Beatrice and Virgil: A Novel
Yann Martel
Spiegel & Grau
224 pages
I'll be honest...
Lately I've tried to add an element of humor to these reviews. Whether I've succeeded or not is up to the reader, but I'd like to think I've made at least 4 out of the 8 people reading this chuckle here and there. But this book...I wrote draft after draft. Humor just doesn't fit into it. It is a powerful book, but you wouldn't know it going into it. Extremely subtle and deceptive. I loved Life of Pi, so my expectations for this book were quite high...maybe a little too high.
Beatrice & Virgil is not the best book ever written. Heck, it isn't even on par with Life of Pi. But, it is still good. Someone reading the book may have issues with the lack of action, or maybe the fact that the book is about an author trying to write about the Holocaust in an unique way...and the Holocaust is not what you would consider an uplifting theme to be discussing. Sorrow slowly builds until the climax, and since Yann Martel is such a good writer, the reader will feel this despair that much more.
A confession before I delve deeper into the book. My background is in history, specifically European history, even more specifically German history. With that said, it can be clearly stated that my personal interests very well could have influenced my perception of the book, moreso for the positive. The major theme of the book revolves around identity, worth, redemption, and, yes, the Holocaust as a whole. If you do not want to read about that event then don't read this book. It does not go into details (the author in the book researched it extensively, but only makes off-handed remarks). But it is the feeling of the book that will get to you. It is the emotions that permeate throughout, but especially the last half. You will realize that this book is actually quite brilliant in that it has an author (Yann Martel) writing about an author (the main character's name is Henry) trying to present the Holocaust in a different perspective, and doesn't succeed, but Yann Martel does. Does this make sense?
Along with Henry is another character by the name of Henry, an old taxidermist that is writing a play and needs Henry's help. Henry, suffering slight depression because his newest book wasn't picked up by a publisher, is intellectually stimulated by the play and helping the old man. This professional meeting of mentor and student takes a wild turn that I will not spoil. Needless to say, I don't think you'll see it coming (Yann with another wild finish!).
I'll be honest...I enjoyed Beatrice and Virgil. It is a book that showcases the process of writing and the emotions that can be invested in a work, as well as the emotions that can compel you to do certain things. It does not grab you and take you on a wild adventure like Life of Pi, but at the same time...it's more tender, more personal. I feel that Yann Martel was really trying to sit down next to me, put his arm around me, and be like "listen here, I'm going to tell you a thing or two" and the next 4 hours breeze by. You won't remember every word he tells you, but you'll have this simultaneous burning and chill in your stomach. You'll feel rewarded, but there is a heavy price to pay for this. Read it, and let me know your honest feelings on the book.
