The review was supposed be on Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," however I just finished Cronin's "The Passage" and was inspired to write quickly while thoughts were still in my head.
Justin Cronin is an English Professor and has written 3 novels; "The Passage" is his third and most anticipated. It is another vampire novel but not in the style of Stephanie Meyers melodramas; think more Robert Ludlum meets Bram Stoker. The first third of the novel is quick paced, interesting and written with a particular direction in mind. Its narrative is seductive and the reader is engaged with the plot and the machinations of the various characters. The characters, quite a number of them, are well-developed individuals; they are unique with perspectives explained and motivations coherent. The first parts of the book are intriguing.
The second and subsequent parts of Cronin's novel are more questionable. It becomes a post-Apocalyptic world of vampires subsisting on scattered humans and squirrels; there is a nation of Texas complete with oil supplies; and a tremendous, if somewhat oblique, faith in God, home and the American dream. But the focus of this review will be on garbage. Cronin's novel is replete with garbage. Survivors travel the country carrying with them 93 year old cans of food; humans don't starve because they can subsist on ancient, tinned food. And, they dump cans they no longer need. They encounter homes with clothing still packaged and wearable; colonies are almost built on the remnants of shopping malls; heroes are made in the galaxy of consumerism. Although gardening and farming are taken as a necessity, the various characters of Cronin's world struggle in a material world still dominated by the curiousities of the American culture. Books are not explored; although, some characters encounter Melville's "Moby Dick" and various children's books. They are amazed by the moving pictures on a movie screen and the Texan Army still uses the obvious tools of the trade: tanks, walkie-talkies, and bombs.
Cronin's novel world is built upon that which is easily disposable and, thematically, mirrors, the ease with which humans are overrun by the vampire virus. It is questionable whether Cronin did this on purpose; it does not appear deliberate. That fact makes the reviewer consider the influence of consumerism on Cronin's writing. In a sense, the world he creates is almost Disneyfied: vampires eat squirrels and live in the dark. Wouldn't rats be more likely and more available? Mice scurry about the empty houses and vehicles are left in stasis for miles upon miles of traffic; but, there are no descriptions of the horror that would have occurred upon the dead. There are implications about vampire attack, but not about rodent. It wouldn't be so noticeable except it becomes bothersome. The new world, post vampire infection and Texan dominance, seems so clean; travelers can almost drink from streams, plumbing still works. After 100 years. Cronin's novel becomes not just a post-Apocalyptic fiction but almost a fantasy. Worse, and this implication arises more because of the book's timeliness than its storyline, oil still seems like a huge necessity. The Louisiana oil spill is still happening as this is being written and Cronin's work anticipates a world still dependent on crude. Worse still, his narrative fails to consider the possibility of oil accidents although the novel is based upon the arrogance of the American military and its failure to consider accidents. Perhaps, the eventual departure of the Texan citizenry predicts the exploration of the ramifications of an oil spill in a post-Apocalyptic world?
Finally, "The Passage," somehow, is supposed to mirror themes developed in the biblical story of Noah and the Ark. Cronin fails completely to explain the reason why the heroine of the story is connected to the Noah story; she carries the cure to the virus? She is the cure? At one point, the heroine has the cure to the virus and burns them. It really doesn't make sense. Nor does the conclusion. Either Texas is over-run by vampires or the remaining citizens of the world move to New Zealand; for some reason, the heroine disappears and the story concludes in a set of documents presented at a conference. It makes for a less than fulfilling conclusion. If Cronin had been able to maintain the tight, fluid narrative with which he had begun "The Passage," it would be an exceptionable book. Much better than Stephen King's "The Stand" with which it shows similarities. However, the story line seems to dissolve in traveling motifs--characters walking to Wisconsin, to Utah, being driven to Texas. It is reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's final book in the Harry Potter series in which the three main characters are set adrift in a series of camping expeditions that make no sense at all.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Second Book: The Management Myth by Matthew Stewart
The member of parliament for the local riding is Helena Guergis; amidst the trials she has had in the press recently, a notable accomplishment aroused my attention. She had received an MBA from the University of Alberta. Ms Guergis' business experience amounts to running a bed and bath boutique in her father's mall; she does not have a B.A., her academic qualifications stopped with a college diploma in real estate which she never used, and a work history with the Conservative Party and its government while in power. For all intents and purposes, one could argue Ms Guergis was gifted with the MBA because to suggest she qualified for it would diminish the expectations of everyone else who struggles for one. Matthew Stewart argues, in his well-written book "The Management Myth," that such graduate programs are very expensive networking opportunities; the example of Ms Guergis would seem to prove him right.
Matthew Stewart writes well and cogently; his academic background is in philosophy and his work experience is primarily in financial assessment? entrepreneurial expectations? telling people how to make their businesses function better? Consulting. Stewart makes the important point that there is no science to the business of making money and the best way for a business to succeed is to work hard and grasp every opportunity to make it succeed. There is no simple way for this to happen and there is no scientifically proven route that will guarantee success.
Stewart traces the history of MBA programs, and other Management Graduate programs, and connects them to the cult of efficiency and the misleading notion that finance is equal to economics; the former is not a science and the other requires a very strong background in math. Stewart tells a great story about Frederick Winslow Taylor and the Bethlehem steel company; Taylor premised a whole management system upon a base of falsehoods. And, business owners, rather than recognize Taylor's story for what it was, supported his endeavour to make science an important aspect of business acumen. Attempts to define human nature in scientific terms cannot be done but for the past century, top business schools have based much of their Management graduate programs on the idea that it could. Stewart argues that such programs thus evolved into networking opportunities for an elite because they obviously had no connection to the realities of the business world.
Stewart's writing is at times academic but always thoughtful; some digressions into his personal experiences with business management are distracting. On the whole, however, the book is interesting and well-worth the read. It is something that should be read by those interested in business and curious about the pursuit of an MBA. If one is interested in running a business and making it succeed, graduate programs in business may not be the best route; working in said business would probably be better: one learns about the company, the customers, and the best way for needs to be met. If a person is more ambiguous about the nature and expectation of business, an MBA might be worthwhile; it, at least, gives credential to experience although it is not the equivalent of business experience.
Matthew Stewart writes well and cogently; his academic background is in philosophy and his work experience is primarily in financial assessment? entrepreneurial expectations? telling people how to make their businesses function better? Consulting. Stewart makes the important point that there is no science to the business of making money and the best way for a business to succeed is to work hard and grasp every opportunity to make it succeed. There is no simple way for this to happen and there is no scientifically proven route that will guarantee success.
Stewart traces the history of MBA programs, and other Management Graduate programs, and connects them to the cult of efficiency and the misleading notion that finance is equal to economics; the former is not a science and the other requires a very strong background in math. Stewart tells a great story about Frederick Winslow Taylor and the Bethlehem steel company; Taylor premised a whole management system upon a base of falsehoods. And, business owners, rather than recognize Taylor's story for what it was, supported his endeavour to make science an important aspect of business acumen. Attempts to define human nature in scientific terms cannot be done but for the past century, top business schools have based much of their Management graduate programs on the idea that it could. Stewart argues that such programs thus evolved into networking opportunities for an elite because they obviously had no connection to the realities of the business world.
Stewart's writing is at times academic but always thoughtful; some digressions into his personal experiences with business management are distracting. On the whole, however, the book is interesting and well-worth the read. It is something that should be read by those interested in business and curious about the pursuit of an MBA. If one is interested in running a business and making it succeed, graduate programs in business may not be the best route; working in said business would probably be better: one learns about the company, the customers, and the best way for needs to be met. If a person is more ambiguous about the nature and expectation of business, an MBA might be worthwhile; it, at least, gives credential to experience although it is not the equivalent of business experience.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
First Book: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
The late Swedish writer Stieg Larsson wrote a trilogy of mystery novels shortly before his death; they are brilliant, based in Sweden and loosely connected by the main protagonist, Lisabeth Salander, also known as the girl with the dragon tattoo. The first book is premised on the theme of female abuse. Various sections begin with epitaphs highlighting actual facts about the abuse women suffer at the hands of male Swedes. Many of the female characters within the novel endure the casual abuse and violence of male characters. Some have called Larsson's books romantic and mysterious but this book also epitomizes the casual brutality with which women live.
Three stories are braided together in the novel: a tale of financial corruption, a mysterious disappearance, and a pseudo-family history. Larsson seems to indicate casual violence is a subsequent effect of greed and power lust. He examines the role of the financial media in the assessment of Swedish corporations and their almost sycophantic behaviours. He considers the motivations of teen angst and religious curiousity. And, he regards, with suspicion, family narratives masquerading as history.
The story is translated eloquently by Reg Keeland; unfamiliar with Swedish as this writer is, but for location names, by place setting mandatory, the writing is clear and concise. Perhaps an unfair metaphor is a comparison with an Ikea shopping experience: the meanings are clear, subtleties are kept to minimum, and despite the complexity of the narrative, the plot is obvious. Like the store, everything is available, but sometimes a little work is required. Larsson requires the reader to remember pertinent information about specific characters, sometimes such details are more obvious in a second reading. Place names can be difficult and the history of the Vanger family does require a familiarity with the family tree introduced at the beginning of the text. However, the story lines are worth the trouble.
Lisabeth Salander is an unusual character. She is not a protagonist per se but her machinations drive the distinct plot lines and braids them together. As an individual, she is fascinating; the reader is absorbed by her behaviours and curious as to her history. Mikael Blomquist is the story's hero. He is a bit laid back but, as a foil to the uptight Salander, his character has strengths at times unexpected. Other characters weave in and out of the story, sometimes motivating plot, sometimes creating juxtapositions between other people. Larsson does do an incredible job on the fictive reality he has created; it feels as though the reader is in Sweden and a participant in the culture--not just the weather.
A minor drawback is the sexual connection between characters; Erika Berger and Blomquist have a casual sexual history that seems out of place in a platonic relationship. Their relationship is better than friendship but wouldn't survive a marriage. In a tale that does examine sexual violence as illustrative of male dominance, it seems out of place.
Steig Larrson examines women's roles in a society governed by financial greed and the deleterious affects on children and family. Women do not seem to have power in Sweden unless they are beautiful and independently rich or an exile and still independently wealthy. Salander contrasts with the rich and beautiful; she is a survivor although Larsson never reveals her history; she works but does not seem to care about money; and she is a victim of social institutions and, yet, her conscience does seem to govern her actions. Salander behaves as the victim but competently reacts as the vengeful angel. Larsson has created an intriguing heroine with her.
The book is well worth reading.
Three stories are braided together in the novel: a tale of financial corruption, a mysterious disappearance, and a pseudo-family history. Larsson seems to indicate casual violence is a subsequent effect of greed and power lust. He examines the role of the financial media in the assessment of Swedish corporations and their almost sycophantic behaviours. He considers the motivations of teen angst and religious curiousity. And, he regards, with suspicion, family narratives masquerading as history.
The story is translated eloquently by Reg Keeland; unfamiliar with Swedish as this writer is, but for location names, by place setting mandatory, the writing is clear and concise. Perhaps an unfair metaphor is a comparison with an Ikea shopping experience: the meanings are clear, subtleties are kept to minimum, and despite the complexity of the narrative, the plot is obvious. Like the store, everything is available, but sometimes a little work is required. Larsson requires the reader to remember pertinent information about specific characters, sometimes such details are more obvious in a second reading. Place names can be difficult and the history of the Vanger family does require a familiarity with the family tree introduced at the beginning of the text. However, the story lines are worth the trouble.
Lisabeth Salander is an unusual character. She is not a protagonist per se but her machinations drive the distinct plot lines and braids them together. As an individual, she is fascinating; the reader is absorbed by her behaviours and curious as to her history. Mikael Blomquist is the story's hero. He is a bit laid back but, as a foil to the uptight Salander, his character has strengths at times unexpected. Other characters weave in and out of the story, sometimes motivating plot, sometimes creating juxtapositions between other people. Larsson does do an incredible job on the fictive reality he has created; it feels as though the reader is in Sweden and a participant in the culture--not just the weather.
A minor drawback is the sexual connection between characters; Erika Berger and Blomquist have a casual sexual history that seems out of place in a platonic relationship. Their relationship is better than friendship but wouldn't survive a marriage. In a tale that does examine sexual violence as illustrative of male dominance, it seems out of place.
Steig Larrson examines women's roles in a society governed by financial greed and the deleterious affects on children and family. Women do not seem to have power in Sweden unless they are beautiful and independently rich or an exile and still independently wealthy. Salander contrasts with the rich and beautiful; she is a survivor although Larsson never reveals her history; she works but does not seem to care about money; and she is a victim of social institutions and, yet, her conscience does seem to govern her actions. Salander behaves as the victim but competently reacts as the vengeful angel. Larsson has created an intriguing heroine with her.
The book is well worth reading.
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