Francisco by Alison Mills Newman is a captivating novel that tells the story of Mills Newman’s life and love affair with her eventual husband, director Francisco Newman. Originally published in 1974, it was recently re-released by the publisher New Directions. The narrative follows a young Black actor in California and her passionate relationship with Francisco, who is deeply engrossed in creating a documentary. While the narrator feels dissatisfied with Hollywood and her career, she craves the richness that life has to offer. She possesses a profound understanding of people and often spends time with them up and down the California coast. Mills Newman’s novel is reminiscent of a lengthy party, interspersed with challenging questions about societal standards of beauty, what it truly means to be a revolutionary, artistry, and navigating the dynamics of a partnership between a man and a woman. Over the years, Mills Newman has embraced Christianity and distanced herself from certain elements of the novel. In the afterword, she mentions her rejection of the profanity and promiscuous lifestyle depicted in the book, adding yet another layer of complexity to this intriguing and concise masterpiece.
In Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle, readers are transported into a mesmerizing mystery that defies expectations. The protagonist, Elena, is a headstrong and cynical 63-year-old woman battling Parkinson’s disease. The novel spans a single arduous day as Elena embarks on a train journey in search of someone who can assist her in finding her daughter’s murderer. However, the voyage proves exceptionally challenging as she struggles to lift her head or walk without immense effort, even when her medication takes effect. As her pills wear off, she risks being stranded wherever she finds herself at the time. Elena refuses to be pitied; she exudes flaws, humor, and irreverence. She even refers to Parkinson’s as the “fucking whore illness.” Piñeiro’s book is expertly crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with suspense. Nevertheless, what truly sets it apart is the meticulous depiction of Elena’s day-minute by minute. It allows readers to momentarily grasp the vast array of perspectives existing simultaneously in our world. Ultimately, isn’t this the essence of fiction itself?
My Men by Victoria Kielland, translated by Damion Searls, explores the life of Byrnhild, also known as Bella, and later as Belle Gunness. Kielland’s short yet electrifying novel reimagines the true story of Belle Gunness, a Norwegian immigrant and a notorious female serial killer in late 19th-century America. The book delves into Belle’s overwhelming yearning for life and all its splendor. In Searls’s translation, Belle’s thoughts are expressed with breathless intensity. The narration frantically describes how her longing and passionate desires are embedded in everything she does. Leaving Norway for the American Midwest, her desires mutate into delusions that endanger everyone she encounters, especially her lovers. Kielland offers glimpses of clarity, as the narrative adopts a dream-like quality. Belle is depicted as having “the northern light tangled around her ribs” and feeling “the wet grass grow in her mouth.” However, empathy slowly gives way to horror as it becomes evident that Belle’s insatiable emptiness can only be filled by a violent climax.
The Afterlives by Thomas Pierce is a thought-provoking novel set in a not-too-distant future where holograms are commonplace. The story revolves around a haunted staircase, a “reunion machine” designed to reconnect the living with the dead, and a physicist who posits that approximately 7% of existence is not real. Yet, the protagonist, Jim, a 33-year-old loan officer, remains an ordinary individual. Despite the bizarre and supernatural occurrences that unfold, the novel primarily centers on Jim’s evolving relationship with Annie, a recently widowed high-school girlfriend. When offered the opportunity to utilize the reunion machine, the focus shifts to Annie’s grief and Jim’s quiet, unwavering love for her. Pierce suggests that no matter how surreal life becomes, people will continue to move forward, living their mundane lives side by side, pondering and hoping amidst the mysteries of existence. Our fixation on the afterlife ultimately stems from our profound connection to this life and the individuals we cherish.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
