Téa Obreht has been a fixture in the literary landscape for as long as I can remember. I recall when I first began blogging about books, her debut novel, The Tiger's Wife, was on everyone's reading list. Like many instances since, I eagerly purchased the book, caught up in the excitement, only to let it languish unread on my shelf. There it remained, untouched, a silent reminder of my tendency to be swayed by the latest literary trends. While perusing the new arrivals at my local library, I recently stumbled upon Obreht's latest offering, The Morningside. Once again, I was drawn to the allure of a shiny new title, conveniently overlooking the neglected books waiting for me at home. This time, I made a conscious decision to follow through. Over the course of several days, I immersed myself in the pages of The Morningside, finally experiencing Obreht's writing firsthand.
In The Morningside, the eponymous building stands as a symbol of faded grandeur, a once opulent high-rise now fallen into disrepair. Set in the not-too-distant future, the story unfolds in a world ravaged by the effects of climate change, where a Manhattan-like city has succumbed to flooding and a dwindling population. In response to these challenges, the government has devised a repopulation program, recruiting refugees with promises of a secure future within the city's confines. Despite these assurances, the anticipated influx of residents and laborers has yet to materialize, leaving the National Bureau of Posterity to advocate for patience and perseverance in the face of uncertainty. The echoes of past glory still linger, fueling hope for a resurgence of prosperity on the horizon.
In this building, we encounter Silvia, an eleven-year-old newcomer who resides with her mother. Encouraged by her mother to assimilate into their new surroundings, Silvia is instructed to converse only in the local language, concealing their past from prying eyes. While Silvia yearns for excitement and adventure, her mother's aspirations are more modest. She seeks only a life of quiet solitude for themselves and her fellow expatriates.
Silvia's longing for something beyond the ordinary is kindled by the enchanting tales spun by her aunt Ena, the superintendent of The Morningside. Ena regales Silvia with fantastical stories, including one about a mysterious artist residing on the building's 33rd floor, accompanied by three unusually large dogs. “Isn’t it obvious? They’re not dogs,” Ena says. “They’re men during the day and dogs at night.” Through these captivating tales, Silvia is transported to a realm of boundless imagination that starkly contrasts her mother's more pragmatic aspirations for her future. As she'll soon discover, the fancies of imagination can have dire consequences in the real world.
There's a wealth of themes to delve into within The Morningside, and Téa Obreht makes a valiant effort to integrate these elements into a cohesive narrative. Through the innocent perspective of Silvia, the child protagonist, readers are transported to a world where perception clashes with reality. The novel confronts the undeniable impacts of climate change, immigration, and warfare, yet the inhabitants of this fictional world remain fixated on the past rather than addressing the present challenges. Silvia's inquisitive nature serves as a driving force, leading her to explore the lives of her fellow residents within The Morningside. As she unravels their stories, the novel touches upon many complex themes.
Despite its ambition to tackle nuanced topics, the novel struggles to maintain a clear narrative focus as it progresses. Instead, it meanders from one exploration to another, leaving little time for readers to deeply engage with the underlying subjects. When the novel finally confronts the harsh realities beneath its fantastical facade toward the end of the book, it is delivered as a shocking twist. Instead of allowing readers the space to ponder the weighty implications of the significant revelation, Obreht appears to employ it primarily for its shock value, diminishing the opportunity for genuine emotional resonance. Ultimately, The Morningside presents readers with many themes to unpack, but its erratic pacing and lack of narrative direction detract from its potential impact, rendering it more of a mystery than a satisfying revelation.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2024, 35)
Um...this sounds like something I might enjoy (magical realism?), but on the other hand, it sounds like a missed opportunity...
ReplyDeleteIt just felt a bit uneven to me. Almost as if she wasn't sure where to take the story.
DeleteThe allure of shiny new books is hard to resist. I'm sorry this one didn't deliver on its promise. Silvia as a younger narrator intrigued me. But the rest of the book doesn't sound like something I would end up liking.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for a new book. Especially when I have a pile of other books to ignore haha
DeleteI never read this but good gravy, your review makes this sound so good. I'm intrigued.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm interested to see what other readers think of it. There's lots to unpack
DeleteI sometimes struggle with literary fiction because I find the author wants to touch on themes more than craft a story, and it sounds like this book might suffer a bit in that way!
ReplyDeleteI think that's a pretty fair assessment.
DeleteOh, I understand! I am making myself work harder on reading my own books this year. Sorry that this one was so underwhelming!
ReplyDeleteI've still got a few shiny new books on tap this month, but I'm trying to be better about balancing them with my existing titles.
DeleteI usually struggle with magical realism/surrealism so this probably is not one for me, especially when you factor in the lack of direction and uneven pacing. Do you think you'll try something else by Obreht?
ReplyDeleteIt didn't fully work for me, but I'm still intrigued by her writing. I'll probably get to her debut at some point soon.
DeleteIt sounds a bit too busy for me. I need smth else
ReplyDeleteYeah, it just never really came together for me.
DeleteWhile parts of the story sound interesting, lack of direction and pacing issues make this one I'll pass on.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandable
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