The 10 1/2 Chapters referred to in the title largely share the theme of shipwreck and survival, and while they may form a possible history of the world when read as a whole, they generally focus on isolated and unconnected events, and each one can be enjoyed as a separate story.

The first 'chapter', entitled "The Stowaway" is an alternate account of the Noah's ark story, and its humour and irreverence sets the tone for the rest of the book. Further chapters include a story of a cruise ship being hijacked, an epistolary story of the production of the film in the Amazon and a fascinating essay on a painting of a shipwreck, juxtaposed with an account of the actual shipwreck, and commenting on the nature of art.

For me however, the best chapters were the final one, "The Dream", a hilarious and thought-provoking interpretation of heaven, and the Parenthesis (The half-chapter), which contains possibly the most beautiful ruminations on the nature of love I have ever read.

Whether this book is a novel, a collection of stories, or something else entirely, it is a wonderful and original work, and on the very rare occasions when the writing is less than brilliant, the originality more than compensates. It certainly wasn't the book I expected it to be, but whatever it is, it's outstanding and inspired.


A Sardonic, Original, and Mischievous Mind on a Tear   November 24, 2002
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

A stowaway that narrates the trip of Noah's Ark, simple animals tried for blasphemy in the 16th Century, an incredible stream of thought on language's three very famous words, and more from an extremely original and perspective bending Author. This book is easily one of the more original works I have read in quite some time.

These collections of stories, and in one case a story within another, are all wonderful when confined within their own borders. They certainly were intended to be elements of a much more transcendent work, and when the reader finishes the parts, and becomes a ruminator of the whole, the effect is brilliant. Mr. Julian Barnes is a new Author for me, fortunately this book is not his debut so much remains to be read, and on his side, I hope, to be written.

A short time ago I read "Ghostwritten", a book that was divided into 9 tales that all had an element of commonality. I thought it was very well done. This work takes the joining of elements that could at times be superficially viewed as disparate, but are all of a singular piece when the entire book is read. The bridges that bring the reader and the elements of the books through the tale can seemingly be obvious. They are also incredibly well disguised. A cursory read through what may seem to be just a satirical romp will no doubt please, but attention paid with more vigor will yield a much more richly crafted work. And the added gift is that even when you think you have taken what the Author has offered, this work lingers, and the more and longer it is thought of, the better it continues to grow. This is a work that can easily be started again immediately after the final page is read.

Some would argue that for a work to be excellent it must be entirely original. I think that would be nice, and it does happen occasionally. Much more frequently what is offered has all the originality of a clone. Taking the familiar apart, changing the perspective, adding stylistically original and provocative thought, is as original as one can get. Generally accepted ideas or truths, are not necessarily either. The ability to step back and present stand alone pieces that are fresh, that then become a symbiotic whole is a remarkable talent, and Mr. Barnes is incredibly inventive.

Show this man a Rubik's Cube with all of its colored sides intact. Then scramble the object and present him with the multi-colored curiosity. Not only will he place all the colors back so that each side is uniform, he will have changed all the colors as well.

Read this man's work, it's a wonderful trip.