I met the last of the Bronte sisters (Charlotte) in an interview with her shrink. She's a woman with loads of attitude, a serious drug problem (among other problems!) with a licence to kill ( with this fantastic orange gun that causes MI, CI and Narcolepsy if want the target alive). She's in a psychiatric set up (all white-metaphor tabula rasa) after being arrested for a murder; a target she eliminated without being commanded to do so. Therein unfolds her story/ stories! She claims to be a member of a secret organization, her division "Bad monkeys"is an execution squad determined to eleminate evil from the world (evil not crime- there's a distinction). It sets the stage for a si-fi mixed with aventure with thriller genre- a heady cocktail really! Is Jane Charlotte's brain (she has one and later to my joy I found she grew a spine- though late!) a little bent with the drug habit? Is she lying? Is she plain crazy? Or is she playing a different game all together?
The book is a really fantastic read. Nothing is what it seems. It's a multi-layered piece of fiction. An onion! At one level it's a psychological thriller (like no other!). Highly engrossing, speculative, entertaining with it's multitude of motely characters and settings. It takes you through a sleepy town, the deserts of ozyamandias, clown city, LA- Nevada and an intricately constructed (as also is the story) ants nest! There's Charolette's narrative (which has many an unexpected turn, visions and revisions) that introduces a hoard of characters: a high strung (?) single mother, Phil her good kind brother who is kidnapped by the Troop (Was she responsible? Did she hate him? What were her intentions?). A "Friendly" police officer. Representative of the organization Bob True, probate officer Anne Charles (who also has a story). Mr. Dixon a blond crew cut-leather trench coat- pebble glasses chap who is attached to Malfeasace (a Panopticon division- the organizations "eyes"!), a set of "Scary Clowns" led by "Love" (the name's ironic- they're in the same game- to rid the world of evil) an anit-organization, the "Troop" devoted to exactly the opposite end. A host of bad monkeys, a bad Jane who comes into existance through the drug related "altered state of mind" theory and a whole range of x drugs that can change the laws of physics; and a story that doesn't fit- and a story that keeps changing. It's funny. It evokes a range of thoughts, emotions and reactions. It's at times laugh out loud funny but thrilling through out! Ruff is "enormous fun"; he doesn't disappoint!
If one chooses to peel off a layer of this onion (which one is likley to do if one is as insomniac- it takes up time!) the reader is transported to a new dimension. It's not humour that hits here- it's the reality of bad monkeys! There are bad monkeys (amongst us)- there are essentially two categories of them. Sociopaths and Malefactors. It amused one to think that the general conception is that sociopaths can't tell right from wrong. Ofcourse thats not true! They know the difference- enough to hide what they do- they choose not to care about it. Moral Maritains. (At least their behaviour is consistant with their moral indifference- I respect that- appreciate it immensely even in a bad monkey!). To me, the malefactors are harder to take. Malefactors seem to possess a normal sense of conscience. They experience guilt but it doesn't stop them. Both bad monkeys lie. Sociopaths lie to other people. Malefactors do that too, but they first lie to themselves.... an elabourate story... in order to justify... It's not funny (the novel) if one chooses to process this layer. I chose to and I have no intentions of sharing my thoughts so don't be worried! Or mortified! No morbidity I promise!
Another layer peeled brings to the forefront several important issues. Of freedom, choice and responsibility. Ruff is a geniuos. In his stories within stories within changing stories helps see the light. Truth unfolds: you are shown through the streets and days where one made choices and became what one became. Underneath the humour is a world of illusions dispelled; where darkness settels in with portraits of people- Mom, Phil, Truth, Dixon, Love- all of who are metaphors (Names!). All of who are attempted to be destroyed. Stories of Jane, by Jane. Of Bad Monkeys- are they a Nod problem (ref:Bible story of Caine and Able). In the novel there are no stories of heros (despite it being almost sifi adventure), just of ordinary men who make choices- to take a hard fall, to stay till the last dance, of extraordinarily evil men - liars who choose to be bad monkeys- who know of love, truth and intergrety but have perhaps never understood it- all they know is manipulation (I give they have a brain- spine some do). It's really a fantastic story about a simple (mundane) truth- "Omnes Mundum Facimus" (We all create/ make the world- It takes all sorts to make the world). It drove home a point! It's helping me set my house in order!
It's a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fantastically satisfying at which ever level you choose to interpret! It's about choices- you "choose"! It was a great start to a brand new year and a brand new day- well worth the sleepless night! I second the Daily Telegraph " If you leave this book on a train you'll buy another copy tomorrow"
The book is a really fantastic read. Nothing is what it seems. It's a multi-layered piece of fiction. An onion! At one level it's a psychological thriller (like no other!). Highly engrossing, speculative, entertaining with it's multitude of motely characters and settings. It takes you through a sleepy town, the deserts of ozyamandias, clown city, LA- Nevada and an intricately constructed (as also is the story) ants nest! There's Charolette's narrative (which has many an unexpected turn, visions and revisions) that introduces a hoard of characters: a high strung (?) single mother, Phil her good kind brother who is kidnapped by the Troop (Was she responsible? Did she hate him? What were her intentions?). A "Friendly" police officer. Representative of the organization Bob True, probate officer Anne Charles (who also has a story). Mr. Dixon a blond crew cut-leather trench coat- pebble glasses chap who is attached to Malfeasace (a Panopticon division- the organizations "eyes"!), a set of "Scary Clowns" led by "Love" (the name's ironic- they're in the same game- to rid the world of evil) an anit-organization, the "Troop" devoted to exactly the opposite end. A host of bad monkeys, a bad Jane who comes into existance through the drug related "altered state of mind" theory and a whole range of x drugs that can change the laws of physics; and a story that doesn't fit- and a story that keeps changing. It's funny. It evokes a range of thoughts, emotions and reactions. It's at times laugh out loud funny but thrilling through out! Ruff is "enormous fun"; he doesn't disappoint!
If one chooses to peel off a layer of this onion (which one is likley to do if one is as insomniac- it takes up time!) the reader is transported to a new dimension. It's not humour that hits here- it's the reality of bad monkeys! There are bad monkeys (amongst us)- there are essentially two categories of them. Sociopaths and Malefactors. It amused one to think that the general conception is that sociopaths can't tell right from wrong. Ofcourse thats not true! They know the difference- enough to hide what they do- they choose not to care about it. Moral Maritains. (At least their behaviour is consistant with their moral indifference- I respect that- appreciate it immensely even in a bad monkey!). To me, the malefactors are harder to take. Malefactors seem to possess a normal sense of conscience. They experience guilt but it doesn't stop them. Both bad monkeys lie. Sociopaths lie to other people. Malefactors do that too, but they first lie to themselves.... an elabourate story... in order to justify... It's not funny (the novel) if one chooses to process this layer. I chose to and I have no intentions of sharing my thoughts so don't be worried! Or mortified! No morbidity I promise!
Another layer peeled brings to the forefront several important issues. Of freedom, choice and responsibility. Ruff is a geniuos. In his stories within stories within changing stories helps see the light. Truth unfolds: you are shown through the streets and days where one made choices and became what one became. Underneath the humour is a world of illusions dispelled; where darkness settels in with portraits of people- Mom, Phil, Truth, Dixon, Love- all of who are metaphors (Names!). All of who are attempted to be destroyed. Stories of Jane, by Jane. Of Bad Monkeys- are they a Nod problem (ref:Bible story of Caine and Able). In the novel there are no stories of heros (despite it being almost sifi adventure), just of ordinary men who make choices- to take a hard fall, to stay till the last dance, of extraordinarily evil men - liars who choose to be bad monkeys- who know of love, truth and intergrety but have perhaps never understood it- all they know is manipulation (I give they have a brain- spine some do). It's really a fantastic story about a simple (mundane) truth- "Omnes Mundum Facimus" (We all create/ make the world- It takes all sorts to make the world). It drove home a point! It's helping me set my house in order!
It's a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fantastically satisfying at which ever level you choose to interpret! It's about choices- you "choose"! It was a great start to a brand new year and a brand new day- well worth the sleepless night! I second the Daily Telegraph " If you leave this book on a train you'll buy another copy tomorrow"
14 comments:
whew! how does one follow a storyline like that? or maybe its just that i have very little imagination...very impressive.
wow ..made u a good catalyst in interpretting bad monkeys ..chemical produced by onions at one level.remember one pic of 3monkeys saying to humans ..see ..hear or speak NO evil..well written by you..if i get it i'll not get down in any railway station..sure :)
U make it seem like having insomnia is the most fun thing- like u have extra hours to read n stuff! "positive reframing" huh? U were good at that too! will try the book. got me thinking for cost effectiveness of operations they could recruit u to draw out bad monkeys- u've been a "bad monkey"/ b@$%*#d magnet" since when ever :p! U still paint?
Sorry I didn't understand what it is about. All the best....
I need to read this book now that I know its so interesting...Will take it from you soon!
yeah anu u have written so well, again!
impressive and witty, what a flow.
makes me feel like reading the book...
hmmm... sounds like a good read, but i've always been wary of psychological thrillers. i mean, what are psychologists supposed to do when they need a break from work?! :-)
enjoyed most of your posts. can't wait to check out the new buildings and compare notes. :-) keep it up. shall keep visiting.
love, ash.
Does it talk about giving bad monkeys second chances? Curious
sure sow! anytime
Anon 2: I'm not sure who u are
Anon 3: Psychologists are supposed to become human when on a break!
Anon3: I know who this is. Why don't you read it yourself and satisfy your curiosity? Thats really not your answer to your not really your question. figure it out
i ithink i need to read the book.but xtrmly good way of writing a review. nobody wil get bored reading ur review. i was planning on a gang which will abolish evil with EVIL... think this book wil help me:)
axc you don't have it in you to be a bad monkey! so give up the idea!
wat about my comment made you feel that way:)
axc is the acronym of my name. do you know the full form?
axc nothing of your comment but you as a person elicited that response :) watched righteous kill it's along the lines of bad monkeys/ what you plan :) watch it! i can guess all but what the "c" stands for in your id :)
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