Literary Blog Hop! – Does Literary Non-Fiction Exist?

Tags

biography, fear and loathing, gonzo journalism, hunter s thompson, literary nonfiction, meme, percy bysshe shelley, peter ackroyd, richard holmes, romantic poets, rum diary, shelley the pursuit, victor frankenstein

Welcome to the ‘Literary Blog Hop’, a meme hosted by The Blue Bookcase for book bloggers who focus on reviewing literary fiction. This weeks’ hop comes with the question:

Is there such a thing as ‘literary non-fiction’?

My rough answer to this question would be yes, there is most certainly a genre that can be called ‘literary non-fiction’. However, if you want a succinct description pinpointing exactly what that might be, I honestly can’t say for sure. And the reason for this can be found in a post for the previous hop ‘What is Literary Fiction?’. Here I explored the fact that the term ‘literary’ is a Gordian knot unto itself, an overarching, super genre that has been equally revered and reviled over the years due to one of its’ characteristics: literariness or ‘writing in a writerly way’. Confused? I thought so. To put it crudely, a piece of literary fiction usually focusses on philosophical or psychological issues and often has an inner theme or subtextual nuances. People argue that it’s nothing but a vehicle for the author to showcase his or her literary dexterity by using as many tricks and techniques as possible. Unfortunately this can also mean archaic language and difficult plot-structure that readers may find hard to follow. While this may be the exception, it is certainly not the rule.

Overall critics do not look favourably upon the amorphous, and this extends to the even more illusive genre of ‘literary non-fiction’. But even if I can’t pinpoint EXACTLY what it is, I can certainly come up with some examples  that might illustrate the point a bit better than my own flawed attempts.

When one says ‘literary non-fiction’ I suppose the first thing that comes to mind is journalism, but not the kind that is buried in facts, mind you, but those that create a ‘factually accurate narrative’. What I’m thinking of is the sub-sub genre of ‘New Journalism’ first penned by Hunter S. Thompson: ‘Gonzo Journalism’. I think this is a good example of how literary non-fiction illustrates its’ hereditary trait of hybridization and its’ power to fuse fact and fiction without completely blurring those boundaries.‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ is probably the pioneer piece of Gonzo journalism, which has now become so popular that every magazine today has interviews and articles with a dash of Gonzo thrown in for good measure.  

Added to this are biographies that read like fiction, in the way that as readers we are ‘living’ the history of that person, and are not being constantly hit over the head with dates and other historical data. The most famous literary biographer at the moment would probably be Peter Ackroyd (see ‘The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein’ and ‘Poe: A Life Cut Short’). Yet in my opinion the best biography I have read has got to be ‘Shelley: the Pursuit’ by Richard Holmes.

“If the art of biography was ever damned, Shelley: The Pursuit redeems it” – New York Times

Aside from it being an amazingly detailed account of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s short but tumultuous life, it is also packed with of a lot of painstaking research which reveals aspects of Shelley’s character and life that has never been published anywhere else. The book itself is as thick as ‘Les Miserables’, but is an absolute must read for any self-respecting enthusiast of Romantic Poets and Poetry. As a Mary Shelley enthusiast, I picked up the book hoping to shed some light over the origins of Frankenstein (the ever-popular topic of research for us Frankenstein freaks). To my delight I found it to be a gold-mine of information. Holmes is so very thorough in his research, and to think he wrote this when he was 29.

What I also like about it is how Holmes cast aside the popular ‘ethereal’ image of Shelley and persevered to portray him warts and all. He was no angel, far from it; he was a pyromaniac, an adulterer and a hypochondriac. He was obsessed with electrocuting cats by tying them up to kites during thunderstorms and also his siblings who during childhood were constantly experimented upon with acids and caustics. It wasn’t for nothing that his peers called him ‘Mad Shelley’.

For more information about ‘Gonzo Journalism’ and Hunter S. Thompson, check out my posts on ‘The Rum Diary’, my tribute to Hunter and my Character Connection: Dr. Gonzo.

‘The Rum Diary’ by Hunter S. Thompson

Tags

50 books a year, book review, Caribbean, hunter s thompson, rum diary, San Juan Puerto Rico

The Rum Diary: A Novel by Hunter S. Thompson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“The scene I had just witnessed brought back a lot of memories – not of things I have done but of things I have failed to do, wasted hours and frustrated moments and opportunities forever lost because time had eaten so much of my life and I would never get it back.”

Paul Kemp; an arrogant, know-it-all journalist makes his way from New York to Puerto Rico to work at the only English-language paper on the island, ‘The Daily News’. The people there however, are like the weather; hot-tempered and volatile, often drifting from one assignment to another with little loyalty to their profession. As the paper sits perpetually on the brink of bankruptcy, Kemp begins to question the reason he came to the island in the first place. His workmates (an unwilling, down-and-out, lazy bunch of vagrants) seem to be a mirror, showing him how he’ll end up one day if he lets his profession (and the island) burn him out.

Based loosely on Thompson’s brief stint as a journalist in Puerto Rico, the ‘Rum Diary’ is a mish-mash of office politics, masculine desperation and that all important question, ‘just what am I doing with my life?’ Kemp, a thirtysomething reporter has so far got by rather well on his youth and his looks; but upon arriving at this tropical paradise, falls short of his expectations. He suddenly feels like an unwanted immigrant. The hostility of the locals and the idle tension among his colleagues mounts to breaking point. He soon realises that he must make a decision; to stay and live in the languorous haze of uncertainty, or leave.

Before I begin to list the good, the bad and the ugly, I want to make it clear that this was one of Thompson’s first novels. The second, ‘Prince Jelly-Fish’ was written about the same time as ‘The Rum Diary’ but was never published. Thompson is also famous for his self-styled ‘Gonzo‘ journalism; a rather theatrical, egocentric form of reporting. For anyone hoping to find any of that here they can think twice, because this is not Gonzo. No where near, in fact. Here is a rare example of Hunter’s writing before the rock ‘n’ roll drugs took hold. People wishing to catch a glimpse of Thompson’s writing pre-Gonzo will find this a very valuable text indeed, because here is a young man with a clear vision and a bold pen who even at this age, believed in ‘buying the ticket and taking the ride’.

Although ‘The Rum Diary’ is a candid account on many levels, the problem I had with it was variety. Everything seemed disjointed, there seemed to be no definite direction which I admit, on one hand, enhances the inertia Thompson wished to create. The eye of Paul Kemp is a little too depressing. He finds nothing beautiful, most of the time I felt like I was looking through newspaper print; everything black and white, sleazy and never good enough. Puerto Rico came across as an island that falls short of its exotic equatorial glamour. The narrative is so firmly trained on the American characters and the failings of both them and their newspaper that the writing feels a little too ‘inbred’. There is only so much one can take about the jealous Yeamon and Chenault, his dumb, blonde girlfriend. Having said this, the characters are well-developed, yet they lacked greatly in other ways. There was no warmth to them.

The political situation of Puerto Rico might also have inspired Thompson to people his narrative with a lot of self-serving, arrogant ‘get rich quick’ types that often descend on such islands. These profit-seeking, hotel magnates crop up in ‘The Rum Diary’, where the attractive coastline are nothing but a profit margin to the capitalist mind.

“At that time the U.S. State Department was calling Puerto Rico ‘America’s advertisement in the Caribbean – living proof that capitalism can work in Latin America.’ The people who had come there to do the proving saw themselves as heroes and missionaries, bringing the holy message of Free Enterprise to the downtrodden jibaros. They hated commies like they hated sin, And the fact that an ex-Red was publishing a paper in their town didn’t make them happy.”

Having stressed that this is in no way ‘Gonzo’ material, I have to add that Thompson’s political opinions still show very strongly whch is a trait that he develops in his later work.

I was also quite surprised by the way Thompson wished to portray the islanders. He doesn’t paint a very kind portrait of them, and regards life on the island as an unbearable negative. The Puerto Ricans come across as people who like nothing better than to fight at the slightest provocation. They are stereotyped into drunk, lazy islanders who like their siestas and cannot be trusted. Like the island, the natives are a mere blur in the background and surface only as a negative superior to the other negatives in the novel.

Yet there were moments of atmospheric beauty, where Puerto Rico is allowed to come to life and shows its true colours.

“Voices rose and fell in the house next door and the raucous sound of a jukebox came from a bar down he street. Sounds of a San Juan night, drifting across the city through layers of humid air; sounds of life and movement, people giving up, the sound of hope and the sound of hanging on, and behind them all, the quiet, deadly ticking of a thousand hungry clocks, the lonely sound of time passing in the long Caribbean night.”

This is the final paragraph of the book as Kemp is about to leave. This passage was most unfair, as it left me yearning to read more about these San Juan nights. The nostalgia is palpable, as Kemp realises how deeply the island has affected him. Throughout the novel his relationship with Puerto Rico was of a love/hate kind, with hate almost winning over. In fact, the last passage reads almost as if it was written by someone else, a different voice with a totally different set of feelings.

It made me think of two novels, the one Thompson wrote, riddled with office politics and inane characters and a different ‘Rum Diary’, stripped from its journalist perspective that’s perhaps a little fairer and truer to the time he spent in Puerto Rico. But then again, Thompson was not the kind for inspired travelogs. For that, I must go elsewhere.

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Related articles

• The Rum Diary (politfilm.wordpress.com)

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 19/07

Tags

chinua achebe, hubert selby jr, Its monday what are you reading?, jm coetzee, kazuo ishiguro, l. frank baum, nocturnes, rory gilmore reading list, rum diary, sylvia plath, winter trees

Welcome to ‘It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?’, a weekly meme initially hosted by Sheila at the ‘Book Journey – One Persons Journey Through a World of Books’. This is a great way of letting people know what I’ve been reading over the past week and what I’ve got lined up for this week.

Reading-wise things are finally beginning to pick up a bit. I’m spending far too much time on the blog and real-life seems to be a pain in the backside. There’s been a couple of inteesting reads and a nice little discount discovery I made the Stephen King’s ‘Under The Dome’ – only half price at WHSmith’s which is far better than the full £8.99. I recommend that UK book bloggers check it out as it’s supposed to be quite a cool read. My goodreads friends have recommended it to me. I’m also waiting on news from the arrival of ‘Last Exit To Brooklyn’ by Hubert Selby Jr., an author I’ve been dying to read ever since I heard about him.  

So, here’s the round-up for last week’s reads:

BOOKS READ:
1. Winter Trees by Sylvia Plath

A very short collection of poems that were written during the last 9 months of Plath’s life. As you can imagine, not a happy read, but it certianly satisfied my need to exercise that part of the brain that deals with poetry. It took a while to get into her mindframe, but when I did it totally blew me away. Click here for review. 

2. Nocturnes – Kazuo Ishiguro

Although the cover looks good (very inviting for a music lover like myself), I found this collection of five loosely interwoven stories a little lacking. I felt there was something missing. Maybe the short story isn’t for Ishiguro, he should stick to novels. Having said that, a concept like this would be wonderful to read from Haruki Murakami who also uses Jazz music as an element in his story-telling.

CURRENTLY READING:
1. The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson

Currently on page 110 of this fictional account of Thompson’s journalistic experiences during his short stay in Puerto Rico in the late 1950’s. It was written before Fear and Loathing, and retains the linear writing style of your average reporter. But I’m glad to say I can spot flecks of the pioneering Gonzo style very now and then.

2. Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

I’m halfway through this incredible read. It’s so engrossing that I stayed up till 2am reading till my eyes felt sore. I’ve never read anything as detailed as this about African tribes. Okonkwo is a very powerful character, and the tribe members are all very distinct from each other. The sense of community is very strong in Achebe’s story. Reading his work is like touching warm, fertile soil for the first time. 

3.Disgrace – JM Coetzee

Thanks to the Achebe, I haven’t had a chance to give this one much attention. But it will be finished today, so I’ll have lots to write about next week.

BOOKS TO READ:

1.‘Last Exit To Brooklyn’ by Hubert Selby Jr.

I heard about Selby Jr. through the movie ‘Requiem For A Dream’. I didn’t know it was originally a novel by Selby, and after some research about him I was surprised that not much is know about this unique author. His ad hoc writing style and gritty, dark subject matters make Chuck Palahnuik look like a writer for YA. I quickly decided that Selby Jr. was the real deal, and I would not rest until I’ve read something by him.   

2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum

And for something completely different! I’ve gotten tired of the ‘heavy’ books lately. I feel like a soldier with combat stress! This is on the Rory Gilmore Reading List, and surprisingly I’ve never read it before. Something warm and fuzzy for the child in me.

That’s this weeks round-up fellow book bloggers. I hope you all have a great reading week and if you have any suggestions for good reads I’d be glad to know your thoughts! I’m off to make the rounds!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Tags

audiobook, Character Crush, chinua achebe, disgrace, Dr. Gonzo, fear and loathing, hunter s thompson, jm coetzee, kazuo ishiguro, liz jensen, meme, nocturnes, puerto rico, rum diary, sylvia plath, the rapture

Welcome to ‘It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?’, a weekly meme initially hosted by Sheila at the ‘Book Journey – One Persons Journey Through a World of Books’. This is a great way of letting people know what I’ve been reading over the past week and what I’ve got lined up for this week.

Another slow one this week and I’ve gotten side-tracked a lot, but here’s an honest list of things finished/ pending and currently in the works:

BOOKS READ:
1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey into the Heart of the American Dream – Hunter S. Thompson

Savoured every last word of this insane epic. Loved it so much that I think I’ve been sitting and re-reading choice paragraphs and committing them to memory. Click here to read my review, and check out my ‘Character Crush’ of the week! 

2. The Rapture (Audiobook) – Liz Jensen 

Finally finished the audiobook version of this dystopian/ environmental/ Armageddon themed book that has a healthy dash of religious fanaticism thrown in for good measure. Click here for my review.

CURRENTLY READING:
1. The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson

Currently on page 50 of this fictional account of Thompson’s journalistic experiences during his short stay in Puerto Rico in the late 1950’s. It was written before Fear and Loathing, and retains the linear writing style of your average reporter. But I’m glad to say I can spot flecks of the pioneering Gonzo style very now and then.  

2. Winter Trees – Sylvia Plath
 
This is where I start to deviate from last weeks reading plans. I felt a dire need for some poetry, so I managed to pick up this very slim (but seriously dense) book of Plath’s poems. Written towards the last 9 months of her life, they evoke the emotional turmoil for a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. She writes like a trapped beast. Each word a cutting claw, a razor tooth. I feel disdain for Ted Hughes…

BOOKS TO READ:

1. Nocturnes – Kazuo Ishiguro

Not the promised Murakami, but still a Japanese author nonetheless. I have been desperate to get my hands on Nocturnes ever since ‘A Pale View of Hills’. Haven’t started it yet, but I’m sure it’ll be wonderful.

2.Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

I have yet to read any Achebe, and I was seduced by ‘Things Fall Apart’ at my local library. Now that the world cup is on I wanted to read some African Literature. Praise for the book goes like this: “The writer in whose company the prison walls fell down” – Nelson Mandela. 

3.Disgrace – JM Coetzee

Again, another book with a setting in South Africa, this time by Coetzee, another first time read. This novel won the Booker Prize in 1999. Took a sneak peek and I think it’s marvellous. 

That’s it for this week folks. Would love to know what you think of my choices.

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Tags

fear and loathing, Haruki Murakami, hunter s thompson, in the miso soup, Its monday what are you reading?, liz jensen, meme, rum diary, ryu murakami, Sputnik Sweetheart, steig larrson, the girl with the dragon tattoo, the rapture, wind up bird chronicles

Welcome to ‘It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?’, a weekly meme initially hosted by Sheila at the ‘Book Journey – One Persons Journey Through a World of Books’. This is a great way of letting people know what I’ve been reading over the past week and what I’ve got lined up for this week.

I’m sorry to say it’s been a slow one this past week, but it’s a good thing because I tend to take time over the books I like. So, here’s a list of books I completed, am still reading/ listening to/ look  forward to reading this week:

BOOKS READ:
1. Sputnik Sweetheart – Haruki Murakami

I’m quite surprised by how quickly I get through Murakami’s books. They are so reader friendly! This one took no time at all. I think next up is ‘The Wind-up Bird Chronicles’. Click here to read my review. 

2. In The Miso Soup – Ryu Murakami
Another amazing read, this time by Ryu Murakami, who just happens to be Haruki Murakamis favourite author. Hmm. I wonder why? lol! Again, a quick read, not because I wanted to get through it quickly; but because the suspense was so masterfully engrossing. Review coming soon!

CURRENTLY READING:
1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A savage Journey into the Heart of the American Dream – Hunter S. Thompson
Taking it easy with this one, nice slow doses, no sudden movements… after all, you must have your wits about you if you are to venture into Gonzo journalism at its finest! One toke over the line…

2. The Rapture (Audiobook) – Liz Jensen
Another one I’m taking my sweet time with. It’s been a while since I listened to a story, and I’m finding it quite enjoyable, if not a bit too tedious at times. WIth books, you can scan a page if nothing worthwhile is happening, but with audio, you have to listen to every single word. It’s a good thing that my version comes with three different narrator speeds. I’m listening to it in ‘Chipmunk mode’. Hilarious! Watch out for the review, it’s going to be one helluva breakdown.

 BOOKS TO READ:
1. The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson
I’m going full-throttle through as many Gonzo books as I can. It’s my version of buying the ticket and taking the ride. I’ll probably end up reading a biography of him too. Anyone recommend a good one?

2. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles – Haruki Murakami
I want to read a fat book by Murakami. I’m fed up with the thin ones. This will give me more food for thought.

3. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
After reading an excellent description of the main character (a kick-ass girl who’d give Trinity a run for her money) I decided it’s high time I started reading the trilogy. And besides, I saw the movie trailer and it looks absolutely stunning! 

Well, that’s my little list for now, I’d love to hear what other people have been reading the past week and what they’d recommend.