When I last blogged a couple of weeks ago, I had not finished reading C by Englishman Tom McCarthy. Last night I did!

Since it is short listed for the 2010 Man Booker Award, I am indeed happy that I have now completed this very unusual novel. When the winner is announced on Tuesday, October 12, I will be waiting to see if “my book” wins. (I plan on listening to the live interview with the nominated authors a couple of days before the award is announced. I really, really want to hear what McCarthy says about his novel!) I’m betting C will win!  I have read one other novel which was long listed for the Man Booker this year, Trespass, which is to be published in October. I will review it for my next blog.

Picking up where I left off with C, I can tell you that the novel totally switches directions! Serge, the protagonist, becomes a fighter pilot in WWI. Even though I did not much like this section, titled “Chute” (part II of the novel), I can now see its merit. Section III, is titled “Crash”, and section IV: “Call.”I may not have mentioned that section I is titled “Caul” in my previous blog. Note that each section begins with a “C”, hence one reason for the book’s title: C.

Of course, the sections are all very symbolic of the protagonist’s life, which is continually plagued by the absence of his sister.  Toward the end of the novel Serge visits Egyptian tombs. How does this work into the framework of this novel? I really don’t want to give too much away from this incredibly literary and challenging novel. Streams of consciousness much akin to Joyce or even to Faulkner ebb and flow in this austere novel. No, I would not say it is character or plot driven, but perhaps theme driven.

As I turned the last page, I did realize how all of the plots and subplots did work together to drive home the multi-layered themes of sibling love, depression, intelligence, and exploration, all apparent in the symbols.  How McCarthy did it mystifies me. I think I’ll chalk it up to one word: GENIUS! Even though this was one of the most challenging works of fiction that I have ever read, it was well worth the work. The way that McCarthy puts words together amazed me.  I’m betting McCarty and C will win the 2010 Man Booker Award! I can hardly wait to see~(not intended as a pun!)

Click here for Part 1 of Nan’s blog

-Nan

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