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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some of my most meaningful reading experiences have been the completely unexpected ones--not the comfort of reading a book from a favorite writer, but the shock of discovering something completely new, the thrill of grabbing a book that, for example, has been sitting on the backseat of my car for four months and for some unknown reason is the thing I pick up as I'm heading into a restaurant I don't even like for a lonely Saturday lunch.
Four months ago, I'd stumbled upon an interview with Alasdair Gray and was intrigued by what he said and how he said it. (On writing: "I don't want to face this world, let's get back to the hellish one I'm imagining.") I grabbed one of the library's very few (although as the English librarian I think I will have to address this via the miracle of COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT) titles by Gray from the stacks, really just choosing 1982, Janine at random.
And then today, I spent the afternoon with a strange, intense book that somehow manages to be several books at once. It's a book about a man spending a night drinking alone in a hotel room; it's a book about power and sex and fantasy and powerlessness (so of course it's also about politics and money); it's experimental and mean and big-hearted, too.
It is a deeply weird book, in all the best possible ways.
In fact, what the hell, I'll just say it: I think it may be the Scottish Ulysses.
Four months ago, I'd stumbled upon an interview with Alasdair Gray and was intrigued by what he said and how he said it. (On writing: "I don't want to face this world, let's get back to the hellish one I'm imagining.") I grabbed one of the library's very few (although as the English librarian I think I will have to address this via the miracle of COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT) titles by Gray from the stacks, really just choosing 1982, Janine at random.
And then today, I spent the afternoon with a strange, intense book that somehow manages to be several books at once. It's a book about a man spending a night drinking alone in a hotel room; it's a book about power and sex and fantasy and powerlessness (so of course it's also about politics and money); it's experimental and mean and big-hearted, too.
It is a deeply weird book, in all the best possible ways.
In fact, what the hell, I'll just say it: I think it may be the Scottish Ulysses.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting novel which I'm not sure is really properly characterized by most summaries/commentaries (including the frankly overwrought introduction by a different writer included in my edition). It is frequently described as pornographic, but I don't think that's entirely accurate. Jock's fantasies certainly utilize certain porn tropes, but with only one very brief exception, they never include any actual sex acts. The only sex acts we encounter are in Jock's real life, and they are completely different in tone and context from the fantasies. The fantasies, although not sexually graphic, are nevertheless revolting. I believe Gray very much intended them to be this way, and it seems clear to me that even Jock himself is revolted by them on some level. If a you find this book to be a turn-on, that is very much a you problem.
Jock's fantasies are, in my opinion, a manifestation of his own deep self-loathing - he has convinced himself (despite real-world evidence to the contrary) that no one would want to be with him voluntarily, so he constructs these baraoquely elaborate (and frankly preposterous) fantasy sequences involving sexual assault. The interesting thing is that the real-world sexual encounter we see Jock have are nothing at all like the fantasies - he never forced himself on anyone, but does (ironically) experience someone else effectively forcing themselves on him.
I also believe that the women in the fantasies are metaphorical representations of Scotland itself. Gray was a dyed-in-the-wool leftist and Scottish nationalist, and the novel is filled with just as much political and social commentary as it is descriptions of Jock's real or imagined sex life. Things were at an especially low point when Gray wrote this, being in the early years of Thatcherism.
The novel is a difficult read, partially because of the aforementioned revolting sexual fantasy sequences, but even more so because Gray's writing style is so unconventional and abstract. I think Jock's story would have benefited from, and been more emotionally resonant, within a more straightforward narrative structure. But, that is just not how Gray operates, so you have to take the weird and off-putting with the good-to-great. On balance I think this novel rewards the work you put in to reading it.
Jock's fantasies are, in my opinion, a manifestation of his own deep self-loathing - he has convinced himself (despite real-world evidence to the contrary) that no one would want to be with him voluntarily, so he constructs these baraoquely elaborate (and frankly preposterous) fantasy sequences involving sexual assault. The interesting thing is that the real-world sexual encounter we see Jock have are nothing at all like the fantasies - he never forced himself on anyone, but does (ironically) experience someone else effectively forcing themselves on him.
I also believe that the women in the fantasies are metaphorical representations of Scotland itself. Gray was a dyed-in-the-wool leftist and Scottish nationalist, and the novel is filled with just as much political and social commentary as it is descriptions of Jock's real or imagined sex life. Things were at an especially low point when Gray wrote this, being in the early years of Thatcherism.
The novel is a difficult read, partially because of the aforementioned revolting sexual fantasy sequences, but even more so because Gray's writing style is so unconventional and abstract. I think Jock's story would have benefited from, and been more emotionally resonant, within a more straightforward narrative structure. But, that is just not how Gray operates, so you have to take the weird and off-putting with the good-to-great. On balance I think this novel rewards the work you put in to reading it.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I could have sworn I hadn't read this one - either my memory is at fault or it made very little impression on me.
How to describe this novel? Eccentric, absurd, but also very real, to the crude details of everyday thoughts, including the most taboo ones.
This read is absurd and I love it. A strange story from a strange writer.
A trip inside the head of a divorced, alcoholic, sad and lonely middle-aged man. There is little plot, it meanders through surreal dreams and stories that confuse, entertain and shock.
