MAL: An Odyssey of Non-sequential Segments of a Life

by Vic Vincent

Mal is one of so many born with a vivid imagination, but in a slightly deformed body. His spine never developed properly, leaving him with the deformity of a small hump. He was reared in a deeply religious society that imposed a strict regime, with its taboos and harsh beliefs forced on very young impressionable minds. The restrictions imposed on his young body brought its own problems in his dealing with a life filled with obstacles, especially when he would seek the solace of furtive love from others, a kind of love forbidden according to their scriptures. Mal's many adventures and disappointments at the hands of those he loved, are told with feeling and some grim humour in this story of a life. Vic Vincent has been writing stories for most of his life. He enjoys exploring the unusual or bizarre aspects of the human condition, and the secrets we keep very much to ourselves, as we pursue our hopes and desires through the many aspects and situations we encounter on our journey. He previously wrote: "Vampricia and Other Short Stories."

266 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2015

About the author

Vic Vincent has been writing stories for most of his life. He enjoys exploring the unusual or bizarre aspects of the human condition, and the secrets we keep very much to ourselves, as we pursue our hopes and desires through the many aspects and situations we encounter on our journey. He previously wrote: “Vampricia and Other Short Stories”.

Reviews

[TigerLily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Goodreads Win

MAL An odyssey of Non-sequential segments of a life by Vic Vincent.
I'm really not sure what I was expecting before I started reading this book. I not read anything like this before but I did enjoy reading it. I found it difficult to understand in places & needed to re-read it in places to make sense of it all. By the end of the story it all sort of makes sense & it is quite a clever idea. It wasn't an easy book to read & there were a few distressing scenes & the way it takes you into the character of MAL & you can really understand how he feels at times. A am glad that I have read it & overall I enjoyed it.

[Lisa Marie Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway which I entered because the blurb intrigued me. This is not a perfect book as it has its share of minor typos and its style in the early pages was a little off putting for me but this stylistic simplicity is an integral part of the novel as I discovered towards the end.

It is basically an autobiographical style account of the life of a disabled man obsessed with his "Queens" and fleeting forays into sexual encounters with them. We are told he is misshapen and has an "odd way of looking" but this is not dwelt on particularly except that it deprives him of the possibility of a normal life and relationships and makes him someone that women pity and men push around.

The novel is less concerned with the disability as the way he is treated by those around him. There are many tales of disrespect and abuse woven into this story and these patterns impact on Mal's development. Which brings us to the name :

"What's in a name? Mal, is short for Malachy, short for Mal-function, Mal-fitting, Mal-adroit, Mal-adjusted and mostly Mal-formed."

Mal drifts through the fringes of society obsessed by a life he can never quite attain, tolerated, teased and sexually "relieved" by women on occasions when they feel charitable. He is expected to feel grateful for any crumbs that drop from the table, institutionalised, part of the under-belly of Dublin society having fled the hardships of rural life. It is not a happy story or an easy read and the end is a sad and moving one. Yes, it is a series of vignettes at the start, but I felt the book improved for me when these were extended in the later chapters.