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A review by schmoterp
The Man With the Golden Arm by Nelson Algren, Daniel Simon, Kurt Vonnegut, Studs Terkel, William J. Savage Jr.
5.0
Frankie Majcinek has a 35 pound monkey on his back and its name is Morphine. While I was reading, it was tempting to view this novel as a discussion on addiction and low living, but the more I read, the most I thought we all have some monkey on our backs. Maybe it's not Morphine and maybe its not 40 pounds, but there is a lesson in the story of Frankie, the "Machine".
I couldn't help but think that Frankie reminded me of Eddie Dean from Stephen King's Gunslinger series.
At any rate, as much as Frankie is responsible for his own decisions, he was driven to his addiciton by the depression of his wife - something that is hardly dealt with honestly throughout the book. It's not to say that its her fault either...I can't imagine being married to someone who is in and out of jail not to mention causing an accident that lead to bum legs. Nevertheless, Zosh was complicit in Frankie's self-destruction as she was central to his anxiety. Her selfishness and constant dependency on him was the heavier monkey on Frankie's back than ever the morphine.
The book almost felt like a film noir. Urban setting with shady characters always talking big. It was dark and Algren's writing just enveloped the reader in this state of despair. Everything was dramatic, inevitable, and slow. As sure as a runaway train and the impending chaos. But it wasn't like you were watching the train wreck and just couldn't turn away. No, the reader is on that train and can sense the doom approaching but has nothing he can do except just wait to see what unfolds.
Other reviews have spoken that TMWTGA has a theme of hope associated with it - but I couldn't disagree more. The monkey is on us all and we either tame that beast or he'll pound our backs to oblivion. Frankie couldn't deal with it, but neither could anyone else in the story. Sophia couldn't help herself and drove everyone who was willing to help her away: she went insane. Sparrow, the loyal sidekick, couldn't hold himself together when his friend needed him the most: he's in the pokie. Louie probably couldn't control his own urge to sell morphine which eventually got him killed - even if not deliberately. Even the captain seemed to be dealing with his own issues about have to deal with criminals and feeling he's betraying his fellow man.
Going over what I've written so far....perhaps I don't quite have a coherent thought on the book. But I was captivated by it. The story, its style, it's mid-century Chicago vibe - it was a great book and I think I might want to reread it one day.
I couldn't help but think that Frankie reminded me of Eddie Dean from Stephen King's Gunslinger series.
At any rate, as much as Frankie is responsible for his own decisions, he was driven to his addiciton by the depression of his wife - something that is hardly dealt with honestly throughout the book. It's not to say that its her fault either...I can't imagine being married to someone who is in and out of jail not to mention causing an accident that lead to bum legs. Nevertheless, Zosh was complicit in Frankie's self-destruction as she was central to his anxiety. Her selfishness and constant dependency on him was the heavier monkey on Frankie's back than ever the morphine.
The book almost felt like a film noir. Urban setting with shady characters always talking big. It was dark and Algren's writing just enveloped the reader in this state of despair. Everything was dramatic, inevitable, and slow. As sure as a runaway train and the impending chaos. But it wasn't like you were watching the train wreck and just couldn't turn away. No, the reader is on that train and can sense the doom approaching but has nothing he can do except just wait to see what unfolds.
Other reviews have spoken that TMWTGA has a theme of hope associated with it - but I couldn't disagree more. The monkey is on us all and we either tame that beast or he'll pound our backs to oblivion. Frankie couldn't deal with it, but neither could anyone else in the story. Sophia couldn't help herself and drove everyone who was willing to help her away: she went insane. Sparrow, the loyal sidekick, couldn't hold himself together when his friend needed him the most: he's in the pokie. Louie probably couldn't control his own urge to sell morphine which eventually got him killed - even if not deliberately. Even the captain seemed to be dealing with his own issues about have to deal with criminals and feeling he's betraying his fellow man.
Going over what I've written so far....perhaps I don't quite have a coherent thought on the book. But I was captivated by it. The story, its style, it's mid-century Chicago vibe - it was a great book and I think I might want to reread it one day.