BARNEY'S VERSION

by Mordechai Richler

Mordechai Richler is a very famous Canadian author, and this is the first of his books that I have read. It is quite well-written, but just not a story I was very interested in. My biggest issue was the style of narrative which is first person, as though the narrator is writing his memoir. There are lots of references to forgotten words or mixed up appointments as you realize the narrator is dealing with the mental difficulties that can come with aging. He is trying to tell the story of his life (which includes being accused of and exonerated for the murder of his best friend and three failed marriages), but there is no order or rhythm at all to the telling. He jumps all over the place, and the tone is often, if not always, one of complaint.

Basically I felt like I had spent a week (two weeks? forever?) with a grumpy old man who had nothing much to offer. If that’s your genre, you’ll love this. If not, maybe give it a pass. (Lily)