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The Hearing Review
Dec. 31st, 2011 04:56 pmHey,
So the last book of the year is almost certainly going to be: The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington. It's got a rep as a surreal novel, but it's not surreal like Dali clocks, it's more surreal like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of Oz. Weird stuff happens, but it's in a context that's comprehensible (sorta). Actually, I'd sort of classify it as Elder Lit, the flip-side of YA books.
The book is about 92 year-old Marian Letherby. She lives her with son his family and one day her eccentric next door neighbor (forever coming up with quixotic schemes) gives her an elaborate hearing trumpet. With the use of the trumpet, Marian discovers that she's about to be sent away to a nursing home.
The home turns out to be a rather eccentric collection of buildings run by a doctor of dubious methodologies and his wife who seems happy to have the free help. Here Marian meets an eccentric cast of fellow elderly women and also discovers the portrait of a winking nun which starts to infiltrate her dreams. Things get weird from there.
It's a short, breezy read with weird stuff happening in it. It feels a bit dated (the book was written in the 60's I believe) and it's not super deep. But it is an enjoyable little read and probably perfect for commuter reading.
It's about time for my year-end round up on books so look for that post soon.
later
Tom
So the last book of the year is almost certainly going to be: The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington. It's got a rep as a surreal novel, but it's not surreal like Dali clocks, it's more surreal like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of Oz. Weird stuff happens, but it's in a context that's comprehensible (sorta). Actually, I'd sort of classify it as Elder Lit, the flip-side of YA books.
The book is about 92 year-old Marian Letherby. She lives her with son his family and one day her eccentric next door neighbor (forever coming up with quixotic schemes) gives her an elaborate hearing trumpet. With the use of the trumpet, Marian discovers that she's about to be sent away to a nursing home.
The home turns out to be a rather eccentric collection of buildings run by a doctor of dubious methodologies and his wife who seems happy to have the free help. Here Marian meets an eccentric cast of fellow elderly women and also discovers the portrait of a winking nun which starts to infiltrate her dreams. Things get weird from there.
It's a short, breezy read with weird stuff happening in it. It feels a bit dated (the book was written in the 60's I believe) and it's not super deep. But it is an enjoyable little read and probably perfect for commuter reading.
It's about time for my year-end round up on books so look for that post soon.
later
Tom
