From One Book Lover

Courtesy Cinema Bums

Did you ever have a day you are sorry you spent in a particular pursuit and wished you could get it back?  Thus was the case with Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel . First of all, what in the world is it about: a fictional author with writer's block, a horrible play, a horrific playwright, taxidermy?  I think it may be the first, but maybe the last.  Still haven't quite figured that one out, sad to say. Secondly, is this worthy of paper?  The answer is no.  There are no redeeming elements of the story.  I don't like the narrator, his wife, his music teacher, the taxidermist, the waiter.  I kind of like the veterinarian, but that's because he does what has to be done. That brings me to the gross elements of the story.  Taxidermy isn't my favorite subject, but I stuck with the story because I loved Life of Pi .  It had to get better, right? Wrong. I waded through stories of rabid dogs killing cats, torture of a donkey, the slaughter...

Fans of Life of Pi can mark their calendars: Yann Martel is at it again.  The gifted author will return in the spring with a new book: Beatrice and Virgil . Random House of Canada has announced the publishing date of April 6 in Canada and to the rest of the world April 13. I have a lot of reading to do to clear my plate for this next offering by Martel.  I first encountered Life of Pi while I was studying French.  The semester was halfway done and I took a short break by picking up some books to read as a treat at the end of the semester. I skimmed the first few pages of Life of Pi to see if I would be interested. I was so intrigued that I had to hide the novel until after the semester was over so I could concentrate on the task at hand.  The wait was more than worth it and I consider it one of my favorite reads of the decade. I must say, however, I am disappointed with the cover art shown above.  The artwork is a lovely design and exquisitely balanced...