My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
All the words you see overused on book jackets are true of this novel. The one I’ll pick to emphasize is ‘luminous’. Everything is lit perfectly: every landscape infused with light, like a painting; every sin lit from within by the fires of hell; every emotion clear and sharp and shining like broken glass. The tableau lit from below by violence; from above by piercing beauty.
Contemporary Western ethics doesn’t have as many taboos as we once did. The incest taboo, thankfully, remains. It is a strong emotional battery, and Tallent has hooked up the plot of his novel directly to it.
When one comes to the end of philosophy, there’s only one way forward. Inside oneself, it’s called faith. Outside, it’s called art. This novel is a theodicy, for those who have eyes to see. If that sounds like nonsense, ignore it.
Turtle’s father is a man who has come to the end of philosophy and has not found that way. He is a great soul, burning terribly. Not a role model. God save us from such men!
It’s impossible to root for a protagonist as much as we root for Turtle. It’s impossible to hate a villain as much as we hate her father. And yet grieve over him. And almost, in a way, love him because she does. Such strong emotions, which combine with such clarity and force.
All the power of Lolita, without all the misdirection and irony. An utter masterpiece.