The Book Of Evidence by John Banville (Irish) – A review

The Book Of Evidence by John Banville (Irish) – A review

Claim to fame: 

• Author of around 14 novels including the Booker Prize winner 'The Sea' (2005)
• The Book of Evidence was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1989 and has won the GPA award.

Review 

          This happens to be the first book of John Banville that I have laid my hands on and I read it in 2 days flat, the quickest I have ever read a book before.

          Freddie Montgomery, the protagonist, is a happy-go-lucky kind of person who cares less about relationships, cares less about anything and everything. It all starts when he borrows a handsome amount of money from an American who on Freddie’s convenient blackmailing had procured it from the mafia. Freddie can’t return the money and the American has to lose his ear – literally! Now it’s Freddie’s turn and at the discomfort of keeping his wife and children under the watchful eyes of the mafia, he embarks on a never returning journey to get money to bail him and them out.

          Returning home 10 years back to his surviving mother, he realizes what a bad son he has been to his parents and was never there when they needed him. His lust for the payback money leads him to the Behrens house where his father’s paintings have been sold. His rage at having lost one of the last hopes of recovering money, he involves himself in an unconvincing plot of stealing a strange painting that he feels he can relate to. It is the painting of a woman whom Freddie gives life and weaves a story around her for himself. Maybe it is the unspoken voice inside himself who he renders to the lady.

          In fact, it is hardly a plot. An unrehearsed disturbance in his mind leads him to execute one fraud after another and then there is no looking back. He feels no more when he fools people and when he gets into the real act of having stolen the painting, the watching of the chamber maid of his doings sets in an ire he cannot control. He conveniently thinks that the world is up against him and won’t leave him alone to do anything. What was supposed to be a simple bargain with the Behrens leads to a heinous crime with the murder of the maid by Freddie.

          What is disturbing is that he doesn’t feel much on smashing her head by the hammer again and again and again while she begs for her life. He says he did it because he could possibly do it. Why he did it, is a confusion he has no straight answer for.

          The book is Freddie’s confession of his life, of his crimes, of his unsuccessful relationships.

          The language is superb and I was hooked to the book from the initial pages itself. It is remarkable writing as should be. The plot is heinous, the characters lucid and the flow is immaculate bending, twisting and turning among the past and present.

Truly recommended reading!

My rating : * * * * * * * * * * (7/10)

Jon Banville