This wonderful book is eloquently written in the first person with dark, self-debasing humor and complex, quirky characters who muddle through simple but peculiar situations. Whether Oliver Orme, the main character, is telling of the pain that envelops his life or is bragging of his pastime, which is stealing but not for profit, the author’s inventive, clever, brilliant voice shines through him.

Oliver Orme is a married man and a once-successful-and-well-to-do painter who cannot paint anymore because he suffers from a creativity block, possibly caused by the grief of losing his baby daughter Olivia. Oliver is someone the reader finds likable and smart for being so skilled with language and observation, but he is also contemptible for the hurtful things he has done to others, the simplest being the theft of tiny things. His biggest theft in his words, however, is Polly, his best friend Marcus’s wife. When his affair with Polly is known, Oliver runs and hides in the home he grew up in. After all, he mourns, "I am unavoidably me." In that, he has a point.

But then, will Oliver, after many sane or ridiculous events or surprises, be able to force his acute perception to the reality of his life and redeem himself by the end of the book? That, one has to find for himself or herself but while doing that, she or he will enjoy the author’s linguistic skills and his main character's exuberance contrasted with his reflections of grief over the many losses he suffers from and those that he himself causes as well.

Yet, in this novel, the plot is secondary. It is the author’s style, voice, introspection, and his playfulness with words, phrases, ideas, and names of his characters that makes his story a big winner.

enjoying a highly literary style.

the author's meticulousness with language, his voice, playfulness and his characters whom he creates as originals. Each character is so different, so complex, and so quirky that each one deserves a novel of their own.

read all the books by this author.

awed by what this author could do.

is John Banville (born 8 December 1945, an Irish novelist and journalist. Among his books are: The Sea, Time Pieces, The Book of Evidence, Mrs. Osmond, The Untouchable, Kepler.

a willing writer can learn so much from his use of the language, his acute powers of observation, and his character portrayals

if you enjoy books that are full of mystery, action, or adventure, and you like an intricately constructed plot, this book will bore you.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of The Blue Guitar: A novel (Vintage International)   from Amazon.Com!

Created Apr 07, 2018 at 9:05pm • Submit your own review...