fmturati

The eleven stories here are very good and provide much to think about. In each story, a character (usually a man) is aging or approaching death, and not one is both satisfied with his life and ready to accept the inevitability of dying. In each story, the main character inspires sympathy and understanding, except perhaps for Silence, the last story. My sole complaint about them is that there are very few three-dimensional, sympathetic female characters. Most of the women are less fleshed out and often seem like stereotypical mean and stuck-up old ladies. The Fruit Cage was particularly disappointing on this front and, as it’s the second to last story in the book, I was already hypersensitive to the problem by the time I read it. Knowing French is an outstanding exception and is my favorite story in the collection. It’s written as a series of letters from a woman, Sylvia Winstanley, who has moved into what she calls an “old folkery” and read one of Barnes’ novels. Sylvia is smart, sharp-tongued, and a wonderful character. The story is particularly effective because it lets Sylvia’s voice in her letters stand alone, without commentary. Even Barnes’ return letters are not included, allowing Sylvia to capably carry the story. The most memorable message came from the story Bark The main character is an ascetic, hoping to live longer enough to collect a large sum of money. The lesson is encompassed in an image-evoking bit of prose: "We make the laws but the bees swarm anyway, the rabbit seeks a different warren, the pigeon flies to another's dovecote." Another favorite is The Story of Mats Israelson. Two people, both married, fall in love and pine away for each other for decades as they remain faithful to their spouses. The story speaks to the ways that missed opportunities and miscommunication can impact lives profoundly, without being over the top. Themes: death, aging, suffering artists, marital strife, control, hindsight, endings, men

2022-11-14 17:00