Title: Tropic of Cancer (Goodreads)
Author: Henry Miller
Published: Harper Collins, 1934
Pages: 336
Genres: Classic, Erotica
My Copy: Library Book
Buy: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle (or visit your local Indie bookstore)
Tropic of Cancer is probably best known for being about sex, a book that was banned for over thirty years. An autobiographical novel of a struggling writer living in Paris in a community of bohemians. A fictionalised account of Miller’s life living underground, with prostitutes, painters and other writers.
This is an odd novel, not necessarily good but a literary landmark. Without Henry Miller we may never have books like Lolita, Naked Lunch, A Sport and a Pastime and even Tampa. On the plus side, we may never have Fifty Shades of Grey. This novel pushed the boundaries of literature in the 1930’s and found itself being banned, which developed a cult following that helped influence the future of literature. I tend to think, much like Lady’s Chatterley’s Lover, if it wasn’t for the banning of the book, this novel wouldn’t be a classic; it would have just faded away into obscurity.
There are some advantages to reading this book, there are the autobiographical elements but then Miller focuses on his friends and colleagues. Almost off topic, like he is commentating on what is happening in their lives. Then it gets a little more complex because there is a stream of consciousness reflecting on the occasional epiphany. The whole narrative gets really confusing with its non-linear approach, the tangents and reflections. It makes the whole book hard to read and in the end not really enjoyable.
I can’t help but compare this novel to The Dud Avocado, the sexual adventures in Paris is similar but Tropic of Cancer wasn’t as interesting and a female lead makes for a less sex obsessed narrative and tends to focus on life abroad as well. I can’t help thinking just how narcissistic Henry Miller must have been with all those autobiographical novels of his life; do people still do that? Or is this just a thing of the past, pushing the boundaries.
I have to give Henry Miller one thing; he doesn’t hold back, he will expose the good, the bad and the disturbing parts of his life. If I ever wrote a book like this (which I have no interest in doing anyway) I would be more inclined to hold back, to paint myself in a more favourable light; Miller doesn’t do that at all. There isn’t much I can say about this book, it’s about sex and that is about it. The stream of consciousness part was interesting but I still find that difficult to read. I would probably tell people to skip this and read The Dud Avocado or something similar but for the book snobs (like myself) if you do read this book I hope you get something out of it apart from the historical significance of a book like Tropic of Cancer.
Tried to read it once but I couldn’t get into it
understandable
Great review. This, like so many ‘classics’, is a book i think i should read but likely never will. At least now I can quote you and sound intelligent when I pretend I have read it!
As long as it makes me sound intellectual
I’ve been thinking about reading this book ever since I read that he wrote the manuscript (or part of it) on the wall of his room. I just don’t think that I care much for Parisian’s life, or Miller’s. I mean, if Gabriel Garcia Marquez write something like that, I would be all in because I have read all his books 🙂
But still, I don’t think it would be literary forgivable if I died without reading 🙂
Skip this one, plenty of other books out there
This is definitely one of those classics that I feel like I need to read, even if it doesn’t end up being quite my cup of tea. Although what you said about Miller not holding back interests me a great deal – I much prefer that ‘warts and all’ form of autobiography (loose or otherwise).
It is one of those classics, so is Tropic of Capricorn. Not sure if I want to read that one too.
I sometimes go by the one-book-per-author reading rule if I’m not sure I really like the author but *should* read them. So Tropic of Cancer should have your Miller quota covered for at least a while!
I have a reading challenge to read the entire 1001 list, so I have to read both.
I’m glad you didn’t enjoy this because neither did I! Misogynistic and dull. Blurgh.
so Misogynist, so hard to read
I’m sorry, maybe you should give this another try after two years. I consider myself a feminist but did not find it Misogynistic in the 21st century meaning of the word.