The Interpretation of Murder
It has been said that a mystery novel is "about something" and a literary tale is not. The Interpretation of Murder has legitimate claims to both genres. It is most definitely about something, and also replete with allusions to and explications of Shakespeare, to the very beginnings of psychology, to the infighting between psychoanalytic giants--all written in a style that an author with literary aspirations might well envy.
In 1909, Drs. Freud and Jung visit Manhattan. They no sooner arrive when a young socialite is murdered, followed by another attempted murder, bearing the same characteristics. In the second case, the victim lives. She has lost her voice and cannot remember anything. The young doctor, Stratham Younger, who has invited Freud to speak at his University, soon involves Dr. Freud in the case. Freud, saying that Nora's case will require a time committment that he does not have, turns her over to Younger. The rudiments of Nora's case are based on Freud's famous Dora, complete with sexual perversions, convoluted twists and turns and downright lies.
That is just one of the myriad plot lines in the novel, all of which are intricate, interesting and plausible. All it takes for all of the incidents to be true is a great deal of bad will--and it is abundant here! There are politicians who are less than statesmen, city employees at work for themselves and not the city, doctors who will do anything to undermine Freud's theories, thereby saving the neurotics for themselves, and opportunists at every level of society, seeking psychological or material advantage. Carl Jung is portrayed by turns as secretive, mysterious, odd, and just plain nuts, while Freud remains a gentleman whose worst problem is his bladder.
Not the least interesting aspect of the book is all the turn-of-the-century New York lore: bridge building, great mansions, the Astor versus Vanderbilt dustup, immigrant involvement, fabulous entertaining, auto versus carriage. Despite the tangle of tales, debut author Jed Rubenfeld finishes it with writerly dexterity--and the reader is sorry to see it all end.
In 1909, Drs. Freud and Jung visit Manhattan. They no sooner arrive when a young socialite is murdered, followed by another attempted murder, bearing the same characteristics. In the second case, the victim lives. She has lost her voice and cannot remember anything. The young doctor, Stratham Younger, who has invited Freud to speak at his University, soon involves Dr. Freud in the case. Freud, saying that Nora's case will require a time committment that he does not have, turns her over to Younger. The rudiments of Nora's case are based on Freud's famous Dora, complete with sexual perversions, convoluted twists and turns and downright lies.
That is just one of the myriad plot lines in the novel, all of which are intricate, interesting and plausible. All it takes for all of the incidents to be true is a great deal of bad will--and it is abundant here! There are politicians who are less than statesmen, city employees at work for themselves and not the city, doctors who will do anything to undermine Freud's theories, thereby saving the neurotics for themselves, and opportunists at every level of society, seeking psychological or material advantage. Carl Jung is portrayed by turns as secretive, mysterious, odd, and just plain nuts, while Freud remains a gentleman whose worst problem is his bladder.
Not the least interesting aspect of the book is all the turn-of-the-century New York lore: bridge building, great mansions, the Astor versus Vanderbilt dustup, immigrant involvement, fabulous entertaining, auto versus carriage. Despite the tangle of tales, debut author Jed Rubenfeld finishes it with writerly dexterity--and the reader is sorry to see it all end.
--Valerie Ryan
Sources: http://www.interpretationofmurder.com
http://www.amazon.com/Interpretation-Murder-Novel-Jed-Rubenfeld/dp/0805080988
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First in line sa 20 Books to read this year. When describing this book, I say that if Da Vinci Code is to Religion, Art, and Paris, the Interpretation of Murder is to Psychoanalysis, Hamlet, and New York.
The plot is interesting enough and I can probably safely say that you will never guess who the killer is but I'm not entirely sure if this book will be one of those cult phenomena. Although, I must say that it's actually not too bad for a first novel.
Madali naman syang intindihin but yung makakaenjoy lang fully ay yung people who are into pop psych or have a wee background in psychology. If you're into symbolisms, foreshadowing and tying everything altogether, matutuwa ka rin sa librong ito.
I wasn't that keen on the references to New York's architectural and societal history -- sometimes it's relevant to the story but there are times it's not and you get this feeling na filler lang yung mga yun. I really believe na tinatry nyang iemulate yung style ni dan brown -- try being the operative word. I did like how the author explained the Oedipal complex and tied it with Hamlet. I kinda like the feeling na naiintindihan ko na somewhat ang Hamlet eventhough I haven't read the unabridged version.
All in all, nagenjoy naman ako sa kanya. Although I would have loved it kung sabay namin itong binasa ni Ribs. This is the type of book that we discuss to death in Filinvest Starbucks.
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