jimmypat's review against another edition
3.0
A book of short stories, reviews below.
Ebony Tower (3 stars) - Quintessential late 60s/early 70s fiction; obsessed with sex, as if the writers of the time finally discovered fire and wanted to alert the world.
I think Fowles has something to say about an artist needing to allow themselves a certain freedom when creating art and an understanding of boundaries (whether they are crossed or not). I think he is on to something about the modern world where art is in chaos (perceived freedom, forgetting about the boundaries that lend real shape to art's meaning) and a somewhat civil (nice) culture where true freedom is repressed. Fowles focuses solely on sex/licentiousness as an indicator of freedom in the character of Henri, but I think the real loss in modern culture is that of a relationship with God; I'm sure Fowles would scoff in my face for that one. It's all a bit pretentious, especially seeing how this work is focused on sex (like the liberated, true artist Henri), which makes it kind of obvious that Fowles is preening himself and expecting us to bask in his glory.
I would probably find all of this overly distasteful if it wasn't for Fowles absolute gift as a writer. He really has some chops and he did give me quite a bit to think about.
Eliduc (2 stars)- This is apparently a translation of a medieval story that influenced the writing of the Ivory Tower. It’s okay- I suspect it’s inclusion is partly here to allow Fowles to thumb his nose at readers like me and say “see, they thought adultery was cool back in the day!” Slightly entertaining, but just because humans have always failed to behave appropriately doesn’t prove you right, Fowles. 🙄
Poor Koko (2 stars) - Thematically similar to The Ivory Tower in that there is a conflict between generations. My favorite line: “What was really burned was my generation’s “refusal” to hand down a kind of magic.” Again, Fowles explores interesting territory but the story just seems a bit mediocre.
The Enigma (5 stars)- what a great story about a man who goes missing and no one can figure out how. The meta-ending is enthralling and unexpected, I won’t say more as I wouldn’t want to spoil it. Interestingly, this story resonates even more deeply by being put in the context of all the prior stories in the book. Despite my somewhat dour ratings on the previous stories, this book may be stronger than its individual parts.
The Cloud (1 stars) - Stultifying and boring. I had no idea what this was about and why I should care. Resorted to skimming it.
Ebony Tower (3 stars) - Quintessential late 60s/early 70s fiction; obsessed with sex, as if the writers of the time finally discovered fire and wanted to alert the world.
I think Fowles has something to say about an artist needing to allow themselves a certain freedom when creating art and an understanding of boundaries (whether they are crossed or not). I think he is on to something about the modern world where art is in chaos (perceived freedom, forgetting about the boundaries that lend real shape to art's meaning) and a somewhat civil (nice) culture where true freedom is repressed. Fowles focuses solely on sex/licentiousness as an indicator of freedom in the character of Henri, but I think the real loss in modern culture is that of a relationship with God; I'm sure Fowles would scoff in my face for that one. It's all a bit pretentious, especially seeing how this work is focused on sex (like the liberated, true artist Henri), which makes it kind of obvious that Fowles is preening himself and expecting us to bask in his glory.
I would probably find all of this overly distasteful if it wasn't for Fowles absolute gift as a writer. He really has some chops and he did give me quite a bit to think about.
Eliduc (2 stars)- This is apparently a translation of a medieval story that influenced the writing of the Ivory Tower. It’s okay- I suspect it’s inclusion is partly here to allow Fowles to thumb his nose at readers like me and say “see, they thought adultery was cool back in the day!” Slightly entertaining, but just because humans have always failed to behave appropriately doesn’t prove you right, Fowles. 🙄
Poor Koko (2 stars) - Thematically similar to The Ivory Tower in that there is a conflict between generations. My favorite line: “What was really burned was my generation’s “refusal” to hand down a kind of magic.” Again, Fowles explores interesting territory but the story just seems a bit mediocre.
The Enigma (5 stars)- what a great story about a man who goes missing and no one can figure out how. The meta-ending is enthralling and unexpected, I won’t say more as I wouldn’t want to spoil it. Interestingly, this story resonates even more deeply by being put in the context of all the prior stories in the book. Despite my somewhat dour ratings on the previous stories, this book may be stronger than its individual parts.
The Cloud (1 stars) - Stultifying and boring. I had no idea what this was about and why I should care. Resorted to skimming it.
alishahc12's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
mimirtells's review
3.0
3/5 Stars (%60/100)
I've read this book while I was taking a Postmodern course. I admit that this book was even more difficult than the course itself. John Fowles is very talented, that much is true but the book itself is very complicated. Apart from the novella which gives the book its title, there are four other novellas in the book;
Eliduc
Poor Koko
The Enigma
The Cloud
We especially studied The Enigma in detail and it is the story that I liked the most. It is a metafictional detective story that deals with many Postmodern theories and ideas. It was difficult to read but the good kind of difficult. Somehow you feel very rewarded when you finish the story and actually understand certain things. The book itself might not be for everyone but it is definitely good.
I've read this book while I was taking a Postmodern course. I admit that this book was even more difficult than the course itself. John Fowles is very talented, that much is true but the book itself is very complicated. Apart from the novella which gives the book its title, there are four other novellas in the book;
Eliduc
Poor Koko
The Enigma
The Cloud
We especially studied The Enigma in detail and it is the story that I liked the most. It is a metafictional detective story that deals with many Postmodern theories and ideas. It was difficult to read but the good kind of difficult. Somehow you feel very rewarded when you finish the story and actually understand certain things. The book itself might not be for everyone but it is definitely good.
charleslambert's review against another edition
1.0
The only book in which I've cheered the burning of a manuscript. I read it years ago, and I still remember hating its smugness and assumption of shared values (civilisation, high culture, nice accents, blah blah, , values that Fowles doesn't even begin to possess (except maybe the accent). There was a fabulous hatchet job on his Diaries by Ian Sansom in the London Review of Books. Read it if you can...
gerdash's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I kind of wish I liked it more or got it more, but I didn't. Took me ages to get back to and intermittent breaks in which I wasn't that excited to read again.
laviniag's review against another edition
4.0
What I really liked about Fowles’ stories is that each of them has a different theme and narrative technique which makes the reading very interesting. I really like some of them.
***
turnul de abanos e o colectie de 5 nuvele ale lui john fowles. prima, cea care da titlul cartii, aduce pe undeva cu magicianul [un batrin izolat, doua fete]. prima parte e destul de descriptiva, semi-plictisitoare, o teoretizare a artei secolului 20 [caci batrinul cu pricina e un pictor retras]. abia in a doua parte incep sa se intimple lucruri si sa fie mai interesant. ce-mi place e ca fiecare din cele 5 nuvele e diferita de celelalte, nu numai ca tema ci si ca tehnica narativa, ceea ce a facut ca lectura sa fie foarte interesanta. undeva la ultima [norul] m-am pierdut, recunosc ca nu mi-au fost suficiente 70 de pagini pentru a-mi da seama who’s who, cine cu cine e casatorit s.a.m.d.
***
turnul de abanos e o colectie de 5 nuvele ale lui john fowles. prima, cea care da titlul cartii, aduce pe undeva cu magicianul [un batrin izolat, doua fete]. prima parte e destul de descriptiva, semi-plictisitoare, o teoretizare a artei secolului 20 [caci batrinul cu pricina e un pictor retras]. abia in a doua parte incep sa se intimple lucruri si sa fie mai interesant. ce-mi place e ca fiecare din cele 5 nuvele e diferita de celelalte, nu numai ca tema ci si ca tehnica narativa, ceea ce a facut ca lectura sa fie foarte interesanta. undeva la ultima [norul] m-am pierdut, recunosc ca nu mi-au fost suficiente 70 de pagini pentru a-mi da seama who’s who, cine cu cine e casatorit s.a.m.d.
rmtbray's review against another edition
1.0
All of the introspective, arty shoe gazing, of [b:The Collector|243705|The Collector|John Fowles|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394828024s/243705.jpg|1816452], with none of the actual plot that made The Collector so compelling... Oh, and a hearty dose of sexism just to infuriate me further!
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