A review by thomasgoddard
Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau
3.0
A clever little book this one. It is actually a single story, more of an event really, retold in a myriad of different ways.
The title is often the key to unlocking the trick at play. For example:
Olfactory tells the same tale with a special focus on smells. Zoological uses only animal metaphors. The Rainbow moves from a violet bus, past a yellow seat, to climax with a red coat.
Smart, no? It actually becomes quite a rewarding read when you manage to work out the more subtle conventions at play. I found myself actively avoiding the titles, so as not to give the game away.
And with an introduction by Umberto Eco and essay by Italo Calvino, I wasn't surprised to find the work a quite rewarding read.
But now onto the negative. I feel that the experiment could have benefited from a more interesting event. A man sees two men get into an argument over jostling. The first takes a seat when one becomes free. The narrator then sees the same man, later on in the day, in a different part of the city. While he's being told to sew a new button onto his coat.
I feel if he'd retold the story of the birth of Christ. Or maybe a cliche kismet love story. Then it might have been more interesting than a dry repetition of an everyday situation.
And I'm fully aware it's an intentional decision. It's just that it did make me feel like it was a chore by the end, just sayin'.
Not a book to read in one sitting. I'd have it in your bag and read one per bus stop over a few weeks.
The title is often the key to unlocking the trick at play. For example:
Olfactory tells the same tale with a special focus on smells. Zoological uses only animal metaphors. The Rainbow moves from a violet bus, past a yellow seat, to climax with a red coat.
Smart, no? It actually becomes quite a rewarding read when you manage to work out the more subtle conventions at play. I found myself actively avoiding the titles, so as not to give the game away.
And with an introduction by Umberto Eco and essay by Italo Calvino, I wasn't surprised to find the work a quite rewarding read.
But now onto the negative. I feel that the experiment could have benefited from a more interesting event. A man sees two men get into an argument over jostling. The first takes a seat when one becomes free. The narrator then sees the same man, later on in the day, in a different part of the city. While he's being told to sew a new button onto his coat.
I feel if he'd retold the story of the birth of Christ. Or maybe a cliche kismet love story. Then it might have been more interesting than a dry repetition of an everyday situation.
And I'm fully aware it's an intentional decision. It's just that it did make me feel like it was a chore by the end, just sayin'.
Not a book to read in one sitting. I'd have it in your bag and read one per bus stop over a few weeks.