Review Tuesday: 'The Finkler Question'

Today’s ‘Review Tuesday’. Last ‘Review Tuesday’ I wrote ‘I’ve read a few other works by Nobel Laureates and Booker winners. One of my 2011 resolutions is to read more of them’. The Finkler Question [1, 2], by English novelist and critic Howard Jacobson [3], won the 2010 Man Booker Prize [4]. Its setup’s quite complicated. Its main characters are three men friends – two middle-aged, one elderly – in contemporary England. The elderly man and one of the others – both Jewish – are widowers; the third one’s divorced. The divorced man’s not Jewish – but, tantalizingly, he’d like to be. Of the two Jews, one’s anti-Zionist (and thus a member of the small group called ASHamed Jews); and the other’s too old, tired, and tormented by his wife’s death to care. Confused? Well you may be. But if so, that’s my fault and not Jacobson’s. The story traces a period in the three friends’ intersecting lives, set against a background of trenchant anti-Semitism masquerading (as it’s wont to be) as anti-Zionism. (The book’s title derives from the surname of the younger Jewish friend, which causes his non-Jewish friend to call all Jews ‘Finklers’.) Thus its issues are topical, controversial and therefore challenging. But despite this, I found The Finkler Question disappointing. Its writing’s competent but not remarkable. And though Jacobson develops his characters well, I reckon a first class novel – one that wins its writer a Booker – needs to rise above the pack. And, quite simply, I can’t say this one does. Pity.

Review Tuesday: 'Disgrace'

Today’s ‘Review Tuesday’. The Nobel Prize in Literature [1], inaugurated in 1901, has been awarded to 107 Nobel Laureates [2]. The Booker Prize [3], inaugurated in 1969, has been awarded to 43 writers [4]. Only four writers have won a Nobel and Booker (i.e. V S Naipaul, Nadine Gordimer, William Golding and J M Coetzee) [5]. Further, Coetzee [6] was the first to win the Booker twice [7] (the only other’s Peter Carey). So self-evidently Coetzee’s a top-notch writer. Last 11 December I saw the movie Disgrace and rated it four stars. As it was adapted from Coetzee’s 1999 Booker Prize winning novel of the same name [8, 9], I had to read the book. So I did. And I loved it. I found it more satisfying than the movie. It’s beautifully crafted, as you’d expect from a winner of a Nobel and two Bookers. With minor exceptions, the book’s scenes/dialogue and the film’s are identical. I haven’t seen many movies adapted from books I’ve read. But in Disgrace’s case I preferred the book. The main reason’s because it’s pure Coetzee whereas the movie’s inevitably an interpretation, and thus a distortion, of Coetzee’s ‘blueprint’. Also I have the type of mind that prefers the active process of converting the written word to mental images, to the passive process of watching and listening to a movie. I’ve read a few other works by Nobel Laureates and Booker winners. One of my 2011 resolutions is to read more of them.

farmdoc's blog post number 538

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…
1. the Age published an article about politicians’ musical tastes [1]. Who gives a toss? I don’t. They should shut up and run the country.
2. there were 21 arrests at an anti pulp mill demo at the government school in Beaconsfield. The school’s principal withdrew the right of some people to be on the school grounds [2]. Those arrested were peaceful, and they weren’t breaking the law. The principal acted beyond his authority. He should be dealt with. But he won’t be. For this is Tasmania.
3. Voltaren Gel’s been shown to be effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the finger joints [3]. That’s good news for me because I have this disease (though until now it’s not been very painful).
4. Monsanto announced a fourth-quarter loss of US$233M, due mainly to a fall in the demand for and price of RoundUp [4]. The only way I’d be happier is if the loss was bigger.
5. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel won the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction [5]. Tasmania’s library service has eight copies. I’m number 95 in the queue.
6. Jordan reprimanded Israel following recent riots in Jerusalem’s Old City, which erupted after Israeli police closed the Temple Mount to visitors and Muslim worshippers for fear of violence [6]. Jordan’s hypocrisy’s breathtaking. From 1948 to 1967 when it ruled the Old City, not one Jew was allowed access to the Western Wall.
7. A full 5% of America’s forest-products industry is taken up by toilet paper and tissue paper. Softer tissue requires older trees because their wood fibres are softer [7]. It’s best to use only recycled toilet paper.
8. Darling Jarrah turned six [8]. She’s beautiful and special. And the tooth fairy’s preparing to visit her for the first time.
Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.