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Għajnejn Kalanġ u 26 storja oħra
Kilin's world is divided equally between the characters he has created and the descriptions of the background against which he places them.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
250 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 28, 2013
'Angelo's Eyes' is an adaptation by the author from 'Ghajnejn Kalang u 26 storja ohra' (published by 'Klabb Kotba Maltin' in 1998 and 2001). I will not go into much detail about the style, irony, characters and background. One has only to read Gorg Mallia's passionately written introduction, entitled 'An Uninterrupted Stream', to Kilin's book.
Mallia makes many valid points, like that in Kilin we have the Maltese version of the Dickensian caricature in many of his characters. It is also true that Kilin's prose reads like drama, especially when considering that Kilin is an accomplished playwright. However, Mallia admits that as a critical commentator, he had said nothing about how much he enjoyed reading these stories. So, not wanting to dwell over what has been already expounded on, I have decided to write why I enjoyed (or did not for that matter) each of the short stories in this collection. On a minor note, I should also state beforehand that as a Maltese national myself, I can relate more to them than say a foreigner would.
1)Angelo's Eyes: One of the most memorable tales, concerning the almost innate ability of the Maltese for their unquenchable thirst for revenge. Kurun had been wronged by Angelo when they struck gold in Australia but Kurun did not know of this treachery until he was back home in Malta. Kurun, who had once been mesmerized by Angelo's eyes ("his eyes were a drill which bored right into your soul"), was then ironically haunted by them. Ends on a tragic note.
-4.25/5
2)Three to one: Almost everyone knows of the football bribery scandals that have plagued the sporting news since day one. Well, the Maltese football clubs makes Juventus look like a religious convent by comparison. A witty story, 'Three to one' is about a particular team which is bribed so that some people might cash heavily from the outcome. However, when a certain Joycie bets heavily on the team destined to lose (or is it), Zgich thinks that she has gone mad. But it turns out that Joycie has some notorious cards up her sleeve as well. Absolutely brilliant, and it speaks volumes about the present situation.
-4.5/5
3)Auto de Fe: Another good story, which is set in the time of the inquisition in Malta. Some men successfully attempt to save a beloved friend from what they deemed to be an unfair death sentence. Too bad that in reality (historically) few were spared the callous treatment of the inquisition in Malta.
-4/5
4)Dear, Accursed Land!: A family of Maltese origin living in Melbourne seems to be going through hell. Things were only going from bad to worse until an announced and totally unexpected visit from the father's mother, after having won the plane ticket, unites them temporarily (he does not want to disappoint her being a respectable woman). She reminds them that although they were far from their Christian origins they were still in God's omnipresence. Considering that some time had passed, the father gets to know that the prostitute he had been living with had left him for another man. He remembers what he had lost, and believes that returning home is the best course of action. Paul's tragic death, their baby son, only helped to bring them even closer together. There is a plot twist however, which saves this story from mediocrity. The plane ticket was bought...
-4.25
5)Burnt Offering: A two-page super short story concerning the idolization of Maltese villages' patron saints by the parishioners and band clubs. Considering that it is only two pages long that is quite an accomplishment.
-4/5
6)Like a Phantom: The unsung heroes of any country, in these modern times, are those that do a charitable deed without letting their real identities to be known. The Good Samaritans, like phantoms...
-3.75/5
7)Pussikins: The moral of this tale is astonishing, and I personally wonder how Kilin managed to do it in less than four pages. For some people nowadays seem to value the lives of animals more than they do of human kind. There is another subtle moral behind this story though. Pets are no substitutes for children, though many households want to believe that they do (due to many excuses). This brings into mind the heavy reliance on contraception pills etc as well.
-4.25/5
8)Boomerang: Toni Hrafa (Tall Tale Toni) tells one of his tall tales, again. Or maybe can it be that he is telling the truth for once? A charming tale nevertheless...
-4/5
9)Romeo and Juliet: While not exactly Shakespearean class this story tries to prove that love is unconditional and that green envy is something which we all must control. Love should not make irrational beasts of us, another Othello. It is never too late.
-3.5/5
10)Peace and Quiet: A couple get involved in a terrorist attack. Having suffered from the Meniere Syndrome, the wife (Irene) went on a bid to get some peace and quiet after all the noise and bustle of home. She got more than she bargained for. Not one of Kilin's best.
-3.5/5
11)Twins: After a promising childhood, Raymond turns out to be the black sheep of the family, becoming a drug addict and physically abusing his mother. His brother Mike on the other hand is an angel, finding the positive in all Raymond does. It is shocking how different from each other they turned out to be. Ends on a tragic note, Mike blaming himself for his brother's untimely death.
-3.75/5
12)The Chains of Mammon: Kilin writes of Bethlehem as if he is writing of his locality. Interesting touch. He also goes 'behind the scenes', as if examining what it must have felt like in those times as regards to human communication, charity and hope. Touching, charming and thought provoking.
-4.5/5
13)Whitewash: Kilin at his most ironical, intense and provoking. An amazing story dealing with the Maltese tradition of hypocrisy, vilification of our brethren (especially through anonymous letters) and our tendency to poke into other people's business. This goes against our most fundamental Christian teachings. One of Kilin's best.
-4.75/5
14)St Martin's Summer: Paula and George always had a reserved crush for each other. What better time then is there then when both their respective spouses are death and after a chance encounter together? Pretty average.
-3.25/5
15)Above the Clouds: A close examination of the root of all evil, through the eyes and perspective of a priest in authority and of certain experiences. The priest emerges victorious as he successfully understands what it means to follow your heart.
-3.75/5
16)The Statue: Also one of Kilin's best, a Maltese classic family drama set in the time when the statue of St Paul was being built on (you guessed it!) St Paul's island. Although it is one of the lengthiest in this collection, it does not fail to keep the reader engaged and interested throughout.
-4.25/5
17)The Haunted Warehouse: Deals with childhood bullying issues and traumas. What is interesting is that the memory of the warehouse is haunted for the warehouse itself had been demolished to make space for new office blocks (our main tourist attraction). Average.
-3.25/5
18)"Only You...": A daughter thinks that she is being abused by the Maltese patriarchal tradition which in the past dictated who she must choose or not to choose as partner and so on. As a result, she escapes from home only to be dumped by her Romeo when he realizes that she is pregnant with his child. In desperate conditions and by her adamant refusal to go back to her home (and father) she gets involved in prostitution (another case where she is being subjugated), though her good character shines through when she refuses to let a teenage boy be in any way involved with her. Despite its many flaws, Maltese humanity emerges triumphant and saves her from her despair. She turns over a new leaf, and, although fearing that she will not be accepted back at first, later reunited with her surviving mother (despite her sister calling her several names for running away and dishonouring the family name). This story echoes the Biblical parable of the Prodigal Son.
-4.5/5
19)Hope and the Whistler: What is interesting about this one is that the narrator is dying from tuberculosis and observes the daily events of her county as if the whole world is her stage and its inhabitants all the players. As the author himself compares with Keats himself, "whose life like mine was inexorably wasting away, must have observed the gay Romans from his window overlooking the Piazza di Spagna". An original and intelligent story, which Mallia notes started its literary life as a play.
-4.25/5
20)Serenade: The seductiveness of certain women/girls makes mouth-dribbling boys of us all, though those same women/girls are the female equivalent of a sly fox most of the time. Nothing special though.
-3.25/5
21)Requiem for a Patriarch: You can read this story from two perspectives, the last dying wishes of a father and his delight in seeing all his sons and daughters home again or from the perspective of the children on the eve of an inheritance. Makes one judge between the noble and the self serving. Touching.
-4/5
Mallia makes many valid points, like that in Kilin we have the Maltese version of the Dickensian caricature in many of his characters. It is also true that Kilin's prose reads like drama, especially when considering that Kilin is an accomplished playwright. However, Mallia admits that as a critical commentator, he had said nothing about how much he enjoyed reading these stories. So, not wanting to dwell over what has been already expounded on, I have decided to write why I enjoyed (or did not for that matter) each of the short stories in this collection. On a minor note, I should also state beforehand that as a Maltese national myself, I can relate more to them than say a foreigner would.
1)Angelo's Eyes: One of the most memorable tales, concerning the almost innate ability of the Maltese for their unquenchable thirst for revenge. Kurun had been wronged by Angelo when they struck gold in Australia but Kurun did not know of this treachery until he was back home in Malta. Kurun, who had once been mesmerized by Angelo's eyes ("his eyes were a drill which bored right into your soul"), was then ironically haunted by them. Ends on a tragic note.
-4.25/5
2)Three to one: Almost everyone knows of the football bribery scandals that have plagued the sporting news since day one. Well, the Maltese football clubs makes Juventus look like a religious convent by comparison. A witty story, 'Three to one' is about a particular team which is bribed so that some people might cash heavily from the outcome. However, when a certain Joycie bets heavily on the team destined to lose (or is it), Zgich thinks that she has gone mad. But it turns out that Joycie has some notorious cards up her sleeve as well. Absolutely brilliant, and it speaks volumes about the present situation.
-4.5/5
3)Auto de Fe: Another good story, which is set in the time of the inquisition in Malta. Some men successfully attempt to save a beloved friend from what they deemed to be an unfair death sentence. Too bad that in reality (historically) few were spared the callous treatment of the inquisition in Malta.
-4/5
4)Dear, Accursed Land!: A family of Maltese origin living in Melbourne seems to be going through hell. Things were only going from bad to worse until an announced and totally unexpected visit from the father's mother, after having won the plane ticket, unites them temporarily (he does not want to disappoint her being a respectable woman). She reminds them that although they were far from their Christian origins they were still in God's omnipresence. Considering that some time had passed, the father gets to know that the prostitute he had been living with had left him for another man. He remembers what he had lost, and believes that returning home is the best course of action. Paul's tragic death, their baby son, only helped to bring them even closer together. There is a plot twist however, which saves this story from mediocrity. The plane ticket was bought...
-4.25
5)Burnt Offering: A two-page super short story concerning the idolization of Maltese villages' patron saints by the parishioners and band clubs. Considering that it is only two pages long that is quite an accomplishment.
-4/5
6)Like a Phantom: The unsung heroes of any country, in these modern times, are those that do a charitable deed without letting their real identities to be known. The Good Samaritans, like phantoms...
-3.75/5
7)Pussikins: The moral of this tale is astonishing, and I personally wonder how Kilin managed to do it in less than four pages. For some people nowadays seem to value the lives of animals more than they do of human kind. There is another subtle moral behind this story though. Pets are no substitutes for children, though many households want to believe that they do (due to many excuses). This brings into mind the heavy reliance on contraception pills etc as well.
-4.25/5
8)Boomerang: Toni Hrafa (Tall Tale Toni) tells one of his tall tales, again. Or maybe can it be that he is telling the truth for once? A charming tale nevertheless...
-4/5
9)Romeo and Juliet: While not exactly Shakespearean class this story tries to prove that love is unconditional and that green envy is something which we all must control. Love should not make irrational beasts of us, another Othello. It is never too late.
-3.5/5
10)Peace and Quiet: A couple get involved in a terrorist attack. Having suffered from the Meniere Syndrome, the wife (Irene) went on a bid to get some peace and quiet after all the noise and bustle of home. She got more than she bargained for. Not one of Kilin's best.
-3.5/5
11)Twins: After a promising childhood, Raymond turns out to be the black sheep of the family, becoming a drug addict and physically abusing his mother. His brother Mike on the other hand is an angel, finding the positive in all Raymond does. It is shocking how different from each other they turned out to be. Ends on a tragic note, Mike blaming himself for his brother's untimely death.
-3.75/5
12)The Chains of Mammon: Kilin writes of Bethlehem as if he is writing of his locality. Interesting touch. He also goes 'behind the scenes', as if examining what it must have felt like in those times as regards to human communication, charity and hope. Touching, charming and thought provoking.
-4.5/5
13)Whitewash: Kilin at his most ironical, intense and provoking. An amazing story dealing with the Maltese tradition of hypocrisy, vilification of our brethren (especially through anonymous letters) and our tendency to poke into other people's business. This goes against our most fundamental Christian teachings. One of Kilin's best.
-4.75/5
14)St Martin's Summer: Paula and George always had a reserved crush for each other. What better time then is there then when both their respective spouses are death and after a chance encounter together? Pretty average.
-3.25/5
15)Above the Clouds: A close examination of the root of all evil, through the eyes and perspective of a priest in authority and of certain experiences. The priest emerges victorious as he successfully understands what it means to follow your heart.
-3.75/5
16)The Statue: Also one of Kilin's best, a Maltese classic family drama set in the time when the statue of St Paul was being built on (you guessed it!) St Paul's island. Although it is one of the lengthiest in this collection, it does not fail to keep the reader engaged and interested throughout.
-4.25/5
17)The Haunted Warehouse: Deals with childhood bullying issues and traumas. What is interesting is that the memory of the warehouse is haunted for the warehouse itself had been demolished to make space for new office blocks (our main tourist attraction). Average.
-3.25/5
18)"Only You...": A daughter thinks that she is being abused by the Maltese patriarchal tradition which in the past dictated who she must choose or not to choose as partner and so on. As a result, she escapes from home only to be dumped by her Romeo when he realizes that she is pregnant with his child. In desperate conditions and by her adamant refusal to go back to her home (and father) she gets involved in prostitution (another case where she is being subjugated), though her good character shines through when she refuses to let a teenage boy be in any way involved with her. Despite its many flaws, Maltese humanity emerges triumphant and saves her from her despair. She turns over a new leaf, and, although fearing that she will not be accepted back at first, later reunited with her surviving mother (despite her sister calling her several names for running away and dishonouring the family name). This story echoes the Biblical parable of the Prodigal Son.
-4.5/5
19)Hope and the Whistler: What is interesting about this one is that the narrator is dying from tuberculosis and observes the daily events of her county as if the whole world is her stage and its inhabitants all the players. As the author himself compares with Keats himself, "whose life like mine was inexorably wasting away, must have observed the gay Romans from his window overlooking the Piazza di Spagna". An original and intelligent story, which Mallia notes started its literary life as a play.
-4.25/5
20)Serenade: The seductiveness of certain women/girls makes mouth-dribbling boys of us all, though those same women/girls are the female equivalent of a sly fox most of the time. Nothing special though.
-3.25/5
21)Requiem for a Patriarch: You can read this story from two perspectives, the last dying wishes of a father and his delight in seeing all his sons and daughters home again or from the perspective of the children on the eve of an inheritance. Makes one judge between the noble and the self serving. Touching.
-4/5
October 30, 2020
***Read for Maltese literature class***
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews