) Children (1886) The Chorus Girl (1886) The Orator (1886) Hush! (1886) The Beggar (1887) A Story Without a Title (1888) Overall very good although it helps to read along with the text since some of the Russian vocabulary and names are difficult to track by audio alone. It is the Constance Garnett translation, freely available online. In the Ravine is the best, a wide and colorful portrait of peasant village life - a tragic story though. "Misery" is very good. "Children" does a good job at evoking childhood. "The Chorus Girl" is also well done. The CD says "Abridged" even though all the stories are Unabridged."
Naxos Audiobooks (2002), Edition: Abridged, Audio CD, 3 pages

What America Read: Taste, Class, and the Novel, 1920-1960 by Gordon Hutner

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:48:06 -0500

Stbalbach's review: "What America Read: Taste, Class, and the Novel, 1920-1960 is a fascinating literary history. Hutner examines the vast universe of books that made up most of what was published and read in America from 1920-60. Most of it was soon forgotten in favor of a small handful of "classics" that are studied over and over like Hemingway, Faulkner and a few others. He has found that most novels published then (and now) can be categorized into a genre that he says, like pornography, is hard to define but "you know it when you see it." This genre can perhaps best be defined as "middle class literature". Hutner understands the term "middle class" is a loaded one, but he uses it in a neutral way. It is the people who have the time and money to read books and search for answers in the ever evolving and often confusing cultural landscape of America. The middle class novel is typically instructing, realistic in style, and perhaps mirrors in some way the readers own life, or sets out to show a slice of life in America - to pick a modern example, the "post-9/11 novel". These novels represent the vast majority of literature published, and by their existence, define the "Great" novel. Every "Great novel", Hutner says, has been an anti middle class novel (although to be sure not every anti middle class novel is great). Hutner's book is long and detailed and full of novels and authors that were once the critical and popular darlings - thought to be among the immortals - and now today forgotten. This is not the exception, but the norm, as Hutner shows in great detail year by year, decade by decade. Each chapter examines each decade, starting with the 1920s, going through the major works of the period. It's a veritable gold mine of novels and authors to read more about for those so interested. However Hutner says none of the works are really lost classics, they are all just "very good" - one should not approach them as individuals, but as a class or type, representative of the realistic middle class concerned literature that is in constant evolution published year after year in America. He also examines an individual year from each decade in depth, going month by month with the major books published. He may name 20 or 30 major books published that year, of which maybe 3 or 4 titles are still familiar today. It's difficult for this review to do Hutner's nuanced argument for the "middle class novel" of the 1920s-1960s justice, but his theory has changed how I look at present day novels. I can now scan a "Top 100 Novels of the 2000s" list and quickly ask myself, is this a middle class novel? The concept is helpful in determining not only what to read, but why I read - to find a mirror of my own life, to find answers to life problems, to find out what America is like today? Sort of like TV shows are an ever changing mirror of American culture in the moment, these novels are ephemeral as individuals, yet enduring as a class over time. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to make sense of the ocean of literature published each year. How to navigate the present is made easier by looking at the past. It's also useful for the historian interested in reconstructing a vision of the past through realist fiction, not unlike how historians have used Balzac and Zola for learning more about 19th century France. In addition this is a great book for (re) discovering very good fiction that has probably unfairly fallen by, Hutner has read 100s of these books and knows his topic well."
The University of North Carolina Press (2009), Hardcover, 432 pages

Hecate and Her Dogs by Paul Morand

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:21:53 -0500

Stbalbach's review: "Hecate and Her Dogs (French 1954) was first translated to English in 2009 in an artfully produced little book by Pushkin Press. On the surface it's a disturbing novella, sort of a mix of Jekyll and Hyde and Lolita, but darker, dealing with an evil perversion. The title alludes to it in an elliptical manner. This sort of ellipsis is the style of the book, rarely is anything said explicitly, although on occasion the truth comes clear with devastating force, hanging on a single word or phrase. It is a literary novel, not entirely an erotic story, yet at its core a hellish portrayal of sexual addiction seeking new and greater thrills. In the Afterword, Unberto Pasti says the book is best seen as "camp", that Morand was really writing about his wife, who he apparently disliked at the time (although it is doubtful she had the perversions depicted here). Nicholas Lezard, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/oct/10/hecate-her-dogs-paul-morand">reviewing in The Guardian</a>, sees it as autobiographical. Moran in real-life was a "Collaborator" with the Nazi's during WWII. Just as the fictional character collaborates with a perverse partner to his own demise, as did Moran in the 1940s with the Germans. Whatever the case, it's a story that will stick with and haunt you with what is left unsaid. Our own imagination can be taken to heights of evil with such polite and gentlemanly turn of phrase. I often found myself shocked that such a book could have been written in 1954, and unsurprised that no English translation appeared until now - but it is a work of serious literature. Like Emile Zola's classic The Earth: La Terre - first published in France in 1887 but not fully translated to English until 1980 because of its strong sexual taboo content - Hecate and Her Dogs has finally found an English publisher and hopefully will be (re) discovered among new readers."
Pushkin Press (2009), Edition: Gift edition, Paperback, 130 pages

Out of Africa by Karen Blixen

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:40:58 -0500

Stbalbach's review: "Out of Africa (1937) is a book that has changed lives. The heady romanticism on the frontier of colonial Kenya is enough to make anyone want to pack up and head for Africa - and many have tried, in reality by going, and by deep immersion in biographical study of the Kenyan colonialists that form the fabric of this book. The 1980's movie just re-enforced the legend and further spurred the Blixen fan club. It's a beautiful book told with grace and insight that captures the dieing spirit of colonialism in the middle 20th century between the wars. Sadly for me the book is marred by a certain moroseness, an emphasis on death and dieing. Every chapter and incident seems to be focused on someone or something - tribe, culture, way of life - that is dead or dieing. Her coldness comes through in the end when she (almost) shoots her pets and animals. And we learn she later in life committed suicide. All this cast a pale of darkness over the beautiful atmosphere she describes to render it a deeply sad and ultimately tragic story. Yet the power of it is real, and for that it is and will remain a classic."

The Waitress Was New by Dominique Fabre

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:03:04 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "The Waitress Was New (2005) is a contemporary French realistic novella about an aging everyman waiter in a small Parisian cafe. There is a plot with mystery that moves the story forward, but it is hardly interesting - the readers fantasy of what will happen is probably more interesting than what actually does - sort of like most peoples lives. The weight of the novel is in the character descriptions and being a silent observer in another persons world, to walk in the shadow of one of the many people we see every day."
Archipelago Books (2008), Paperback, 160 pages

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:31:52 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "One of the greatest science fiction stories ever created. Its impact on the collective imagination of the world can not be underestimated. Watched and read by the Apollo crews, Carl Sagan, etc.. the stories very lexicon has entered the reality of space exploration, and molded the public's view of what is possible. Of course while the film and not the novel bears 90% of the responsibility, they were created concurrently and thus impossible to separate. The novel on its own is still widely read and appreciated more than 40 years later. The first part of the story - up until the death of HAL - is more effective on screen. The later half, which is too weird to really understand in the film, is much clearer and more interesting in the novel."

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:23:52 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "Masterful, colorful, humorous, large. Oscar Wao is named after Oscar Wilde. The novel has many pop culture references straight from the zeitgeist of the Geek, reminiscent of Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray, similarly loaded up with references to the current art of its day (now obscure except to the literary geek). Just as Gray leads a secret obsessed fantasy life, Oscar Wao does too, and they both perish for the love of their art and erotic obsessions, blind to its consequences. Oscar Wao has achieved his dream of being famous, except instead of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien, Oscar ended up Francis Macomber. Francis Macomber is the character in Hemingway's short story "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber", which is the other story The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is named for. In Hemmingway's story Macomber's head is blown off by his wife, ironically after he acts with bravery, when he had previously acted a coward. It's an ambiguous story but there are connections with Oscar Wao's final days. The audiobook adds a new dimension to the work that reading alone, silent, may not capture. This is a swaggering, colloquial, emotionally toned novel that rewards reading out loud in character."
Penguin Audio; Unabridged edition (2007), Unknown Binding

The Book of Chameleons: A Novel by Jose Eduardo Agualusa

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:50:37 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "The Book of Chameleons has been <a href="http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/poafrica/agualje.htm">widely and highly reviewed</a> since it came out in English translation in 2006. At about 127 pages it can be read in a day or less but it contains many building blocks to keep one busy. There are philosophical and literary meditations. A spy plot. A love story. And some unique concepts like a narrator who is a lizard on the wall, or a man who sells invented pasts. Ultimately I found it somewhat unrewarding because many of allusions and places and events were unknown to me, and the central idea of invented histories didn't have enough space to be more fully explored."
Simon & Schuster (2008), Paperback, 192 pages

Out Stealing Horses: A Novel by Per Petterson

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:02:44 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "Out Stealing Horses (2003) is a "quiet novel" in multiple senses: there is little character dialog, it is literally quiet; the setting takes place in the quiet rural Norwegian countryside; and, quiet in the sense some parts of the novel are simply left unsaid, it is up to the intelligent and insightful reader to piece together meaning. For instance, to find meaning in the phrase "Out Stealing Horses" beyond the literal action of horse theft, or the WWII password. These "types" of quietude come together in this work of art which fits nicely with the common perception of Norwegian character, giving it an aesthetic wholeness which is pleasing. One of the themes of the novel is free will versus fate. The main character, Trond, believes his life is determined by his own actions and choices. Yet ironically he is a lifelong fan of Charles Dickens, the very epitome of a fateful view of the universe - the good guys always come out on top and the bad guys get their due in the end - it's fated! Dickens is mentioned numerous times including the Bildungsroman David Copperfield, an implied favorite of Tronds. A question is, how does Trond reconcile his own view of his life, versus his love of Dickens (free will versus fate); how do we as readers reconcile Pettersons novel, which is modern in approach (characters have free will), with Tronds recounted life, which seems to be fated by the pattern of life-events inherited from his father? I believe Trond does what we all do: operate according to free will while moving forward in time, but when looking backward, we search for meaning, for stories, to explain what happened, to find fate - ironically the very thing Petterson demands of his readers. Fate and free will is one of the great questions, and it is a great piece of modern literature that can play with it so.. quietly."
Graywolf Press (2007), Hardcover, 250 pages

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:42:22 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "A well told story that wears its politics too visibly, populist in character, but with merit for its creative descriptions of Katrina. The biographical details Eggers provides of Zeitoun's life are immense and digressive, taking up a large portion of the book, giving the appearance of an objective documentary. However Eggers is also writing an entertaining novel, he creates good guys and bad guys in black and white - Zeitoun's is a near-perfect character while the authorities are bumbling idiots. There is some truth to this but there is more to the story. It's too easy to see through the novels artifice for it to be entirely believable, giving the appearance of a "blue state" authors politics worn thinly. Still, Eggers is the master of choosing detail and the scenes of post-Katrina NO, and the prison, are memorable enough."
McSweeney's (2009), Hardcover, 342 pages

The Forever War by Dexter Filkins

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:33:46 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins war memoirs from 1997 to 2005, mostly covering the period 2002-2005 in Iraq. Much of it previously published so I experienced deja-vu re-reading passages I remembered from years ago in the Times. Obviously much of it is unforgettable, it has become a vital part of my own experience of the war, as if I was there before and was re-reading an account of what I witnessed, which speaks to the power of the writing and events. I recommend Filkins's hour long <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa-oXcft0RY">presentation at Google Talks</a>, given just a few weeks after he returned from Iraq, it's what inspired me to read the book."
Vintage (2009), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 384 pages

Nutcracker and Mouse King and The Tale of the Nutcracker (Penguin Classics) by E. T. A. V. Hoffmann

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:24:41 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "Penguin was able to turn the short classic Nutcracker and Mouse King (1816) into a standalone volume by adding a scholarly Introduction, and a later re-telling The Tale of the Nutcracker by Dumas (of Three Musketeers fame) which composes half the book. Most importantly the translations are new, although that doesn't always mean better, but it seems OK to me. The most important insight from the Introduction is that Hoffmann wrote the story as a critique of the middle-class in Germany in the early 19th century - serious, ridged, strict and conformist (not only German, the same could be said for 19th century Victorian culture). Children are stifled and kept in emotional check, expected to act like mini adults. For Hoffmann, freedom from this condition can be obtained by means of the imagination. In the story, time and again we see reality and fantasy merge as the children escape from the ridged confines imposed by their parents and strict social convention by way of make believe. Once the perspective of Hoffmann's critique is seen, the story takes on a new dimension, certain passages make more sense and the story seems less "weird" or dark. It is more than just a fairy-tale about toys that come to life, but a serious work of art about people. As for the Alexandre Dumas' version in the second half of the book, I found it to be inferior to Hoffmann; I didn't want alter my memory with the retelling, so I quit it early on. I may return another time as I understand it was influential in the ballet adaptation."
Penguin Classics (2007), Paperback, 192 pages

A Man Adrift by Bart Kennedy

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:53:58 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "Bart Kennedy (1861-1930) is almost entirely unknown today - as of 9-9-09 there are only <a href="http://www.librarything.com/author/kennedybart">two people on LibraryThing</a> who have registered a book authored by him (myself included); he has no Wikipedia entry (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Kennedy">soon corrected</a>); and there are only 4 original copies of A Man Adrift, the subject of this review, on ABE Books, the largest used book site on the net - in other words, it was a very rare book until Google Books scanned it recently, where I found it. Further, a general Google search comes up empty for any recent discussion of the book. A Man Adrift is almost entirely forgotten, yet it remains a good read, and is also semi-important in the "tramp literature" genre of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A Man Adrift (1900) is an autobiographical account of a young Kennedy who leaves England for the US to work odd jobs for a few months here and there before "tramping" on to the next town over the horizon. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramp">"Tramp"</a>, as a term, was popular around the turn of the century to describe laboring men who would move from one manual labor job to the next, often begging and sleeping out of doors. Kennedy's memoir is a guidebook of how tramps lived. He ends up in California, where all tramps went when the west ran out. Along the way he worked on a skipjack oyster boat on the Chesapeake Bay, hauled cargo on the wharfs of Baltimore, mined in New York, was imprisoned in New Orleans, labored on the railroad in the Canadian Rockies, paned for gold in the Northwest, sang opera in San Francisco - his personal descriptions (usually) ring true and give the reader a vivid sense of what it must have been like. Kennedy lived and survived by the force of his body and the strength of his fist. This is a fascinating look at life of the lower class working tramp at the turn of the century. Critical reception at the time was mixed, some "proper" critics panned it for its un-Victorian subject matter and improper use of English, but this was a period when unconventional voices (ie. not from the privileged classes) were finding publishers for the first time as the cost of printing became cheaper. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=ntQ5AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA12-PA24&dq="a+man+adrift"+"bart+kennedy"&lr=&as_brr=1">Andrew Lang gave it a favorable nod</a>, saying "He describes, better than any other writer, the existence of a tramp, and gives an amazing account of the brutality, and even torture, practised on workers in some parts of the United States. .". The only modern critic I could find is John Sutherland (1989) who says "As an author, he [Kennedy] is one of the early advocates of 'tramping', as the source of literary inspiration." Kennedy was not the first tramp novel, Twain's A Tramp Abroad (1880) is an example-by-title (Twain was too wealthy to be a real tramp), while Henry Davies' <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/19655">The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp</a> (1908) coined the delightful phrase "super-tramp", better known today as the rock band (named after the book). The tramp story reached a height with Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men in the 1930's, a novel which makes more sense in the context of tramp literature tradition, which includes Kennedy and Davies who early on trampled down the road others would follow. Read via <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/manadriftbeingle00kennrich">Internet Archive</a>"
Chicago, H.S. Stone, 1900

Short Stories Old and New by c. alphonso smith

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:30:13 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "Short Stories Old and New (1916) is a collection of some of the best short stories of all time, according to ca. 1916 U of VA professor C. Alphonso Smith. The collection contains: *"Esther", from the Old Testament *"Ali Baba and the Forty Robbers", from The Arabian Nights *"Rip Van Winkle", by Washington Irving *"The Gold-Bug", by Edgar Allan Poe *"A Christmas Carol", by Charles Dickens *"The Great Stone Face", by Nathaniel Hawthorne *"Rab and his Friends", by Dr. John Brown *"The Outcasts of Poker Flat", by Brete Harte *"Markheim", by Robert Louis Stevenson *"The Necklace", by Guy de Maupassant *"The Man Who Would Be King", by Rudyard Kipling *"The Gift of the Magi", by O. Henry It is an enticing list because while some of them are obviously the most well known and popular stories of all time, others are obscure and largely forgotten - who today puts "Rab and his Friends" or "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" on the same pedestal as "The Gift of the Magi" or "Christmas Carol" - much less even heard of them. But great stories they are and still worth reading. Most of the stories have the same timeless theme of redemption, passing through a trial or challenge and becoming a better person in the end (with some exceptions). This collection is freely available from a number of sources: <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=%22short%20stories%20old%20and%20new%22">Internet Archive</a>, <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/10483">Gutenberg</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Short-Stories-Old-and-New/dp/B000JMKYAK">Amazon Kindle Store</a>, etc.."
Ginn & Co. Boston (1916), Hardcover

The Neuro Revolution: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World by Zack Lynch

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:46:21 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "Ten chapters on ten areas where neurological science is and will be changing society now and in the future: law, military, art, etc.. Lynch is best when discussing the reality of today, I found most of his predictions for the future to be unconvincing, huge leaps of scifi geewizness hyperbole typical of the singularity crowd. It's interesting to look at things from a neurological perspective and this book shows how widespread it is. I often found myself feeling that the mystery of life, art, being human, is at risk of being turned into numbers and demystified - what makes for a great painting or religious experience could be made into a commodity and sold at 7-11 is a real possibility once we figure out the brain mechanisms at work."
St. Martin's Press (2009), Hardcover, 256 pages

The Best Travel Writing 2008: True Stories from Around the World by James O'Reilly

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:38:53 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "The Best Travel Writing 2008 is the 5th volume in publisher Traveler's Tales annual series, begun in 2004. This volume is composed of 29 short pieces, many of them unpublished elsewhere. Given the quantity of pieces I was overall disappointed as only a handful stood out as being memorable. In particular I really enjoyed the piece by Catherine Watson ("Key to the City") and I hope to continue reading more of her <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/642745">collected travel pieces</a>, for that discovery alone the book was worthwhile. I also greatly enjoyed Richard Goodman's "Tortola" about a solo trip to the West Indies that turns into an adventure with the local women and an American (Baltimore) beachcomber. Other standouts include Pamela Cordell Avis' "Philomen and Baucus", the familiar story of an expat moving to the French countryside told with grace, style and honesty. Tony Perrottet's "Mount Rushmore Revisited" is an informative and readable piece on the American Indian's view of a national landmark. Jann Huizenga's "Shoes Like Gondala's" is an excellent and funny look at Italian fashion from one American's perspective. What made the above few pieces work, and the rest not, is that they effectively told a complete story in a limited amount of space. Most of the works in this collection are fragments of experience that don't tell a complete story. A bunch were also poetic and difficult to read, highly stylized, although I know some readers appreciate it, I found it distracting. This is my first book in this series and I am not adverse to reading more volumes because I know there is gold to be discovered but I hope the vein runs thicker in other editions."
Travelers' Tales (2008), Paperback, 328 pages

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:12:47 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "The Wind in the Willows ranks up there with Treasure Island and Peter Pan. Since it's now in the public domain there are an embarrassment of riches in terms of editions and adaptations, a testament to the power of public domain to enrich culture, and the stranglehold of copyright. Anyway, I both read along and listened to a <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/wind_willows_ap_librivox">narrated version by Adrian Praetzellis for LibriVox</a> (free); it's hard to imagine a better reading, completely enchanting. Although most kids focus on the story, I think as adults we can really appreciate how poetic the writing is - it is true literature that transcends the fantasy/kids genre and why it will remain a classic for generations to come. It's easy to forget this was written in 1908, it often feels like a modern book, largely because it has been so influential with later authors that we have become used to stories like this, but despite this competition it still holds it own as one of the best, a true creative accomplishment."
LibriVox, read by Adrian Praetzellis. 2007.

The Diary of a Superfluous Man by Ivan Turgenev

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:28:31 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "The Diary of a Superfluous Man (1850) is about a "Superfluous Man", a recurring Russian literary meme about upper class nihilistic men who resort to gambling, dueling and women to give meaning to an otherwise disconnected and alienated existence. The story starts of slow but eventually take on a strong narrative direction dealing with "love" lost. Some great imagery and insights on the human condition. I think the 19thC Russian "Superfluous Man" archetypal character is not well known to most English readers, but this is a good introduction (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfluous_Man">Wikipedia</a> for other stories), and I believe the origin of the term. Alexsandr Kuprin's masterpiece The Duel (1905) is another Superfluous Man story. Martin Geeson's passionate <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/diary_superfluous_man_0904_librivox">narration for LibriVox</a> deserves special attention. It's as good or better than professional and obviously a labor of love. The sort of antique sound quality I believe was done on purpose in-line with the novella's first person diary voice, and the occasional sound of an old typewriter adds to the atmosphere. I'm now a fan of Geeson and would listen to anything he narrated in the future."
LibriVox (April 26, 2009)

Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:27:14 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "I read Dombey and Son in an "Edition de Luxe" three volume triple-decker printed in 1890, weighing in at 1300 pages, not including illustrations. Unlike most Dicken's editions, the font, spacing, margins and paper are normal size, making it easier to read, and revealing its true length. It can be found online (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/dickensworks14dick">V.1</a>, <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/dickensworks15dick">V.2</a>, <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/dickensworks16dick">V.3</a>) and part of a complete set called <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=title%3A%22Dicken%27s%20Works%22%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts">Dicken's Works</a> (1890; 45 volumes). It is my new favorite Dickens online reading copy, the beautiful letterpress and thick handmade paper in limited edition would cost thousands of dollars to replicate today. As for Dombey and Son, I was charmed as always by Dicken's characters, manners and scenery. The main characters of Paul Dombey (Jr and Sr), Florence and Walter are so real, so human, so powerful, that the secondary characters reveal themselves as fairy tale cartoon characters. The contrast between the main characters and supporting cast is too stark, like the ill-fated 1980's fad of mixing cartoon characters with live action film. Mr Cuttle, the old women, Mrs McStinger etc.. they are true Dickens, not the too-terribly-real Dombey's. But this is a minor point. In all a great novel, difficult to judge since some parts shine forth and others drag onward, but certainly wonderful reading overall for any Dickens fan."
Publisher: Boston : Estes & Lauriat, "Dicken's Works", volumes 14-16, Delux Edition, 1890.

Between Two Opinions; or, The Romance of a Spahi by Pierre Loti

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:44:57 -0400

Stbalbach's review: "The Romance of a Spahi (1881), Loti's second novel, deals with a Spahi (French colonial soldiers famous for their <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spahi-img_0990.jpg">romantic uniforms</a>), stationed in sub-Sahara Senegal. The novel was daring for its time as it depicts a love affair between a black woman and white man. It is particularly effective at showing how French soldiers stationed overseas become entangled in foreign lands and what this this does not only to the soldier, but social cohesion back home in France. But the novel says little about the impact of the colonizer on the colonized, other than treating them as romantic backdrop scenery. The story is slow and fairly uneventful, its dealing in small things about normal people makes it believable and human. Loti's dreamy descriptions and specific details give it an air of exotica that is pleasurable. One can still read the book today and enjoy it for these positive aspects without being complicit in the racial colonial perspective it occasionally portrays. As partly autobiographical of Loti it's a lens into a life fully lived. Read via <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/betweentwoopinio00lotiiala">Internet Archive</a>"
Rand McNally