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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
“The pursuit of sanity can be a form of madness, too.”
Henderson the Rain King is a novel satirizing a man’s quest for life’s meaning. Essentially it’s a comic misadventure in which an aging man visits Africa and meets a king who offers him a remedy: become a lion. Bellow’s prose balances erudition and humor better than probably any other writer I’ve read; he writes some very funny characters. As far as theme, I can acknowledge that Bellow and I share an interest in the hovering cloud of mortality, but I’m more fascinated by the psychological effects of morbidity and the inner turmoil of reconciling limited time and the certainty of death. Bellow touches upon this idea, and sets up a framework for this to be possibly discussed, but ultimately gives attention to Henderson’s spiritual transformation.
Bellow uses a lot of space in the novel to discuss Henderson’s background and key events in his life. Henderson never interacts with characters from these memories, but they’re often referenced again at the perfect moment. I enjoyed Henderson’s bromance with King Dahfu and, as an ESL teacher, had fun reading their interactions. Henderson comically speaks to some of the African characters without any consideration of their knowledge of English, so they often confusedly receive rambling, convoluted monologues with hyperspecific references to American or Jewish culture as his interlocutors. There’s a distinct irony in how these interactions are meaningful to Henderson, yet are so simultaneously rife with misunderstandings, exemplifying Henderson’s misguided quest. This comical absurdist approach may reflect many of our lives at large: a series of self-centered interactions in pursuit of some unclear goal that never fully concludes.
Henderson the Rain King is a novel satirizing a man’s quest for life’s meaning. Essentially it’s a comic misadventure in which an aging man visits Africa and meets a king who offers him a remedy: become a lion. Bellow’s prose balances erudition and humor better than probably any other writer I’ve read; he writes some very funny characters. As far as theme, I can acknowledge that Bellow and I share an interest in the hovering cloud of mortality, but I’m more fascinated by the psychological effects of morbidity and the inner turmoil of reconciling limited time and the certainty of death. Bellow touches upon this idea, and sets up a framework for this to be possibly discussed, but ultimately gives attention to Henderson’s spiritual transformation.
Bellow uses a lot of space in the novel to discuss Henderson’s background and key events in his life. Henderson never interacts with characters from these memories, but they’re often referenced again at the perfect moment. I enjoyed Henderson’s bromance with King Dahfu and, as an ESL teacher, had fun reading their interactions. Henderson comically speaks to some of the African characters without any consideration of their knowledge of English, so they often confusedly receive rambling, convoluted monologues with hyperspecific references to American or Jewish culture as his interlocutors. There’s a distinct irony in how these interactions are meaningful to Henderson, yet are so simultaneously rife with misunderstandings, exemplifying Henderson’s misguided quest. This comical absurdist approach may reflect many of our lives at large: a series of self-centered interactions in pursuit of some unclear goal that never fully concludes.
Eurgh. Well, at least it was less awful than Humboldt's Gift. Another dreadful protagonist, another uninteresting mid life crisis. Eurgh. Do I have to read anymore Bellow?
Well, there seems to be some inherent problems with using a fetishized version of Africa as a mere backdrop for some obnoxious rich white guy’s mid-life crisis/journey of self discovery. (I noted from a quick Wikipedia search that Henderson the Rain King came out a year AFTER Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart; if you’ve read that great work of African realism, you may find it impossible, like me, to invest yourself in whatever Bellow is trying to do here with his depiction of Africa.) But perhaps the bigger issue for me was that I just found the book so tedious and boring. Muddled philosophy and minimal forward plot development made for some kinda brutal stretches of reading, even in a relatively short book.
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An entertaining romp through a fictional Africa. I read a different book by Bellow that was a bit above my intellect. This work is more accessible and is a better introduction to his work. I could compare the humor to Richard Russo. Bellow's work doesn't show up on many lists these days, which is unfortunate, because his writing is sound.
The story is adventurous and engaging, written in first-person, that will have you wondering until the final chapters how it will all wrap up.
The story is adventurous and engaging, written in first-person, that will have you wondering until the final chapters how it will all wrap up.
I found Henderson reminded me of a tolerable version Ignatius from A Confederacy of Dunces (Henderson even dons a hunting hat indoors at one point). In my opinion, Henderson is Ignatius with some motivation, or, to keep in the spirit of the book, grun-tu-molani. While I despised Ignatius to the core of my being, so much that, 3 years after reading, I remember nothing of the story except my piercing hatred of Ignatius, I appreciated Henderson for his determined quest to understand life. His noble intention made me root for him despite his continual short-sightedness (exemplified well by his failure to realize he would blow the water out of the Arnewi's basin along with the frogs) and abrasive demeanor. I was rooting for him to find the meaning he searched for and calm the voice that said "I want, I want."
really should be 3.5, Good Reads needs to bring back the half stars
A brave man will try to make the evil stop with him. He shall keep the blow. No man shall get it from him, and that is a sublime ambition.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While there are parts of this book that I enjoyed, the framing of the plot within the context of a white man visiting a rural African village is what makes it problematic. The way that the author describes the Africans. Particularly making it clear to describe their features in a way that is starkly different from their white counterparts. As well as offering compliments to their culture and intellect but being quick to interject descriptions of savagery and primitive religions. It takes away from the philosophical and existential conversations between the African king and the main character. Which makes it hard to rationalize it (maybe just as a sign of the times in which this text was published). I enjoyed the idea of going out to seek what you truly “want” in life and how finding someone that shares your interests can make the suffering we went through to find them somehow worth it. That in pursuit of that companionship we can overlook mistakes and compromise ourselves. All in the pursuit of not being alone. In the end, I feel it’s a story about being content with what you have. But the endless comparisons between white and black culture with obvious class undertones, how flippant the main character was with wealth he didn’t earn yet took full advantage of, and how the author chose to characterize black characters (especially his main companion as primarily his glorified servant) took away from the experience.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Sections of this book absolutely crawled. However, he sticks the landing. The last 40 or so pages are wonderful and make up for a lot of the dragging middle.