A Random Selection

How to Choose the Right Book

Located in MacDonald Park, Deep in the heart of Snowdon, the city set up a book exchange bin. It works exactly like it sounds: a repository where people leave old books and take new ones. I’ve found everything from classic novels to local interest books and magazine to a ’97 Volkswagen user’s manual. You literally never know what your neighbours have shared.

What could be better than a shot of the unexpected to freshen a stale routine?

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve decided to share some words on the books I’ve happened upon. But don’t read them just because I said so – that would ruin the surprise!

Bluebeard’s Seventh Door by André Vecsei

Set in 1970’s Montreal it is a Woody Allen-esque parody, a nod to high culture while satirizing highbrow pretensions. It contains many amusing scenes of dilettantish attempts at sophistication and out-of-touch social activism. 

The novel’s main character is a perpetually unsatisfied musicologist, bitter and snobbish, endowed with a substantial intellect yet unable, or unwilling, to fit into his milieu. 

The nameless narrator begins an affair with the Croatian maid of a prominent socialite – a relationship hampered by the protagonist’s conceit and touchiness. In fact, he is so petulant that it is difficult to see why she stays with him, other than for the intelligent banter he provides.

A good chunk of the novel is taken up with the maid’s backstory. Her mother endured exile and forced repatriation to Croatia – an overlooked part of World War II history that had devastating ramifications and which I was glad to learn about.

A little local flavour helped endear me to the story. Though the narrative dragged at times, it is replete with outrageous characters and funny anecdotes, many of which feel like they were drawn from real life experience. The main character, though he is interesting and complex throughout, doesn’t evolve or come to terms with some of the painful truths about his personality. Overall, It’s an enjoyable read, a unique story with a little extra appeal for us Montrealers.

 

Biggest Elvis by P.F. Kluge

If a writer’s most important task is to get into the mind of their characters, then P.F. Kluge’s Biggest Elvis is an unequivocal success. Written as a series of journal entries by an array of characters, it is a rare combination of entertainment and enlightenment.

The story is set in Olangapo in the Philippines, site of an American naval base and host to myriad bars and clubs. One of the nightclub acts is a trio of Elvis impersonators: cute and tender “Baby Elvis,” “Dude Elvis,” who plays The King during his snarling movie star years and “Biggest Elvis,” the bloated, besequined Vegas version. The three Elvises form relationships with local girls, most of whom make their living servicing the fleet, and who are symbolic of the novel’s main theme – American colonial dominance and the dependency and resentment which it breeds.

The title character is a hapless English professor who sees his role as a resurrected Elvis  a religious light. Is it merely a case of another swollen ego or will he be cast as humanity’s saviour? It’s well worth the time to find out.