Sister act

As a slice of beautiful, senstive, powerful, depressing as hell suburban American realism, The Easter Parade is probably about the best thing I've read since Joseph Heller's Something Happened. Or maybe even another work of the author, Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road. I must confess that I can't really remember the latter, but I seem to recall it was excellent. And Heller's work left a profound impression on me, even if it's some years since I've read it. So we're talking top drawer stuff here.

The story of two sisters, Emily and Sarah, from their moved around (literally and figuratively) childhood through their golden years and onto the long, slow voyage into the jaws of the gaping abyss that neither of them ever expected. It is by turns touching and cruel, tender and bleak. Their paths diverge, Sarah the golden girl with the marriage and kids in the country; Emily the graduate with the career and the casual relationships. Yet, it will probably come as no to surprise to the reader (of this humble blog that is, though probably the book too) that there is trouble in paradise.

The road to hell, it seems, is paved with inadequacy, impotency, fear and unfulfilment. With a side of alcohol and a string of poor decisions. The characters are wonderfully drawn, with a sympathy and insight that is rare for any author. I've never particularly subscribed to the idea that men can't write women and vice versa (I even went so far as to prove it once in my own weird way, though that's another story). Some can't, admittedly, but as far as I'm concerned if I can suspend disbelief enough to imagine myself in many rather more removed situations, it's not really hard to get your head round the concept. Either way, Yates has a rare skill and an understanding of emotions and insecurities, what it is to be human, and that is a fine gift.

If this book were a poem, it would probably be Rondeau Redouble by Wendy Cope (who also happens to be my number one):
"There are so many kinds of awful men
One can't avoid them all. She often said
She'd never make the same mistake again:
She always made a new mistake instead."

And if it were an item of food it would be a large slab of finest dark chocolate: rich, sweet, bitter and if you eatoo much at once it leaves with a an awful sick feeling in your stomach that makes you question why you did it and whether that's all there is in life. Sublime and sorrowful, beautiful and bleak. I'll drink to that.

Book number: 34
Title: The Easter Parade
Author: Richard Yates
Category: Chris' choice