Christian Bok is certainly a genius. There is simply no doubting his incredible patience and skill in putting together a technically, structurally sound piece of poetic prose.
But good grief! Was this ever a difficult book to read! Initially anyway. And then you get used to the sheer brilliance of the man and you feel compelled to read it all the way through because perversely (or maybe that's just me) you want to see for yourself that he really has done it. He really has created a poetic piece of art.
Yes there is a story and yes there are mirthful moments but really, at the end of it, you are really just shell-shocked with the literature.
Each chapter is a dedication (for want of a better word) to a specific vowel (in alphabetical order of course) and within that chapter, every single word used has the vowel in it. Yes. Every Single Word. There are slightly more random thoughts towards the end but only after all the vowels have been done.
It took Mr. Bok seven years to complete it. I am surprised it only took him seven years...
However, I feel that emotion was sacrificed for the sake of technical structure and whilst I enjoyed reading it - for the art and engineering of the language - it probably isn't going to be one of those "must read again" books.
I would definitely recommend a first read - or at least a look - at this technical marvel. But please do not expect to find anything close to metaphysical emotion or mythical metaphor.
It does not touch your soul but it certainly makes you smile!
