Disobedience

Rating:
Summary: Deception
Review: Jane Hamilton came to Eau Claire, Wi in November promoting this book. After hearing her read the first chapter, I knew Disobedience had to be my selection for our January book club. Upon reading everyone else's reviews, I feel the major point of the book has been missed. The central theme is "deceptions". The deceipt of each character is woven into the fabric of the story: Beth Shaw's affair, Elvira Shaw's cross dressing, and Henry Shaw's spying on his mother through reading her email. One begins to wonder what Mr. Shaw's deception is......I feel that Jane Hamilton has surpassed herself with this novel. Each chapter slowly unveils the untruths of her character's lives. And of course we get only a one sided picture of each family member as seen through Henry's eyes. I can only wonder how fascinating this book would be if each character had a chapter and retold the story. We are given a glimpse of this in the Chapter on Shiloh. Henry relates the "outing" of Elvirnon in quite a different manner than his friend Karen does. I have read each of Ms. Hamilton's books and this one by far is my favorite. I love the construction of her sentences, and how she is able to convey so much meaning with so few words. I am definitely recommending this book to all of my friends, and anticipate our book club's get together.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful writing, but......
Review: There is no question that Jane Hamilton is one very talented author. The woman is literate, funny and tells one hell of a story. "Disobedience" is no exception to this. Filled with the quirky, amusing antics of the Shaw family, Hamilton creates characters you want to know. When mother Beth Shaw's extra-marital affair is discovered by her email snooping son, the Shaw's lives become an open book. Herein lies my problem with the novel; the voice of our narrator Henry, the son in question.

Henry is a seventeen year old boy, albeit a witty, intellectual one, but a teenage boy none the less. While Henry's dry observations had me laughing out loud on many occasions, a voice inside my head kept saying one thing over and over. "This is great writing, and I'm enjoying this story, but this is not how a seventeen year old boy talks or thinks, this is the voice of a middle aged woman" In her quest to be literary, the author has made Henry's narration far too mature and urbane to be believable. Even the most sophisticated seventeen year old would not have the life experience necessary to form the types of opinions on sexuality, infidelity and marraige that Henry is apparently capable of. While the novel is enjoyable and worth reading, Henry's voice never quite rings true.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful writing, but......
Review: There is no question that Jane Hamilton is one very talented author. The woman is literate, funny and tells one hell of a story. "Disobedience" is no exception to this. Filled with the quirky, amusing antics of the Shaw family, Hamilton creates characters you want to know. When mother Beth Shaw's extra-marital affair is discovered by her email snooping son, the Shaw's lives become an open book. Herein lies my problem with the novel; the voice of our narrator Henry, the son in question.

Henry is a seventeen year old boy, albeit a witty, intellectual one, but a teenage boy none the less. While Henry's dry observations had me laughing out loud on many occasions, a voice inside my head kept saying one thing over and over. "This is great writing, and I'm enjoying this story, but this is not how a seventeen year old boy talks or thinks, this is the voice of a middle aged woman" In her quest to be literary, the author has made Henry's narration far too mature and urbane to be believable. Even the most sophisticated seventeen year old would not have the life experience necessary to form the types of opinions on sexuality, infidelity and marraige that Henry is apparently capable of. While the novel is enjoyable and worth reading, Henry's voice never quite rings true.

Rating:
Summary: A filial maternal biography?
Review: Well maybe not. I think if you are reading this, you understand the premise; a boy finds out about his mother's affair. But it is also about the mother, his family and his growing up. It is detailed, well written, and not sophmoric. The book is written in retrospect, so there is ample reflection and it is not a Salinger or Portnoy's complaint from a young or impudent voice. I was very happy with this book and recommend it highly. I also will predict that this author's other works must be equally well written.

Rating:
Summary: falling off the pedestal
Review: When I first started teaching, I remember wondering to myself how in the world I was ever going to be a teacher . . . after all, teachers were perfect people! Growing up I always thought that my teachers walked on water. How could I aspire to be one of them? Of course it didn't take long to find out that teachers actually weren't perfect. That upset me at first. I guess that's what happens when someone falls off the pedestal.

This is what happens to Henry in the novel Disobedience. At the age of 17- half boy, half man- Henry realizes that his mother is more than a mother- she is a woman and she is not perfect. This realization upsets, yet intrigues him. The remainder of the novel is a series of his reflections about human nature, families, and the complications of our lives.

I thought Jane Hamilton did an excellent job of examining family dynamics in Disobedience. Her story brings to light what we all know but often fail to acknowledge- that you never really know what goes on in peoples' private lives (unless you know their email password). Seemingly happy marriages- and families- are often not what they appear to be. Often people are disobedient. This may be an "old story with nothing new in it," but it is intriguing nevertheless.