Reading on Lionel Shriver's novel The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047 is still in progress. Surprises are a possibility, and to some degree expected. Still, I feel like I can share my impressions so as to give you the feel.
For context, I read a good portion of it today in a city water park by the river. Walking back and forth while reading, I kept seeing the same hypodermic syringe on the ground, and registering my doubt that some diabetic had dropped it while taking his insulin shot. There was a shouting match between two guys over one having his dog of the leash and the dog rushing the other guy, although not biting him.
This is not to say it was a lousy day. It wasn't, and the skateboarders on the Korean War monument were enjoying themselves. But it's a near-future story about the decline of America and the globe overall, and the personal conflicts that will rise. It seems only right to bring in supporting evidence from the real world.
The cause of the book's Armageddon-of-sorts is fairly simple to describe. The USA defaults on its debt in what becomes known as the Renunciation. What that means for the Mandibles, an extended Old Money family, is that the dollars they've counted on for security have drastically reduced in value, leaving them high and dry. Carter, a journalist idled by the previous collapse of newspapers, has to take his nonagerian father and the father's demented second wife out of their (once) cushy nursing home and house them in his own flat. Daughter Florence, an aid worker with a brainy teenage son and live-in Latino boyfriend (not the boy's father but a good surrogate) can't afford her house without putting up her eccentric aunt, an expatriate writer no longer welcome in Europe. Her more conservative sister Avery loses her therapy practice while her husband loses his job as an economics professor. They and their children all have to go live with Florence as well.
The characters all come from privilege. Not the vague kind of privilege currently attributed to everyone of Western European descent, but an actual elevation from the troubles of the common folk. This is quite deliberate, and serves a purpose. The fiscal catastrophe brings them low, so you know it's real. We assume that come what may, the great Mayflower families and the descendants of nineteenth century captains of industry will be have their needs met and then some. And some surely will. But maybe even in their class, some are expendable. And Shriver knows that if your story requires breaking stuff, it's more dramatic if it's the Good Stuff.
The author is an interesting figure. She's in essence a left-liberal, but has made some apostasies―most recently on COVID―which cause some to associate her with the right. So does that make The Mandibles a takedown of smug liberals launched by a smug conservative? I don't see it that way. The character of Avery―note that she goes by a three syllable man's name―receives as many barbs as anyone. Shriver is fairly unfair to everyone, in an equitable way.
No, I'd say it's a satirical but humanist dystopia. One that we can reflect on while making our way through this one.
2 comments:
It's interesting you've been reading The Mandibles as Lionel Shriver has been one of my favorite The Spectator columnists these past few years. I haven't been inclined to read the novel despite the fact it's had good reviews and yours has made me tempted to reconsider. Mostly, I haven't been too interested in contemporary fiction of late.
I'm sure you noticed her name is also usually a man's name of three syllables.
She's most definitely a singular voice and if you're interested in reading any of her other editorials this site links to most of them (although the Spectator US or UK will only allow two a day - which is generally enough anyway).
I agree with her opinion about the current lockdown and the mask wearing hysteria. Lots of people are complaining and many in Europe are participating in public demonstrations at this point. I'd go to one if any were happening here but so far that doesn't seem likely.
Yesterday I happened across another article on Mises called 'Lockdowns Destroy What Makes Us Human' that might interest you. He makes some very valid points.
She seems to have made a name for herself, certainly. One of her other novels, We Need to Talk About Kevin, was made into a movie a few years ago starring Tilda Swinton. I haven't seen it or read the book, but there's a good chance this isn't the last thing of hers I read.
I can understand not being interested in contemporary fiction, though. We're surrounded by contemporary. Following your bliss is the best way to keep the batteries charged.
I have read some of her Spectator pieces now as well. She's very well-reasoned and articulate. There's something to be said for electing Biden, as she said, to reboot. That said, in the final moments I couldn't bring myself to vote for him after the campaign that he ran. Didn't vote for Trump, either. Ah well, I certainly don't live in a swing state.
Yost does make some good points, and as it turns out the prospect of lockdowns wasn't as much a strawman as all that.
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