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bhaines's review
the point of this book is you never know how things are going to turn out. I didn't really understand the title metaphor
dllh's review against another edition
4.0
I think the thing I most like about Ozick is that she writes in a way that seems erudite but not in a way that makes me feel stupid. Although I suspect there's more structured meaning and a great deal more nuance in a book like this than I'm equipped to discover, I find that I feel reasonably smart when reading it, which is a nice feeling. She also writes stories that I could never have imagined anybody would have conceived of writing, which is not to say that they're necessarily fantastical (well, Puttermesser was a bit fantastical) but more that they're remarkable in how they tease the extraordinary out of the ordinary. Her prose clicks pretty well with me (I wouldn't often call it beautiful or high on style, but there's an elegance and a precision about it that I admire), though she's maybe overfond in this book of the colon.
ags1101's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
greenspe's review against another edition
4.0
When my sophomore English class read "A Separate Peace," our teacher explained that the author John Knowles wrote the book as a sort of lab experiment, creating a novel that could teach students how to identify and analyze tricky figurative concepts like symbol and theme (apologies to Knowles, this may or may not be true). Maybe he only told us this so we'd stop questioning everything he was trying to teach us, but the idea of easy "right" answers tucked throughout the book made me hate it; I thought it made the whole thing condescending and boring.
I remembered that when I read The Cannibal Galaxy, because for a while the story felt less wild and imaginative than what I'm used to from Ozick. I was also bothered by several instances--again, very out of character for her--when allusions, puns, and historical references are explained for the reader. It seemed a little lazy and pointless, even dull.
But Cynthia, I think I figured you out! The Cannibal Galaxy is a criticism of the 'hoax of pedagogy', i.e. education that values lists of facts and superficial analysis over the development of any deeper parts of ourselves. So here's my theory: Ozick wants, during the novel's schoolroom sections, to rub our nose in how pointless and uninspired art is when it's all about finding the correct answers (it's notable that the novel's central symbol, The Cannibal Galaxy, is one of the few whose purpose is never fully spelled out).
Granted, that is not a very original message, at least not now; maybe it was moreso when the book was published in 1983. And ironically, given Ozick's snobbishness, it's also common: who doesn't think they're a misunderstood genius who was ground down by teachers with the wrong values (maybe her point is that we all are, but I doubt it)? But on that point, it is worth remarking that the novel is, sort of, unusually democratic for her--casting her cultural conservatism in opposition to empty-headed lust for pedigree, and subtly challenging Europe's right to regard itself as the seat of the world's culture and civilization.
The Cannibal Galaxy visits a lot of themes, characters, and styles that Ozick has handled better elsewhere, but a merely good Ozick novel is still a great read (especially when I haven't had a lot of time for pleasure reading in the last several months). This would not be a good introduction to her fiction, but die-hard fans will enjoy it just fine.
I remembered that when I read The Cannibal Galaxy, because for a while the story felt less wild and imaginative than what I'm used to from Ozick. I was also bothered by several instances--again, very out of character for her--when allusions, puns, and historical references are explained for the reader. It seemed a little lazy and pointless, even dull.
But Cynthia, I think I figured you out! The Cannibal Galaxy is a criticism of the 'hoax of pedagogy', i.e. education that values lists of facts and superficial analysis over the development of any deeper parts of ourselves. So here's my theory: Ozick wants, during the novel's schoolroom sections, to rub our nose in how pointless and uninspired art is when it's all about finding the correct answers (it's notable that the novel's central symbol, The Cannibal Galaxy, is one of the few whose purpose is never fully spelled out).
Granted, that is not a very original message, at least not now; maybe it was moreso when the book was published in 1983. And ironically, given Ozick's snobbishness, it's also common: who doesn't think they're a misunderstood genius who was ground down by teachers with the wrong values (maybe her point is that we all are, but I doubt it)? But on that point, it is worth remarking that the novel is, sort of, unusually democratic for her--casting her cultural conservatism in opposition to empty-headed lust for pedigree, and subtly challenging Europe's right to regard itself as the seat of the world's culture and civilization.
The Cannibal Galaxy visits a lot of themes, characters, and styles that Ozick has handled better elsewhere, but a merely good Ozick novel is still a great read (especially when I haven't had a lot of time for pleasure reading in the last several months). This would not be a good introduction to her fiction, but die-hard fans will enjoy it just fine.
arnie's review
2.0
Joseph Brill grew up in France and wanted to be an astronomer, but the holocaust put an end to his hopes. He survived and, following his rabbi's advice, became a school principal in the Midwestern U.S. He was a mediocre principal supervising mediocre teachers, a man who believed how you start determines how you end up. However, his life proved otherwise: those who start out strong do not always end up on top; a happy marriage may not end happily, etc. Interesting book but not an exciting read.
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