Book Review: Divisadero

Book Review: Divisadero
By Michael Ondaatje

Ondaatje is a beautiful writer. He has a way of expressing things in a unique and vivid way that creates a true image in one’s head. At the same time, not everything is written with such detail that you cannot use your own imagination in the story. Here is an example of his unique way of expressing something: “…both were still and quiet, as if intent on listening for some pronouncement or signal in that hesitation, and then the silence was lost, as the chirp and clatter of insects rose like dirt once again into the air around them.” Who would think to say that the noise of insects talking to each other would rise like dirt? Not many, however the image is not only distinctive but it works.

While beautifully written, a part of me is disappointed. The story starts off with the story of one family which is torn apart. One man is set adrift. But part way through the story we get a swap. The original characters link us to others and the originals are pretty much dropped. We are then told the story of another man who has created a divide between himself and his family–his by choice. However, it isn’t a fair substitute. We have invested ourselves as a reader in the original character, but then have to make due with another. It is almost like a continuum, however it has links which can easily lose the average reader. The themes continue and all that other stuff, making it a psychological story more than the average read, forcing you to read deeper, think harder and piece together small links in order to ‘get’ the story.

Anyway, it is typical Ondaatje in its beauty, so if you are seeking beauty, this book has it. And if you don’t mind a bit of thinking and ditching characters, this one’s a beaut.