Page 3 of 4
There are currently 22 member reviews
for Son of Nobody
-
Bart Y. (Iowa City, IA)
Fascinating and Original
Yann Martel is a great writer, and this is a brilliant book. The structure is unique---basically a reimagining of Homer, coupled with a contemporary family drama tucked away in the footnotes. Equal parts alternative history, mythology, and tragedy, it moves seamlessly between "now" and antiquity, and it defies classification. It's also occasionally quite funny, though sadness is the dominant tone. Highly recommended!
-
Linda M. (Ocala, FL)
A Classic Revisited
Son of Nobody is an amazing read on so many levels. First, the structure of the book with two parallel story lines on the same page above and below a solid, black line, as though narrative above and footnotes below. Second, the retelling of the Trojan War through the eyes of a common soldier as it is being pieced together by a similarly common scholar of the classics. Third, the similar struggles of love, family, grief, and regret that befall both the soldier and the scholar transcend the thousands of years and miles that separate their lives, yet are so common to the human experience. This is a book that the reader will not soon forget. It's a compelling read that will be especially enjoyed by anyone who loves the classics and relishes the idea that perhaps, lost in an ancient trash pile, new stories are still awaiting discovery.
-
Jo S. (Tonganoxie, KS)
Ancient-vs- Modern Tragedy
I tend to gravitate toward richly textured narratives that weave historical fiction with family ties, personal experiences and multi/dual-timeline structures so this novel was a good fit. I also enjoy retellings and I do adore a good story involving the Greek Gods. The novel's blend of an ancient soldier's voice and a modern scholar's scholarly obsession offered a layered, and reflective story dealing with homesickness, regret, and the cost of preserving memories.
Its lyrical free-verse approach and the intimate footnote-like dialogue between past and present echoed contemplative, almost wistful tone while the focus on a commoner perspective adds a fresh angle to a well-trodden epic. If you're looking for a book that enter twines literary craft with a deep, bittersweet meditation on love and loss across centuries, this should be a strong match. Possible drawback is that its slower, more meditative pacing might be off putting and the structure of half pages can be distracting if not completely wasteful. I hope the author decides to publish this as an ebook only, its format being original but such a "Modern Tragedy" for its waste of our natural resources.
-
Barbara S. (Niwot, CO)
An Interesting Spin Off of the Iliad/Trojan War
Having read Homer over 45 years ago, I appreciate how Martel summarized and focused on specific details of the epic novels. Martel mimics Homer's poetic style in developing another Epic, The Psoad. The story swings back and forth between the poem and real life struggles and decisions. It is intriguingly crafted and results in a modern day tragedy. It sparked my interest to hopefully one day pick up and reread Homer's novels. I do not think it is necessary for a reader to have read Homer or understand Greek mythology as a precursor to this book, but I did appreciate that I had.
-
Judith V. (Sioux Center, IA)
Two ordinary men in different centuries with parallel experiences
My preferred reading does not typically include ancient Greek epics, but this one was very accessible and comprehendible. This was greatly enhanced by the insights from the Oxford scholar who discovered the story, albeit accidentally. The book is laid out very creatively, with the Greek story on the top half of the page, and the scholar's notes on the bottom. Along the way, the reader is presented with an interesting and fresh angle on the Trojan War, but the theme appears to be the similarities between Psoas, the son of nobody, and the man who studied him while at Oxford, Harlow Donne. It seems that both characters are passionate, yet quietly so. They continue their respective quests oblivious to the extremely high personal cost; the outcome for both characters, while dark, leaves a mark and a legacy, however slight.
-
Paula B. (Albuquerque, NM)
Innovative and Original
A true original, just as I expected from Martel. The creation of a new perspective of the events of The Iliad, is brilliant.The many observations and representations of Greece, several millennia ago, make the top half of the story engaging and sent me to reference materials repeatedly, not because it is needed, but because my curiosity was piqued endlessly. The bottom half of each page creates the feel of an actual investigation of a newly discovered work as done by a scholar researching archaeological evidence. The book appeals to my long held interest into all things ancient. The accompanying commentary adds fascinating comparisons and details about the Ancient Greek soldier and life in general in the Ancient Greek world. The additional story within the book about the Oxford researcher adds a contemporary human story that tugs at the heartstrings. A reread of The Iliad is now in order- it has been awhile since I had the pleasure of reading it.
-
Roberta W. (Los Ranchos, NM)
A "Homer" Run
Son of Nobody is written by Yann Martel, Booker Prize winning author of Life of Pi. Based on that alone I had high hopes for this book and I wasn't disappointed.
The most striking thing about the book is its structure. Each page is split in two. The top part is the translation of the epic poem (called The Posed) written by Son of Nobody, a commoner who fights in the Trojan War. The bottom part of the page, in footnote like fashion, are the comments of Harlow, a scholar who studies and interprets the work. His comments also include details about his wife and daughter.
Both these men leave their families, Son of Nobody to fight and Harlow (the scholar) to study the Psoad. There are themes of grief, regret and sacrifice.
This book would appeal to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology.
