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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
My quest to read all fiction Pulitzer's hit an early road bump since The Magnificent Ambersons is the second in a trilogy. The Turmoil is the first and depicts a period of time in the life of the Sheridan's and more precisely the lives and relationship of Mr. Sheridan and his youngest son and heir, Bibbs.
The Sheridan's are a newly wealthy family fresh on the success of Mr. Sheridan's business savvy. Already with two sons and a daughter, Bibbs quickly becomes the outcast of the family. Even his name was an afterthought and without the usual joy of a new infant. Bibbs is in almost all respects different from his father and siblings. He is tall but sickly slender with an unpleasant paleness and unforgivably without business ambitions. He is committed to a sanitarium and the novel begins with his uninspired homecoming.
Tarkington's story embarks to illustrate in words the effect of industrialization and capitalism and even gives so far as to nod at the concept of socialism. The midwestern city is constantly bombarded by soot and noise, the proverbial manna from "the god of all good American hearts-Bigness". The consummate businessman has a set of expectations and they all amount to pursuit of Bigness. I was often reminded of my child's favorite Disney cartoon, Princess Sofia in which Sofia's sister sings a song with a lyric: "Bigger is Better and Biggest is Best". Business is an all consuming force in Tarkington's industrial city and often described in terms of worship. The bank is described as the Temple - perhaps purposefully contrasting with the biblical image of Christ's rampage on the money changers in the Temple. Beauty is not just disregarded but shunned as antagonistic to successful business. Family is also considered secondary to the Machine.Mr. Sheridan flatly dismisses his second son, even threats to disinherit him, when he elects sanity over the constant strain of running the family businesses. Ironically, Bibbs becomes his father's only chance at postmortem success.
Bibbs' character is something of a mystery. We meet him with such an unflattering description of physical and mental competency but we gradually learn that he is both awake mentally but just not very Sheridan-like. He is compassionate, artistic, and abnormally honest. It seems his lack of community has stifled his understanding of normal conversation so when he finally speaks with Mary Vertrees, she is shocked, but delighted, at Bibbs' refreshing absence of pretense. Bibbs, unlike most people in their upper society, does not harbor any selfishness but bathes himself with questions and commentary about life and living outside the terms of social status and money. Mary becomes Bibbs' strength and vice-versa and it is idealistically platonic and unromantic.
All that withstanding, I simply did not get the ending. I will not callously divulge the plot so click the spoilers only if you wish, but the ending simply did not make sense and is incongruous with the story's preceding events.I mean, what is Tarkington trying to state? Bibbs sacrifices his true self to earn the love/fulfill the needs of Mary even though she will never see him again. Okay..... Mr. Sheridan fatherly nature can hardly be deemed acceptable yet he ultimately delivers Mary to Bibbs. Are we to forgive the father? No, I cannot. Are we to conclude that the effect of industrialization and capitalism are unsubstantial or trivial to only environmental differences? Again, I cannot conclude this. I am happy that Bibbs can have both the girl and his happiness but I remain dismayed that Mr. Sheridan gets no recourse for his actions and the terrible loss of Bibbs' original nature is not mourned more fully. Tarkington, in effect, reflects the character of Mr. Sheridan and argues that art is useless frivolity and that the only thing worthwhile is Business and Bigness. Huh. Those two words sound the same. As social commentary, I was expecting a different ending but couldn't imagine the one I received instead.
I give this 3-stars but I can't even explain why. The first few chapters still are true for today's culture and can be in seen in everything from our homes, debt limits, and even to our children's cartoons. The first third I was a bit dismayed that I would be reading about two terrible families consumed with money. I was given a mild respite with the budding relationship between Mary and Bibbs and that was quite refreshing. But then end just made me sit and wonder what the meaning of the book was. It remains lost on me and I only wish more people have read this book. Unfortunately, I haven't known anyone else to read it yet - and I'm not sure if this review will inspire any new readers :). In fact, I'm likely not be recommending it. Here's to hoping the second in the series is better!
The Sheridan's are a newly wealthy family fresh on the success of Mr. Sheridan's business savvy. Already with two sons and a daughter, Bibbs quickly becomes the outcast of the family. Even his name was an afterthought and without the usual joy of a new infant. Bibbs is in almost all respects different from his father and siblings. He is tall but sickly slender with an unpleasant paleness and unforgivably without business ambitions. He is committed to a sanitarium and the novel begins with his uninspired homecoming.
Tarkington's story embarks to illustrate in words the effect of industrialization and capitalism and even gives so far as to nod at the concept of socialism. The midwestern city is constantly bombarded by soot and noise, the proverbial manna from "the god of all good American hearts-Bigness". The consummate businessman has a set of expectations and they all amount to pursuit of Bigness. I was often reminded of my child's favorite Disney cartoon, Princess Sofia in which Sofia's sister sings a song with a lyric: "Bigger is Better and Biggest is Best". Business is an all consuming force in Tarkington's industrial city and often described in terms of worship. The bank is described as the Temple - perhaps purposefully contrasting with the biblical image of Christ's rampage on the money changers in the Temple. Beauty is not just disregarded but shunned as antagonistic to successful business. Family is also considered secondary to the Machine.
Bibbs' character is something of a mystery. We meet him with such an unflattering description of physical and mental competency but we gradually learn that he is both awake mentally but just not very Sheridan-like. He is compassionate, artistic, and abnormally honest. It seems his lack of community has stifled his understanding of normal conversation so when he finally speaks with Mary Vertrees, she is shocked, but delighted, at Bibbs' refreshing absence of pretense. Bibbs, unlike most people in their upper society, does not harbor any selfishness but bathes himself with questions and commentary about life and living outside the terms of social status and money. Mary becomes Bibbs' strength and vice-versa and it is idealistically platonic and unromantic.
All that withstanding, I simply did not get the ending. I will not callously divulge the plot so click the spoilers only if you wish, but the ending simply did not make sense and is incongruous with the story's preceding events.
I give this 3-stars but I can't even explain why. The first few chapters still are true for today's culture and can be in seen in everything from our homes, debt limits, and even to our children's cartoons. The first third I was a bit dismayed that I would be reading about two terrible families consumed with money. I was given a mild respite with the budding relationship between Mary and Bibbs and that was quite refreshing. But then end just made me sit and wonder what the meaning of the book was. It remains lost on me and I only wish more people have read this book. Unfortunately, I haven't known anyone else to read it yet - and I'm not sure if this review will inspire any new readers :). In fact, I'm likely not be recommending it. Here's to hoping the second in the series is better!