Carnival

If you pick up Carnival, I think you should be prepared for what you are about to read. This definitely isn't a young adult fantasy novel (as some of the books that I usually review are). This is a wonderful mature piece of Canadian Literature.

The protagonist, Fly, is a complex character. The plotline follows his thought processes, which means the story jumps from anecdote to side story to old memory and then back to the present steeped in the confusion of the ongoing Carnival, which is currently transforming the city much to Fly's continued irritation (despite the increase in taxi business).

Reading Carnival was like stepping into the mind of a fascinating and slightly disturbed character; one I would probably detest in real life. But show more at the same time, I couldn't help being intrigued by the many facets of Fly. His philosophy, his obsession with books and his father's flying carpet along with his ability to really see the multitude of people in his city, much of it from the seat of his taxi cab. Unlying all that is a deep compassion for the human condition and a longing for "justice" ... whatever that may mean.

Overall this was a raw, real view of humanity. I could not put this book down. I highly recommend you put it on your "to be read" list. show less

I enjoyed the read. I didn't love it. The description was misleading "Post-apocalyptic" which I really didn't see. I did see a story about immigrants and how they are perceived as well as how they perceive themselves and others.The author seemed to want to tackle many ideals with one plot or story line. The story he was telling was much bigger than the pages allowed and nearing the end it seemed like he started to rush the ending. I was really expecting more at the end.

Fly, is a taxi driver and in the perfect position to see all the misfits and unfits the city has to offer. He has keen powers of observations and some of his commentary is just downright funny. The book is told in short vignettes that chronicle his transactions with the people he picks up in his cab, as well as his personal life and his inner personal life. He loves books, he has them everywhere and the girl he meets, Mary loves books as well. He is a very interesting character as are the drug dealers, cheerleaders, pimps and prostitutes that use his services.

At times this tended to get a bit repetitive and a bit too much. Still so many of his observations I just found downright amusing I was glad I read the book if only for those. show more Unique, creative and a carnival of words. show less

Strange. Taxi driver reflects on his circus upbringing, his couch surfing youth, and the people who took him in. He talks about his fantasies while masturbating and his conversations with his neighbour. And his fellow cabbies and his fares. Then some of those people from his past resurface. He starts driving around a drug dealer too, and life goes from not so eventful to being full of guns, drunks, homeless, and weird. In a third person way there is a lot of violence in the final act. Not sure what it all means...