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“ SHORT STORIES ALI SMITH
The First Person and Other Stories
(Hamish Hamilton) 000
In this, her fourth collection of short stories, Ali Smith sets out her philosophical stall as quickly as she can. Her opening tale, ‘True Short Story’,
ponders the very nature of the form itself as two men debate the merits of the
novel against the short story, overheard by a narrator who has lost her ‘voice’, ending in a string of quotes from writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Jorge Luis Borges and Alice Munro, all revealing what the short story means
to them.
The First Person and Other Stories is not so much a collection of shorts, as a gathering up of ideas concerning the soul of this literary genre and a forensic analysis of putting such mini-novellas together. In several of the dozen pieces, there are alternative stories being told: long-distance memories, secret histories, a meeting between a woman and her 14-year-old self, and tales of people stuck in the snow or trapped between walls which could easily cross into urban myth territory. There are also some distinct stories (Porgy and Bess, the execution of Mary Queen of Scots) recalled which drive on a main narrative while ‘Astute Fiery Luxurious’ concludes with a series of multiple endings about how to dispose of a suspect package.
These are all cunning and engrossing conceits but disappointingly, given her track record, the Smithian wit and emotional thrust are often absent, though the scientifically precise drawing of character is as potent as ever. A semi-triumphant dissertation on the mini-story form. (Brian Donaldson)
SHOWBIZ SATIRE CHEETA
Me Cheeta: The Autobiography (Fourth Estate) 0000
At first glance it might sound as daft as a bag of monkey nuts. But this ‘autobiography‘ of the septuagenarian chimpanzee who became world famous as the companion of Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan is actually a brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed expose of Golden Age Hollywood. Supposedly written by the oldest living chimp (who's in retirement at Palm Springs' CHEETA Primate Foundation, to which charitable
ME CHEEIA
concern animal lovers are encouraged to make a donation). this tell-all memoir recalls Cheeta's life, from his kidnapping in the Liberian jungle through high times with Tinseltown's movie stars to his post-screen career struggle with alcohol and diabetes.
All of which gives the book's ghost-writer (l, Fally‘s Jerry Stahl at a wild guess) free rein to pen a scathineg satirical stab at the bad and the beautiful of the studio- era dream factories. It‘s by turns hilarious and affecting. and the central conceit — that the rich and famous are less civilised than simians — is absolutely priceless. (Miles Fielder)
MlNlMALlST MEMOIRS MITH
MAGAZINE
One Life, Six Words, What's Yours? (HarperPreSS) .0
Ernest Hemingway, challenged to write a Six-word stOry. came up
GWORDS
with ‘For sale: baby shoes. never worn‘. Inspired by that, literary website SMITH Magazine accumulated Six-word memoirs from everyday punters and authors alike. This collection has moments of poignancy and humour, but is ultimately underwhelming thanks to the narrow range of contributors. Most of these snippets are from white-collar Westerners with computer access. a penchant for literary websites and too much time on their hands to spend in solipsistic navel gazing.
Also. no offence. authors tend to lead crushineg boring lives. and their contributions are mainly to do with writing and little else. John Banville at least gets points for honesty with ‘Should have lived more. written less'. But for every engaging entry (‘Rubber nipples. dirnpled thumbs, Camel Lights'. “Adopted? Are you fucking shitting me?) there‘s a lot of quasi-profound repetitive dross. Six- word review? ‘Doesn‘t live up to initial premise.’ (Doug Johnstone)
POETRY COLLECTION MARK DOTY Theories and Apparitions (Jonathan Cape) OOOO
Mark Doty's talent has always been in bringing elegance to simple. normally very recognisable. snapshots from everyday life. The American poet starts out With a plain observation —
some rude truck driver tearing up the NYC streets: his dog. Beau. wagging its tail; a bat leaving an ‘inky signature' in the night sky — before using it as a Springboard for exploring tender and profound truths. but in a very Iaidback way.
Doty's eighth book is Succinct and moving, mood-swinging gracefully through a 55- year-old's frustrations. fears, grateful snatches of surprise or “unbridled joy'. Less grandiose or
raw than previous books.
where he dealt with the death of his partner or the aftermath of 9/1 1, the intensity of his grief and despair has been replaced by edually deeply-felt. only less tortured emotions. plus the occasional shoulder- shrug or eye-roll at the dilemmas life throws at him. Effortlessly done. condensing his soul- searching into neat and beautiful soundbites. (Claire Sawers)
CRIME NOVELLA JACQUES CHESSEX
The Vampire of Ropraz (Bitter Lemon Press) OOO
TH E VA \l PIRI‘. ()F HUI’R ~\7.
Taking a true story. apparently, Swiss author Jacques Chessex has crafted a disconcerting novella of horrific sexual crime that alternately seduces and appals. Set against a bleak 1903 backdrop of rural belief in black magic. the Jura Mountains village of Ropraz is the scene of a grisly outrage. the grave of a young girl unearthed and the corpse sadistically mutilated and violated. Terror grips the area as two more bodies are found in Similar circumstances and a suspect. Favez. is arrested. a disturbed stable boy with bloodshot eyes.
Translated into English by W Donald Wilson.
ALSO PUBLISHED ,
5 HUMOUR BOOKS
Banrlk Ltd A Book for People Who Want to Become Stinking Rich But Aren't Quite Sure How The folk who annually bring us This Diary Will Change Your Life offer tips on overhauling airport security and getting really close to the mega-famous. Boxtree.
Ricky Tomllnson Cheers My Arse! A collection of ‘hilarious' drinking anecdotes about the classic hellraisers (Peter O‘Toole. Oliver Reed) and modern day boozehounds (Johnny Vegas, Liam Gallagher). Sphere. Terry Ravenscroft Dear Customer Services Who hasn't wanted to fire off an angry missive to some big company or other? This chap has done it for you in a book subtitled ‘Letters from the World's Most Troublesome Shopper’. Michael O’Mara.
Karl Pllklngton, Stephen Merchant & Rlcky Oar-vats The World of Karl Pilkington A spin-off from the incredibly successful podcasts revolving around this tedious man's mind- numbing musings. Perennial.
Kate Parker The Harder a Wife Works, the Outer She Looks Over 80 adverts from back when executives got away with just about anything as cigarettes. typewriters and electric corsets are ludicrously flogged. New Holland.
Chessex' stark. wintry prose retains a grim, poetic draw and it's likely most readers will devour this in under 90 minutes. Contrasting society‘s willingness to cloak the basest human desires and abuses in superstition, yet condone the most monstrous acts in wartime. the narrative ends abruptly and conceitedly in 1915. But the chill lingers.
(Jay Richardson)
2—16 Oct 2008 THE LIST 33