Turns out to be a formula, Tom
Whilst lurgied the other week, I re-read Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man in Full; two rather fat tomes – felt like I was sharing my sick-bed with a couple of cinder blocks. They were easy-reading and not terribly challenging, which was the point, and I suppose a preparation for reading his new novel, I am Charlotte Simmons, sometime this year.
Reading them back-to-back, the similarities became very obvious. The multi-stranded structure from Bonfire is replicated in A Man, and why not, Tom? The first one got rave reviews, didn’t it? It’s over ten years between their publications, no-one will remember much from the first novel. We’ll relocate to Atlanta, of course, so we can exercise some of our Southern Gentleman sensibilities. We’ll remake our Wall Street Banker (Master of the Universe) into property developer (rather redneck), and knock a few more edges off; they both turn out different in the end anyway. We’ll centre the plot on racist goings on, which worked out OK in NYC, and we’ll use the same template for a larger-than-life black reverend who tries to take advantage of the situation in a pretty dubious way. Wives are honest and worthy; mistresses are younger and more alluring. A few of the less attractive sidekicks get their comeuppance. Frankly, it is writing to a template.
And whilst Bonfire got the better reviews, I actually preferred A Man in Full. It was funnier, and the style reflected the good ol’ boy pace, unlike the tougher, gritty urban milieu of the former.
I trust that Charlotte Simmons will have broken out of the formula.
Reading them back-to-back, the similarities became very obvious. The multi-stranded structure from Bonfire is replicated in A Man, and why not, Tom? The first one got rave reviews, didn’t it? It’s over ten years between their publications, no-one will remember much from the first novel. We’ll relocate to Atlanta, of course, so we can exercise some of our Southern Gentleman sensibilities. We’ll remake our Wall Street Banker (Master of the Universe) into property developer (rather redneck), and knock a few more edges off; they both turn out different in the end anyway. We’ll centre the plot on racist goings on, which worked out OK in NYC, and we’ll use the same template for a larger-than-life black reverend who tries to take advantage of the situation in a pretty dubious way. Wives are honest and worthy; mistresses are younger and more alluring. A few of the less attractive sidekicks get their comeuppance. Frankly, it is writing to a template.
And whilst Bonfire got the better reviews, I actually preferred A Man in Full. It was funnier, and the style reflected the good ol’ boy pace, unlike the tougher, gritty urban milieu of the former.
I trust that Charlotte Simmons will have broken out of the formula.
posted by peter @ 6:32 pm
2 comments
2 Comments:
I don't want to put you off before you read it, but I found Charlotte Simmons immensely disappointing. In fact I pre-ordered it from Amazon for reading over Christmas, and gave up on it before finishing - very rare for me when I have shelled out hard earned cash for a book.
Charlotte Simmons seems to be some sort of menopausal abberation from Wolfe. Totally fixated on sex and swearing in the most dreary and unimaginative way. Cardboard characters, written to stereotypes without an ounce of development.
Won't say any more, you may get the idea I didn't like the book.
If you want a great contemporary novel try Saturday by Ian McEwan, see my review and this and others on my blog via the Pliable link below.
I feel so bad about this book I want to donate it to research. Anyone that wants my copy contact me via my blog, and I will make it available via www.bookcrossing.com
I'd never heard of www.bookcrossing.com before - marvellous concept! I will add it to the links here.
Pertinently, the bookish comment on the front page was by Dorothy Parker: "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."
We'll see, perhaps.
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