Tag: point of view

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet

Mitchell, David. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. Random House (New York: 2010).

The Thousand Autums of Jacob De ZoetA dense, rich novel of love not meant to be. Jacob, a young clerk with the Dutch East Indies Company in late 18th century Japan, becomes fascinated with the intelligent Miss Aibagawa, a local midwife whose facial scar has made her an outsider. Interestingly, Jacob isn’t her primary concern. Her point of view takes over when she’s exiled to a prison-like nunnery, from which Jacob would like to save her, but she looks to save herself. These characters stay with you, the prose is gorgeous, and the historical context is immersive and well-researched. We’re left with a resonant sense of the mark which a vivid experience can leave on a life.

For writers: In addition to the strengths already mentioned, writers should pay careful attention to the elasticity in the points of view here. Not only do they shift from one character to another – mostly in third person, sometimes in first – but even within a given point of view, there are shifts in closeness and tone. The central character of Jacob is rendered in third person, but the pov moves fluidly from more distant, ironic narration to close, free indirect style. For example, on the last page before Part Two, we are heartbreakingly close when Jacob realizes he loves Miss Aibagawa as he see her being taken away, and when he leaps the steps and opens his mouth to call out her name, but the last wry words belong to the narrator: “The well-oiled bolt slides home.”



Blue Angel

Prose, Francine. Blue Angel. HarperCollins Publishers (New York: 2000).

Blue AngelIn honor of International Women’s Day, Francine Prose is an author not to be missed. In Blue Angel, she takes on the point of view of a cynical, aging professor of creative writing in small New England college. Swenson hasn’t published a novel for years, and it’s been even longer since any of his students showed promise. When a pierced, tattooed student in his workshop reveals a rare talent for writing, he’s anxious to help, but also finds himself increasingly obsessed with her. Through a series of missteps, his secure life unravels, culminating in a disastrous sexual harassment hearing. Wickedly funny and fatalistic, and yet with compassion. For writers: Prose manages to be funny without diluting the tension, akin to Jonathan Franzen but less widely known, and makes us sympathize with someone we might condemn if the point of view were reversed. The story within a story by the talented student shows just how seductive good writing can be. Writers should also be sure to check out Prose’s pointed send-up of writers’ workshops – she perfectly captures how painful the bad ones can be.



Disobedience

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Hamilton, Jane. Disobedience. Anchor Books (New York: 2000).

DisobedienceRiveting book about 17-yr-old Henry and his obsession with his mother’s secret affair. He keeps silent as if that alone has the power to keep their world from changing, but his attempt at detached irony takes on a bitter edge. When his younger sister’s obsession with Civil War reenactments triggers a crisis, we see whether this family can come through. Henry’s scorn for his mother is laced with unwilling sympathy. Complicated and compelling, like love. For writers: An excellent example of first-person voice done well. We know we’re only getting Henry’s take on things, but that’s what the story is about: his perspective. His growth, or failure to grow.