kalegraphics

This is a review of Andre Dubus “Meditations from a Movable Chair”. In this book Dubus writes a genre that has become a rarity amongst modern popular literature. “Meditations from a Movable Chair” is a fantastic book and serves as a landmark in everything that represents creative nonfiction. This collection of short stories acts as part of the extensive memoirs of Andre Dubus. The title of the book references how after having been crippled in an accident Dubus writes from a wheel chair. I enjoyed this book greatly, Dubus has an extremely smooth narrative voice. His sentences are usually short, and descriptive, but they never read as terse or stilted. This book exudes elegance. Every sentence is so well constructed that each story reads like it is a dance, and every sentence is a step in the performance. Each story is very beautiful, Dubus is gifted with fantastic insight and optimism despite his sadness from the accident. Dubus’ narration reveals a high moral code, from his work it is obvious that he respects the rights and happiness of other living people. Reading it, I came to believe that the entire premise of “Meditations from a Movable Chair” is that: “Humanism conquers adversity.” “Meditations from a Movable Chair” contains many romantic images of nature. Effortlessly these images stir the reader with their beauty. Using imagery this way, Dubus’ creates a setting that is almost tangibly realistic. Ranging from childhood to adulthood Dubs’ memoirs are all windows into human nature. I found that whenever I was reading a story that I have had similar experiences. Or if I did not have first hand knowledge I could empathize with each story as if I had. Dubus appeals to all of the most basic human experiences. Throughout the book Dubus speaks of the writing process often. His wisdom and experience encourages me personally as a writer. The sense of enlightenment that I get from each short story drives me to write something new. Dubus writes with great compassion. When I read his reflections on his father, so warm were they; I felt as if he were speaking of my father. Coming from a Catholic upbringing Dubus writes often of spirituality in “Meditations from a Movable Chair”. As a modern Catholic, a voice of tolerance and love is apparent in Dubus’ musings. His views on God’s love and human oneness are universal in their message. Writing with great word economy Dubus’ prose is reminiscent of Ernest Hemmingway. One of the stories in this book is even dedicated to Hemmingway. However, unlike Hemmingway Dubus’ work is mostly peaceful and optimistic. A lot of the conflict in “Meditations from a Movable Chair” is from the difficulties Dubus’ encounters being crippled. Anything, but melodramatic Dubus’ experiences living in a wheel-chair arouse compassion in the reader, but not pity. I had an aunt who passed away recently who required a wheel-chair to be mobile. Dubus’ meditations helped me better understand her life. A quick and interesting read with a lot of depth, I would highly recommend “Meditations from a Movable Chair” to any reader of any age. Sometimes it is a sad book, but overall the joy of living is apparent on every page.

2022-09-02 14:10