Review: Tropic of Cancer

I have finished the book, yeah, woohoo and all those words that you would probably not find in this book. Before I review the book, I have one statement to make, there were certainly many books banned in the 1930's and 40's. The last few books I have read were banned in the United States for at least 20 to 30 years. I am about to start a new book, Ulysses that was also banned in the U. S.. So my question is did the writers have a contest to see whose book could be banned the longest? I know that there were a few writers who knew each other and some who were mentors to other writers. Just a thought. I think these writers were looking at the times and decided to jump in and change up the style. Now we have romance novels which are racier than some of the scenes in the Tropic of Cancer. Different world.

TROPIC OF CANCER, by Henry Miller published 1961 by Grove Press, Inc. Originally published in Paris, 1934. Banned in US for 27 years. Once again I did not read the introduction, but will after I finished this review. I have been pondering the fact that this book feels like it is written by two different people. Why do I say this? First when I read certain passages, especially when Miller is describing the area he is in the way that he feels, there is almost a poetry to his words. But then when he comes across a friend or is planning to visit a friend the words become crass, baser, especially when describing women. He uses the c... word to describe almost all the women. He has a wife, he obviously loves or not. I was just amazed at the transitions. In the first few chapters, I really thought I was dealing with two different characters of the book, telling their side of a story. I will have to see if he suffered from any diseases that would affect his mind.

I loved his prose, as I said they were beautifully poetic. The story is a bit biographical, I thought this was fiction, but in one section of the book he is talking to his friend on the phone, and the woman that his friend is with gets on the phone and asks "Is this Henry Miller?" In another instance he is called Enrico by a frenchman. SO, I am thinking autobiography?? He also talks about how he likes the title of a book an friend has given his book and wished he had thought of it, instead of the title he had picked for his book. I will let you know what I find out.

There is comparison's made in regards to France and America, which I found to be true even today. There is a quote that I found very appropriate for the election we are about to have for the President of the United State. This is found on page 269 of this book. He is in a room that is part of a university where he is going to work basically for room and board-" I felt free and chained at the same time-like one feels just before election, when all the crooks have been nominated and you are beseeched to vote for the right man." He also compares the way that Americans strive to always be on top and French man strive to just be. Now this might have changed, but has it?

I had to read several passages to my husband because I felt that they were on point with some of our current discussions. A book that makes me think, is always a good book. I just hate the c-word.