(urth) very strange
Fernando Q. Gouvea
fqgouvea at colby.edu
Sat Apr 11 14:57:53 PDT 2009
The latest issue of The Weekly Standard includes a review of a Hungarian
novel, first published in 2001 and now translated into English. The book
is called "Tranquility". It seems, from what the review says, to be told
mostly in flashback, looking back from the funeral of the narrator's
mother. The narrator's name is Andor Wéer. The review describes the
novel as characterized by "sneaky, half-teasing indirection". He adds
that "The narrator mentions the most crucial events in passing, then
returns to them via circuitous routes full of speculative tangents,
remembered dreams, stories within stories, and purposely disorienting
chronological lurches...."
I couldn't help but think of "Peace", told mostly in flashback, by Alden
Weer, by an author who is also fond of this sort of indirection...
Coincidence, or alien intervention?
Fernando
--
==================================================================
Fernando Q. Gouvea
Carter Professor of Mathematics
Colby College Editor, FOCUS
Mayflower Hill 5836 Editor, MAA Reviews
Waterville, ME 04901
fqgouvea at colby.edu
Stealing a rhinoceros should not be attempted lightly.
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