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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
I read The Hawkline Monster as part of a collection of three of Brautigan's short works, but we're having our book club meeting about this tonight, so I want to put some thoughts down now.
The Hawkline Monster is a book that the enjoyment of which depends a lot on what you read and why. This can be said of a lot of works, sure, but in particular a book like this is going to disappoint or satisfy based on what you come into a book looking for.
When I read, I want to be entertained, first and foremost. This isn't to say that what I read needs to be flashy, just that it needs to hold my interest. I want a good story, and if the story itself is grabbing enough, I'm willing to forgive a lot of other sins or imperfections. If the story is boring, though, see you later, book, I'm out of here (with some rare exceptions).
The Hawkline Monster is a book that entertains. The story of two gunslingers who, upon returning to the contiguous states after a disastrous Hawaii trip, meet a woman nicknamed Magic Child, who implores them to come out to her house and kill a monster that her father created. High jinks ensue.
Brautigan weaves his surreal magic with shots of both absurdist and deadpan humor, and creates a book that feels like the literary equivalent of a Dali painting. He asks the reader to suspend belief and use imagination, and in turn, the reader is rewarded with a story that feels like anything can happen, and is exciting in that Willy Wonka "Where the hell is he taking us?" train ride sort of way (but way less creepy).
So you see, if you want a trajectory that's clearly defined, if your need for order is greater than your appreciation for chaos, then this isn't the kind of thing you're going to dig on.
It's also not necessarily a book that's filled with a ton of deeper meaning, though I don't know that a solely shallow read is entirely fair, either. Brautigan plays a lot with duality - man/man, woman/woman, man/woman, light/dark, good/evil - and subverts some of the traditional concepts at play in those contrasts and comparisons: women as sexual aggressors, light as being bad, etc.
He also toys with traditional concepts in his use of the genres "Gothic Western," in that the standard requirements of each genre is there, but not necessarily in the context that's expected. There's Magic Child, an Indian woman, the setting of the West (specifically Oregon), the gunslingers, talk of hangings and outlaw gangs, but then he takes the vast expanse of the West and stuffs it into the old creepy house of the Gothic, though the house itself isn't particularly medieval or pseudo-medieval, it's just odd and ominous. Ms. Hawkline initially seems like she's set up in the role of the crone with Magic Child as the virtuous (in personality, but not in, uh, the virginal sense so much) woman. The gunslingers might also be the heroes, with the Hawkline Monster as our villain, and there's even a servant (though he doesn't seem dim-witted in any way). The Hawkline Monster isn't one genre stylized as the other so much as it firmly straddles them, or takes pieces of both and throws them into a blinder.
While I got a serious thrill from reading it, I don't know that I'd recommend it to someone as their first Brautigan experience. I'd still give that honor to Trout Fishing in America. With its vaguely autobiographical bent, it gives a stronger sense of Brautigan's voice and personality. The Hawkline Monster is certainly distinct, but it might take some time for the reader to "get" his intent. So for people looking to delve into his works, I'd suggest starting with Trout... over this one - but that said, if you appreciate a little magic and absurdity, this makes for a fine read any day.
The Hawkline Monster is a book that the enjoyment of which depends a lot on what you read and why. This can be said of a lot of works, sure, but in particular a book like this is going to disappoint or satisfy based on what you come into a book looking for.
When I read, I want to be entertained, first and foremost. This isn't to say that what I read needs to be flashy, just that it needs to hold my interest. I want a good story, and if the story itself is grabbing enough, I'm willing to forgive a lot of other sins or imperfections. If the story is boring, though, see you later, book, I'm out of here (with some rare exceptions).
The Hawkline Monster is a book that entertains. The story of two gunslingers who, upon returning to the contiguous states after a disastrous Hawaii trip, meet a woman nicknamed Magic Child, who implores them to come out to her house and kill a monster that her father created. High jinks ensue.
Brautigan weaves his surreal magic with shots of both absurdist and deadpan humor, and creates a book that feels like the literary equivalent of a Dali painting. He asks the reader to suspend belief and use imagination, and in turn, the reader is rewarded with a story that feels like anything can happen, and is exciting in that Willy Wonka "Where the hell is he taking us?" train ride sort of way (but way less creepy).
So you see, if you want a trajectory that's clearly defined, if your need for order is greater than your appreciation for chaos, then this isn't the kind of thing you're going to dig on.
It's also not necessarily a book that's filled with a ton of deeper meaning, though I don't know that a solely shallow read is entirely fair, either. Brautigan plays a lot with duality - man/man, woman/woman, man/woman, light/dark, good/evil - and subverts some of the traditional concepts at play in those contrasts and comparisons: women as sexual aggressors, light as being bad, etc.
He also toys with traditional concepts in his use of the genres "Gothic Western," in that the standard requirements of each genre is there, but not necessarily in the context that's expected. There's Magic Child, an Indian woman, the setting of the West (specifically Oregon), the gunslingers, talk of hangings and outlaw gangs, but then he takes the vast expanse of the West and stuffs it into the old creepy house of the Gothic, though the house itself isn't particularly medieval or pseudo-medieval, it's just odd and ominous. Ms. Hawkline initially seems like she's set up in the role of the crone with Magic Child as the virtuous (in personality, but not in, uh, the virginal sense so much) woman
Spoiler
but then they meld into two versions of the same person, messing with the notion of a division or a contrast of the twoWhile I got a serious thrill from reading it, I don't know that I'd recommend it to someone as their first Brautigan experience. I'd still give that honor to Trout Fishing in America. With its vaguely autobiographical bent, it gives a stronger sense of Brautigan's voice and personality. The Hawkline Monster is certainly distinct, but it might take some time for the reader to "get" his intent. So for people looking to delve into his works, I'd suggest starting with Trout... over this one - but that said, if you appreciate a little magic and absurdity, this makes for a fine read any day.
3,5
Ο Μαλαφέκας με έφερε εδώ, πρώτη επαφή με αυτή την μορφή του αμερικάνικου underground με ένα σουρεαλιστικό γουέστερν που κυλάει αέρα και ενσωματώνει στοιχεία της αμερικάνικης πραγματικότητας.
Ο Μαλαφέκας με έφερε εδώ, πρώτη επαφή με αυτή την μορφή του αμερικάνικου underground με ένα σουρεαλιστικό γουέστερν που κυλάει αέρα και ενσωματώνει στοιχεία της αμερικάνικης πραγματικότητας.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Although entertaining and quirky, this self-described "Gothic western," based mostly around a Frankenstein-type plot, doesn't really add anything very new or original to either genre, nor does it shake the foundations of occidental thought or literary tradition. Mostly, today, it makes for an interesting window into that late '60s/early '70s world of female, sexual, and urban liberation. Yeah, it's more of a hippie novel than either a western or a Gothic. Fun and imaginative, but much less emotional and profound than the more autobiographical novels of Brautigan that I've read and admire much more than this one.
Also it sound very much like a Kurt Vonnegut novel--kindred spirits or was there some influence in one direction or the other? I dunno.
Also it sound very much like a Kurt Vonnegut novel--kindred spirits or was there some influence in one direction or the other? I dunno.
The Hawkline Monster by Richard Brautigan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A Gothic Western
'This sure is a weird place,' Greer said.
'It ain't any weirder that Hawaii,' Cameron said.
As it turned out, Cameron was wrong.
Blurb: It is the beginning of the 20th century. A huge yellow house stands in a field of frost in the Dead Hills of East Oregon. In the basement of the house are The Chemicals.
The Chemicals were Professor Hawkline's lifework - but the Professor has disappeared and his lifework must be completed by his two beautiful daughters...Who lay in bedrooms upstairs with two professional killers, Greer and Cameron. While their beloved giant butler lies dead and ignored on the front hall floor. Meanwhile, in the ice caves below the house, the Hawkline Monster laughs and roars.
Thoughts: I must admit that I have been reading outside my comfort zone with this one. I know nothing of the gothic style of literature and as far as I know I haven't read any previously. My knowledge of the western genre consists of a few interesting movies (my favourite being perhaps McCabe & Mrs Miller) and the general idea of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood that has become synonymous with the genre. So my expectation going in to this was practically zero. The words "gothic western" just appealed to me and the premise of this one equally so. This being my first Brautigan also added to the newness of the experience for me.
Greer and Cameron are instantly likable heroes, interest and sympathy for them created from the very first page with their wise cracking and obvious humanity. The journey to face the Hawkline Monster is interesting and well told in short bursts of anecdotal description that is in turns funny and obtuse. The majority of the chapters are a single page in length with the chapter headings often providing more of the plot movement than the contents, this is a new literary trick for me and I really grew to appreciate it when combined with Brautigans almost picaresque style of storytelling.
It's just a little too bizarre for me to really love it. I couldn't really work out if the "monster" was real, if the entire story was just a metaphor for religion or some such other major literary topic and maybe that is the point of gothic literature? Something tells me it might be but I'm ready and willing to listen to others explanations on the subject (hint hint.)
Although having said that I got the sudden urge to watch The X Files whilst reading this, the behaviour and description of the monster felt like the kind of case Mulder would have dragged Scully to investigate in the late 90s. Does anybody remember the episode How The Ghosts Stole Christmas from season 6? Am I on the right track now?
As my friend from Manchester said of this book, a good, unusual and interesting novel but not great.
Once upon a time Hal Ashby had lined up Jack Nicholson and Jeff Bridges for a film adaptation but it sadly never happened, then Tim Burton also had Jack Nicholson involved in an adaptation but this time with Clint Eastwood, happily this one never got off the ground.
Further viewing suggestions:
McCabe & Mrs Miller
Ride With The Devil
Hombre
Additional reading:
Blood Meridian
Welcome To Hard Times
The Sisters Brothers
Originally posted at blahblahblahgay
I love a gothic western, which it certainly was. The first 2/3 were great because I love the way Brautigan writes. The end was rushed, nothingness. But it didn't matter all the much because it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to read his stories. Was there a moral tale? Don't think so. Enjoyed it anyway.
Brautigan doing his usual thing: laconic heroes, not much happening, gentle humor. Good stuff.
Divertidísimo. Es el primer libro que leo de Brautigan y me ha maravillado. Creo que es la primera vez que suelto una carcajada tan grande leyendo. Cameron y Greer son dos personajes cojonudos de los que leería decenas de historias. Me quedo con la sensación de no querer que acabe, cosa que me pasa con muy muy pocas lecturas.
Still trying to decide if this was brilliant or ridiculous. Whichever, it was certainly entertaining.