This new Peter Carey novel, Parrot and Olivier in America — truly delightful!The story switches between the perspectives of Olivier, French aristocrat still coming to terms with the Revolution, inspired by Alexis de Tocqueville, and Parrot, orphaned son of a printer with several talents (engraving among them, all exploited). They sail together to America, Olivier sent by his family, to be out of the way and out of danger, Parrot as his secretary. Olivier starts out with his best friend, and Parrot arranges for his artist mistress and her mother to come along for the ride. Our two title characters really can't stand each other to start, but as you might guess, they get past that.
Both of them have to travel far, be displaced, in order to find themselves.
[I don't know a thing about de Tocqueville, but I have a hard time believing my pleasure in this book would be increased just because I might occasionally nod my head knowingly that Olivier's comment was an obscure reference to something hidden away in the bowels of On Democracy in America. (That is to say, you don't need to know a thing about him to enjoy this book.)]
I like how some events in this book get told twice, once from each perspective, and others don't really get told at all but rather are barely alluded to from both sides. Some readers may wish for more resolution of these subsubplots, but I found this technique effective in both drawing me in and my coming to appreciate the extent of the character's lives beyond the pages.
Plus, Carey writes some magical sentences, expecially when it comes to describing art, and the quality of the light in the art. "In the world of these small canvases no one could be beautiful, and yet each was illuminated by that holy light glowing from beneath their injured skin."
Carey recently spoke at the Sydney Writer's Festival. According to the Telegraph:
"We are getting dumber every day," he said. "We are really, literally, forgetting how to read. We have yet to grasp the fact that consuming cultural junk is completely destructive of democracy."
He said that society had "forgotten how to be still" and was "intolerant of any news that is not entertaining".
These are very much themes of this new novel. Parrot is looking for stasis. There's a lovely bit holding up the rocking chair as a symbol of America; it's disguised as relaxation but really it enables America's restlessness.
There are some jibes at democracy too. Olivier imagines a future where an idiot might be elected to run the country, which is uncomfortably funny, with Bush not so very far behind us.
I happened across some notes I'd made regarding another book the other day, and they seemed pertinent to this novel, in respect of whether publishing (and this is ultimately what Parrot's enterprise amounts to) is an art or a business. This is not the first book in which Carey points out that a large component of that which we call "art" is business.
Parrot and Olivier are both wonderful characters, but I think my heart lies with Parrot. "What torture to hear that a life had been available to me that I had not been man enough to live." (Tragic!) Olivier fizzles out like the aristocracy he represents; democracy ultimately is shown to triumph in Parrot.
This is one of the finest "new releases" I've read in quite some time.
New York times review.
Guradian review (Ursula K LeGuin).
BBC interview.
Chapter 1 (I wasn't swept away by the opening, but it gets so much better).
Brief excerpt.
Peter Carey.
10 comments:
I also enjoyed this very much, being a real Carey fan, but while I agree that you don't need to know about him, I think I would have liked to know more about de Tocqueville because I think there were deeper levels I could have mined had I been aware of more of the background. Still we both loved the book, which is the real point of the exercise, isn't it?
Your review has convinced me that I would love to give this book a try. Thanks! I have de Toqueville's Democracy on my desk at work, so maybe I'll actually get it finished before picking this one up. I appreciate the not having to know but would be interested to see how it shades the book to have a little knowledge of the man and his work.
You've made this seem so appealing!
Lovely review. I am reading it now - have just started the overseas voyage. I love how a pig swims away from the ship. Am loving this, my first Carey read - his writing sweeps me off my feet.
I'd love to read this one. So glad to hear it is good!
I read a few de Toqueville excerpts in college which of course I've forgotten and had wondered if I ought to read more of DiA before starting the Carey. I'm happy to know that isn't necessary!
Wonderful review.
Thank you for this review, Isabella. As you know, my own copy of this book was lost in the mail -- I'm still hoping to receive it, and now even more eager to read the thing.
Although Carey has missed the mark with me from time to time [His Illegal Self, Theft] he has really impressed me with others [Oscar & Lucinda, My Life As A Fake].
Very lovely review and I will be buying this book and racing through it. I love Peter Carey...and I enjoy every single one of his books (read 3 and have a further 2 on my bookshelves). And your review has made me want to read Democracy in America even more (have wanted to read it for ages).
Oh man, I looooove Peter Carey, and found a used proof of this novel in my local bookstore before it was published, but somehow decided not to buy it. REGRET! Now I really want to read it. Especially since I was forced to read Democracy in America twice in college, and I always suspected my now-fading familiarity with de Tocqueville must serve some greater good than simply boring the pants off my 19-year-old self.
I'm starting to think I really ought to read Democracy in America, perhaps with a crew of other non-Americans. If Carey's anything to go by, it should be chockful of insight.
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