Literature

William Kotzwinkle is no ordinary writer

5 reading minutes

written by Amélie Wauthier · 21 April 2020 · 0 comment

William Kotzwinkle is not like other writers

Les bouquins du mardi - Special edition «Les coronarétrospectives de la littérature» - Amélie Wauthier

For my «bonus» review, I wanted to recommend a fresh and fun book, to remind us all that life is good and reading is fun. Otherwise, I don't see much point in telling you about a book I wouldn't highly recommend, and having to read it first. So I went through the various floors of my library and, between Kafka and Heidegger, got my hands on the third volume of the tales of this famous thirty-something, aka Bridget Jones. Mad about him, A fresh, off-the-wall diary that talks about love and troubles in an ultra-funny, piquant tone, perfect reading for this period of confinement!

After fifty pages, I'm certain of one thing: this diary-style story of a clumsy, endearing teenage girl—when you're a widow with two children who has a toyboy, it just doesn't work—not at all! My disappointment is just as great as it was when, as a die-hard Tolkien fan, I discovered the adaptation of the The Hobbit by Peter Jackson—that says it all! A little disappointed, but still optimistic (yes, you can be both at the same time, I assure you!), I head back to my bookshelf, determined to find THE book that will make my heart race and my cheekbones twitch.

Why not Jo Nesbø? Hmm, I'm not sure I feel like reading a thriller. The Forgers By Antoine Bello? Oh, yeah! It was really great, but 587 pages… Too long! And Vichy France? You call that a «fresh and fun» read. I might as well go back to Kafka. At this rate, I’ll never finish writing my review! So I’ve decided to proceed with method and discipline—that’s just like me… Since I’m in the mood to read something funny, I’m selecting books—across all genres—with funny, even zany titles. If after ten pages I haven’t fallen in love with it, I put down the book I’m holding and move on to the next one. Sometimes it takes discipline and order for the magic to happen.

The bear is a writer just like any other

By William Kotzwinkle, the guy who lets you win every Scrabble game hands down! (I know, proper names aren’t allowed, but if we can’t show a little flexibility during this health crisis, where are we headed?) This is the story of a man named Arthur Bramhall. A literature professor at the University of Maine, he’s on a sabbatical in the countryside. Prone to depression, Arthur harbors the hope of having sex with women who are also depressed. He will devote a book to this, based solely on his imagination, as his carnal plans were very quickly thwarted by reality. After his novel was destroyed in a fire that burned down his barn, Bramhall rewrote his story and buried it at the foot of a tree, inside a briefcase, to protect it.

«I’ve written the truth,» Bramhall declared as he closed his manuscript, patting it gently. He had just lit a tiny flame of joy in the heart of the destructive darkness of his lifelong depression. «Tomorrow, you’re going to conquer the world,» he announced to the manuscript.»

This is the story of a bear who happened to be passing by. While rummaging around at the base of a tree, he stumbled upon a novel tucked away in a briefcase. He then decided to seize his chance to become someone. Although people found him strange, the bear managed to pass himself off as Dan Flakes, an incredibly talented—and completely fictional—writer whom everyone was clamoring to work with. Living day to day—since he’s a bear—he doesn’t hesitate to roll around on the ground with delight after devouring a hearty meal. He’s a role model for everyone, from his agent to TV hosts, who see him as a free spirit who knows how to enjoy life to the fullest in the simplest way, all while rejecting conventions.

The bear displays a childlike innocence despite his deepest desire to become someone. The social norms that govern the human world remain a great mystery to him. But he doesn’t care about any of that and is content to enjoy the present moment, detached from the past and without worrying about the future. And that makes him perfectly happy. His only fear: ending up in a zoo and thus being deprived of his freedom. As for Arthur Bramhall (the real writer, remember!), once again deprived of the fruits of his hard labor, he allows himself to be roped in by Pinette, a good local guy who’s always accompanied by his dog, who drags him from shelter to shelter in search of stories that are more real than life itself for a future book. Whatever their fate, each character faces the same problem: finding their place in the world.

Child of the Absurd

Dan Flakes is a bear, but no one notices. After losing his novel in a fire and then in a theft, Aarthur Bramhall takes refuge in a cave to hibernate for a while. Was this book among Visit Trial by Kafka and the Rhinoceros by Ionesco? I laughed—and how I laughed! This time, there was no need to count the pages; I devoured them one after another. The writer’s style is as simple and elegant as his bear, and his perspective on the world is as sharp as that of a college professor. No one has read Dan Flakes’ book, but everyone loves it! The writer’s words don’t make any sense? Never mind—everyone comes up with their own interpretation! What a genius, this Dan! We appreciate him for his simplicity and modesty—he’s a role model… but humans do the exact opposite, just to really cultivate their OCD, neuroses, and other misfortunes.

Brimming with nature and humanity, this novel is a true breath of fresh air—like the forests of Maine—and invites us to reflect on our habits and our way of life with plenty of humor and philosophy. Whether you’re a bear or a bookworm, gruff or a loner, don’t hesitate any longer! Take advantage of this time at home to treat yourself and devour a great book!

Write to the author: [email protected]