The Confessions of Max Tivoli
Lest ye think my second posting of the day means I do nothing but read, rest assured that it speaks more to my binge-and-purge personality. While I’m blogging, why not go ahead and post about TWO books that I’ve read recently. You know, economies of scale and efficiencies and whatnot.
Anyway, stop reading this blog and go read this book. It’s that good. One of the (if not THE) most moving books I’ve ever read. Written by Andrew Sean Greer, the book tells the story (in the first person) of Max Tivoli, a boy who suffers from a genetic disorder by which he is born in the body of a seventy-year old man but ages backwards. So while he grows mentally and emotionally, his physical appearance grows younger and younger. It’s a story about love and friendship, and about how Max navigates his way through the world in his condition. I won’t reveal any more about the plot, just trust me — read it and let it take you where it goes.
This Greer fella is an amazing writer. He uses metaphor like a trusty mechanic uses a wrench. Oh no, wait — that’s simile. Well, you get what I mean. Everything from story structure to sentence structure is masterfully executed. His writing seems completely effortless; while the story and the feelings it evokes are so strong, there is absolutely nothing challenging or difficult about reading the book. This is absolutely, positively a keeper, and I will probably read it again.
Books, Fiction, Review | Jim Dudukovich | 
February 21, 2005 1:36 pm
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By DJ Cayenne, February 21, 2005 @ 2:53 pm
Shaft, you are what my old Pappy would have called a “regular two-post Charlie”. You are out of control my friend. Keep up the good work. I have to confess, the description of what this book is about has tempered my enthusiam to check this one out. However, Mrs. Cayenne has just picked this one up. I’ll see what she has to say, and I may end up pulling the trigger on this one yet.
By swizzle d, March 8, 2005 @ 9:54 am
First I’d like to thank Shaft for inviting me to this blog. Now on to Max Tivoli. The book began with a compelling premise i.e. a person who is born old and ages backwards. However what could have been a truly creative story ( think about the possibilities !) quickly deteriorated into a sappy unrequited, then requited, then unrequited again love story. It was sort of like “Somewhere in Time” ( c’mon you know you’ve watched that Christopher Reeve classic at least once on Lifetime) meets “Big” but not half as entertaining. After I read it the only thing that stayed with me was the idea that if they made this into a movie, “Mini-me” from Austin Powers could play the young Max Tivoli.
By Shaft, March 8, 2005 @ 10:21 am
Wait — who invited the swizzle stick over here?