“This epic retelling of the Flood and Noah's Ark defies any easy description. It is at times humorous, dark, and tragic; filled with both despair and hope. Findley is not kind in his depiction of Noah as a zealot and despot and he also paints blind adherence to religion as a greater evil to mankind (and animals) than some of the characters we have come to associate with evil. The story grows from an idyllic setting where Noah and his family live somewhat peacefully to their life aboard the Ark where they exhibit savage and animalistic behavior. (A psychiatrist would probably have a field day describing the social structure that develops aboard the Ark.) This IS NOT your childhood telling of the Flood, but a dark, twisted, mythical view where murder, envy, lust, and a host of sins abide.” (Review courtesy of Google.)
I chose this novel because of the recognition it has received in Canada and its interesting subject matter. However, I have since read more about it and now wish I’d researched more thoroughly before suggesting it. This may make “The Life of Pi” look like a walk in the park.
One question we might want to consider is whether the descriptions of “savage and animalistic behavior” are necessary to the communication of the author’s major themes.
And we could think about what the author is trying to say about religion, and Christianity in particular. Is reading this, or indeed any, novel likely to influence a person’s religious views?
Other commentators have suggested this novel is a feminist interpretation of the story of the flood. Do we agree?
We could always identify the section we found most unpleasant, couldn’t we? I just hope I make it to the end of the book. Good luck to us all.
Hello Ladies!
ReplyDeleteHope you are both well. Did you both get your copies yet? While it was later than I wanted, my copy of the book did arrive. I read it quickly just in case the baby decides to come early. I’m afraid I may have some spoilers in here, just to forewarn you both.
I found everything about this novel to be odd. By the end of it, I hated Noah and his harsh cruelty. I’m afraid I deeply wished something terrible would happen to him; maybe Mrs. Noyes could have pushed him off the ark. I found several of the characters to be pretty loathsome. Even though Christianity tells us Lucifer is evil, I would take Lucy’s quirky personality over the almost psychopathic Hannah. Which character did you ladies find to be the most distasteful?
Some commentators said this novel is a feminist interpretation. I do not agree. Why is this novel considered feminist? Because our primary character is a female cat? Hardly a good reason to call this novel feminist. Findley made Noah cruel. I do not see Mottyl’s desire to keep her offspring safe, or Mrs. Noyes’ kindness toward all the animals as particularly feminine. What I see most in this novel is a power hungry morally blind individual trying to assert his dominance over a large group. I also see the breakdown of a family unit caused by the selfishness of one individual.
We’re asked what the author is trying to say about religion in this novel. At the end, Noah goes into his chapel and Yaweh does not speak to him. Noah comes out and claims that Yaweh has given several edicts. We, the reader, know Yaweh said nothing but the Noyes family is forced to accept these edicts as truths. This is what I think Findley was trying to say about religions. An elder or group tells the masses what a deity “decreed”. The masses are forced to except this doctrine with little more than faith. I think a book can easily change anyone’s religious views depending on the individual and the content of the book. But with the strange content of this particular book, I wouldn’t think so. There was too much that was too odd to make a reader take its content as truth.
Sue, you ask us to identify the most unpleasant portion of the novel. I would say it has to be when Shem, Noah, and Hannah rape Emma with the unicorn. I found this portion of the novel to be totally sick and twisted. Its purpose to the telling of this story completely eludes me. Why was this necessary? If it was to point out Noah’s increasing cruelty, I find it highly unnecessary. There was hardly any need to include the unicorn in any already barbaric scene.
While so very strange, I think you found a novel with a great deal of discussion material Sue. What portion of this story did you each find most perplexing? For me, I couldn’t understand Yaweh’s decision to destroy the world and die. Yaweh is upset about his ill treatment by the people and decides to destroy them as punishment. A bit extreme, but understandable. The new world is going to consist of a family who still worships and respects Yaweh. The new world is going to be a place where Yaweh will be held in high regard once again. So why chose this time to accept death? Why destroy a world you are already leaving? It seems a waste of effort and time. He could have saved the Noyes family from internal strife and discord if he hadn’t trapped them on an ark with no place to go.
I’m sure there are portions of this novel that you both had difficulty accepting like I did. I cannot wait to hear what you ladies have to say.
Take care
Thank you so much, Katie, for posting first. I hugely admire your focus and determination in getting through something so unpleasant at such a time. And I hope that all is going well with you and the baby. This reading aside, it must be an amazing time for you and Frankiin. Jay and I think of you both a lot. We wish you a safe, speedy delivery.
ReplyDeleteTo the book: on the plus side, I thought this was a really well written novel on a fascinating subject. The characters and setting were detailed and consistently developed in depth. However, probably because of this realism, it was horrifying on every level. There wasn't a character who could cope with the awful situations in which they were placed - except for the wonderful Mrs. Noyes, driven to alcoholism, forced to go cold turkey, but who coped magnificently in appalling situations, physical and psychological, and was still fighting at the end.
Perhaps it's regarded as a feminist book because the women are so much stronger than the men. Hannah is perhaps the weakest of woman. But, at a basic level, even she manipulates the men - a sorry lot. I can imagine this as a fantasy movie - Emma would come out as a superhero, tearing down the door. Ham, bless him, just can't manage.
Lucy was a terrific creation - sadly destined for hell, which I imagine is the world about to be created. A world order that creates a Lucifer of Lucy is clearly not one the author wants us to admire.
Noah was far and away :he most dreadful character. Not a redeeming feature: he was intelligent enough to practise phenomenal magic, genetic engineering, accept Yaweh's death and use the power it transferred to him; to manipulate his family's emotions so he retained psychological dominance and sexual favours - but he demonstrated only insecurity as a recognisably sympathetic human emotion. Are we supposed to see him as representative of the leader of one of the more dreadful religious sects? A war criminal? Both? Charles Taylor?
Does Yaweh, realise there is no world in which he will always be worshipped? In which case he shows a degree of wisdom in recognising change is inevitable. Poor Lucy is still looking for a congenial world, which we know s/he will not find.
I'm not sure which scene I found most disturbing - there was so much horror. But, again thinking of this as a movie, the rape of Emma and the unicorn's death is probably the most appalling sequence of events. Japeth's near death at the hands of the cannibals was pretty dreadful, too, and its consequences, in terms of Japeth's behaviour, shocking. The author's insights into the motivations for human behaviour make the horror all the more terrible. These kinds of depraved events happen today.
So, in answer to your question about which part was most perplexing, Katie, it was Mrs. Noyes' energy and courage. She was fantastic. One sincerely hopes she is the future.
And on that optimistic note, I'll finish my ramblings. Hope your book arrive, Nancy. Make sure everyone is taking care of you, Katie, We send you much love.
Sue
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteWhat a bizarre book !!! I ranged between unable to put it down and then reluctant to pick it back up again.
One of our questions is whether the savage and animalistic behaviour are necessary to the communication of the author's theme ?
Allowing my interpretation of the theme is the many facets of the human condition and the role religion and the abuse of power plays in this then I guess, yes, it is necessary. By personifying the animals and allowing them their own race and identity, I feel Findley is trying to embrace all our different human views and cultures. Mottyl's babies being constantly taken for experiment reminded me of the human experiments done by the Nazi's in WW2, power abuse and dominance at its worse.
This also makes me consider one possible reason for the inclusion of the rape of Emma and why the unicorn was chosen. At first I couldn't fathom the reason why the author would include this horrible event either, but perhaps it is yet another example of a weak and floundering system trying to reassert its power through terror and humiliation of the innocent. The unicorn is such a passive, gentle and shy creature and Emma an innocent, or maybe the author was highlighting the barbaric rituals that are sometimes performed in the name of religions.
I found the most distasteful character to be Yaweh with all his pomp and ceremony,he seemed to be portrayed as a vindictive feeble old man. Perhaps his reasons for flooding the earth were simply selfish and nasty and he cloaked them in the grandiose greater good as Noah so often did of his own selfish whims.
I have been reading a book of the events of WW1 and so often the commanders sent the soldiers off to death from the comforts of their staterooms with no idea of the horrors the men on the ground faced. I guess at the moment I maybe a little hypersensitive to the power man has over fellow man!!!
I found the visual imagery of the darkness below contrasting with the light and white above interesting. Of course, Lucy being the saviour with her lights and clever use of the demons to stage a rebellion had me cheering.
I found Mrs Noyes strength and her bravery in defying Noah admirable and while all her adversities made her stronger and she fought harder, Japeth's troubles turned a man accepting of all [in the beginning he asked all home for tea] into a vicious and malicious killer. Perhaps as you say Sue the feminist angle of this story lies in the strength of its women characters.
It is a fascinating novel, full of so many interesting themes to be explored. Thank you Sue for the challenge.
Now, How is everyone?
I think of you both often and marvel at our little book club lasting so long, it is just wonderful to have you both as such good friends.
Katie, there are so many exciting times coming up for you and Franklin and baby Chong. Are you due early or late August? We hope all is well.
Talk soon,
Nancy
I should have thanked you before, Nancy, for another new background. Full of the kind of energy needed to get through this book. Loved the comments on the visual imagery of light and darkness, WW1 and Nazi human experiments. And I do so agree about a weak and floundering system asserting itself through brute force. Seems to happen a lot. In fact, on a smaller scale, happens in personal relationships, too - but let's not go there.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I was writing the above, a man came to check the moisture levels in our newly laid floor - still too wet to lay the flooring. And we've had such good weather. Goodness knows how long it would have taken had we done this in the winter months. I've ordered furniture and had got really excited about its imminent arrival. I must learn patience.
Waiting for things to arrive is perhaps a dominant theme in your household, Katie. Echoing Nancy, is the baby due early or late August? Having just lived through the birth of the third in line to the throne, all Brits are now experts on first babies. Very exciting time for you and Franklin. Much love to you both.
And thanks to you and Nancy for your forbearance with this novel. I'll research further suggestions more thoroughly. Is it my turn to suggest three or so titles? If so, I ought to start looking now.
Love to you both
Sue
Hello,
ReplyDeleteSue, while I didn't enjoy this novel, and I don't believe that was the author's purpose in writing it anyway, I did find it challenging and thought provoking. So I encourage you to be brave again in your next few choices. We all need a shake up sometimes and to be taken out of our comfort zones, so "Brava" to you for suggesting Not Wanted.
Like I said Sue, it was a novel with a great deal of discussion material. And that is certainly one of the perks of this club! I love the idea that this book is feminist because the females characters are the only strong characters! What a different way of viewing feminity!
ReplyDeleteThe baby is due next week (8/7). We are currently just playing the waiting game (which is unfortunately not my strong suit haha)
Will keep you lovely ladies updated.
Katie