What does it mean to follow your destiny?
Or to figure out what your destiny is? Or to establish whether, in fact, you
actually have something that could, for all intents and purposes, be described
as destiny?
These are the questions posed in Terry Fallis'
new novel, No Relation. Well,
actually, they aren't really posed. But they are explored, and in detail. They
form intersecting pathways that are approached from numerous angles, and with a
level of humour and insight that is channelled by few other Canadian authors.
Terry Fallis is probably best known for his
political humour, as exemplified by his debut novel, The Best Laid Plans—most recently serialized on television—and its
sequel, The High Road. No Relation has nothing to do with Angus
McClintock, Ottawa or politics. It has a great deal to say, however, about
purpose, meaning, family, love, friendship, misunderstanding, connection,
corporate intrigue and what it means to grow up with a famous name. If that
doesn't entice you to pick up the book, then you may be interested in tomes on
practical taxidermy or competitive flower pressing. I just won't be reviewing
those.
No
Relation is the story of Earnest Hemmingway, no
relation. It is also the story of Marie Antoinette, Mahatma Gandhi, Mario Andretti,
Professor James Moriarty, Diana Ross and Jackie Kennedy, among others, all
ordinary people with extraordinary monikers. An aspiring author whose
professional career as a copywriter has been less than fulfilling, Hemmingway
is haunted by a familial obligation to assume the helm of the family underwear
business. He also firmly believes himself to be tormented by the sparse prose
and outsized countenance of the ghost of his namesake. In an attempt to tackle
head-on the writer's block he attributes to the spectral shenanigans of the
bull-fighting, cat-loving, shotgun-toting ghost of Ernest Hemingway, Earnest
Hemmingway (no relation) embarks on the Ernest Hemingway Exorcism World Tour. A
week-long around-the-world odyssey exploring all things Papa, Hemmingway finds
himself in Toronto, Paris, Pamplona, Key West and Ketchum, Idaho. All the
while, intrigue and artifice are the order of the day at Hemmingwear, the
family firm.
No
Relation is a departure from Fallis' earlier
novels. Shifting from politics to Papa, and from parliament to (in part) Paris,
Fallis has nonetheless produced a compelling and entertaining book. His
characters are multi-dimensional, and are presented as being in equal parts
hilarious, humble and humane. His comedy is subtle, while his empathy is
profound. Fallis has taken the seemingly simple construct of ordinary people
with famous names, and spun from this initial premise a tale that is
delightful, absorbing and intriguing. He is a highly visual writer, and one can
readily see the story being adapted to the screen. At the same time, the
writing is entertaining and engaging, and the dialogue is often wry and witty,
but is nonetheless refreshingly realistic.
For anyone that has enjoyed Fallis'
previous books, you should love No
Relation. The book also deserves (and will hopefully find) a much wider
audience. It is funny, it is engaging and it is exceptionally well crafted.
Fallis takes initially simple and straightforward premises and interweaves them
into an intriguingly complex plot. The result is a tale that will absorb you,
inspire you to laugh out loud, surprise you, but ultimately leave you
satisfied. It's a wonderful book that should go to the very top of your summer
reading pile.
Mark
Mullaly is an avid reader, sometimes writer, enthusiastic motorcyclist
and lover of wine (and endeavours to engage in only one of these
pursuits at any given time).
No comments:
Post a Comment