novel philosophy

Author: Tom Rachman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2010
Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary

In the early 1950s, an English paper was born. Unconventional in its approach, the paper targets English speakers living in foreign countries and set up their office in Rome, Italy. Successful businessman, Ott, remains quiet on his ambitions and even his reason for starting the paper. While his competitors remain skeptical, Ott sets out to create a successful paper.

Skipping forward to 2010, the paper exists but struggles to stay relevant in the rising digital age. Refusing to move online, the paper loses subscribers and fails to gain many new ones. The team spends more time fighting with one another than reporting on relevant news. The fight to save the paper continues, but the staff seems far from up to the challenge.

While the staff fight on, the author provides glimpses into the years between now and the start of their paper hinting at why Ott started the paper and the ups and downs that followed.

Key Themes

Chase Your Dreams or Don’t

It’s an odd theme, certainly not one you see in most fiction books. The book takes on a pessimistic tone and while some succeed in achieving their dreams, it comes at a great cost. 

Winston attempts to become a journalist only to continually get outmaneuvered and used by a veteran reporter. He gives up on this dream and heads back to scientific research realizing it was the better fit all along.

Hardy works as a business reporter succeeding in all the ways Winston fails, but she struggles with an eating disorder and any understanding of what it means to love yourself.

Kathleen leads the paper courageously through its most difficult period. Her marriage, however, struggles as she acknowledges her husband’s affair and contemplates one of her own.

While the cast of characters filters through the text, it becomes apparent that any level of success requires sacrifice.

The Cost of Love

Ott, the paper’s founder, abandons his family in the U.S. to pursue the paper with little explanation. Perhaps it’s love that drives him?

Arthur has all the potential but little drive to become a great reporter. He’d rather spend his days with his daughter. An unexpected tragedy upends his status quo causing him to finally achieve his potential, but at what cost?

Ruby struggles to connect with her co-workers. She’s often combative and aggressive, refusing to find any common ground. Her style of love mirrors obsession as she refuses to let a past crush go.

It’s Okay to be Ordinary

Perhaps one of the more touching stories if the character was more likable. Herman lives his life idolizing his best friend, Jimmy. According to Herman, Jimmy lives the dream life, but as they get older Herman learns the value of an ordinary life well-lived.

Quotes

“Whatever its ills, nothing has created more. Cathedrals, sonatas, encyclopedias: love of God was not behind them, nor love of life. But the love of man to be worshiped by man.”

“I got myself into a tangle. I tied myself in knots. I built and I built–heaven knows I have done that well. Those skyscrapers, full of tenants, floor after floor, and not a single room containing you.”

“It occurs to me that I’ve been wrong about something: I always assumed that age and experience weather you, make you more resilient. But that’s not true. It’s the opposite.”

“I say that ambition is absurd, and yet I remain in its thrall. It’s like being a slave all your life, then learning one day that you never had a master, and returning to work all the same.”

Analysis

It was good until it wasn’t, and then it got really bad.

I struggled to settle on a rating for this book. Written in a unique style, each chapter focuses on a different member of the team. I loved this style and adored the writing of each character’s stories. The writing was strong and sharp painting a clear and honest picture of its models. I strongly sensed the desperation, grief, and anger of the characters with each page turned. Each story moved quickly, and it was almost like reading a series of loosely connected short stories.

In the final few chapters, the story derails toward disaster. While the characters were captivating, they were often far from endearing. Few of the people introduced were likable. The author quickly pointed out their flaws often leaving me confused about my opinion on them. Maybe the charm of the writing style wore off, and I had little patience for these morally ambiguous people. They’re increasingly cruel activities almost caused me to put the book down entirely.

One final hope kept me reading through those darker moments. I convinced myself that this was a novel about saving a paper and if I kept reading I would find a happy conclusion. *SPOILER ALERT * This is not a book with a happy ending. Like the characters, the paper slowly sinks toward demise before it finally closes its doors and prints no more.

While the writing is incredible, the story left me wanting more. My prior expectations for this book definitely added to my disappointment. I wasn’t prepared for the shock of those final chapters.

You should read this book if:

• You enjoy the slow demise of a once beloved news source.
• You appreciate a good toxic character.
• You’re a passionate pessimist.