Morvern Callar by Alan Warner Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Morvern Callar
Book Review: A Distant Portrait
Summary: 3 Stars
Another in the wave of new Scottish fiction that has followed in the wake of Irvine Welsh's success. Like "Trainspotting," this is a slang-laden, drug-assisted look at a modern Scottish youth--although in the country (Oban) and not the city, and the drug is ecstasy, not heroin. The Morvern of the title is a 20ish supermarket employee whose steady boyfriend has just committed suicide. Instead of reporting the death she covers it all up with great composure so she can use his bank account and pretend that he has left her. At first we get the some rather ordinary exposition of her and her friend partying and whatnot. Then a trip to a youth resort in Spain with all the attendant debauchery--sex, drugs, and raves--is given. It's very clear that her life is bleak, and she's out to grab what little pleasure she can. (A great non-fiction book which gives insight into how people like Morvern come into being is Nick Danziger's "Danziger's Britain.") It's a bit hard to identify with a character so totally alien to me, especially as the reader is not allowed into her head, and it's a bit hard to tell exactly what its all supposed to accomplish. I suppose the reader is supposed to key into the themes of alienation, confusion, running away, and soforth, but the deadpan prose somehow dulls one to the larger picture. Which is not to say it's bad writing, because it's actually quite good, but somehow the tone creates an emotional distance between the reader and Morvern. It might be one of those books that women are more likely to connect with. If so, the story continued is "These Demented Lands," which is even less compelling. Best to pick up Warner's "The Sopranos" instead.Book Review: A dissapointment
Summary: 2 Stars
When I picked up this book I had high expectations,seeing that it had received good reviews.It opened quite spectacularly as well, on a rather surreal note.But as I read on, I couldn't help wondering what the point was in this rather incoherent, rambling tale.The book seemed like a sloppy, haphazard collection of incidents that didn't make much sense or assist character development. The central character herself was unbelievable and I found it impossible to identify with her or understand her actions or even sympathise with her plights.It seems to me that the writer had tried too hard to create a hip,cutting edge story and the end product was strained and gimmicky. Some incidents were quite mirth-provoking, however,that's why I gave it two stars.Book Review: A lame attempt
Summary: 1 Stars
It's a weak attempt at writing something that would be a mix between Albert Camus' "Outsider" and Irvine welsh's "Trainspotting". I kept on reading hoping that it might get better but it didn't. There is no storyline, there are just clipped futile descriptions of nature and party scenes... The lack of proper dialogue makes this even more distant. I was left with no feelings of sympathy towards the protagonist whatsoever. I completely agree with the other reviewer who said: 'A bloke can't do a woman', it's just lame. And amazon.com should be careful about tossing recommendations based on earlier readings and ratings. This is nothing compared to Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting.Book Review: All physical sensation and no soul
Summary: 3 Stars
This novel reminded me of Camus' The Stranger. All physical sensation and no soul. Morvern spends her days thinking: "eat, yawn, sleep, dance, I used the goldish lighter on a Silk Cut." I think Warner's a gifted writer. I liked the language of the novel and the fresh perspective. But enough with the sudsy bathtub scenes. Frankly, I'm tired of male writers (writing from the female perspective) including scenes like this in their books. They can't really pull it off. To quote Morvern, I'm in "hysterics" every time Morvern and Lanna "lather each other up" in the tub (yet again!). Warner can keep his fantasies to himself. Because that's how it came off.Book Review: An absence glowing among the unbearable presences
Summary: 5 Stars
Him is someone we have all killed, maybe with less whit and coolness. What an odd start and what a distance from her actions. Morvern is almost placed among all the dull surroundings, faced with a life that she cannot cope with. A brilliant study on relationships and the way you can just ignore them when they become imposed, and how humans respond mechanically to the most important things, on death, just a step away, a snap pf the goldish lighter on a Silk Cut. It reminded me of Camus' starting line : Aujourd' hui, maman est morte.