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Seemita's Reviews > Autumn
Autumn (Seasonal Quartet, #1)
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by
[A formidable 3.5]
[Originally appeared here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/li...]
She has done it in the past; and she does it again here. Ali Smith’s fixation on, and a visible mastery of, story-telling across timeline, in no particular order, shines in this experimental, breezy novel as well.
Centred around the 30-something Elisabeth Demand and her centenarian friend, Daniel Gluck, Autumn is a long, vibrant, occasionally melancholic, sometimes acerbic but entirely warming season of their friendship. Elisabeth, with a ‘s’, is a history of art professor, whose interest was originally kindled in the subject she currently teaches, by the liberal hours she had spent with Daniel, her then-babysitter. As a genial neighbour to Elisabeth’s busy mother, he had agreed to be her caretaker, and in turn, had relished the artistic discourse with the little Ms. Demand. Fast forward a good twenty plus years and Daniel is now a patient in a day care, under the constant vigil of nurses and in wait of, perhaps, the same palliative cacophony of Elisabeth’s inquisitive murmur.
Throwing light on the two personalities and what edification the many seasons of life imparts, the chapters run forward and backward on the tenuous thread of time. Smith shapes her Elisabeth with a smart countenance, boisterous wit, wry humour and banal gloom.
At once, hilarious, stimulating, querulous and refreshing, this is Smith’s frolicking side at play, without losing the sight of her trademark percipience. Winter, I await.
[Note: Thanks to Netgalley, Ali Smith and Penguin Books (UK) for providing me an ARC.]
[Originally appeared here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/li...]
She has done it in the past; and she does it again here. Ali Smith’s fixation on, and a visible mastery of, story-telling across timeline, in no particular order, shines in this experimental, breezy novel as well.
Centred around the 30-something Elisabeth Demand and her centenarian friend, Daniel Gluck, Autumn is a long, vibrant, occasionally melancholic, sometimes acerbic but entirely warming season of their friendship. Elisabeth, with a ‘s’, is a history of art professor, whose interest was originally kindled in the subject she currently teaches, by the liberal hours she had spent with Daniel, her then-babysitter. As a genial neighbour to Elisabeth’s busy mother, he had agreed to be her caretaker, and in turn, had relished the artistic discourse with the little Ms. Demand. Fast forward a good twenty plus years and Daniel is now a patient in a day care, under the constant vigil of nurses and in wait of, perhaps, the same palliative cacophony of Elisabeth’s inquisitive murmur.
Throwing light on the two personalities and what edification the many seasons of life imparts, the chapters run forward and backward on the tenuous thread of time. Smith shapes her Elisabeth with a smart countenance, boisterous wit, wry humour and banal gloom.
The man creases up. It seems he was joking; his shoulders go up and down but no sound comes out of him. It's like laughter, but also like a parody of laughter, and simultaneously a bit like he's having an asthma attack. May be you're not allowed to laugh out loud behind the counter of the main Post Office.Whether it is the ridiculous bureaucratic hurdles she encounters in her efforts to secure a passport or the disdain she receives at her rebellious choice of thesising on Pauline Boty,Elisabeth comes across as a feisty heroine who is subdued by the autumnal phase of her friend and the dried momentum of her own life. Amidst random allusion to political upheavals in Europe (read Brexit) and the millennium bug, it is the generous badinage between the two key characters that bring this work to life. Velvets of sentiment and pun run through the pages, making Elisabeth’s first person narrative as effective as Daniel’s reticent third person narrative.
At once, hilarious, stimulating, querulous and refreshing, this is Smith’s frolicking side at play, without losing the sight of her trademark percipience. Winter, I await.
[Note: Thanks to Netgalley, Ali Smith and Penguin Books (UK) for providing me an ARC.]
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Reading Progress
January 6, 2017
–
Started Reading
January 6, 2017
– Shelved
January 7, 2017
–
15.15%
"'The man creases up. It seems he was joking; his shoulders go up and down but no sound comes out of him. It’s like laughter, but also like a parody of laughter, and simultaneously a bit like he’s having an asthma attack. Maybe you’re not allowed to laugh out loud behind the counter of the main Post Office.'"
page
40
January 8, 2017
–
41.67%
"'There’s always hope, with this particular girl. The Ballad of the Girl Who Keeps Telling Me No. Fast little number, witty, to meet her wit. Throaty. Gloaty. Wild oat( y).
Grace-note( y). Misquote( y).
Anecdote( y). Casting vote( y).
Furcoat( y). Petticoat( y). Torpedo boat( y). (Terrible.) I’m billy goaty. Don’t be haughty.'"
page
110
Grace-note( y). Misquote( y).
Anecdote( y). Casting vote( y).
Furcoat( y). Petticoat( y). Torpedo boat( y). (Terrible.) I’m billy goaty. Don’t be haughty.'"
January 10, 2017
–
68.18%
"'It is like democracy is a bottle someone can threaten to smash and do a bit of damage with. It has become a time of people saying stuff to each other and none of it actually ever becoming dialogue.'"
page
180
January 12, 2017
–
Finished Reading
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by
Himanshu
(new)
Jan 13, 2017 04:16AM
Was this your first Ali Smith?
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You could say so. I did read How To Be Both, but with plenty of breaks.
I'm not sure that this book would be for me Seemita.
Lynne wrote: "I'm not sure that this book would be for me Seemita."A tricky one, this, Lynne. I am not very sure how I felt after reading it although Smith must be commended for the life phases she masterfully covers in this rather tight book. An experiment which hits more than misses. I should be able to put a review soon. *fingers crossed*
Seemita, Do you think it is worth writing a review? Now if it had been a five star!!
Lynne wrote: "Seemita, Do you think it is worth writing a review? Now if it had been a five star!!"I always feel it worth recording my thoughts, Lynne. It tells me more about me than the work :)
I've never really looked at it that way Seemita.
Lynne wrote: "I've never really looked at it that way Seemita."It is our perspectives that make us unique, don't they? I am sure you have reasons to look at the works as you do, Lynne.
I keep postponing Smith and I guess because of the ambivalent feelings I get whenever I read a review of any of her books. Yours is exquisitely painted, Simi. I love the visual portrait of the characters, the way you capture the British ethos in all its humorous vibes and the appraisal of Smith's readable style...and yet.Maybe for the future, but I think I am not going to pursue this author at the moment... Your reviews are quite a different matter altogether, I want to read them all at anytime!:)))
Dolors wrote: "I keep postponing Smith and I guess because of the ambivalent feelings I get whenever I read a review of any of her books. Yours is exquisitely painted, Simi. I love the visual portrait of the char..."You are right, D; I found something amiss in Smith's labour of friendship which, although not glaring, held back my few notes of admiration from embracing her. I suppose it could be the alternating timelines which puncture the forming empathy from blooming in full, or a tad too detached characters that pass on the indifference to the reader as well. By no means this is not inventive; a beautiful one in fact. But what does one talk about the beauty of rain when it had been raining for days together? Oh but you can very well swing a new angle, a novel perspective to Smith's experiments and I, for one, can handle those thrills! Thanks for your warmth, dearest :))
Your account of this book has really motivated me to read it, Seemita - and thanks for including a quote. Whenever I read Ali Smith's words, I'm reminded of the spareness of her language. And yet she paints vivid word pictures even if they are sometimes of banal situations. I can see that Post Office worker so clearly - and I can hear his silent laughter! There's so much skill in that.
Fabulous review, Seemita, you phrase powerfully the atmosphere and playfulness of this novel where I struggled with words :). 'Velvets of sentiments and pun', how well put! Trying to renew my son's ID reminded me of that hilarious post office scene, so coming out of real life, making me chuckle instead of grumble for the time wasted with bureaucracy.
Fionnuala wrote: "Your account of this book has really motivated me to read it, Seemita - and thanks for including a quote. Whenever I read Ali Smith's words, I'm reminded of the spareness of her language. And yet s..."Ah yes, Fio! That particular gentleman at the Post Office was quite the delightful curmudgeon who revved up his horses at the slightest hint of apparent smartness. I think you would enjoy meeting him :) Smith did take me in with her simple story-telling that had a nerve of its own, falling in and out of my rhythm. I shall continue reading her.
Ilse wrote: "Fabulous review, Seemita, you phrase powerfully the atmosphere and playfulness of this novel where I struggleed with words :). 'Velvets of sentiments and pun', how well put! Trying to renew my son'..."Not a page to display modesty, dear Ilse! :) You did a swell job and I must say my decision to eventually pick this up was partly due to my acquaintance with your review. And as far as my review is concerned, I wish I had a clear 4 here, which effectively would have meant a memorable autumn for me. But nonetheless, it was a walk which I remember more not for its feel but the people I met. And they were an interesting lot alright! I can imagine the faint tremors bubbling on both sides of your lips at the ID renewal office; your son must have wondered why :)
My goodness, your review is delicious, Seemita, however .... It makes me thirst to read a book by Seemita (please say it could be so) not Smith so much. Have to admit I am more "convinced" about that than Smith's work, just sayin'. ; )
Alcornell wrote: "My goodness, your review is delicious, Seemita, however .... It makes me thirst to read a book by Seemita (please say it could be so) not Smith so much. Have to admit I am more "convinced" about th..."Ah! You touch the supine nerve again, Linda! A book by Seemita is certainly my dream too but I am not sure when that would take shape. But yes; as the desire exists, so will the tools to see it breathe would too! Hopefully soon :) Thank you so much for your stimulating words. I am glad you liked the review (and cajoled my writing into the vanity of being more exciting than Smith's!).
Wonderful review. Sure whets my appetite for more of her work, and this sounds promising.
Michael wrote: "Wonderful review. Sure whets my appetite for more of her work, and this sounds promising."Thanks, Michael. I suppose Smith has a certain expertise in handling multiple timelines, running into each other. No meant feat, really. Hope this works for you :)
Smith is one author I haven't read yet and every GR review of her works seem to distill a different texture yet the same teasing quality. I'm thankful you've shown me snippets of this through your well-postured thoughts Simi, even if I'm not so sure I should tackle it just yet...
Cheryl wrote: "Smith is one author I haven't read yet and every GR review of her works seem to distill a different texture yet the same teasing quality. I'm thankful you've shown me snippets of this through your ..."Smith is quite surely an author one can pursue, Cheryl. She has a fleeting quality to her writing; something where she refrains from spending too much time in one period and frequently juxtaposes multiple phases. Perhaps that is why, she mostly tends to restrict her protagonists to 2, making way for clear jumps without muddling the narrative. If you wish to tackle her, this may not be the right place. I think 'How To Be Both' and or 'There but for the' could be better.
Beautiful review, Seemita. This sounds like a charming story about the seasons of life and the edifying effect of friendship. Summer meets autumn?
Marita wrote: "Sold! Seemita, thanks for your lovely review. "At once, hilarious, stimulating, querulous and refreshing, this is Smith’s frolicking side at play, without losing the sight of her trademark percipie..."Thanks a bunch, Marita! :) This book quite definitely has the potential to fall on the better side of scale and thus, I can certainly recommend it for a try. There is an alluring commonplace texture to her narrative which can leave the reader in a cocoon of warmth.
Laysee wrote: "Beautiful review, Seemita. This sounds like a charming story about the seasons of life and the edifying effect of friendship. Summer meets autumn?"Ah yes, Laysee! This a series, flagging the various seasons of life, and this book is the first installment in it. Friendship is such a beautiful theme that one can seldom go wrong. Of course, it helps that Smith can, irrespective of the nature of emotions, treat them, with humor and dignity.
Generous badinage between the two characters—yes, that and more! R.
Roger wrote: "Generous badinage between the two characters—yes, that and more! R."Thank you, Roger. There was something endearing about that friendship, isn't it? I am anxious about the next installment in this series.
joy of a review,truly!you paint an amazing picture through your well chosen words,didn''t care much about this author before though.
Samra wrote: "joy of a review,truly!you paint an amazing picture through your well chosen words,didn''t care much about this author before though."
Oh she is quite good I would say; she has a certain playful dexterity in her pen which, sort of, takes time to spread its magic. This one was quite a wonderful outing too, if not exactly very lasting memories.
Itni achchi english likhna kaha se seekha hai ? ... every word in your sentences glitters :)
Ravi wrote: "Itni achchi english likhna kaha se seekha hai ? ... every word in your sentences glitters :)"बस, थोड़ी किताबों से सीखी और थोड़ी ज़िन्दगी ने सीखा दी | :) Thank you for your kind appreciation, Ravi.
