Thursday 29 August 2013

Booker Longlist: The Luminaries: Eleanor Catton

Eleanor Catton's second novel is as suggestive, diverting and mesmerising as its title would have us hope. Set in Victorian New Zealand, it is a masterpiece of plotting and revelation. Conspiracy, secrecy, purloined letters (there is more than a nod to Poe here) revelation and fortune circle each other in the stories of the cast of twelve characters which intersect and interrupt each other for the unpacking of the central mystery.
For sheer reading pleasure Catton's novel is an out and out success. We are reminded throughout the novel that we are being told a story, and we are as captivated as children by the telling of it. The headers for each chapter which begin by dropping little clues, and end by usurping the content of the chapter are themselves beguiling. The evocation of place is compelling, the language precisely of its period. Her sense for the vernacular is spot on, her characters vivid and endearing.
Even if one were to appraise the novel simply in terms of its architecture, it is a thing of beauty, wondrously structured so that the form fully underpins the content. Catton's decision to use astrology as the frame for her story is a stroke of genius: astrology, the ever-changing patterns of the stars which men use to find purpose and pattern in their lives and motivations. The novel is structured in twelves, so it has a mathematical as well as literary pleasure to it.
Fortune is the currency of the novel, both in terms of chance and in terms of gold. We are asked to consider what is of value and then shown what desire costs.  There is an alchemical beauty in Catton's novel. Everyone is transformed, some are transfigured. Paulo Coelho says that alchemy exists so that the world becomes a better place, so that we can transform our leaden lives into gold. Catton has done something even more luminous: she has turned the world of words into something fine and precious, rare and valuable. If this isn't a contender for the prize I don't know what is.

The copyright of this post belongs to Claire Steele

1 comment:

Unknown said...

OCTOBER’S ISSUE IS PUBLISHED!!
TRY JANUARY/2014 AND APRIL/2014 ISSUES.

HOPE YOU SUBSCRIBE,SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GUIDELINES
(www.thepoetbandcompany.yolasite.com)
Dear Literary Artist,
The Poet Band Company is asking for poetry,max.40 lines and prose,max.300 words (English language only,
if sent in another language,also include English translation or transliteration)
to be submitted for possible publication in “THE POETRY EXPLOSION NEWSLETTER”(THE PEN”), issued
quarterly(January,April,July,October).
Deadline dates are the first week of each month(Dec.,March,June,Sept.) prior to month of publication.
JULY'S ISSUES ARE DEDICATED TO ROMANTIC POETRY!!!
OCTOBER'S ISSUES SPOTLIGHTS HOLIDAY POETRY. ALL
OTHER ISSUES ARE “OPENED TO THE WRITER”.
We publish poems and prose pertaining to all subjects(love,holidays,current events,etc.) and in
any form(sonnets,haiku,rhyme,free and blank verse,etc.). Simultaneous and pre-published
submissions are accepted. Bio-sketches are optional. Presently, we are not paying monetarily,
but if your works are selected, we'll send you a free copy of the issue in which they(it)appear(s).
Send us your best!!!!! All submissions must be typed and of “camera ready” quality. Submit
a maximum of five works(a L.S.A.S.E. with correct postage if you want your works that are
not accepted for publication to be returned).

E-Mail submissions(IN THE BODY) are accepted and must include Snail-Mail address.

If you never have been published, this may be your chance!!!
Thanks for your love of the written word!!!!!!!!

Subscriptions: $25.00 yearly(4 issues) or $48.00 for 2 years. Send $4.00 for a sample
issue. Outside the U.S.A. , and Canada, $35.00 U.S Dollars for
4 issues or $68.00 for 2 years.Make Check or Money Order payable to:
Arthur C. Ford
P.O. Box 4725
Pittsburgh,PA.15206-0725(U.S.A.)
EM:wewuvpoetry@hotmail.com
TOLL FREE: 1-866-234-0297


ADS FOR JANUARY/2014 ISSUE ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 30,2013

ADVERTISING RATES:

Size One issue Four issues
1/8 page $10.00 $35.00
¼ page $20.00 $60.00
½ page $40.00 $120.00
Full Page $80.00 $270.00
Ads must be “camera ready” and printed in black and white. Logos are accepted.

Yours in Words,
Arthur C. Ford,Sr./Editor