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A review by dreamgalaxies
Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
4.0
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Realistically, probably a 3.5-3.75.
A beautifully written, deeply fractured novel, taking place in two worlds reflecting one another in a somewhat unbalanced manner. Ondaatje seems to accept it that way, although his own strengths weigh heavily, it seems, in the male narratives. He excels at uncovering the frailty of masculinity in the world we live in, without seeming to disparage the men even a little bit. The women are well-drawn characters of their own, though not quite illustrated with the same burning intensity.
The parallels between the two stories was strong, if not immediately identifiable to a casual reader. I think some of Claire's story, and Coop's too, gets lost as we are swept into Anna's poignant history of her mentor. This section from the past is, however, some of the best prose the book has to offer--especially as it reflects the pain and division of our first set of protagonists.
In short, this book is a disjointed, beautiful thing, as well as an experiment in non-linear storytelling. It's an experiment that was worth doing, even if its cubist results fall short of perfection.
Realistically, probably a 3.5-3.75.
A beautifully written, deeply fractured novel, taking place in two worlds reflecting one another in a somewhat unbalanced manner. Ondaatje seems to accept it that way, although his own strengths weigh heavily, it seems, in the male narratives. He excels at uncovering the frailty of masculinity in the world we live in, without seeming to disparage the men even a little bit. The women are well-drawn characters of their own, though not quite illustrated with the same burning intensity.
The parallels between the two stories was strong, if not immediately identifiable to a casual reader. I think some of Claire's story, and Coop's too, gets lost as we are swept into Anna's poignant history of her mentor. This section from the past is, however, some of the best prose the book has to offer--especially as it reflects the pain and division of our first set of protagonists.
In short, this book is a disjointed, beautiful thing, as well as an experiment in non-linear storytelling. It's an experiment that was worth doing, even if its cubist results fall short of perfection.