The new novel by a unique writer lacks the fierce power of its predecessors.
‘Something rich and strange’’: Ariel’s famous words from The Tempest perfectly describe the original, unquantifiable, daring fiction that has earned Jim Crace a unique place in contemporary writing. He announced that the extraordinary Harvest, shortlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize, was his last novel, but he is back with The Melody.
As so often in Craceland, we’re not quite sure where we are either in place or time. The Brit has a knack of creating disturbingly unidentifiable settings and vague periods. The seaside town in this book seems to be Mediterranean, with its decorative architecture and parks, and the time seems to be the 20th century. There are certainly familiar sharp social divisions: wealthy, comfortable homes contrasting with the hovels and shelters of the homeless in the wonderfully named Mendicant Gardens.
この記事は New Zealand Listener の May 12-18 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は New Zealand Listener の May 12-18 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.