The Tenant by Roland Topor Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Tenant
Book Review: Grim but Valid
Summary: 5 Stars
Thomas Ligotti, in the introduction to 'The Tenant', advocates the idea that Roland Topor resolved the dilemma posed by the central theme of his novel - that identity is only a delusion - while firmly positioned as an 'outsider'. Outsider, as in disenfranchised, excluded, alien. Insiders are allowed to bring tolerable solutions only, whether true or not - the world demands it. The outsider thumbs his nose at what the world wants; his obligation is to tell the truth as he sees it. It's no wonder, then, that 'The Tenant' is a horror story. The world does not nourish an outsider - it attacks him, and while Roland Topor may have been interested in identity and illusion, what he stunningly brought home to me was just how foul the assault on the outsider is.
In 'The Tenant', a young man named Trelkovsky needs a new apartment. As they are scarce in the city, he feels lucky to find one recently vacated - by a female suicide. Once settled, he tries to conform to the building's standards, but right away, his neighbors begin chastising him for the slightest noise. He alters his behavior to placate them, and avoids his friends to keep them from visiting - and making more noise. Weeks later, someone burglarizes his apartment, and steals his personal items. Slowly he becomes a cipher; and the fiends surrounding him conspire to change him into the person they want him to be - a copy of the woman who previously occupied the apartment. Even more sinister, they will continue until he suffers the same end as she.
Trelkovsky divines their scheme and at first he effusively complies, hoping they will be satisfied with the transformation alone. Later, when that fails, he attempts to escape, but fate inexorably returns him to his apartment, where his neighbors eventually bend him to their will. At the last, he witnesses ungodly sights out of his window overlooking the building's courtyard - and whether Topor meant for the hellish spectacle to be real or the result of a hallucinogenic madness, either is equally sufficient to drive Trelkovsky completely over the edge.
On one hand, the reader might find Mr. Topor's commentary ineffective; much like his character Trelkovsky's passionate, shouted expose of his neighbor's designs near the end of the book is also useless. They are both shouting at the world, which already fully realizes its intentions toward these outsiders. However, I believe there is value here, because while I fervently hope never to find myself in Trelkovsky's extreme situation, I must always recognize that it is extremely possible.
For its themes and warnings, 'The Tenant' is excellent, but I would not recommend a steady diet of similar literature, as the implication of the subject matter is simply too bleak for me. That doesn't make it any less true, but overindulgence in such nihilistic and gloomy ideas by an impressionable reader could leave a negative mark. As far as the writing itself, I'd consider it well done except toward the end where there were some awkward transitions - but the power of Mr. Topor's writing is not in his craft but in his ideas.
Aesthetically, Millipede Press did a fantastic job with this edition, which also includes four of Mr. Topor's out-of-print short stories and a sampling of his artwork (I'm no art critic, but elements there remind me of the surreal and absurdist landscapes of Jim Woodring.) I look forward to other obscure titles this small imprint is bringing out, even if, as in 'The Tenant', the contents are grim and the resolution rather discouraging.
Book Review: Please, someone take down Donna Di Giacomo's review.
Summary: 5 Stars
Roland Topor's book about city life alienation is one of the most brilliant pieces of horror I've read in some time; while reading it I couldn't help it but find some parallels between Topor's book and Thomas Ligotti's own "My Work is not yet Done". Ligotti himself also happens to write a great introduction to this book's main course, focusing on the differences between "pessimistic" receivers of the Novel prize for literature and the REAL pessimist writers that go unnoticed. Also included is a selection of four previously unpublished short stories and a brief gallery representative or Roland Topor's ink drawings.
But please, don't read Donna Di Giacomo's review on this page; I have no idea what she was thinking while writing it, but she pretty much fills it with SPOILERS for 75/80% of the novel, laying there for any unsuspecting readers to find and I have no idea why the amazon staff that usually checks these reviews before public viewing gave it the green light.. Fortunately for me I finished the book long before finding that spoiling wreck, but others might not be that lucky, and this is a very good book to have it mercilessly ruined like that.
Book Review: Psychological Trauma
Summary: 5 Stars
What an excellent book! I was really surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. Following the descent of the main character into a paranoid madness was fascinating, especially since it was difficult to tell accurately if he was actually imagining it or not.
However, I find the phrase "sexual obsession" as used in the description to be misleading. Perhaps "gender obsession" or "identity obsession" would be more accurate.
Included in this volume were several short stories--also superb--and drawings done by the author. There is also an essay, but I recommend leaving it until afterward as it does give some minor things away.
Book Review: This book is for those times when you want read something strange
Summary: 5 Stars
I equate reading this short novel with watching one of those advant-garde European films that center on the psyche of a not-so-normal individual as this person pits himself or herself against (or in contrast to) the world around him. Trelkovsky, the main character in this novel is not right, you can tell right from the beginning. And yet he just gets stranger and stranger as his story plays out. His descent is felt by you, the reader. He gets inside your head too. I thought this book was really well written and very interesting. When your done, give it to friends to read. Then you can talk about it with them.Book Review: Underrated novel gets an excellent new treatment.
Summary: 4 Stars
Roland Topor, The Tenant (Millipede Press, 2004)
Topor's brilliant novel, awash in nihilism, surrealism, and existential angst, is best remembered these days as the basis for one of Roman Polanski's most universally scorned movies. Millipede Press gives us a handsome fortieth anniversary edition here with an introduction by the equally talented wordsmith Thomas Ligotti, who spends twenty pages comparing Topor, favorably, to the equally absurd, but far more optimistic, Pirandello. Ligotti's introduction alone is worth the cover price, or would be had Ligotti turned it into something a bit longer (and thrown in a few Lovecraftian horrors along the way); as it is, even if you hate the novel and selected short stories (with a bit of Topor's artwork) that follow it, you won't feel like you've thrown your money away. Anything Thomas Ligotti writes is well worth your time.
Chances are, though, you're going to like what you read. Ligotti's Pirandello comparison is, of course, apt; Topor has the same sense of whimsy, but it seems disturbingly inappropriate in a book so relentlessly bleak. This, of course, only heightens the outrageousness, the effect of which is that no matter how insane things get, the reader is willing to accept just about anything. Does it work? You bet it does.
It should be no surprise that the accompanying stories here have the quality of fairy tales, and the art will be no surprise to anyone who's seen Fantastic Planet. (Monty Python fans will recognize it as well; Topor was an obvious influence on Terry Gilliam.) There's a great deal to like about this book; if you're unfamiliar with Topor, or only familiar with his film work, this edition of The Tenant is a great starting point. ****
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