Divisadero (Vintage International)

To integrate Part two with what precedes it you can think that Anna had worked out Lucien's story to that extent or that it is a story by itself. But the fact remains that it does not flow from the story about Coop, Anna and Claire. "Suggestion", says a Sanscrit crtique of poetry, "is the mainstay of great poetry".Divisadero is poetic in places in that sense. Roman takes Marie-liege from behind while she holds on to a barrel of rain-water to support herself "and", Ondaatje writes, " in the nextwhile, whatever surprise there was, whatever pain, there was also the frantic moon in front of her shifting and breaking into pieces in the water".Accept it for its piquant though disjointed observations and it is great reading. For instance,"we differ in our own realities from the way we are seen by others", so observes a character. How true and don't we require that fact to be reiterated again and again?

Like the definition of the title, a division or the marking off of some esoteric dividing point in ones life, the book leaves much to be desired. In many ways it follows the work of Annie, who is translating the works and journals of a little known nineteenth century french poet. It's all an academic exercise that serves no purpose except for those in the 'ivory tower' who spend the rest of their time trying to explain why Proust and Kerouac are so important.

The book is described as having Ondaatje's 'trademark seductive prose, quixotic characters and psychological intricacy' which is critic talk for we didn't understand it so it must be good. Like many a Russian writer, deep intuitive psycho-babble does not a great book make. What good is writing if no one truly understands the purpose of it. It reminds me of poetry class where the teacher tried to explain that what you thought the poem meant was not what the poet was trying to connote. So who's fault is that? Mine or the poets.

In the long run, what good is Proust or "Ulysses" if it is so complicated that no one ever reads it but only quotes what other people say about it? There is a reason why some people are unknown during their own lives, they have NO relevance to the people of the times they wrote about. Or maybe I'm just to shallow, or they're to deep (or thick). Anyway it gives literature teachers something to feel superior about.

Zeb Kantrowitz

This book represents some of the most sophisticated poetic storytelling around. As is often the case with Ondaatje, his images, language and development of relationships - particularly between Lucien Segura and Marie-Niege - are more interesting than the plot itself, although there is an elegant retention of a mild form of suspense throughout the novel. Ondaatje is a master of developing a memorable story by attention to the diminutive expressions of emotion that bind two people fatefully together. There is also a hint of romantic greatness in this novel, which in my view is derived from the synergy of refined, poetic language, strong emotional impact, and what Odaatje does better than any other writer that I know of: the creation of a dramatic universe unto itself, where suffering, loss, love, and death is ever present, and where the slightest event or emotion takes new meaning. A great book.

I am one of those who thoroughly enjoys Ondaatje's writings. Though floaty and dreamlike, his stories always manage to be 'real' enough to me to keep me engaged from beginning to end. And Divisadero didn't disappoint - until I reached the end. I tend to be of the same opinion as some of the other reviewers who felt that Ondaatje ultimately left a little too much to the readers' imaginations. I did feel a wee bit cheated.

But, that said, I thoroughly did enjoy his typical poetic style, the surprising depth of character development and sympathy he managed to elicit with his unconventional sparseness. And, anytime I finish a book within 48 hours, it's been a worthwhile read.

At the risk of sounding like an unsophisticated yokel who is unable to appreciate the literary brilliance of this novel, Divisadero failed to make much of an impression on me. The prose is eloquent, and the novel is ripe with the kinds of themes, symbols, and motifs that College English professors live for, but for me, it just wasn't enough.

Divisadero is essentially two novels: one a present day story (with a flashback to the youth of the modern day characters) and the other set in 19th Century Europe. These dual stories parallel each other and this, it would seem, is pretty much the point of the novel. In the final scene of the novel, the author writes of birds flying over the still water of a lake as close to their reflections as possible. This is the overriding theme of the novel, the past reflected in the future.

And while, on some level, I can appreciate the imagery provided by broken glass and photographs and reflections on still water, it's no substitute for a compelling story. And the story was compelling - at first. But then Ondaatje abandons the modern day story, rather abruptly, which is a shame.

Yes, this is a beautifully written novel. It has layers and depth and demands to be read more than once if you want to fully appreciate its literary cleverness. It's the kind of novel that someone could write a really good English Lit paper on. But I would have enjoyed the novel more if the author had focused on telling a compelling story that could stand on its own and didn't need to rely on the literary equivalent of 'smoke and mirrors'.