Autobiography of a Tattoo

Rating:
Summary: Take Me There!
Review: A fascinating hybrid of a philosophical meditation on love and a diary of Berlin summers, Persky's book breaks so many rules to thrilling effect that he should be enshrined as Chief Literary Outlaw. Persky is so fearless in investigating the basis for his feelings about his work, his obsession with a young rent-boy in Berlin and his friends that he virtually dares the reader to become exasperated with his waffling about reaching any premature conclusions. The miracle of his writing (and thought process) is that he keeps us fully engaged in his conversation with himself until exasperation turns into affection and complicity. Persky's love of teaching (he is a professor of philosophy in Vancouver, BC) is clear here both explicitly (he talks about his concern for his students at length) and implicitly (the entire book becomes an example of a unique teaching style). Persky, who is proudly over 60, takes pains to make sure we know that his own libido is exuberantly healthy (bravo!). If he had anything to do with approving the fabulous cover art for the book, he certainly insured that the libido of every reader will be sent into overdrive every time the eye catches the cover.

Rating:
Summary: another fine collection of essays from the author of Buddy's
Review: Persky is a very underrated writer in Canada. Partially, this is due to his chosen writing form--essays (although he began as a poet). Essay writing is still considered a dry, academic form in North America but Persky draws upon the more pleasurable personal/philosophical essay tradition of Montaigne and Roland Barthes. He is very open and insightful about his homosexual desires, but it would be a shame if his readership was limited to only those who share his sexual preference(s). Here's hoping that he begins to receive the wider attention he deserves and that he helps revive the essay tradition in North America.