The Sympathizer

The Apes had a barbecue at Doc's place.  A strong 6 imbibed, ate, guffawed, told snake stories and talked about Nguyen's The Sympathizer.  This Pulitzer winner stands out for its uniqueness, especially as told from the Vietnamese perspective.  Most Vietnam War works are presented from the American GI's view.

The Sympathizer follows the unnamed narrator from the fall of Saigon.  The narrator is a deep cover communist spy serving a South Vietnam General.

I found The Sympathizer a difficult read.  The last quarter of the novel I characterize as torture porn.  The narrator returns to Vietnam after following the general to America, even though he has been warned. He, and a band of revolutionaries, are captured by the communists where he eventually actualizes "Nothing" is more important than freedom and independence.  Read the reviews, there are many.

I'm still unsure what constitutes rising to the top of the Pulitzer pool.  This work is a compelling story, densely structured, with complicated prose, with occasional literary gems interspersed throughout.  Nguyen plays with vocabulary.  Word choice, initially puzzling, is spot on after keeping a dictionary close by.

We pondered the narrator's amorality, trying to rationalize his function as a "patriot" for his cause.  America and its allies pounded Southeast Asia for many years, reminiscent of what America and its allies are doing in other parts of the world in recent history.  Has there been any learning in the intervening years?  Can we apply lessons to the future?

Eric Hoffer's Pair

Hey, it was great to see Hal.  Thanks for spending time with us.

Hoffer's True Believer and The Ordeal of Change did not generate much discussion.  The collective group acknowledged that little has changed in our political/social/economic system since True Believer was written in 1951.  How much can be added?  He exposes mass movements for what they are, exacerbated by this season's political hubbub.  Phil eloquently defended his pick with the quip, "Sometimes it's good to read something that makes you think.  We don't need no stinking story, character development, plot, narrative, denouement, resolution or any literary element" I may be mis-remembering the exact quote but that is close enough.  Literature?  Not even close. Can't discuss his style, can't discuss that he has an opinion really.  Guy is looking backward and making conjecture.  Hindsight is 20/20.

I found The Ordeal of Change to be unreadable.  It was repetitive, sprinkled with references that supported his theses, focused on WWII, Nazis, commies, step-and-fetch it minorities.  I wonder how Hoffer would react now that the capitalists have won?  The guy was smart and probably a product of is time.  I wonder if he knew Jack Black?  Probably I'm not worldly enough to understand this screed.

First round is on me.  Have a field day, Apes.

Ball Four

Boys-I'm awaiting an official report from this meeting, as I was out of town.

This doesn't stop me from adding my two cents.  I remember reading Bouton's Ball Four when I was but a wee lad in high school.  I wonder if parts of it weren't serialized in Sports Illustrated?  Anyway in 1970, I got a kick out of reading a book that featured gruff language, sexual titillation and baseball.   Bouton peeled the veil of secrecy of pro sports off for me.  That said re-reading Ball Four in 2016 felt pretty dated.  Sometimes you can't go home again.

Carry on, commenters. Doc

Atticus Lish, a great name

Lish's Preparation For The Next Life drew a quorum for the Apes at The Forge.  We missed Clark's input.

It's hard to pigeonhole this work.  Is it a war novel, or an immigrant's story?  I think the answer is yes to both with the intersection of Zou Lei, a Muslim Chinese Uyghur refugee, who meets up with the unbalanced returning veteran Brad Skinner in New York City.  Both characters live at the margins of the big city and struggle to survive.  How are marginal people rewarded for working hard?  Well, you can imagine where they end up in this explode American Dream tale.  A gritty work that leaves this skeptical reader searching for the bottle.

Lish's overuse of Skinner's poncholiner leaves me wondering how this coverup, groundcloth, tent, multi-function piece of equipment is reflective of the victim's efforts to gird themselves from what America has become in this post-9/11 world.  Zou Lei is the survivor here and Skinner, an aimless youth swallowed up by out "All-Volunteer" military, consumed and excreted back to the homeland after being used up.  His ending comes as no surprise.

The city in Preparation is as much a character as the people represented.  Poverty, substance abuse, criminalization, ruthless small business owners, gangs, isolation, even love are ever-present themes. Both primary characters do a lot of walking, mostly out of an attempt to survive.  Not many don't.

Lish comes from interesting stock.  his father is noted literary editor, Gordon Lish. Don DeLillo was so taken by Atticus' early genius that his prose is featured in DeLillo's works.  Hmm...

Here are Clark's comments:

This book was a real chore to read - grindingly depressing, the only question left with the reader was who was Skinner going to kill besides himself.  Thankfully he did not kill Zou Lei, the only character in the book that was attractive.  I've given up on "top 10, top half, ...".  I've defaulted to like/not like.  This is the first one I've not liked in a long time, and I mean Pan, Satanic Verses  level not like.  

The fact I didn't like the book does not mean I think it was poorly written or without literary merit.  I don't have much literary merit myself, however.   It seemed like the author had a couple of axes to grind:  a) Crappy treatment of returning Vets from the Gulf, b)  Impossible situations faced by honorable, hard working, but otherwise illegal immigrants.  I'm not unsympathetic to either of those issues, but holy crap!, I'm not sure I needed to spend 12 hours rubbing my own nose in it.  I get it that the VA/military gave Skinner the shaft and Zou Lei was just trying to improve her life.

I did find it barely interesting how much grinding poverty there is in the shadow of Manhattan.  Not being a fan of NY, I've only been there a couple of times and have not observed the boroughs.  I looked up a bit about Flushing (good name for the setting of this story) - 70% Asian, 15% Hispanic.  I did find the geography lesson mildly interesting, but overall, I was very happy to be done with the book.

One mild annoyance - the Black Hills are in South Dakota, not North Dakota.  If I were going to write about NY, seems like I'd look up basic facts.  I assume Lish has internet access.

Looking forward to Ball Four.  It should act as a pallet cleanser after this ordeal.

C

McCann's TransAtlantic

A spirited discussion tonight about Colum McCann’s Transatlantic as The Forge kept us well lubricated with an attentiveness that has been missing over the last few months. 

The counselor narrated his Rolling Stone Magazine experience as follows:

   “I’ve subscribed to the Rolling Stone for the last 46 years…”

   He was interrupted from the peanut gallery with “So, do you want a medal?”

   And right on cue his response was, “No, but a hand job would be appreciated.” (I’m paraphrasing here.)

Such quick wit is invaluable in his profession.

The engineer spoke to his choice of McCann’s TransAtlantic and he may even add his on comments to the blog.  His eloquently stated reasoning was connected to seeing the film Brooklyn recently.  And being in an Irish state of mind, was susceptible to McCann’s novel.  The engineer relies on a variety of sources for making picks and TransAtlantic it was.  He liked the book for story and noted that ranking a book in comparison to other books is bullshit.  Books ought to stand on their own either likeable or not.  Much harrumphing was detected around the room as heads nodded in ascent.

TransAtlantic is three stories, intertwined: the flight, Frederick Douglass’ Ireland visit, and Senator Mitchell’s role in brokering a solution to Northern Ireland’s Troubles. 

Maybe others will weigh in.

Sinclair's Oil

This post is out of order, I know, but I have given up on placing it in the correct place.  Here goes.

Sinclair’s Oil! (1926) is more than an expose of the beginnings of the oil industry, especially in Southern California.  It feels like an outgrowth of the turmoil from the era of the rise of anti-capitalism following the Communist’s power grab in Russia.  Socialist workers groups clamored for a greater share of the profits they generated for oil barons.  What seems to have begun with concerns about working conditions and livable wage in this new industry morphed into a violent action/reaction to management response to workers’ demands.  Both sides demonstrated obstinacy.  However, because those who had the capital to invest could wait out the rank and file, workers were forced to give in.  The power brokers owned the political machines, law enforcement and the media.  In fact, they owners made sure to have media, politics and law enforcement in their pockets well before the need arose.

Don’t you imagine that capitalists were very frightened of the Communist threat?  Politicians also faced the anarchist’s threats in addition to Communism.  Was this the first time democracy was seriously threatened?  Probably not seriously threatened by monarchists. The rise of feminism, universal suffrage impacting white male political power.

Government sanctioned thuggery in the interest of Wall Street investors. 

·      “I (Paul) went into the army to put down the Kaiser, but was kidnapped by some Wall Street bankers and put to work as a strike-breaker…”

·      War supplies sent to the Tsar.  After the revolution the US army was sent to guard the materiel. Became “private soldiers” (contractors)

·      The news media did not report these events. 

·      Suspicion of Western supporters of Tsarist actions, the White Russian counter-revolutionaries caused the Communists to abandon Westerners. 

·      Because “big oil” was only interested in profit, they cared less for the producer of the product than the product itself.  Big-oil ramped up the propaganda machine to condemn (name call, lie about, misrepresent, fear monger) the Communists as well as their “sympathizers” around the globe.

When Mr. Ross begins to waiver in his reactions to the manipulation by his colleagues.  what happens to his business? 

Mr. Roscoe says, “Pardon me kiddo, we didn't make any promises (to workers at the start of WWI) at all! A god-damn long-faced sniveling college professor (Wilson) made them for us, and we’re done with that bunk for good!  We’ve got a business man for president (Coolidge), and we’re going to run this country on business lines. …get this straight: I can buy any officials, just the same as I can buy any politicians, or anybody else…” Rather than share with the workers, more control and power is concentrated with ownership.

Sinclair also gets on this rant about college athletics.  Universities showing preference to athletes for the glory of the university.  Questionable “students”, under-the-table payments and perks.  Professors threatened, punished for drawing attention to problems, offering philosophies counter to prevailing status quo.

A working man isn’t very important in this capitalist world, and he has to remember his place.

The rise and fall of religiosity and charismatic performers.  Religion presented as the opiate of the masse.  Gullible attendees unable to believe what is seen and willing to believe any excuse presented by the offender.   

Subtle anti-Semitism.

The radio…enormous usefulness to the capitalist system…sits at home and takes what is handed to him…is a basis upon which to build the greatest slave empire in history.

Black's View of His World

You Can't Win  Jack Black

The Counselor's words:

The group convened at the Forge over the course of about twenty minutes. The schedule launch time was 6:30pm.  Glenn, Clark, Doc, Phil, Charlie and this writer were in attendance.  The vibe of the joint was much improved with the latest changes in staff.  The zaftig Britany was bartender and keeper.  I chose the book as I believe it gives us an unusual look at turn of the century history.  This view brings with it landscapes, conduct and behavior that were new to me.  The themes of loyalty, anti-social conduct, justice and “being on the road” pulled us along in narrative.  All seemed to enjoy the read leading to good discussion for nearly and hour and clearly two beers.  Glenn described the protagonist as “making his way in the world as he thinks best”.  We all agreed the look was from the underside of society and I think many liked the characters despite the behavior.  At one point we mused over the nature of the title.  Doc: gotta have a support network to claim success; Phil: If you continue to do things with consequence sooner or later something will happen to you; Glenn: realization that he had squandered his life; Clark: given the choices he made he could not win.  I received this book as a gift from Eric at the Forge.  He knew my delight of Beat writing and I certainly felt the connection.  Consensus seemed to be a good addition to our list.  Maybe top half.  Be Strong and Mindful.  ML

The lights shine here

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I've been tardy with my postings.  Holidays, snow, nursing injury, adding insult...

WATCH THIS SPACE

Here are comments from JK on his pick:

All the Light We Cannot See

December, 2015 Selection for Great Apes Book Group

Selected by John Karbula

Why did I select this book:

·       It was recommended to me by a friend here in Santa Barbara

·       It was favorably reviewed in the LA Times

·       It was one of the NY Times “Ten Best,” books of 2014

·       I have a nearly life-long interest in history in general and WW II in particular (only the American Civil War excites greater interest to me than WW II)

Potential Questions for Discussion: (I truly offer these as only possible things to discuss – any reader is of course free to take the discussion where they will!)

·       What is the point of blindness, particularly in regard to the title?  Why is it important to have Marie Laure be blind?

·       Blindness has a very long, nearly infinite history in literature, dating back to Oedipus at least (almost certainly oral literature used blindness as a metaphor or theme long before this).  Does Doerr call upon this long tradition and if so, how effectively?

·       Many critics have found Doerr’s character development uneven.  Do you agree with this general sentiment and if so, why?

·       It seems clear to me that Doerr is making a point to deeply personalize the large historic realities of WW II – to miniaturize them – which to me is most apparent (as a metaphor) in the miniature cities Marie Laure’s father builds.  I felt this element of the novel was successful.  Your thoughts?

·       In my own childhood, I was myself transported by radio.  Late at night, the house dark, everyone asleep but me, my bedside Motorola, through the power of 50,000 watt clear channel stations, transported me to other worlds: listening to baseball games on KMOX, to “underground rock,” on KAAY Little Rock, to talk shows in Pittsburg and Cleveland…  Because of this I found the entire use of radio in this book particularly powerful.  What are other perspectives on this “device,” in the book?

There are a number of things that over the years, we always seem to touch upon.  Here are my brief thoughts on many of these repeated topics of conversation:

Plot development/success at “telling a good story:” Quite well done.  The short chapters really worked for me and I felt the story was both engaging and well developed.  That said, some things were implausible (Werner stepping on the mine) and the drive to unite the two characters a little strained.

Character development: Uneven.  Marie Laure, her father, her uncle, their maid, the woman in the bakeshop were all well done.  Werner was not as well developed as he needed to be.  The diamond hunter was a combination of “bad guy,” clichés.  Same with Werner’s mentor at the school.  Jutta should have played a much larger role. 

Entertainment value: High.  A good read that moved briskly and that was a creative and enjoyable twist on a subject that has been written to death about – WW II.

Literary Value: Modest.  Too many clichés in dealing with the war – I was not a fan of the moral equivalency between the Allied and Nazi atrocities.  Some excellent character development but far from uniform.  As noted above, a creative approach, particularly (in my view) the extended metaphors of blindness (Marie Laure is blind but sees, Werner can see but is blind) and the transformative power of the technology of radio for good and evil.  The book is well imagined but not fully realized.  An “A” for effort but a “C+” for execution.  A good and entertaining book but not great literature.

Rating: Top 50% - above the mean but probably not in the top quartile.

Reviews: (for those interested)

Mainly positive:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/all-the-light-we-cannot-see-by-anthony-doerr.html

http://www.npr.org/2014/05/10/310459898/a-fractured-tale-of-time-war-and-a-really-big-diamond

Critical:

https://newrepublic.com/article/120769/problem-anthony-doerrs-all-light-we-cannot-see

Additional Questions – reading group guide:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/All-the-Light-We-Cannot-See/Anthony-Doerr/9781476746586/reading_group_guide