Our Tragic Universe (Scarlett Thomas)
Review: Our Tragic Universe, Scarlett Thomas
– Forewarning, this is a positive review though I can see where it might not appear that way. It was just a very hard book to write about! –
Our Tragic Universe (originally to be titled ‘Death of the Author’) is a nonstandard plot. Part time writer Meg is living in a small town England. She is living unhappily with her long term boyfriend and her dog, barely scraping by. Meg is continually trying to write her “Real Novel”, editing and paring down her words, never able to solidify where she wants to take it. In the meantime, she takes on the grunt work of the literary world, reviews of trash novels for a newspaper, and ghost writing teen fiction using formulaic methods.
Meg is caught in an interesting kludge of personal issues. Her best friend is having an affair that is messy. long time friends have stopped speaking to her. Her boyfriend is spiraling into depression and taking her on a manic roller coaster as he falls. She feels trapped and unaccomplished. Her only real bonus is a love interest in a man nearly twice her age, married, who she doesn’t dare see anymore since they accidentally kissed. Early in the book, Meg inadvertently takes on a review for some kind of new age “how the afterlife works by bob-know-it-all” book and the flavor of the story really begins to ripen. Oh yeah, and I should mention there is a mysterious beast prowling the neighboring townships scaring the hell out of the residents…
The story is vibrant but many readers may be confused by the cluttered nature of the novel. it is cluttered just as life itself is, so it is fitting, though as a result, difficult to read. At some points, OTU read like a reality TV show for a person who has absolutely nothing interesting going on in their life, detailing minutia like knitting. At other points, it is a technical reading manual for obsessive compulsive literature majors. This could have been toned down and approached less lecture like, but in the end, was an important part of the novel’s structure. .
Previously mentioned, the plot of Tragic Universe is nonstandard in the fact that it really doesn’t have a core/central plot. Items that you think are key plot points are proven to be red-herrings, no more important to life than the number of concurrent green lights you drove through on the way to work today. Interestingly though, it highlights how many things we notice daily which have no importance, but to which we add false importance.
Regardless, all of the characters are interesting and well thought out. it was these that kept me coming back for more. I nearly stopped reading this book 7-8 times. Each time I prepped to give up on it, some small detail would catch my attention again and I was drawn back in for another 30-40 pages.
Ultimately, I believe this waxing/waning of interest may have been part of Scarlett’s intent as she wrote this “storyless-story”. Really, it is nothing more than a sign of the abilities of the author, in that she wrote something so realistic/painful, that giving up and utter enthrallment are with in breaths of each other. Reading OTU was like a broken ceiling fan on a very hot day, I kept fiddling with it- trying to make it work.? Frustrated, at times felt like a pointless endeavor, but in the end, when the gears moved and the air flowed over my sweat beaded forehead, the effort was worth it, a welcome cool breeze to mellow the experience.
I would not suggest this book for people who are easily frustrated, trust me here. Also, if you prefer your books garnished, placed on a plate, and then fed to you in bite size portions, you may not enjoy this and should perhaps look toward other reading material.
To quote the novel (referencing everyday life having less “story”), “You just have to let go of the plot when it gets too much. Do something else”. Though there were many times I wanted to stop reading, I instead just took breaks from it and am glad I completed it.? Our Tragic Universe was a literary vacation, a trip away from the normal methodologies employed by authors, memorable in both it’s genius, complexity, and bearable frustration.
Our Tragic Universe is slated for US public release 9/1/2010, published by HMH.
Other reviews:
Darice.org – Our Tragic Universe (Darice De Cuba)
The View from Here (Literary Magazine/e-zine)
Darice.org – Our Tragic Universe (Darice De Cuba)
The View from Here (Literary Magazine/e-zine)
- Pages: 384
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2010)
- ISBN-10: 0151013918
- ISBN-13: 978-0151013913
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Thomas is a native to the UK, currently living in Devon with her BF and dog (readers of OTU will find similarity here). She has written 8 novels and a grip of shorts to date.
As an English Literature teacher for the University of Kent, her books reflect a level of knowledge and book savvy that is many authors today are missing.
Though old (2007) and in reference to earlier novels? ‘PopCo’ and ‘The End of Mr Y’, check out an interview with her over at Bookslut. it is a good read and nicely familiarizes readers with her personality.
http://www.bookslut.com/features/2007_03_010799.php
uthor’s Website: scarlettthomas.co.ukhttp://www.bookslut.com/features/2007_03_010799.php
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