Novelists

by C.P. Boyko

the soul of an age, certainly. Brilliant? Perhaps. Yet aren't they also doddering, petulant, pedantic, knockkneed, skittish, and thunderingly insecure--resentful, awkward, annoying--demanding, deluded, and vexingly indifferent to reality?

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Canada

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Dar]

A short story collection about the lives of writers, in all their messy glory. Some of Boyko's writers are extroverts who love parties, awards and adulation. Others are just getting started, fitfully or enthusiastically. We hear a little about the mechanics and habits of writing, and a lot about what a Novelist Lifestyle looks like for each. The author has a gift for bringing characters to life, and for social satire. The stories are laugh-out-loud funny except for The Hunting Party which features racist characters (their targets getting the last laugh is not enough to overcome my distaste). The wry tone of the book reminds me of my favourite classic Russian authors like Gogol and Pushkin. Will seek out more from this author.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was thoroughly enjoying myself; I like his writing, and the sardonic, self-deprecating humor is right up my alley. And then it got super racist for no reason halfway through. I know he was trying to do the whole "racist characters, unreliable narrator" thing, but it was badly done and just came across as the writer being insulting, ignorant, and culturally insensitive at BEST. And the ending somehow made it worse. Left a bad taste in my mouth that spoiled the first half of what I had read, made me much more aware of the flaws I'd been overlooking for the sake of entertainment, and made me not want to read the rest.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming series of stories centred around writers, often funny. Boyko knows the type - they’ve captured the foibles and eccentricities. I liked it a lot and barely put it Down over a single day. Recommended

[Kimberly Foulger · Rating 2 out of 5]

The distant voice and some head-hopping problems. Some nice language but not enough to keep me interested, or get me to care about the characters.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novelists, the third collection of short fiction by C.P. Boyko gathered around a unifying theme, is the work of a writer whose feverish approach to storytelling takes him on astounding flights of fancy. Each story features a writer (or writers) whose attitudes and behaviour are influenced by a personality tic of a sort that the reader will associate with the creative temperament. The humour is broad and derives mostly from the silly names he gives his characters, exaggerated action and overstatement of fact, and the total implausibility of much of what happens. It is possible that some readers will happily adjust their expectations and settle comfortably in to read because Boyko’s descriptive skills and powers of invention are undeniable, as is evident from any random sampling of his prose. But there is something missing. For all their vitality and narrative momentum, the stories in Novelists often fall flat because the comic conceit upon which the story is based becomes tiresome long before the author realizes it. After a few pages the eccentric and obsessive behaviour of his characters starts to seem irrational, and we grow impatient when we realize their problems are wholly self-inflicted and would be easily solved with a bit of common sense. Boyko’s stories are action-driven, and a lot of forward motion can distract the reader into thinking the story is going somewhere. But too much of what happens seems arbitrary, with the result that you reach the end of the story feeling that you haven't got anywhere at all. Boyko is writing about the esoteric interests and selfish anxieties that occupy the artist in pursuit of his or her art, which has lots of comic potential. Unfortunately in Novelists much of that potential remains unrealized.

[Rose Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel the need to preface a review by saying that I am not, as a rule, a fan of short story collections. Reading "Novelists" definitely didn't change my mind, unfortunately (but I'm not giving up on them just yet!).

Overall, I found it to be pretentious - the stories all seemed to have some kind of "deep meaning" which is actually quite shallow, and were delivered with a bitter finish. These are not pleasant or enjoyable stories, and while I don't believe that every story has to be, the entire collection was quite bleak, without being striking. Having just put the book down, I can only really recall detail about the three stories that I just read - these didn't create enough of an impression to stay with me, unfortunately.

The characters are, for the most part, deeply flawed and unlikeable - the author seems to look down on writers as silly, pompous or slightly mad people. Given that the author is, by definition, a writer, this felt like self-flagellation rather than story telling.

The language and structure are extremely old-fashioned; telegraphs, letters, all kinds of paraphernalia pops up that suits the 1940s or 50s rather than the modern day. The language matches, and in at least one story, he speaks to the reader "dear reader" style, which I cannot stand.

Overall, I thought it was a dreary and dull attempt at depth, but would probably appeal hugely to hipsters nostalgic for the days of typewriters and daily suits.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very astute satirical humour on the representations of novelists and their many identities. Personal note, I absolutely related to The Undergoing as one of my own past identities: "Within five minutes of meeting, Terence and Madison were exchanging philosophies. It was amazing how alike they were. She wanted to change the world, so saw in his grievances a kindred revolutionary zeal. He was a rebel and a loner, so saw her zeal as the vitriol of a fellow misfit ... After several minutes of effervescent silence, she took his arm — firmly, as if afraid he might run away."

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book at the Eden Mills Writer's Festival September 14, 2014. I got it signed by the author having bought the book just before his reading. i missed his reading. The stories are long short stories and although I liked a couple, I was not drawn in. There was a dark lingering hanging over the stories.
His writing is sharp and well crafted, but I am not a fan of short stories in general.

[Vivian Zenari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old fashioned in style and subject, Novelists had me for a long time but lost me with the accumulation of bitterness. I liked most the story of the novelist who tries to find the good in a hilariously awful person she accidentally hits with a car.

[AJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few funny bits, but not nearly enough. Especially with all the insufferable characters who just aren't enjoyable to spend time with.