Literature of the moment

Yesterday I eclipsed the Idiot with yet another book... Although I'm really close to finally completing the epic saga, and bringing my Dostoevsky tally to... (drum roll) two. I find my self reading it in bouts. Truthfully this book is entirely a soap opera that thrusts a bumbling klutz, overly sensitive naive man, into a ruthless social elite circle who are perhaps equally as out of touch with reality as "Prince Myshkin", aka "The Idiot". When I do finish, I will provide my review. The Brother's Karamazov was much better, I can tell you that now. Of course it helped that I had to read that one for school.

So I finished my third John Irving novel, "The Hotel New Hampshire". Irving has definitely made his way amongst my favorite authors. This book was very surprising in its contrasts. You watch the metamorphosis of a seemingly normal American family, as it goes through some rather extraordinary circumstances. One of the focal issues addressed in this book is rape, and perhaps more than that fear. While this book is a serious dramatic work, it is at times laugh out loud hilarious, and other times nearly made me shed a tear. In all of the many books I've read, I can't say that this has been a characteristic of very many.


The plot of the novel meanders upon a course that seems both absurd, and yet somehow believable. The drastic contrast brought upon the Berry Family by the passage of time, creates an air of familiarity, in that nothing is ever certain, but we must find a way, and help each other to persevere.

This book is not for the faint of heart. Graphic descriptions of unconventional scenarios may make some people (people like my parents for instance..) label it as trash. The tones that are taken however are necessary to give the reader insight to a family that becomes largely desensitized to much of what they exist in. The extremes are crucial to the story. Irving continues to pay tribute to Dickensian overtones. His stories always seem to convey great empathy with the common man, the poor, & the victimized. Irving recognizes that everyone has a life that exists in varying degrees of amplitude. There are always going to be highs and lows, and the frequency in which they occur is always prone to be unpredictable. Because of this he has repeatedly written timeless novels.

I've read in addition to this one, "A Prayer for Owen Meany" & "The Cider House Rules". Thus far I would rank "Meany" as my favorite.

I was thirsty for more and went straight to a used Book store after work before going to the gym. Unfortunately they did not have any John Irving novels available. I had picked up a short "classic" by Henry James a while back called the Europeans. This will likely become my new subway reading (other than the metro).

I must finish the Idiot so I can begin "A Soldier's Story". It is a memoir by Bob Dole which has gotten great reviews. My mother has loaned it to me. I've always liked Bob Dole, he was a moderate politician, and a rarity in D.C., a real decent man. I suppose that's why he didn't have a chance in hell when he ran for President. The prettiest man usually wins too. He should have made those Viagra commercials earlier it may have helped his appeal :D. Hmmmm... Perhaps not.