The Misogynist

by Read-piers-paul

Jomier broods. He broods about the present. He broods about the past. He types his gloomy thoughts onto his computer screen - a digital journal. When he has nothing more to say about the present, he returns to the past, copying entries from old notebooks onto his computer. Jomier has reached the age of retirement. What will he do?

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lovegreentea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The purpose of this novel is laid out on the very first page. "Were his journals to be published, others might benefit from his experience and avoid making the same mistakes." But his journals were published, in the form of this book. So, dear reader, avoid making the same mistakes as Jomier. In him, we have an older man with experience and education and ample life lessons to share. Risk rejection, care about others, love, forgive, be generous, be here now. The lessons are cleverly woven into his quirks, prejudices, and bad habits that swiftly reveal that he has yet to learn these lessons that he is about to teach us (but he does, at least begins to.) It's a case of "do as I say, not as I do." I enjoyed this novel.

[Joseph Reynolds · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth it. About some dull boring guy who scrapes along after retirement. He's been divorced for forever but still dwells on it. He makes observations about things, none of which is very interesting, wry or revelatory. Everything is something you already heard. Sure, maybe the author is trying to make a point by making this guy such a tool on purpose. But that isn't any good to the reader. We are the ones who have to suffer this bore. Anyway, the author kind of pulls off an interesting ending. But it could have been a long short story. Some of the passages were interminable and could easily have been removed and no one would have noticed.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp observation, terrific prose and dry humour. Jomier (we never learn his first name, unless I somehow missed it) is divorced, aging, and grumpy. He's never forgiven his ex-wife for her affair with a friend, and he's generally unimpressed with the state of the modern world. He's resentful, self-contradictory (do you know someone who isn't?), and generally curmudgeonly. His anger at his ex-wife colours his attitude towards women in general and towards love and marriage and sex, but his resentment encompasses far more than that. You may not like him, but you probably know someone like him. In the end, though, he's far more than the sum of his resentments.

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I’d read John Crace’s ‘digested read’ (parody) of the novel before borrowing it from the library.

That piece at least had the virtue of humour rather than sanctimony.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-crafted and interesting novel, one of the most entertaining books I have read for a while. It is a contemporary story about an aging man who is set in his ways. He makes use of all the modern gadgets and aids, but is not really at ease with them. Piers Paul Read is certainly one of my favourite writers and I look forward to reading more of his novels in the future.

[Alexrebuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I found piers Paul Reed drew his characters sensitively and I believed in them. I liked most of them inspite of their many short comings. I saw the twist at the end coming but still enjoyed the poignancy. I think there might be a little of Jomier in all of us, or is it only me!

[Una (EX) precaria tra i libri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Siamo nella mente di Geoffrey Jomier, un avvocato in pensione, divorziato e depresso che dedica il suo tempo alla registrazione e catalogazione dei suoi ricordi trasferendo il contenuto dei suoi diari sul computer. Scopo: creare una sorta di archivio della sua vita (nella speranza che riordinando e catalogando tutto si possa in qualche modo sistemare anche la sua situazione attuale) ma, soprattutto, identificare il momento esatto in cui il rapporto con sua moglie ha cominciato ad incrinarsi. Solo, triste e amareggiato, passa il tempo a riflettere e riesaminare… in un continuo arrovellarsi che rivela le sue convinzioni per lo più disfunzionali sulle donne (a cui il titolo fa riferimento), ma non solo. Geoffrey è scontroso, scorbutico… un nichilista che ha perso fiducia nell’umanità ed anche in Dio.

Mentre leggevo ho subito pensato a Krapp’s Last Tape (L’ultimo nastro di Krapp) di Beckett: il vecchio Krapp utilizza un registratore e ascolta le registrazioni vocali della sua vita mentre Jomier si affida ad una tecnologia più recente, il computer. Il parallelismo probabilmente vuole restituire l’immagine di un protagonista la cui vita è in standby. Krapp ha 69 anni ed è in attesa della morte: anche la vita di Jomier, nonostante le cene e i rari incontri con qualche amico, sembra a quel punto. Il paragone tra i due è sottile ma chiaro: anche Jomier è ‘sixty-something’ e anche la sua vita è nella fase finale (“A life like a story has a beginning, a middle and an end, and Jomier has now reached those last chapters that drive biographers to their wits’ end. Nothing happens. There is nothing to say.”). D’altronde il suo punto di vista sulla vecchiaia è lapidario: “...moved into a flat… Then to an old people’s home. Then to a hospital. Then to a coffin. Then to a grave.”

Come Krapp, trascorre il tempo a riesaminare il passato, passandolo al setaccio, rimuginando. Ogni evento raccontato è seguito da tutta una serie di domande in qualche modo retoriche… sono i dubbi di Jomier che possono essere riassunti con: le cose potevano andare diversamente? Sembra quasi incapace di interpretare i fatti… o forse spera che siano meglio di quello che sembrano.

Il tradimento della moglie è per lui un chiodo fisso, il filtro attraverso il quale reinterpreta il passato ed anche il presente. Piers Paul Read porta alla luce con questo libro tutta una serie di temi tabù quando si parla di terza età, a partire dalla solitudine, la fatica a comprendere alcuni cambiamenti sociali o epocali, fino ad arrivare all’amore e alla sessualità… senza filtri.

Un critico ha riassunto ironicamente il romanzo con la frase ‘diario di un vecchio bastardo’... che in effetti, ci sta. Io propenderei per ‘Diario di un misantropo domato’... nel senso che non viene guarito ma in qualche modo accetta di addomesticare i suoi impulsi autodistruttivi (non entrerò nei dettagli per non rovinare il piacere di scoprirlo leggendo il libro). Viene in qualche modo a patti con quel Dio la cui esistenza non è certa e anche con la sua vita: una volta compiuta l’opera di digitalizzazione essa perde interesse. Cosa che a Krapp non succede… il parallelo con Krapp funziona come una sorta di fantasma dickensiano, che mostra cosa potrebbe essere, ma il cui solo scopo è redimere… anche se una reale redenzione non c’è.

[Michaellyn Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best! Funny, cynical and beautifully written.

[Jude Grindvoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the rather misleading title (Jomier is not necessarily a misogynist - he's just a sadcase that can't seem to get over his ex who left him years earlier) it was a rather pleasant read; Ian Mcewan-esque but not quite as beautifully written. Jomier is that annoying kind of man who insists on paying for a date for fear of feeling emasculated (seriously, guys, get over it) and then complains about how much money it is costing him. He is narrow-minded and pedantic to an absurd degree, completely devoid of humour and yet it's difficult to hate him - rather you just feel immensely sorry for this man whose life is literally falling through his fingers while he adds up his expenditures on hs little spreadsheets.

There seems to be a trend in British literature lately of the male-menopausal type - sad little domestic tragedies in which seemingly inconsequential acts have huge implications later in life (it's quite possible to attribute the start of this, again, with Mcewan) which I find oddly compelling. But if you aren't keen on small narratives and characters incapable of much introspection I suggest giving this one a wide berth. The plot twist at the end offers a tiny fraction of redemption but, ultimately, the story itself lacks sufficient depth to warrant any more than 3 stars.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can imagine most people would need to be in the right frame of mind to read 'The Misogynist.'

The book follows the story of Jomier, as he deals with the disheartenment and resentment of his wife's extra-marital affair and subsequent divorce. It is a dark satire that, at times, borders on a rant about society's downfalls and the futility of human relationships.

I can see why this book wouldn't be to everyone's tastes, but loved it for its style and the sincerity of the character development; feeling almost sadistic in laughing at some of the protagonist's musings and recollections.

'The Misogynist' was always going to fall victim to mixed reviews but, personally, I consider it a victory by Paul Piers Read.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost abandoned reading this book because it was written entirely in the present tense, which I find very tiresome. Geoffrey Jomier is a tired man disappointed in himself and his wife who left him for one of their best friends. I kept going because Jomier has a FileMaker database of all his friends and I was hoping to read more about that, but alas we moved on to Excel spreadsheets calculating the shared expenses of a holiday in Venice. I did enjoy his list of the Seven Deadly Sins of the Secular Society: racism, misogyny, homophobia, elitism, smoking, obesity, religious belief. It didn't leave me feeling I'd learned anything about the human condition, it just left me feeling tired.

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though the main character, Jomier, had a nice name, I got fed up of the use of his name in nearly every sentence. It was fairly funny and witty though I found it difficult to get used to the style of writing.

[Malan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nonsensical gibberish. White-older-man indulgent tripe. I struggled through the first 70 pages or so and this is literally the first book I've ever thrown into the garbage can. I would have donated it to the library but would never dream of unleashing this hogwash onto the general public.

[Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would not be one of my favourites and yet I enjoyed the novel. I could place my shoes in Jomier. I felt his insecurities, bias ideas & steps to recovery. I believe we had/have stages in our lives where we experience those periods of loss, regret & attachment.

[Azu Jinan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆
Fast paced, darkly funny, very critical of a miriad of topics (many socio-political), interesting ideas.
There are lots of enjoyable parts, it is an entertaining book that gets a bit tiring with a new topic on almost each page.

[Phil Kewley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a struggle, at times dull enough to aid sleep, but then witty and I kind of got the characters dead pan humour and enjoyed the anger. I think it probably needs a second read.

[Malcolm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing draws you into the writer's world
For me the subject matter is self indulgent, as it is no doubt intended to be, but not worth the read

[Roslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud at times. The twist in the tale was, perhaps, and little contrived; but I didn't see it coming (always a good thing).

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an excellent study about old age. I enjoyed it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interstring portrayal of older divorcee and how he turns his resentment against ex wife and life change...good change, never too late!!

[Graham S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told and amusing. A lot in Jomier is in most men but we aren't necessarily misogynists -nor was he in my opinion.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Morag77 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witty and clever but too sexist and moralising for my taste.

[Mike Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Old divorced man has contented set life unsettled by new relationship.