bashbashbashbash's review
5.0
This lovely and understated little book of stories should be praised for several reasons: Belgian author Jean Muno's stories have a sleepy cleverness about them rarely found in contemporary fiction; the stories have a unique texture, contributing new material to the genre of fantastical stories; and Kim Connell's 1986 translation is excellent and fluid.
Glove of Passion, Voice of Blood begins with three fairly unremarkable horror stories. However, these more traditional (if somewhat humorous) tales soon give way to far more original narratives in which fantastical situations collide with the quotidian practices of middle class Belgian life. These latter stories are wry, subtle and clever.
I will try to evoke the peculiar but delightful qualities of Muno's stories by summarizing the final one in this volume (also my very favourite of his tales), Glove of Passion:
Glove of Passion is about an unemployed man, Peter, who is declining into depression. Peter often visits a deserted dock-side café. One day, while there, he sees a cat chasing a strange object - a lone glove that appears full, as though propelled by a phantom hand. The glove slips into a couch crevice, and Peter goes to investigate. There his right hand is first pinched, then caressed by the animated glove.
The next day Peter returns to investigate. He wants to assure himself that this sentient and amorous glove is figment of his imagination. He searches for it in the cushions of the couch, where he, of course, finds the glove. It caresses his hand, ardently. When he removes his hand he finds that the glove has removed his wedding ring. Peter's hand begins to have regular sexual tristes with the glove, falling deeper and deeper in love, while Peter wastes away.
It's an odd story, and an uncomfortable one, an exploration of routine infidelity enriched by a macabre embroidery. The rest of the collection is much the same.
Glove of Passion, Voice of Blood begins with three fairly unremarkable horror stories. However, these more traditional (if somewhat humorous) tales soon give way to far more original narratives in which fantastical situations collide with the quotidian practices of middle class Belgian life. These latter stories are wry, subtle and clever.
I will try to evoke the peculiar but delightful qualities of Muno's stories by summarizing the final one in this volume (also my very favourite of his tales), Glove of Passion:
Glove of Passion is about an unemployed man, Peter, who is declining into depression. Peter often visits a deserted dock-side café. One day, while there, he sees a cat chasing a strange object - a lone glove that appears full, as though propelled by a phantom hand. The glove slips into a couch crevice, and Peter goes to investigate. There his right hand is first pinched, then caressed by the animated glove.
The next day Peter returns to investigate. He wants to assure himself that this sentient and amorous glove is figment of his imagination. He searches for it in the cushions of the couch, where he, of course, finds the glove. It caresses his hand, ardently. When he removes his hand he finds that the glove has removed his wedding ring. Peter's hand begins to have regular sexual tristes with the glove, falling deeper and deeper in love, while Peter wastes away.
It's an odd story, and an uncomfortable one, an exploration of routine infidelity enriched by a macabre embroidery. The rest of the collection is much the same.
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