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#5 Platform - Not Wanted on the Voyage
Nov. 12th, 2008 07:31 pmA very different take on the ark story.
Book #40: Not Wanted on the Voyage
Author: Timothy Findley
Provenance: Bought at the Chapters on Ste. Catharine
Most people are familiar with the story of Noah's Ark, so using the framework to tell a somewhat different story makes sense. At least you have the signposts. Findley definitely filled the story with a lot of other stuff, and no mistake. This story's got all sorts of themes and topics beyond the basic story itself.
Here, God isn't quite so grand, and basically decides in a petty moment to take the world with him when he goes, except his good friend Noah. So Noah builds his ark and populates it with his family, and they wait, but matters aren't so kind on the ark itself.
None of these characters really had much of a personality in the story, and so Findley gives them each a role to play: authoritarian and brutal Noah, his alcoholic, long-suffering wife, his sons, with the eldest being strong as an ox and about as questioning, the middle a scientist, and the youngest an aspiring warrior. All of the wives of the sons also have their roles to play as well, with one of the themes of the book certainly being the place of women within society. Each takes a different path on the ark, and Findley's call towards feminism can be seen strongly by the end. I don't want to get into spoilers, but some of the points with this were very moving.
Some were just brutal, though, if well-described, including the fates of the unicorns, and the Pirates, and some of the people. In particular, it seems that Findley is also concerns with what happens to the least of us, and what dignity they deserve. It's quite poignant, at points, but it can be disturbing, as well.
And some of it was just odd: I had to stop and try to figure out if stuff was really happening some of the time, with the singing and talking animals, and the fairies, and such. I think I worked it out in the end, but it does throw you for a loop some of the time.
I enjoyed the book, and there's a certain magic to it, but it was hard to get through some parts, and I think there are a couple of places where Findley could have been a little less heavy-handed. But I'd still recommend it; it's generally got good style, interesting characters, and some good points to make.
Next up: Predictably Irrational. Already done; just need to write it up.
Book #40: Not Wanted on the Voyage
Author: Timothy Findley
Provenance: Bought at the Chapters on Ste. Catharine
Most people are familiar with the story of Noah's Ark, so using the framework to tell a somewhat different story makes sense. At least you have the signposts. Findley definitely filled the story with a lot of other stuff, and no mistake. This story's got all sorts of themes and topics beyond the basic story itself.
Here, God isn't quite so grand, and basically decides in a petty moment to take the world with him when he goes, except his good friend Noah. So Noah builds his ark and populates it with his family, and they wait, but matters aren't so kind on the ark itself.
None of these characters really had much of a personality in the story, and so Findley gives them each a role to play: authoritarian and brutal Noah, his alcoholic, long-suffering wife, his sons, with the eldest being strong as an ox and about as questioning, the middle a scientist, and the youngest an aspiring warrior. All of the wives of the sons also have their roles to play as well, with one of the themes of the book certainly being the place of women within society. Each takes a different path on the ark, and Findley's call towards feminism can be seen strongly by the end. I don't want to get into spoilers, but some of the points with this were very moving.
Some were just brutal, though, if well-described, including the fates of the unicorns, and the Pirates, and some of the people. In particular, it seems that Findley is also concerns with what happens to the least of us, and what dignity they deserve. It's quite poignant, at points, but it can be disturbing, as well.
And some of it was just odd: I had to stop and try to figure out if stuff was really happening some of the time, with the singing and talking animals, and the fairies, and such. I think I worked it out in the end, but it does throw you for a loop some of the time.
I enjoyed the book, and there's a certain magic to it, but it was hard to get through some parts, and I think there are a couple of places where Findley could have been a little less heavy-handed. But I'd still recommend it; it's generally got good style, interesting characters, and some good points to make.
Next up: Predictably Irrational. Already done; just need to write it up.
