Short review: if you like John Irving's style, you will like this book. (I know there are fans and there are non-fans out there.) I liked it. He is a great story teller, he draws remarkable characters and while this story rambles a bit, in the end it is a solid American novel. Taking on the subject of sexual identity in the days before the AIDS epidemic, Irving delves into murky territory here. Transsexuals, transgenders, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, all forms of what was once classified "sexual deviancy" are given center stage. The story is funny and mysterious at times; there are hints of dark secrets and explanations of darker acts that sometimes shock the reader. But more often, the reader is given enough clues to figure out the next Irving-ish twist of plot.
Taking on this subject, the broad aspects of sexual differences, was a brave leap for Irving. Tolerance of differences and the quest for freedom are supposedly two of the cornerstones of American culture but we all know how that freedom has been rather selective. The fight for personal liberty has been a hard, bitter, ongoing struggle. Irving lets that struggle play out over a fifty year span of time, bringing the characters into the present day. While sexual orientation is more widely discussed now, Irving makes it clear (as do current headlines) that the fight for equality in this realm continues today.
No comments:
Post a Comment