Review of The Comedy of Thinking
Posted: 25 Aug 2023, 09:26
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Comedy of Thinking" by Michael Trudeau.]
The Comedy of Thinking is a mix of poems and a play by Michael Trudeau. I have always loved the brevity of poetry and the ability of talented poets to deliver profound messages with a few lines. And Michael did a brilliant job with this collection that follows a mentally unwell protagonist and his friend as they navigate the dark abyss of depression and mental illness.
The book has an important message, and Michael did a great job passing it. Mental health challenges are prevalent in our society, and the narration captures the ebbs and flows of a sufferer's life vividly. The author also did well to incorporate a support system for the protagonist, and he portrayed the dynamics of their relationship so richly.
That said, I had an issue with the book's layout. The layout was a little disconcerting. Maybe it is an artistic choice with a hidden message that I missed. However, the narration has irregular line/page breaks that often broke my reading immersion. For example, I would start a poem on one page and expect it to continue on the next page, only to find the continuation two pages away. The constant blank spaces were perplexing. However, the fault could also be from my e-reader. I read the EPUB version, and I read it using the OBC e-reader. However, I have used the OBC e-reader multiple times, but I have never experienced this issue.
The book is a splendid piece of art. However, the message might be challenging for some readers to grasp, especially budding poetry readers. I had almost finished the book before the pieces came together. Hence, I believe the collection will benefit from an introductory commentary that frames the narrative within its intended context. That would enhance the reader's appreciation of the author's work.
Conclusively, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. It was good, but the structure could have been better. Poetry and play readers with a penchant for melancholic pieces will appreciate the work.
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The Comedy of Thinking
View: on Bookshelves
The Comedy of Thinking is a mix of poems and a play by Michael Trudeau. I have always loved the brevity of poetry and the ability of talented poets to deliver profound messages with a few lines. And Michael did a brilliant job with this collection that follows a mentally unwell protagonist and his friend as they navigate the dark abyss of depression and mental illness.
The book has an important message, and Michael did a great job passing it. Mental health challenges are prevalent in our society, and the narration captures the ebbs and flows of a sufferer's life vividly. The author also did well to incorporate a support system for the protagonist, and he portrayed the dynamics of their relationship so richly.
That said, I had an issue with the book's layout. The layout was a little disconcerting. Maybe it is an artistic choice with a hidden message that I missed. However, the narration has irregular line/page breaks that often broke my reading immersion. For example, I would start a poem on one page and expect it to continue on the next page, only to find the continuation two pages away. The constant blank spaces were perplexing. However, the fault could also be from my e-reader. I read the EPUB version, and I read it using the OBC e-reader. However, I have used the OBC e-reader multiple times, but I have never experienced this issue.
The book is a splendid piece of art. However, the message might be challenging for some readers to grasp, especially budding poetry readers. I had almost finished the book before the pieces came together. Hence, I believe the collection will benefit from an introductory commentary that frames the narrative within its intended context. That would enhance the reader's appreciation of the author's work.
Conclusively, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. It was good, but the structure could have been better. Poetry and play readers with a penchant for melancholic pieces will appreciate the work.
******
The Comedy of Thinking
View: on Bookshelves