Review of The Art of Being Difficult

[Zanne Crystle]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Art of Being Difficult" by William Chekhov.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Art of Being Difficult by William Chekhov is a short literary fiction novel that lives up to its title in many ways. The book has an unusual approach, as it provides a summary of the story before it even begins. This may seem strange at first, but it is necessary to set the stage for what is to come.

The story revolves around Kotan and Inyoku, whose lives become intertwined despite the complex and harsh realities of their worlds. As they grapple with past traumas, they navigate the intricate dynamics of their bond, built on a power imbalance. They experience emotional turmoil, ranging from struggling with guilt, contempt, the need for liberation, feelings of unworthiness, and a lack of genuine love. Kotan and Inyoku's journey is one of pain and struggle, and the ultimate resolution may leave you pondering the complexities of human lives, relationships, and the lasting impact of past traumas.

The book also features stories of other characters, including Kotan's parents and even non-human beings. The book's characters explore themes such as longing, regret, and the pursuit of happiness in a world filled with pain and uncertainty. They grapple with feelings of resentment and inadequacy and struggle to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life while dealing with constant turmoil.

The book is written in a complex and poetic style, which can make it difficult to understand. It reads like fragments of a movie, each fragment giving a glimpse into the lives of the characters. However, these fragments don't come together to form a clear picture, which can leave you feeling unsure and lost. 

Much of it is written in short and vague sentences, and the timeline of events is not linear or specified. The story follows multiple characters at once, and some of the chapters do not specify the names of the characters they are about. Instead, they use "he" and "she" to refer to them. This can make it difficult to understand what is happening and who is present in each scene.

The writing in the book is provocative and contributes to the overall atmosphere of a pervasive sense of doom. However, there are moments where the meaning becomes somewhat obscured by the stylistic flourishes. To improve the writing, the author should aim for clarity and coherence while still creating the desired atmosphere.

The book's format is a bit unusual. Some chapters are very short, containing only one line or a few paragraphs, while others are much longer. The chapters are numbered unconventionally; for example, Chapter 12.75 is followed by Chapter 19, which is then followed by Chapter 19.01–2110.88. The book's title, The Art of Being Difficult, may have influenced these stylistic choices, but unfortunately, they only serve to make the book more confusing and less enjoyable.

The author should consider adding some details underneath each chapter title, such as the character's name, the date and time of the event, and the location. Doing so would help the reader avoid having to spend a lot of time searching for context clues to grasp this fundamental information.

I assume the author intended to highlight the intricacies of human relationships and human nature through this story, but due to the book's complexity, I found it challenging to fully comprehend and appreciate the full breadth of the underlying message.

Overall, the writing is creative and poetic, but it may be too confounding for some readers. The grammatical liberties and overall confusing writing style make it difficult to comment on the editing quality of the book because it's hard to determine if some "mistakes" were intentional or not. I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars, subtracting a star for the unclear character identification in chapters and another for the oddly fragmented storytelling, which hindered comprehension. I recommend this book to those who enjoy deciphering layers of meaning and symbolism within a story.

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The Art of Being Difficult
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[Raymonda Onwuka 1]

This book sounds like a sure act of being difficult. Being difficult even unto the reader. Books that are creative and poetic are always the best . I am sure that with few adjustments this book will be a great read.

[Naushin Moledina]

The art of being difficult, the title intrigued me first. But it seems that the author has created the book to be difficult, as the title suggests. Great review. You have explained all the intricacies and flaws of the book perfectly.

[williams Emerald]

The unconventional structure and poetic style seem to add layers of complexity to “The Art of Being Difficult” however, the suggestion to include more details under chapter titles could enhance reader comprehension and engagement.