Comments on: The Love Song of Monkey, by Michael S.A. Graziano

By: Celeste

Celeste — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:58:01 +0000

I guess the real thing we have to decide as writers is how important it is that readers “get” the references we’re making. From what you’ve said so far, it sounds like The Love Song of Monkey has lots to offer a reader, even if he or she doesn’t see the Monkey King subtext. And ideally, that’s how all books should work! I strongly believe that allusions, subtexts, and references of all sorts should enrich the text, rather than being the magic decoder ring that you *must* have in order to understand what’s going on…

By: astameshkin

astameshkin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:55:50 +0000

Thanks for the recommendations, Celeste! Perhaps in wanting more explanation I’m asking for too much hand-holding (as well as displaying the woefully Western-centric nature of my library). It’s not like every reader is going to get every reference, and I agree with PHD’s argument that we should write for our ideal reader and not over-explain.

One of my favorite moments in The Love Song of Monkey is when Jonathan discovers that all the animals who underwent this same experiment (which operates on the molecular level) have also survived and become immortal. The scientist who invented the procedure is unable to comprehend his success; he assumes his subjects (including Jonathan) are all brain-dead, when in fact they’ve begun their immortal life in a state so sublimely peaceful that they need not speak, move, or even blink. What looks like a catatonic body is in fact something super-conscious of the world around it. This reminds me of the quest in the Hitchhiker’s Guide books for the answer to life, the universe and everything. A super-computer finally provides it — 42 –, prompting the seekers to ask, “But what’s the question?”

By: Celeste

Celeste — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:25:10 +0000

I grew up with the Monkey King stories–he’s a classic cultural trickster, like Brer Rabbit or Anansi, and his exploits, which are many, are as well known in Chinese culture as Grimm’s fairy tales are in the West. So that’s the first thing I thought of when I heard the title. I’m interested to see how Graziano rewrites/builds on/toys with these stories and have added this to my to-read list.

For those who haven’t yet encountered the Monkey King, there are plenty of children’s versions out there if you’re not up for the whole saga of Journey to the West–it’s quite an undertaking!