Comments on: J.L. Carr: A Month in the Country

By: A Month in the Country, by J. L. Carr « KevinfromCanada

A Month in the Country, by J. L. Carr « KevinfromCanada — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:33:24 +0000

[...] its own that will not be easily forgotten.” For a more recent appraisal, you can also check out the Mookse and the Gripes — it made Trevor’s Best of 2009 list. That means my endorsement completes the [...]

By: Pip's Squeak

Pip's Squeak — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:39:46 +0000

A great book. The Harpole Report and The Battle of Pollock’s Crossing are just as good.The first is extremely funny; the second, enticingly vicious.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:53:21 +0000

It is interesting, John. I didn’t find that out until after the post above (I’d been given it as a “first novel” which it is — Alexie has since written another one — I just didn’t know it was seven years old.) Stoddart did put it out in 2002 — and almost immediately went out of business. I found two reviews of that one (both from church publications — its central theme is about the fallout of abuse in native residential schools), although I didn’t do a super-extensive search. Alexie is a chief in the NWT and given the central issue and the lack of native Canadian authors, I can’t believe I didn’t hear about it. So my guess is it just fell off the map because of the bankruptcy and a lack of copies. I also found a reference that Penguin had published a hardcover version in 2004 — but can find no evidence of it anywhere beyond that mention. Looking around the used book sites, I can find a few copies of the Stoddart book and none of the Penguin volume. And to complicate matters further, the proof copy I read has a 2008 copyright, which would indicate Alexie has perhaps revised the book.

The other reason that I think very few copies of the Stoddart version ever made it to market is that it is a truly exceptional work — I’ll admit I had tears flowing and I can’t remember the last book that did that to me. I intend to read it again before figuring out what my post should look like.

By: John Self

John Self — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:00:54 +0000

Incidentally Kevin, looking up Porcupines and China Dolls by Robert Alexie (I take it I have the right one), I note that it was first published in 2002 by a publishing house called Stoddart. Self-published initially perhaps?

By: Isabel

Isabel — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:58:17 +0000

Kevin and Trevor – I feel for you right now.

I can walk barefoot in the yard, if I wish.

So, I enjoy the weather right now and will envy you in a few months.

Thanks for your suggestions on summer reading. It’s on my list!

I’ve run out out of books to read about Shackelton, so I need others.

By: John Self

John Self — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:57:35 +0000

I think A Month in the Country is a small (very small, as Stewart has pointed out) masterpiece, and from my limited experience, Carr's best book. I'm afraid, Andy, that I found The Battle of Pollocks Crossing unreadable (and unfinishable), though like A Month in the Country it was shortlisted for the Booker. In mildly arbitrary support for my view, it's notable that neither Penguin nor NYRB - nor anyone else - has picked up any of Carr's other books for reissuing, and his backlist remains exclusively available through his own publishing house, Quince Tree Press, which I believe is now run by his son. And which produces books of insanely baroque over-design.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:13:43 +0000

Current temperature in Calgary is -25C which means it could get to -30C tonight (that doesn’t count the wind chill factor and I’m not going out to develop an opinion). I share Trevor’s feelings, but even he gets a six to eight week start on us so tonight I’m having difficulty developing much sympathy.

But just to give your tastes a tease, Isabel, I finished today a proof copy of a marvelous first novel called Porcupines and China Dolls set in the Northwest Territories. Not due for release until May (and I don’t even know if it has a U.S. publisher) but you can look forward to a review in a couple of months. Given your post, I think it will meet your criteria for summer reading in New Orleans.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:23:17 +0000

And it certainly has been gloomy here, Isabel. Last week we had a giant snow storm. The temperature rose about ten degrees per day until it was nice and pleasant at the end of the week, but it didn’t quite stick! Soon . . . I hope. I’m sorry that means your New Orleans heat is on its way!

By the way, a story that always makes me feel cold, no matter the time of year, is Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.”

By: Isabel

Isabel — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:22:38 +0000

The summery words can affect your state of mind and make you feel better about the gloomy weather.

I have the opposite problem. In New Orleans, the summers are oppresive, so I look for books set in cold places, so I can forget the heat!

February is one of my favorites months, because I can go outside and not fry to death.

By: Stewart

Stewart — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:28:27 +0000

Stewart, was A Month in the Country shorter than William Trevor’s “Reading Turgenev”?

If Reading Turgenev weighs in at 222 pages, as Andy says (and this hardcover edition, with 192 pages, also suggests thereabouts) then A Month In The Country is much shorter. My Penguin Modern Classics edition only has 85 pages.