Review by Mark Johnson -- The Nobel Prize by Mois benarroch
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Nobel Prize" by Mois benarroch.]
3 out of 4 stars
Review by Mark Johnson
The Nobel Prize is a book of fictional prose by Mois Benarroch. It is a story within a story. On the surface the book is about an author who learns that an old colleague of his has been committed to a mental hospital and has dementia. The colleague named Jorge lives his life portraying the various characters he once wrote about. The main character then decides this would be a great idea for a novel and begins researching all the books that Jorge has written to learn of the various characters and personalities that Jorge might portray.
Underneath the main story is another story. The main character runs into other writing colleagues besides Jorge that had once belonged to the same writing group several decades before. Throughout the book the main character gives us insights into the writer's mind, how they interacted, and what they thought of each other.
Not only is this a good book with the use of a story within a story, but it is also a clever work of prose. At one point the main character is talking to Jorge, who was portraying a professor at the time, and asks the professor if he knows who Fon Franco is. The professor replies that he is a Planeta Prize winner. The main character asks a few more questions, then asks if he knows who Mois Bernarroch is. The professor replies that he is also a Planeta Prize winner. That is pretty clever because the author uses his actual name in the fictional conversation.
At times though, this book is difficult to follow due to the nature of the fine line it walks between dementia and reality. There is a purpose for it that drive you to the end, yet sometimes I found myself questioning what was going on. Then when I got to the end I wanted to read the book again; it was that good of an ending.
The audience would be adult readers who like fictional stories, or good works of prose. Due to a couple of scenes that are meant for adults, this book would not be appropriate for young readers.
I gave this book 3 out of 4 stars. While there is plenty to like about this book, I thought the editing could have been better. Page three the word right is capitalized for no reason. Same thing on page six, the word good is capitalized for no reason. On page 40 one sentence has two commas in a row where there should only be one. On page 51 there was a period at the end of a sentence, a space, and then another period. The next sentence began immediately following the second period. These are just a few examples.
Editing aside, this was a really fun book to read. I definitely recommend The Nobel Prize. This is the first book by Mois Benarroch that I have read and look forward to reading more by the author.
******
The Nobel Prize
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
3 out of 4 stars
Review by Mark Johnson
Underneath the main story is another story. The main character runs into other writing colleagues besides Jorge that had once belonged to the same writing group several decades before. Throughout the book the main character gives us insights into the writer's mind, how they interacted, and what they thought of each other.
Not only is this a good book with the use of a story within a story, but it is also a clever work of prose. At one point the main character is talking to Jorge, who was portraying a professor at the time, and asks the professor if he knows who Fon Franco is. The professor replies that he is a Planeta Prize winner. The main character asks a few more questions, then asks if he knows who Mois Bernarroch is. The professor replies that he is also a Planeta Prize winner. That is pretty clever because the author uses his actual name in the fictional conversation.
At times though, this book is difficult to follow due to the nature of the fine line it walks between dementia and reality. There is a purpose for it that drive you to the end, yet sometimes I found myself questioning what was going on. Then when I got to the end I wanted to read the book again; it was that good of an ending.
The audience would be adult readers who like fictional stories, or good works of prose. Due to a couple of scenes that are meant for adults, this book would not be appropriate for young readers.
I gave this book 3 out of 4 stars. While there is plenty to like about this book, I thought the editing could have been better. Page three the word right is capitalized for no reason. Same thing on page six, the word good is capitalized for no reason. On page 40 one sentence has two commas in a row where there should only be one. On page 51 there was a period at the end of a sentence, a space, and then another period. The next sentence began immediately following the second period. These are just a few examples.
Editing aside, this was a really fun book to read. I definitely recommend The Nobel Prize. This is the first book by Mois Benarroch that I have read and look forward to reading more by the author.
******
The Nobel Prize
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
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