Giddyyap!
Born in Baltimore in 1944, Jaimy Gordon has written eight books. Her fourth, Lord of Misrule, won the National Book Award in 2010. It is one of the most unusual novels I’ve ever read. The story and characters are interesting, but the prose and thought processes are challenging and there are no quotation marks that differentiate dialogue. I’m glad the latter has not become a trend, as I find it irksome. I believe it’s the third novel I’ve read that features this omission. The setting is a minor racetrack in West Virginia and the stables where the horses are kept. The author provides thorough details that sound as if they are given by someone who has worked in the field. Although it is a difficult read, I enjoyed the plot and was eager to see how the players fared — but… There were many instances where I had no idea what was being expressed, and it wasn’t due to highfalutin’ language or pseudo-intellectualism. I assume the author was experimenting with style. Fortunately there are many instances of saving grace. The narrative contains existential angst, which I always welcome. Here is a thought from an elderly man who tends horses: “… everything was tied to everything else by secret ties invisible or as thin as cobwebs…” And this from a young man on the make: “And although the world is a black tunnel of love where the gods admonished you to search without rest for your lost twin, it’s also haired all over with false pointers, evil instructions, lost-forever dead-ends…” I also enjoyed how Gordon likened the climactic race to a biblical battle and assigned horses as good, evil and trinity. The title refers to one of the animals. 111 users at Amazon have rated Lord of Misrule, forging to a consensus of 3.6 on a scale of five. Published in 2011, it is still selling reasonably well. I’d say its appeal is limited to those curious about an award-winner and those who have experience in the subject matter, although the writing may deter many. After finishing the novel, I found out that Gordon and I have something in common. She taught creative writing at my alma mater, Western Michigan, long after I graduated. Here she is:
Here’s a headline from nypost.com: “UK serial killer offered COVID-19 vaccine before millions of vulnerable, elderly.” Why would anyone be pissed about that? Leave it to politicians.
Here’s a sad headline from newsmax.com: “Las Vegas Pushes to Reopen Schools Amid Spate of Suicides.” Corona is bad, but it’s not the end of the world. People need to be out and about.
Jill Biden brought cookies to the national guardsmen who were forced to take shelter in DC garages and such. Trump offered his hotels to them free of charge. Guess which story the mainstream media reported.
Seems the message of unity hasn’t reached not only Portland, Oregon but Tacoma, Washington. Hard to believe there are people further left than Biden and Co..
Other than selling one of my own books, the most satisfying of my curbside sales are of obscure works. I had one of those today: Unfinished Empire: The Global Expansion of Britain by John Darwin, which must have languished for at least two years. I’m glad I hadn’t given it away. My thanks to the gentleman who bought it, and to the young woman who purchased six hardcovers in Russian.
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